January 19, 2003
Arukou, arukou
It was the last of my new year’s resolutions I expected to obey. But last week we bought two tickets to Tokyo, for the 17th of April, returning the 28th. It’s the culmination of 10 years of japanophilia via films, books, comics and music, and part of me wanted it to stay in the fictional realm. (Kelly had no such hang-ups.) The opening of the Ghibli Museum (or see here or here) in 2001 was probably the final push.
Anyone reading this have any information or tips for Tokyo? Any indispensable websites?
Posted by francois at January 19, 2003 10:44 PM
Comments
Japan is a great place, and you are bound to have a great time.
You will find people very helpful. However, it is no use asking generally "Can anyone help...?" as you will not usually get any response. But if you pick on one poor innocent Japanese and walk right up to them and ask them alone, then they will help. If you really can't make yourself understood, just pick on another one. The Japanese don't seem to volunteer in group situations, but do seem delighted to help if approached individually.
This helpfulness applies even to those Japanese old enough to remember the war, and even in the Yasukuni Shrine (where the war dead are remembered), although you probably need to be a bit "aware" there and at the Hiroshima Memorial if you get there.
One odd point is that maps are not a big feature of life in Japan, so even if you have a dual-language map it may not be easy for someone to help you from it.
It is of course helpful to put into a question all the English words that are needed to answer it. "Is it quicker to take the train to Shibuya, or is it quicker to take the bus to Shibuya?" is easier to answer than "What is the quickest way to get to Shibuya?"
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Japan is a great place, and you are bound to have a great time.
You will find people very helpful. However, it is no use asking generally "Can anyone help...?" as you will not usually get any response. But if you pick on one poor innocent Japanese and walk right up to them and ask them alone, then they will help. If you really can't make yourself understood, just pick on another one. The Japanese don't seem to volunteer in group situations, but do seem delighted to help if approached individually.
This helpfulness applies even to those Japanese old enough to remember the war, and even in the Yasukuni Shrine (where the war dead are remembered), although you probably need to be a bit "aware" there and at the Hiroshima Memorial if you get there.
One odd point is that maps are not a big feature of life in Japan, so even if you have a dual-language map it may not be easy for someone to help you from it.
It is of course helpful to put into a question all the English words that are needed to answer it. "Is it quicker to take the train to Shibuya, or is it quicker to take the bus to Shibuya?" is easier to answer than "What is the quickest way to get to Shibuya?"
Posted by: Esme on March 2, 2003 01:58 PM