fememeist Posted August 7 Posted August 7 (edited) I'm going to Japan for vacation in about 11 days(I'll be staying in Japan for about 10 days, and going to South Korea for about 5 days). Does anyone have any tips or advice about Japan? Things I should see? Avoid? Getting around? Cultural norms to be mindful of? Edited August 7 by fememeist
Likingstars Posted August 7 Posted August 7 Ive been to Seoul. Beautiful city. Very clean and safe for the most part 1
KFC Posted August 7 Posted August 7 Hope you have a lot of money saved if you want to eat 3 times a day because the basics are EXPENSIVE
halcyonday Posted August 7 Posted August 7 (edited) Never been to Korea, but about Japan: Bring some cash, cuz there's plenty of places that don't accept credit cards. Many atractions close at 4-5pm so be sure to do them earlier in the day. Many most popular spots (skytree/tokyo tower, pig/dog coffee, teamlabs) may be very busy so booking something that you wanna do ASAP is gonna be useful. I think there are some passes that allow you to travel everywhere you want for some time? You should get it, so that you can move around fast. Google maps are very advanced in Tokyo, it shows you where to move around, how to leave a station, how packed a train is, etc. Trains stop driving around 11:30pm and start in the morning next day so remember about that if you dont wanna stay an entire night somewhere else. Try karaoke obv. Some of my fav places: Tokyo - Odaiba, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, near to Yokohama and Kamakura. If you wanna go to Kyoto then try to visit Nara, Osaka, and Kobe cuz they're all so close to each other and for example Nara can be a 1 day trip. Edited August 7 by halcyonday 2
fememeist Posted August 7 Author Posted August 7 1 hour ago, KFC said: Hope you have a lot of money saved if you want to eat 3 times a day because the basics are EXPENSIVE How much did you spend in a day with eating there three times a day? What's the average budget
Doogle Posted August 7 Posted August 7 (edited) Hey girlie. I've lived in Japan for almost 3 years and I'm British and as a foreigner here I think people online really overblow the cultural norms so ignore a lot of that dramatic stuff. Just be quiet and mindful on trains mostly but you can defo eat and drink when walking. There are no bins on the streets but there are in all convenience stores and inside train stations (as well as toilets in all train stations) if you need to get rid of rubbish If you're in Kansai near Osaka come to Kobe for the day (my city) it's gorgeous and you can hit all the tourist spots in one day such as Chinatown and the harborland Port Tower. If you don't have tattoos I highly recommend Onsen/hot springs. You have to be naked so foreigners get weird about it sometimes but literally no one cares as it's so normalised and it's the best feeling having a bath in hot springs even in summer. Summer is also full of festivals so try find if there's any fireworks or local dance festival (bon odori) while out there. Usually weekends by shrines. Korea I've been to Seoul twice and I'd say you can survive without cash better than Japan. Everywhere has card and you can even make an online travel card for the subway. The English level is much higher and I recommend as much spicy food and chicken as you can eat. I loved renting a hanbok and walking around the palace while there. I loved Myeongdong market for a great selection of food. And the skincare stuff… couldn't recommend it enough. Missha is a good brand and I got so many face masks lol For both countries stay hydrated because it's humid and hot as ****!!! Hope you have a lovely time, if you have any specific questions you can shoot me a message xx Edited August 7 by Doogle 1
aotearoa Posted August 7 Posted August 7 (edited) I'd say visit Korea before Japan... have a wonderful trip tho Edited August 7 by aotearoa
JO1s Posted August 7 Posted August 7 I went to japan for 4 weeks in march-april Bring a medium size backpack for japan since there's a lack of bins and you'll need a place to store your stuff until you get back to your hotel/bnb. Bring really good walking shoes and clean socks. You do about 15-20k steps a day in Japan especially tokyo. Japan doesn't have really apple/google pay. Tokyo you can mostly get away without having cash, however I'd keep 10,000 yen on hand at all times. If you plan on going to mount fuji, I recommend the boat ride over the cable car ride. Honestly bring a big backpack over a 2nd suitcase if you're travelling around japan a lot since I got stuck with 3 suitcases for like 2 weeks at one point. For Tokyo I'd highly recommend visiting Omoide Yokocho at night. It's a really cool looking alleyway with lots of good food. Also if you want to do anything popular either go earlier in the day for a shorter queue time (like the Starbucks roastery) or see if they have the same thing in Kyoto if you're visiting both since it's usually easier to book something in Kyoto over Tokyo. The famous temple at Asakusa I highly recommend visiting at night since it's well lit up just as pretty but it's not busy at all. Unless you want street food there but it's super crowded during the day. I'd recommend 4 days in the tokyo Area 4 days in the Kyoto area and 2 days in the Osaka area assuming you're flying out of Tokyo to Seoul. If you're planning on buying anime figures/merch especially in akihabara I'd recommend trying and comparing the price online to some second hand stuff that's like 10,000 yen or more. I've seen a few stores overcharge compared to prices online. Also google maps is your best friend. 1
Fender Posted August 7 Posted August 7 Make sure to get a goshuincho and get it stamped at the temples
50thStateofMind Posted August 8 Posted August 8 everyone said a lot for Japan already but.... you need reservations in advance for most ticketed things (Teamlab, Disney, Yamazaki distillery, museums, etc. etc.) and they tend to go on sale 2 months before the date you want to visit use Google Maps for transporation and for restaurant reviews (Tabelog removes a lot of negative reviews and Japanese don't use Yelp) Don't just visit Tokyo! You can catch the shinkansen to the Kyoto, Osaka, Nara area. Stay there a few days and check things out You can load your subway (suica) cards onto your phone with the Japan Card app "GO" taxi app lets you call Taxi's with your phone
Prodigal Self Posted August 8 Posted August 8 37 minutes ago, Doogle said: If you don't have tattoos I highly recommend Onsen/hot springs. So what if you do? this is so stupid Visit the proper jjimjilbang (even if you have tattoos)
taylamour Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) Korea: There's less historical stuff to see because a lot was destroyed in the war, so prepare to see contemporary Korea. When taking the subway in Korea, don't sit in the seats at the end of the subway cars (for old people) or pink seats (for pregnant), even if there is nobody there-- also don't talk on the subway. Google maps was only recently launched here, so I recommend using Kakao or Naver Maps-- for recommendations, use Daytrip. Tourists typically go to Myeongdong & Hongdae for shopping/cafes, I recommend Seongsu/Seoul Forest, Dosan Park/Garosu-gil, and Yeonnam/Yeonhui. If you're into K-pop, I can make recommendations for stores. If you have some extra funds, a train ride to Busan is pretty cheap from Suseo station (people go out of Seoul station, but Suseo is faster and cheaper). It's nice for a day or overnight trip. Also, Jeju is a 30-min flight from Gimpo airport so that's nice to see as well. As someone who lives here, I generally spend most of my free time going to cafes. So, if you like doing that, let me know and I can make recommendations too. **As someone said for Japan, the same is true for Korea. Most neighborhoods do not provide public trash bins. If you get a coffee or something, it's best to finish it where you are and then give it back to the barista (likewise, there are trash at convenience stores but they don't like outside trash). Otherwise, you can find them near entry gates at subway stations. Otherwise, you're stuck with it unless you're in Gangnam or another blessed neighborhood. Edited August 8 by taylamour 1
I Melt Away Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) For Korea! I recommend 종로 (Jongno-gu: center of Seoul + all locations below within 20 minute walking distance) - 경복궁 (Gyeongbokgung: famous traditional Korean palace where you can rent hanbok (traditional outfits)) - 청계천 (Cheonggyecheon: chill Korean stream area within the cities of Seoul) - 익선동 (Ikseon-dong: aesthetic cafe/restaurant area) - 인사동 (Insa-dong: arts district with traditional buildings (even American franchises are in a Korean traditional building with an-all Korean logo!) 이태원 (Itaewon: International city filled with restaurants of all countries, clubs, and bars this is also the hub of all the Korean gay clubs!) - 남산 타워 (Namsan Tower: Tall tower close by Itaewon where you can do the famous heart lock with your loved one) - Homo Hill: stretch of area with all the gay clubs of Korea 강남 (Gangnam: The advanced, fun shopping city of Seoul) -Gangnam Kakao Friends (Store of Korea's biggest character franchise that's also in the middle of Gangnam's most popular area. Start here and work your way around!) - 가로수길 (Garosu-gil: street of various stores selling trendy clothing and accessories). - - 봉은사 (Bongeunsa Temple: Seoul's largest buddhist temple) - Starfield COEX Mall and Library (Famous Korean mall known for its large and uniquely decorated library) 성수동 (Seongsu-Dong: Nature/Park focused area with the hottest new cafes in Seoul) -서울숲 (Seoul Forest: Beautiful large park in Seoul with lots to see) -Seongsu Tongue Planet (Trippy Cafe that is nearby other cool cafes and places like Ader Error) -뚝섬 한강 공원 (Ttukseom Han River Park: Iconic park along the Han River. Best for picnics and eating instant ramyeons) 잠실 (Jamsil: Another hot spot that is next to Gangam) - Lotte World Tower (tallest building/mall in Korea) - Lotte World (large indoor amusement park in Korea where you can also rent Korean school uniforms for cute dates) Edited August 8 by I Melt Away 1
Doogle Posted August 8 Posted August 8 1 hour ago, Prodigal Self said: So what if you do? this is so stupid Visit the proper jjimjilbang (even if you have tattoos) If you do most kick you out. Japan is old fashioned and thinks tattoo = yakuza. There's tattoo friendly places but it's a fair warning because my friends have been kicked out before. Just trying to help! 1 1
Bubble Tea Posted August 8 Posted August 8 1 hour ago, taylamour said: Google maps was only recently launched here, so I recommend using Kakao or Naver Maps-- for recommendations, use Daytrip. Second this, I was in Seoul a few months ago and Google Maps is useless. I used Naver and found it really good, great instructions for the Subway etc. The subway is a bit confusing cause the station names are complicated. 1
fememeist Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 (edited) 2 hours ago, Doogle said: Hey girlie. I've lived in Japan for almost 3 years and I'm British and as a foreigner here I think people online really overblow the cultural norms so ignore a lot of that dramatic stuff. Just be quiet and mindful on trains mostly but you can defo eat and drink when walking. There are no bins on the streets but there are in all convenience stores and inside train stations (as well as toilets in all train stations) if you need to get rid of rubbish If you're in Kansai near Osaka come to Kobe for the day (my city) it's gorgeous and you can hit all the tourist spots in one day such as Chinatown and the harborland Port Tower. If you don't have tattoos I highly recommend Onsen/hot springs. You have to be naked so foreigners get weird about it sometimes but literally no one cares as it's so normalised and it's the best feeling having a bath in hot springs even in summer. Summer is also full of festivals so try find if there's any fireworks or local dance festival (bon odori) while out there. Usually weekends by shrines. Korea I've been to Seoul twice and I'd say you can survive without cash better than Japan. Everywhere has card and you can even make an online travel card for the subway. The English level is much higher and I recommend as much spicy food and chicken as you can eat. I loved renting a hanbok and walking around the palace while there. I loved Myeongdong market for a great selection of food. And the skincare stuff… couldn't recommend it enough. Missha is a good brand and I got so many face masks lol For both countries stay hydrated because it's humid and hot as ****!!! Hope you have a lovely time, if you have any specific questions you can shoot me a message xx Spoiler Thank you many times for these recommendations! ❤️🙏 I'm thinking about heading out to kabuki-cho for some fun. How's the night life here? Edited August 8 by fememeist
Winmill De Kwynn Posted August 8 Posted August 8 [For South Korea] 1. If you hate smoke from Tabaco, I recommend you to pack face mask or something with you too When I walked in the street of Seoul, there were smokers in every corner of the street It's like nightmare to me 2. You can refill fresh water everywhere in Seoul, I just had to buy one bottle of water from convenient store and then I saved water cost for the whole trip
Junho_lover Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) I live in seoul! For sure get a pop card for travel at a convenience store and the sh way is way way better to use and really simple honestly. In seoul you can get away with knowing nothing and be fine as most people will speak some English, and especially if yoy are staying in touristy areas such as Hongdae, Gangnam, or Itaewon. Edited August 8 by Junho_lover
MattieB Posted August 8 Posted August 8 Regarding Japan. Do NOT tip, it's considered rude When climbing stairs/escalators I think you're supposed to keep to the left to allow people in a hurry to zoom past you Be prepared to WALK the benches are scarce especially in Tokyo The coins are valuable, keep them for vending machines (which are everywhere) Buy an esim on klook before going, I did and the network automatically connected on my phone the moment I landed in Narita Even though it's a tourist centric country I'd advise you to learn a few Japanese words to get by Speaking of translation get your translator app ready. Google lens was great for live translation
MattieB Posted August 8 Posted August 8 5 hours ago, Doogle said: Hey girlie. I've lived in Japan for almost 3 years and I'm British and as a foreigner here I think people online really overblow the cultural norms so ignore a lot of that dramatic stuff. Just be quiet and mindful on trains mostly but you can defo eat and drink when walking. There are no bins on the streets but there are in all convenience stores and inside train stations (as well as toilets in all train stations) if you need to get rid of rubbish If you're in Kansai near Osaka come to Kobe for the day (my city) it's gorgeous and you can hit all the tourist spots in one day such as Chinatown and the harborland Port Tower. If you don't have tattoos I highly recommend Onsen/hot springs. You have to be naked so foreigners get weird about it sometimes but literally no one cares as it's so normalised and it's the best feeling having a bath in hot springs even in summer. Summer is also full of festivals so try find if there's any fireworks or local dance festival (bon odori) while out there. Usually weekends by shrines. Korea I've been to Seoul twice and I'd say you can survive without cash better than Japan. Everywhere has card and you can even make an online travel card for the subway. The English level is much higher and I recommend as much spicy food and chicken as you can eat. I loved renting a hanbok and walking around the palace while there. I loved Myeongdong market for a great selection of food. And the skincare stuff… couldn't recommend it enough. Missha is a good brand and I got so many face masks lol For both countries stay hydrated because it's humid and hot as ****!!! Hope you have a lovely time, if you have any specific questions you can shoot me a message xx I was so scared to walk and eat lmao, had to pretend I was looking for stuff in my bag to score some nibbles
BANKS Posted August 8 Posted August 8 ooh, we're gonna be in Japan at the same time haha. this will be my 2nd time going. a lot of people left really helpful tips already, so i'll contribute 3 more! -it's going to be extremely hot this time around. every humid. be prepared / bring a portable fan. -a lot of tourists hype up the 7 Eleven's, and i'll agree, they are amazing. however, give Family Mart a chance! it's often overlooked by tourists, and i personally think it's better than the 7 Eleven (and my Japanese friends agree). -when using the escalators, be mindful and don't forget to stand to the left side to leave a walkway for those who want to walk up/down.
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