Sickness & Japan Blibbering

[jedishampoo]

So much going on I hardly have time to think! I've had this awful allergy/headachy/jaw hurting thing going on the last few weeks, and yesterday I finally thought "maybe I should go to the doctor." The doc did that lovely little thing with the scope up the nose and said "Wow." She actually said "wow." Apparently I have a massive sinus infection on one side of my face. And I'd been frightened half-to-death that I needed another root canal. (I've had four already in my life, geez. Genetically bad teeth. I wasn't afrad of the root canal, only the massive cost just on the cusp of my Japan trip.) Now I have four prescriptions and am feeling better-- YAY for doctors!

I'm going to Japan in only two-and-a-half weeks-- argh! I think I have everything ready:

1) passport with A DECENT PICTURE YAY(check)
2) rented cell phone (check)
3) tour to Ghibli Museum arranged (check)
4) gifts for the Japanese friends and servers and stuff-- little blinking Las Vegas pins, and dollar chips from the Golden Nugget-- apparently tipping is not the norm in Japan but gifts are (check)
5) introduction cards (check)
6) Shopping trip to Akihibara planned -- anime, doujinshi and video game mecca (check)
7) Money-- Oh no!! My car insurance, rent, car payment, and everything else are due. Uh oh. Get ready, Visa.

Hopefully I can relax on the plane. The LOOOONG plane flight from LAX to Narita. :)

Anybody have some Japan-travel-tips?

Comments

[yav-14.livejournal.com]

I am so excited for you! What an amazing trip this will be. Heather Lynn went to Japan not all that long ago. I don't know if she's on your friends list, but she'd be a great one to ask.

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks, and it is exciting! It's my first-ever passport, cause I've only ever been to Mexico and Canada. :) And yup, Hlynn does have some good advice below, I see...

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you went in for that sinus infection. That would have caused major issues on the plane!

Have a great trip!!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, yeah. Have you ever gotten one of "those" headaches on a plain and thought you were having an embolism? And the doc gave me what is apparently a "super-drug" sort of prednisone power pack. :)

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

That would be "plane," not "plain." ;p

[soniag.livejournal.com]

Have a WONDERFUL trip! Can't wait to hear about it. How long will you be there?

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We get to be there two weeks. Yokohama/Tokyo for six days, and then up to Hakone/Mt. Fuji and Kyoto. Good thing my mom is tagging along 'cause I'm already broke.

[hlynn.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're going to Japan! That's awesome!

I can say from experience that tipping is definitely not necessary. Not even gifts, unless the service is exceptionally excellent.

I didn't go to Akihibara, mainly because I was afraid of blowing a large amount of money if I went there. :) I ended up buying manga at an ANIMATE store near the famous Shibuya intersection.

If you're staying in or around Tokyo, you'll have an easier time getting around because the trains give announcements in English as well as Japanese. Everywhere else in Japan, it's Japanese only. Most fast food style restaurants have an English menu as well--it's on the reverse side of a big, laminated menu placemat on the counter. Most cashiers flip it over before you even step up to order.

Salespeople will say "sumimasen" to you, as a way of greeting. This threw me off at first, because I kept wondering why they were apologizing to me. Also, it sounds like "seemasen"--you'll find out that a lot of words have the sounds slurred together or missing from what the books say.

There are many different rail systems in Japan, and they don't necessarily connect. You will get confused when trying to find a route to your destination, trust me. Even the locals get confused, so you're not alone. The best thing to do is to memorize the kanji for the main areas you want to visit, or try to write it down on a piece of paper so you can compare. This will help when the signs aren't in English. For more info, check the wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Japan) on the rail system. Make sure to print out the subway map, because you will need it.

Are there any specific things you want to know?

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Hey there Hlynn! Thanks much for the info. (I was getting conflicting reports about the tipping. So I'm picking up dollar chips from Paris Las Vegas, and a few blinkie pins, just in case I meet someone I'd like to give something to.) And yep, my mom and I will have to navigate the train system a few times by ourselves (before the formal guided tour kicks in) and so I'm quaking in my shoes a bit over that. I've got a map and I'm sure I'll pick up another one. At least I speak a little of the language, and I'm hoping that will help.

Yeah, my Mom is coming with me to Akihibara and she's already warned me that she'll confiscate my credit cards if I get out of hand. And I warned her that there will probably be naughty things around there. She said, "well, I've been to the Chicken Ranch." I said, "you really don't know what you're in for, do you?" ;)

You know what I am still wondering? The thing about shoes-off places-- does sock-friendly mean barefoot-friendly? I live in Las Vegas. I think 90% of my shoes are sandals. (People wear sandals here even in winter.) I thought I'd buy some footie socks with puffballs on them and keep them in my backpack just in case, but I'm afraid of offending someone... And shorts... someone told me nobody wears shorts in Japan. Hey, it's summer there, and apparently very humid and with little air-conditioning. :)

Sumimasen as a greeting? Funny! Here I was preparing to use it every time I need to ask directions. :)

[hlynn.livejournal.com]

Well, I was in Japan in March, so the socks were a must. :) You can go into any temple barefoot, but I think for hygienic reasons, you might want to keep socks with you. I remember asking my Japanese friend Yuko if they wore socks even in summer, and she said yes...because apparently due to the humidity, mold grows very quickly and the socks keep foot fungus from forming. They specifically have 5-toe tabi socks to keep fungus from growing in between the toes.

You can buy tabi socks cheap at any department store--they have clearance bins just like we do, and I bought two cute pairs for a dollar each. My only caution is that I wear a size 8 shoe and the socks just fit me, so if your foot size is bigger than that, you might want to try the mens' tabi or look for womens' stretch tabi.

As for shorts, I've never heard that it wasn't acceptable. Considering how many girls in Japan wear short skirts, I can't imagine they'd have a problem with shorts. Even if you're committing a faux pas, as a Westerner they give you a lot of leeway and don't expect you to know all their customs. They don't blink an eye if you hand them money instead of placing it on the counter, or say something unintentionally impolite. As long as you're showing an effort to bridge the gap, that's enough. :)

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Oh! Place money on the counter, eh? I'll remember that. :) And thanks for the info-- yeah, I've bought some "Happy Bunny" socks so I'll keep them in my purse and slip them on whenever I need to go shoeless.

[knight-ander.livejournal.com]

Hope you have a great trip! I wouldn't mind going to Japan one of these days myself.

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Yup, I'm super-excited. It's one of the top-five places I've always wanted to visit in my life. I'd also like to see Kathmandu (trek to Everest Base Camp), Australia and Greece. :)

[anirt.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable journey!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And thanks for your e-mail also-- as you see I'm insane here and late also. :)

[slyvermont.livejournal.com]

This trip sounds so exciting. Have a great time! Share photos with us when you come back.