| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kaylynn44 |
Posted - February 02 2006 : 6:46:17 PM
If anyone here has ever been to Japan or lives in Japan now, can you write me back? My son will be visitng Japan in a couple of months and I am hoping that someone can answer a couple of questions for me. Thanks!!!
Love,
Kay |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gadget Girl |
Posted - February 03 2006 : 12:19:50 AM
My Dad was in the Air Force and my Mom's Dad was career Air Force. That is where they met. On the island of Kyushu, Itazuke Air Force Base, Fukuoka, Japan. |
| Kaylynn44 |
Posted - February 02 2006 : 10:33:01 PM
GG,
You are such a big help!!!  Where were you born at in Japan? Are you an army brat too? I lived in Germany from 6 months till I was 3 years old. That is about the extent of my world travels. 
Love,
Kay
|
| Gadget Girl |
Posted - February 02 2006 : 10:02:26 PM
A-SO! I was actually born in Japan (or "the pan" as I used to say as a little girl)  . Unfortunately, we left when I was 6 months old so I can't help much.
<ducking from Kay throwing objects my way!>
GG |
| Kaylynn44 |
Posted - February 02 2006 : 9:53:56 PM
Hi Kaylynn,
In my youth I did a couple of TDY's to PACAF bases, which included places like Kadena AB on the island of Okinawa, and Misawa AB on the 'mainland'. Since you appear to be a decent person and I assume that you raised a decent man, you would not want him to follow my 'tour route' for entertainment. However, I can suggest that he be prepared for 'sticker shock' when it comes to western-type foods (best to eat native cuisine, its a good deal cheaper).
Also, Tokyo is by far one of the most 'sleepless' cities, this side of Vegas. There is a great deal to see and do during the all hours of the day. Remember, your average Japaneese business man considers an 8PM quitting time as 'getting out early', so entertainment and dinning establishments plan their hours accordingly.
A final word of advice, have your son learn some key phrases, like greetings, so that he will have an easier time getting along with the locals. Japaneese are alot like Germans, that if they see you making an effort at trying to communicate in their language, they will almost always switch to English to facilitate the conversation. This is also the best way to learn any language, as discovered by my own experiences. (After all these years out of 'the game',I still can speak enough German, Spanish, Farsi and Arabic to get my face slapped)
All in all, tell him to have a good time, and enjoy the trip.
Sarge,
Michael has dreamed of being able to visit Japan since he was a teenager. He wants to stay mainly in Kyoto. He will be arriving in Osaka, and he will stay there for a day, then he will travel on to Kyoto, where he will stay at a ryokan. Leave it to my son to prefer a tatami mat and a futon mattress to a nice hotel bed.
He knows quite a few Japanese phrases and is learning more and more each day. He wants to be able to communicate the best that he can when he is over there.
Our problem right now is trying to decide whether or not he should get a Japan Rail pass. I told him that if he is going to be travelling to Tokyo and other places, then it would be a good idea, but he just isn't sure right now if he wants to go to Tokyo, and if he wants the JRP, he has to get an exchange order here in the states and trade it in for a rail pass when he gets to Japan. Then on some of the trains, you have to pay extra because not all of the trains are JRP trains. It is all so confusing!!! If we could just get this one thing straightened out, then I would feel alot better!!!
I really think that his best bet is to stay around Kyoto and see all of the shrines and other places that he wants to take pictures of, and not worry about the rail pass. He could take a bus all around Kyoto or ride a bike. He can get a bus pass for only five dollars a day. The same with bike rental. It is only five dollars a day, but I really think that he is going to want to visit other places like Himeji, Nara, Kobe, and some other places. The rail pass costs around $275.00, but that will take him just about anywhere that he wants to go. All I know is that we better figure out something soon!!!
Oh, he loves Japanese food!!! You won't get him near any western food while he is over there, so that won't be a problem.
Thanks for all of the info Sarge, but I don't think that we will need your "tour route" though. 
Thanks for letting me ramble on.
Love,
Kay
|
| SgtMunro |
Posted - February 02 2006 : 7:57:24 PM
Hi Kaylynn,
In my youth I did a couple of TDY's to PACAF bases, which included places like Kadena AB on the island of Okinawa, and Misawa AB on the 'mainland'. Since you appear to be a decent person and I assume that you raised a decent man, you would not want him to follow my 'tour route' for entertainment. However, I can suggest that he be prepared for 'sticker shock' when it comes to western-type foods (best to eat native cuisine, its a good deal cheaper).
Also, Tokyo is by far one of the most 'sleepless' cities, this side of Vegas. There is a great deal to see and do during the all hours of the day. Remember, your average Japaneese business man considers an 8PM quitting time as 'getting out early', so entertainment and dinning establishments plan their hours accordingly.
A final word of advice, have your son learn some key phrases, like greetings, so that he will have an easier time getting along with the locals. Japaneese are alot like Germans, that if they see you making an effort at trying to communicate in their language, they will almost always switch to English to facilitate the conversation. This is also the best way to learn any language, as discovered by my own experiences. (After all these years out of 'the game',I still can speak enough German, Spanish, Farsi and Arabic to get my face slapped)
All in all, tell him to have a good time, and enjoy the trip.
YMH&OS,
The Sarge |
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