Q's for Those Who've Been to Japan

[brngckn]

I'm leaving in 2.5 weeks for 2.5 weeks in Japan (Tokyo, Kinugawa, Nikko, Kamakura, Kyota, and Ohare). :)

The questions - what did you not pack that you wish you had? What did you pack that you did not need? I've heard to bring my own TP - true?

Tell me anything else you think is relevant.

Thanks!

Kirsten, the Travelin' T-Tapp Trainer from Texas :D
** Senior Trainer, certified to instruct all T-Tapp forms **
Success Story: www.t-tapp.com/success/kirstentucker/default.asp
Teaching Schedule: www.boxofpolkadots.com/ttapp.html

[niecy]

Well you HAVE to learn how to eat with chopsticks :D:D[:p][:p]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kEvLmuwXv8g

Denise
T-Tapp Trainer - Illinois


http://flowerchild.younglivingworld.com
http://niecy.zaadz.com/blog

[brngckn]

quote:Well you HAVE to learn how to eat with chopsticks :D:D[:p][:p]


I'm still packing a fork! ;)[:o)]

Kirsten, the Travelin' T-Tapp Trainer from Texas :D
** Senior Trainer, certified to instruct all T-Tapp forms **
Success Story: www.t-tapp.com/success/kirstentucker/default.asp
Teaching Schedule: www.boxofpolkadots.com/ttapp.html

[EileenF]

Kirsten,

How about a box of plastic forks? If you leave one someplace who cares!

((((HUGS))))
:)Eileen

[justkim]

Haven't been, would love to go. It's on my "list". Found this site, hope it helps:
http://gojapan.about.com/od/beforeyougotojapan/Before_You_Go_to_Japan.htm

Have a great trip. :)

Life is just a bowl of cherries. Don't take it serious, Life's too mysterious...

[Lori French]

We took energy converters and didn't need them. You do need a pocket pack or two of tissues, depending on where exactly where you go or *need* to go ;), you also need a hankie, there are no hand dryers or paper towel dispensers in most out of the way places. A jar of Skippy never hurts either[:p];)

[u]Lori</u>

[brngckn]

quote:A jar of Skippy never hurts either[:p];)

Yep, I'm packing a box of Lara Bars! LOL

Thanks for the other info.

Justkim - going to look at that site now.

Kirsten, the Travelin' T-Tapp Trainer from Texas :D
** Senior Trainer, certified to instruct all T-Tapp forms **
Success Story: www.t-tapp.com/success/kirstentucker/default.asp
Teaching Schedule: www.boxofpolkadots.com/ttapp.html

[Starling]

I spent 10 days in Tokyo. Hey, it's city and we did just fine. Your trip sounds great, so many places.

We used public transportation and taxis and walked quite a bit, we visited some national treasures, shrines in the city. You can get a booklet with blank pages, and have it stamped as you visit different locations. This was a while ago so I don't recall the exact details. If you are interested you can view a single act at a Kabuki theater, rather than stay thru an entire performance, and it is an inexpensive way to get a glimpse of the theater.

We stayed in a nice business hotel and it had an electric hot water pot, so we picked up tea and cocoa to have in our room. I liked the convenience stores. Lots of people speak English, so be polite and don't assume that they don't understand you.

Bon voyage!

[crysk_68]

Our family went there about 15 years ago to visit family. There was always toilet paper around as well as the occasional heated toilet seat :D, but the biggest surprise was my first "toilet" experience.

After arriving, our aunt took us to a local restaurant. (It was excellent, btw) Anyway, I had to go and asked my mom (the translator) where the bathroom was. At first I thought I was in the wrong room, but no! There was a hole in the ground to hover over! [:0] Totally threw me off guard. Fortunately, that was the only toilet like that and may have been like that because it wasn't a newer restaurant...I'm assuming. Just wanted to share that in case you ever run across the same thing.

Be sure to take lots of pictures. You're going to love it. It's absolutely beautiful there. Enjoy!

Crystal

[Lori French]

Hey, Crystal, I think I went to that same restaurant:D Down a dark, scary, think I could get mobbed hallway, then *this* is the toilet????

Some of the temples and shrines featured these "toilets" and there was no paper supplied.....

Be prepared for stares. Anyone who is blonde and over 5' 2" gets studied pretty good!

[u]Lori</u>

[niecy]

quote:Originally posted by Lori French


Be prepared for stares. Anyone who is blonde and over 5' 2" gets studied pretty good!

[u]Lori</u>



That is so true! My sister lived in Japan for about a year and a half and she's 5'10" [:0] That's a giant in Japan! LOL She said she never got used to it and was very happy to come back to giant land and not BE the giant! LOL

Denise
T-Tapp Trainer - Illinois


http://flowerchild.younglivingworld.com
http://niecy.zaadz.com/blog

[meanderwithme]

Yikes, now I have to think back four months in my preggo-brain state. As if!

The biggest issue for me was medical supplies. For instance, I allowed myself to get quite sunburned (yeah, I know) on the ONE sunny day in Tokyo while we were there (we went at the beginning of rainy season), and trying to get a tube of Aloe was a challenge. Yes, many people speak English, but once you're in a drugstore, you're kind of stuck with kanji characters! I managed to pantomime to the druggist what I needed (the burn was that obvious) and he gave me some aloe. Another time I had an issue was with swelling -- probably something I ate, but I puffed up enough that my clothing didn't fit and my face was round! Fortunately, my dh had some antihistamine packed, because in small-town Japan, I couldn't figure out what to buy (literally) to save my life.

The toilets...most places have at least some Western-style, and some train stations had both. I never quite got the hang of the pit toilet, so if I had an option, would wait in line for the western one -- often in the handicap stall. Why yes, being American WAS a handicap in that case!

What frustrated me the most was the silence, since I was spending my days alone. When I finally went on an English-language group tour of Mt. Fuji, it was bizarre to hear words I could understand again! That shouldn't be an issue for you, since you'll be with a group.

Tissues -- at least if you're in Tokyo, that shouldn't be an issue. Seemed like every major intersection had people handing out packets of kleenex with advertising on them. Otherwise, there was TP in every bathroom I tried.

If I think of more, I'll post -- but otherwise, have a wonderful trip!

~~~~~
Allison
Santa Fe, NM
just keep tapping... (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com)
Baby #2 (a boy!) due mid-March 2008!
Watch me grow...and shrink! (http://t-tapp.meanderwithme.com/pregnancy-pics-and-measures/)

[Casey]

How fun Kirsten!! Please take lots of photos and tell me about your adventures. :D

Casey Ellis
T-Tapp Staff & TNT
Clearwater, Florida
Email Me: casey@t-tapp.com
Add Me: http://www.myspace.com/caseylovesttapp