I travelled across Japan for a month and I completely fell in love with your country. People are so nice and welcoming. I was traveling alone and I always found people willing to help in any situation. I remember once I was in Kobe and I entered in a traditional small restaurant where everything was written in Japanese ( as it has to be) and the owner didn't speak any word of english, or spanish or italian, so it was a bit difficult to order but I decided to stay because i loved the atmosphere of the place. There was a couple at the bar, and they didn't speak english too, but somehow we managed to communicate, they told me to relax and that they would have ordered good things for me. So I sat and I ate everything they ordered. It was one of the best dinner of my life. At the end of the dinner when I was going to pay, they stopped me and say "we pay for you". I was shocked, in a positive way, and I hugged them and told them that they made me so happy. And this is only one of the great experiences that I had in Japan. Every day I am dreaming of going back there, but first I want to learn Japanese, which is quite difficult for a lazy european :-) ps I like that a lot of japanese don't speak english. I mean they live in Japan not in in the US
+vitt vi Reading you is like reading my own thoughts. I loved Japan so much, now every day I'm thinking about going back there, but I want to learn Japanese too. I bought 3 books, CDs, and may take evening class in September. People are so nice, welcoming and respectful. The streets are clean, safe, and there are so many places to see !
+Keviouk You might want to check out a series that appeared on public TV & is posted on TH-cam called "Let's Learn Japanese." There are 2 seasons - Basic I & Basic II. They both use a contining story to illustrate various grammical rules & vocabulary. I find videos a much better way to learn than books or CDs. There are text books for these programs. They are hard to find, but you may find second hand copies on Amazon or EBay. They are very helpful.
the japanese being required to learn English but don't know how to speak it, is similar to us Americans being required to learn Spanish but don't know how to speak it.
+Knightgalia similar to us English-speaking Canadians being required to learn French but most of us can't speak it unless we're lucky enough to have been born in Quebec but even then the Quebec dialect of French is quite different from European French so it can be pretty difficult for someone from Quebec and someone from France to understand each other. (well, at least that's what I heard....)
@Krisna Margono Well, Most people and facilities that welcome tourists try to learn English and use it. But most of them are not fluent enough. And General Japanese, like I mention in the video can't speak English very much. But it doesn't mean they don't want to communicate with you.... They will try.
what is a good website to check houses in japan?? Cuz my mom wants to live there and she dosent know any website and me and her know Japanese . Please answer
Experience JAPAN with YUKA Helpful information. I am coming to Japan later in April (1st time) to drive in a rented camper van. I am documenting my travels so free wi-fi is essential so I can upload my videos. Good tips, I was not aware I can use Post Office for cash withdrawals.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA trust me, they will try their best! i love japan and the peoples. they are truly amazing human and helpful for tourists! ichiban!
No Japanese person should ever feel bad for not speaking English. It's unfair for people from western countries to automatically expect people to speak English when travelling abroad. Here in Australia not a lot of people speak a second language, and it's uncommon to see foreign captions anywhere, so we shouldn't take for granted that other countries will cater exclusively to English speakers. When I went to Japan I felt very bad and embarrassed for not knowing the language. I was amazed at how hospitable everyone was, despite the language barrier :)
Danitabori I think that every culture has its pro's and con's, but there are definitely a lot of things about Japanese culture that are in many ways superior to western culture. The fact that it's wrapped in tradition (whereas Australia and America are relatively new countries) is just one of the many things I loved about Japan.
Some thing I discovered while in Japan this summer: 1. You can find portable wifi hotspots to rent for a reasonable amount. Also, one of the apartments that we rented provided a portable hotspot for us while we were there. Probably not super useful for high data video streaming, but was very helpful for locating destinations and navigating the streets of the big cities. 2. I only ran into one person who was particularly fluent in English, but many people seemed to have some small amount of English ability. I have some small amount of Japanese speaking ability. Between the two, we managed to communicate enough for daily transactions (ordering at restaurants, buying things at shops, asking for directions, etc.). I was only in Tokyo and Osaka; I'm sure that the smaller and less touristy an area is, the fewer people will have English speaking experience. 3. In Tokyo, at least, ATMs were pretty common. I discovered that the ATMs in the ever-present 7-11 convenience stores (which run through the 7-Bank system) can accept chip-cards with 4-digit PIN. The conversion fee is less expensive than it was to convert at the location in the US airports, but a bit more expensive than the conversion fee at the Narita airport. It was super convenient, though, because 7-11s are, simply put, everywhere in Japan. I think they have over 2,600 locations. We couldn't walk 3 blocks without seeing another 7-11, or at least it seemed that way. 4. Trains are super-on time. If it says they'll leave at 3:04 PM, that means 3:04 PM, not 3:05 or 3:03. But, don't worry. Almost certainly, there will be another train in a few minutes if you miss the one you wanted. There are apps you can get for your smart phone that will help you navigate which trains you need to take to get from Point A to Point B. Sometimes the stations can be a little confusing, especially if you have to take a train run by one company (such as Japan Rails) and then switch to a train run by another company (such as Keio). 5. Waste bins are easier to find than I was originally led to believe. There are vending machines everywhere, and there is usually at least one waste bin when you find a group of vending machines. There are also waste bins by convenience stores, which are also just about everywhere in Tokyo. The only time I had trouble finding a waste bin was at one of the entrances to Yoyogi park. There was a sign saying "No bottled drinks allowed," or something like that, and I couldn't find a place to throw away my bottle. So, I asked one of the security guards at the entrance, and he took it and threw it away for me at the guard station.
i lived in tokyo for 5 months and fell in love with japan ever since. i had few bad experiences but it was nothing compared to good things i found and experienced there. i didn't speak japanese (only some basic japanese). i traveled alone to nagoya to visit a friend in golden week. when going back home to tokyo, i got lost in nagoya station because the bus didn't stop at the place it did in my first arrival. i asked some people but they totally didnt speak a word of english. but there was this man who was about to call someone. i greeted him and asked him about the place i was going to. he didn't speak english well but we managed to communicate. he wasn't sure about the place but he was willing to help me. he opened his google map and came with me (in a rush) to find the bus stop. we were late and i missed the bus. he tried to call the bus company but nobody picked up. so he led me to family mart. bought me a glass of ice coffee and lunch. fyi, i didn't have enough money to buy the new ticket (only 1000yen in my wallet and no money on the atm). i was an exchange student. i was confused and planned to go back to my friend's apartment (she was still in school at that time), but came to think of it, it would take more money as the next day's ticket was more expensive and i'd need more money to have dinner and round trip ticket from and to nagoya st. then, he offered to buy me a new ticket. omg, he was so nice!!! we talked in mixed languages (body, english, japanese). but i refused the offer because still he was a stranger. then i contacted my mom and she sent me my monthly allowance. i managed to buy the ticket but he wanted to wait for me until the bus came. but he had to go because his friend (whom he was waiting for in the station before i bothered him) couldnt stop calling. and some similar experiences. i was never afraid of getting lost in japan because there would always be people trying to help me out. you japanese are awesome, keep being nice! sorry for the long comment i just gotta share the story. lol. now, i'm planning to pursue a master degree and live for a longer time in tokyo. wish me luck
I don't know why so many people just expect people to speak English. Japanese people shouldn't feel obligated to speak English at all. In my opinion this shouldn't even have had to of been a topic on the list, but seeing as how a lot of people just expect English to be a universal language I can see why it needs to be brought up. When a person is visiting another country, they are a guest in that country. They shouldn't go to a country with the expectation that everyone will conform to their needs. If you're planning to go to Japan and you want to be sure that you'll be able to understand people and such, learn some Japanese. You don't have to become fluent, but just be able to hold your own.
I have clanmates in a lot of different countries all over the planet. We use English to communicate because English is one of the easiest languages to read, write and speak. To avoid communication barriers, everyone should be able to speak basic English in my opinion.
Azan Four Well that's fine. English is often seen as the universal language. I'm just talking about in the sense when someone visits another country. They should learn a little bit of the language of that country so they aren't ill prepared.
MikePlaysIt I understand, but it's not always possible because one country can have multiple languages. And you have all kinds of different accents which makes it really hard to identify words if you only know the basics.
Azan Four Some countries are heavily immersed in the Anglosphere and its culture. But not all countries at all. Japan, South Korea, Russia, China (which has more than a billion people) and France among others have their own cultures and are not immersed in the Anglosphere. The opposite is true for irrelevant South East Asian, Central European and Scandinavian countries. Those aforementioned places are heavily immersed in the Anglosphere. You hold a cultural misconception and apply the context of your own culture/counry to other cultures/country, which are much bigger and great cultures (in terms of population number and the size of their economies) This is blatant ignorance. You are unaware of how things work in other societies around the world.
Azan Four You basically have different cultural spheres around the world: Chinese-speaking world, English-speaking world, French-speaking world, Spanish-speaking, Russian-speaking world and so on. A country like Sweden, despite having Swedish as its native language, is part of the English-speaking world. France is to a certain extent also part of the English world, but more than anything else it's part of the Francosphere, which has its own media and (pop) culture. Places like South East Asia are complicated. Both Chinese influence and English influence (mainly from the USA) are strong there.
It's understandable if they don't want to or can't speak English, they live in Japan, as tourists we should learn their language, when in rome, do as the romans do :)
No need to apologize for the Japanese People not speaking English. Why should they speak English? It is up to visitors to learn enough Japanese before they arrive in Japan and with the internet this is easy to do.
Yuka! Thank you for your vlog. This past May my husband and I went to Japan! It was beautiful! We travelled from Osaka to Kyoto and then to Tokyo. It was a lifelong dream come true!! I didn't want to leave your beautiful country and I was tearful as the plane took off from Kansai Airport. We will be back!!
Angela Morris Yes, Please!!! Were there anything you felt uncomfortable or problem during your stay in Japan? I appreciate if you let me know. Also, how did you plan your trip to Japan???
No troubles or discomfort at all, Yuka! My husband and I planned the trip all on our own! I have long admired your country and have kept a notebook of the places I have wanted to visit and see. Mount Hiei was at the top of my list, and it was breath taking! I learned as much as possible about the culture for many years, although I am not fluent in Japanese. I am familiar with customs and traditions. I love the food and the history. It was a great adventure! A guide would have been very helpful, but by 2017, when we return, I hope to be more fluent in Japanese.
I don't know what's wrong with the people who disliked this video.. This video was great! And you should be thankful... This person is spending her time to educate you guys... She is giving you good and important info about Japan.. She might not have good English but as she said.. Most Japanese don't speak English.. She's absolutely great and have some good humor .. She also tries to entertain people while watching this video so they wouldn't get bored..
@Matt Halpin Thank you for the comment and the info about PET. And Yes, you can walk around the street with your coffee. There are many starbucks in Japan. :)
I am from the United States, and have been to Japan twice so far. I have enjoyed both times very much. Japan is a very wonderful place, and I appreciate it 100%
Very interesting information. You are very thorough and friendly. Your English is quite good and I enjoy listening to you. I like you, Yuka. You are sweet and friendly!
What motivated you to learn English so fluently when so many people don't want to? You're very good at speaking the accent! I am a fan of your cute and charismatic way of describing everything haha :)
***** Thank you for the comment. Well, people in Japan want to learn and acquire English, though... And I've loved different culture since I was little. So, I'm interested in foreign languages. I can speak English but it's not fluent enough... :)
Starbucks in Japan does offer wifi service, but first you have to sign up, which first requires being connected to the internet. If you're going to be in Japan for awhile, I suggest you pre-purchase a sim card which give you a data plan in Japan. If you're going to use multiple devices, then get a portable wifi device. I use econnect, but there are other companies. Purchase a couple weeks before you go on-line, and you can pick up the device at the airport, or have it delivered to your hotel.
A very friend of mine just came back from Japan (he was there as a classical musician). He was very delighted and loved the country very much although he couldn't spend a lot of time there and he was in many countries already. He especially pointed out that people were very nice and helpful there.
My first day - actually, my first hour - in Japan, I was in the train station at Narita trying to figure out by the pictures just which of the 5 bins I needed to put my drink bottle in. I must have looked really confused, as a few moments later, one of the cleaning staff came up and pointed out which bin to put it in.
I've been to Japan twice last year and I really enjoyed it there. How I wish I can work and live there. For me Japan has the perfect society where everyone co-exist harmoniously with one another. Japanese people are just innately disciplined, well-mannered and very polite.
For me, although the big cities are awesome to explore and experience, the true beauty of Japan is in the countryside. I will go to Japan soon and I know the experience will be magical and magnificent!
Nice to see a japanese lady from your generation beeing so fluent in a foreign language. Congratulations for your english, you are probably more fluent than me.
1) Just buy mobile wi-fi before you go- if you go for a while it's about $3 a day, more for a shorter trip, but cheaper if you order online and send it to the airport or hotel than trying to buy there. Expensive,but SUPER HELPFUL. Wi-fi in Japan is all over, but it's password locked everywhere. It's hard to find free wi-fi even in the cities. And why waste time trying to find it? Additionally, you'll be using subways a lot. When you pop out from underground, will you know where the hell you are? No, and the maps right outside subway exits are terrible, often there's not even an indication which way is north! (Buildings often block the sun even in the day!) Get wi-fi, place a little star on google maps for every place you want to go, and walk to your stars. Worth the money.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA Nov 2014 I paid 2,840 Yen for 7 days of SIM card rental through rental.cdjapan.co.jp . Delivered to hotel before arrival and dropped off at airport's Post Office mail box upon departure. Prepaid online. Other tips: Get the Hyperdia app (train guide) and Google Translate (language translation).
Thank you so much for the advice. I am Japanese but I was raised by an American family and I have always wanted to travel to Japan just to see how Japanese people raised in Japan would treat a Japanese raised in America!
i went to japan last year - tokyo and kyoto - wonderful polite place. i don't expect japanese to speak english but i felt that alot of people do speak enough english. everyone is helpful. the people working in the train stations speak english well enough so get directions from. don't travel during rush hour!
I just went to Japan on December last year, I got to admit japanese people are the most friendly I've ever come across. And yep, you're right in regards to the English language barrier but people are so nice they're always going to find a way to help you out :) Can't wait to be back, thanks for making this video :)
Riki Sikisu Hi, I think I can help with this. By asking at a Wells Fargo, they should be able to tell you or direct you to someone who can give you the correct information. Also, the Wells Fargo web page might also be able to help you.
so true about the trash cans! my husband and I looked everywhere for one and finally gave up. we just took our trash back to our hotel room and threw it away there lol.
When I visited Japan. I remeber when my dad tried to offer a tip to one of the staff at the hotel becuase he felt the service was very good. Despite his best attempts the worker kept politely refusing the tip. My dad was baffled, but eventually just laughed it off. Funny experience. The japanese are extremely polite.
Thank you so much! I'm going to Japan this spring this was so helpful. I'm Vegan but honestly I think that there is a lot of vegetarian/vegan resturants ir bigger cities. Of course, I'm living in Vilnius and here we have only 1 vegan resturant :D
I really like to travel to Japan when I got holidays , I have been to Tokyo for many times and I still love to go there , people are so nice and polite to foreigners that very impressive and so many delicious food !! Every time I extremely enjoy it .no wonder Tokyo is the most popular city in Japan !! Love Japan
I have been to Kyushu, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Wonderful country. Learning some Japanese will definitely enhance your experience as you get to speak with locals especially in the rural parts.
Oh no! I stood photographing a bin with PET bottle on it at a train station because I thought it was cute! Now I know why people were giggling at me! :D
Amazing that i find more shoes of my size 39-40 in Japan even I live in Thailand (small size people as well as Japan), most of my shoes bought from Japan lol. anyway your English is really good Yuka.
I'm Australian and I think many people know what PET bottles are in Australia too ^_^ PET is an acronym for the type of plastic that's recyclable, so a trash can with that written on it is a recycling can ^_^ I love these videos and learning about different cultures!
I loved Japan when I went. I found learning as much Japanese as possible both fun and useful during my three week holiday there. SO my recommendation is to learn at least the basics as they will definitely be useful.
You misunderstood about PET bottle, it stands for polyethylene terephthalate, they are recycle-able :) nice vid there, and yes I regret that not many Japanese speak english, but luckily google translate could help
we can't expect everyone to speak English. to me I find it rude when ppl expect everyone to speak English. I really want to ask. im partly disabled. do Japan have disabled access facilities. like toilet or if you went to a concert to find a chair for disabled people. or train access. I can walk but im limited with energy and need to sit alot. I loved Japan since I was 15 and im 28 now. my father wants to take me to Japan because he knows how much I want to go. so many places I want to see. I want to go to see my fave band also but I struggle with crowds of people so im curious to know about how people with difficultys get around Japan. I know a few Japanese words here and there. ppl I know expect Japanese people to know English, but I know this is not true. sorry for the rant. I love your accent by the way. it sounds very nice.
+kanatapaw I can't really tell you specifically since it doesn't affect me personally. Overall, I'd say they are worse than you may expect for such an advanced country, since they sort of joined the party late in terms of adopting disabled access. Nevertheless, it's there, particularly in the cities, and increasing more and more. The basic train system should be fairly accommodating. Most people take stairs so getting around by elevator may be a bit out of the way (just crossing platforms requires 2 elevators after all), but it can be done. If you stick firmly to the tourist track, as I call it- airport, city trains, hotels, famous landmarks- then there should be at least some stuff in place for you most of the time. One thing to remember though concerns one of the best things about Japan- safety. It may be a bit harder for you to get around. But you can do stuff pretty earnestly. You don't really have to worry about anyone ripping off your stuff or trying to take advantage of you. For me, this is why it's one of the great places to travel alone- no pickpocket issue or whatever where you want extra eyes and need to make sure everything is secure. If you have a problem and need to talk to someone, someone isn't behind you taking stuff out of your bag while you're distracted. In that sense, it's easy. Also, just so you know- it can be quite difficult to buy tickets for concerts in Japan, from outside of Japan. It depends on the artist though. But they usually DON'T use an e-ticket system or whatever where you can just pay and print.
I am also not too sure, but I think there are alot of subway and train stations that have stairs and no other options. So for some stations you have to go up/down the stairs. In Tokyo though maybe it is okay... But already in Kyoto...for temples they usually only have stairs as well :/ come to think of it, I know someone that has a disease that will eventually make her be disabled, so she decided to move to Japan now because when she does actually get disabled there will be alot of stuff she cannot do/see in Japan anymore. :/ but do ask around more for it, I really hope for you there will be a way...
I just came back from Japan and had a great experience. I loved the people, the culture, and all of the sights I got to see. Even with the language barriers, I still got the help I needed with the limited Japanese I know and the limited English they knew. Again, I really enjoyed your lovely country and hope to visit again soon. Arigatogozaimas
cant wait to see you there and maybe i can show you around my house and have fun at your house i am also learning how to speak it you also seem pretty cool :d
lol, for me i think i dont buy a house',' Thought, I rent an apartment. But if you're have house, Glad to visit :3 Now i'm learning how to speak Japan. Thanks for your good comment! "."
Loved the video, you're adorable! I lived in Japan back in 2003, but I'm coming back in 2017 to climb Mt. Fuji, so I've been brushing up on my Japanese and watching videos of things that have changed in Japan since last I've been there. Thank you for posting the Video!
PET = polyethilene, so yes, that is plastic. Also, PP = polyprophilene, PVC = polyvinylchlorine. No idea if there are acronyms for polystirene and some other polymers
This was one of the most useful Japan guide videos I've seen! When I went to Japan last summer, I encountered almost all of the things you talked about like having trouble getting Wifi and so on. Also, knowing Japanese helps so much because I can speak intermediate level and had to help many people translate at places like hostels, convenience stores, and train stations. I subscribed. :)
I live in Tokyo, and my suggestion is go to Tourist Information Centres to borrow portable wifi for free (¥5000 as a deposit that will be given back to you ).
Just came back from Japan : about the wifi connection : got a mobile router and that combined with google maps on my smartphone realy is a must have :). They delivered it at my hotel and it was by all means worth the rent .
I think if people want to go to Japan, they need to learn how to speak Japanese. I believe that it's very rude to just expect Japanese people to know your language. You are in there country. Learn it.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA You can exchange easily in Akihabara. I'm not sure about the rate, but it didn't seem that bad. Unlike at the airport where you have to fill out the form yourself and wait in a line (can easily take +15 minutes), I could exchange in Akihabara in about 3 minutes and they did all the paperwork themselves. All this said, you'll definitely want to do the majority of your exchange at the airport, in Japan. The rate for dollars to yen is MUCH MUCH worse if not done in Japan. Do not exchange before arriving in Japan.
Re: Wifi, you can buy a sim card at the airport, or you can buy one before hand off Amazon. I bought the eConnect 1gb data SIM, and had them confirm my device was compatible before buying. Also, Re: Cash, in my experience American ATM cards basically always work at 7-11 ATM's, regardless of country. Not all post office ATM's in Japan work with American cards. This has saved me, even in Canada (!).
Kevin De Bondt Probably about 7AM until 8:30AM will get you the worst of it, but IMHO, it's not that important. As a tourist likely staying very central, you should be going opposite the rush much of the time. Of course Yamanote as a loop line will always be busy in rush hour. It'll be busy at night, but there's no true rush hour. It tends to be a bit less crowded because overtime is rampant so the time workers can leave work (or the nomikai) varies and so it's never quite as packed. Aside for Tokyo, it's pretty irrelevant- the trains shouldn't ever be THAT bad anywhere else.
When I was there I met a nice elderly lady who spoke english very well and helped us find the temple we wanted to go to. Talking to her she said she never has been anywhere but Japan, my mind was blown because not a lot of people in Tokyo speak english, and in Kyoto you'd think the language was banned.
+TheAnimeFreak. No, from my experiences. The Japanese are normally okay with foreigners. You may get nationalists that dislike foreigners which can give a negative impression, but please be assured that they are not the majority of the Japanese nation. There is good and bad people in every country worldwide.
+TheAnimeFreak Out here for 11 years now. Japan is just like ANY OTHER COUNTRY. There are racist idiots out here just like there are in America. They are the minority. In fact there are some Japanese people that love foreigners so much they go out of their way to be super nice to you - which is just as annoying as the racists unfortunately.
+TheAnimeFreak I know and met Japanese people, mainly girls, who "avoid" white people. But there are some girls who hunt white people. lol. I know some Japanese people who don't like Koreans and Chinese. I know in Okinawa they don't like white people due to the rapes reported from US service men. It's Japanese culture to be polite and passive. So even if they don't like you they won't show it.
I used a company called eConnect Japan for wifi. They send a 3g/4g wifi device to the airport post office and you pick it up. It provides you with wifi wherever you go, even at 160mph on a speeding bullet train! :) It was a bit expensive but worth it when combined with apps like Japan Trains, etc. Once you're done, slip it into the provided envelope and drop it into a post box!
Hello Yuka, I am planning to come to Japan but I am looking for a high end ryokan and I dont know which area to choose from between Hakone and Kyoto. Can you please advice me which area and which ryokan, thanks
Khalid Al-Ateeqi Hi! If you want to Onsen (hot spring) at Ryokan, I recommend you to stay at Hakone. In kyoto, there are many nice anf higend ryokans, but not onsens. I mean not many... Check "Gora kadan" www.gorakadan.com/gorakadan/index.html or "Hakone Ginyuu" www.hakoneginyu.co.jp/english/main.html If you don't mind onsen, you can enjoy ryokans in Kyoto. I recommend "Hoshinoya Kyoto" global.hoshinoresort.com/hoshinoya_kyoto/ Hope it'll help!
I think Japanese seemed to be respectful when I said Sumimasen when I was trying to get past them if space was tight, is that generally the case? Also someone once told me when trying to emphasize a city I'm travelling to, that I should use a Japanese accent, which some in the west may feel it's condescending but this sort of helped me communicate to staff at the train station when travelling to say Kyoto. Also when do you add 'san' to someone's name, is it always the case, like Makiko-san(Female), Yuta-san(Male)?
+Carl Salisbury Sumimasen is a general purpose "excuse me". It's pretty much always good. If the train/bus is tight, and your sumimasen doesn't elicit much movement then "sumimasen, orimasu" is better, as that indicates specifically that you're trying to get off and it wasn't just that you bumped someone. I don't know why you wouldn't try to use a Japanese accent as best as possible. If you're lazy about it you might end up in Iidabashi instead of Itabashi, or Kanagawa instead of Kanazawa, or Nakano instead of Nagano...and the list goes on. I'm sure almost everyone has heard Tokyo and Hiroshima's pronunciation butchered and would understand what you're talking about. but many others would probably just leave them with empty, questioning gazes. San is most commonly added to last names. It's the baseline standard polite name suffix, and the standard naming procedure is by last name. So, the baseline common way is Watanabe-san, or Yamada-san. If you were on close enough terms (or enjoy a higher social standing), then you would probably use a closer term suffix like -chan or -kun... or a nickname. In there somewhere is a point where you can use first name, with san. Somewhere.
+redfish337 Also, if it wasn't obvious- you get the pass to avoid honorifics because you're speaking English. Not using honorifics sounds weird in Japanese. I probably know more first name-san than most people because I'm on a plain first name basis in English- we haven't really figured out what it'd be in Japanese- so it just gets defaulted to first name-san if it's Japanese. But if I wasn't a foreigner I know a lot of these would be last name-san.
I travelled across Japan for a month and I completely fell in love with your country. People are so nice and welcoming. I was traveling alone and I always found people willing to help in any situation. I remember once I was in Kobe and I entered in a traditional small restaurant where everything was written in Japanese ( as it has to be) and the owner didn't speak any word of english, or spanish or italian, so it was a bit difficult to order but I decided to stay because i loved the atmosphere of the place. There was a couple at the bar, and they didn't speak english too, but somehow we managed to communicate, they told me to relax and that they would have ordered good things for me. So I sat and I ate everything they ordered. It was one of the best dinner of my life. At the end of the dinner when I was going to pay, they stopped me and say "we pay for you". I was shocked, in a positive way, and I hugged them and told them that they made me so happy.
And this is only one of the great experiences that I had in Japan. Every day I am dreaming of going back there, but first I want to learn Japanese, which is quite difficult for a lazy european :-)
ps I like that a lot of japanese don't speak english. I mean they live in Japan not in in the US
+vitt vi Nice. Thank you for sharing your experience and glad to know you have good one during your stay in Japan! ;)
+Experience JAPAN with YUKA your the best I live in Tokyo
+vitt vi Reading you is like reading my own thoughts. I loved Japan so much, now every day I'm thinking about going back there, but I want to learn Japanese too. I bought 3 books, CDs, and may take evening class in September. People are so nice, welcoming and respectful. The streets are clean, safe, and there are so many places to see !
+Keviouk You might want to check out a series that appeared on public TV & is posted on TH-cam called "Let's Learn Japanese." There are 2 seasons - Basic I & Basic II. They both use a contining story to illustrate various grammical rules & vocabulary. I find videos a much better way to learn than books or CDs. There are text books for these programs. They are hard to find, but you may find second hand copies on Amazon or EBay. They are very helpful.
I watch these even though I'm probably not going to Japan LOL
Same here! Just curious what Japan might be like
Was in Japan for almost 3 years! The only mistake I made was leaving!
the japanese being required to learn English but don't know how to speak it, is similar to us Americans being required to learn Spanish but don't know how to speak it.
I've been studying Spanish at school for 7 years and can't count to twenty, I've been studying Japanese for 2 months and can count to 500
Or the fact that why learn a language you will never use unless.... You are a weeb.
ZeliardFTW ikr
+Knightgalia similar to us English-speaking Canadians being required to learn French but most of us can't speak it unless we're lucky enough to have been born in Quebec but even then the Quebec dialect of French is quite different from European French so it can be pretty difficult for someone from Quebec and someone from France to understand each other. (well, at least that's what I heard....)
+DollDolls if you can count to 500 in japanese you can speak to 999 by default
@Krisna Margono Well, Most people and facilities that welcome tourists try to learn English and use it. But most of them are not fluent enough. And General Japanese, like I mention in the video can't speak English very much. But it doesn't mean they don't want to communicate with you.... They will try.
what is a good website to check houses in japan?? Cuz my mom wants to live there and she dosent know any website and me and her know Japanese . Please answer
I love the information and honesty. Thank you Yuka.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA Helpful information. I am coming to Japan later in April (1st time) to drive in a rented camper van. I am documenting my travels so free wi-fi is essential so I can upload my videos. Good tips, I was not aware I can use Post Office for cash withdrawals.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA trust me, they will try their best! i love japan and the peoples. they are truly amazing human and helpful for tourists! ichiban!
I want to live in Japan my friend said that there's lots of cardshops
No Japanese person should ever feel bad for not speaking English. It's unfair for people from western countries to automatically expect people to speak English when travelling abroad. Here in Australia not a lot of people speak a second language, and it's uncommon to see foreign captions anywhere, so we shouldn't take for granted that other countries will cater exclusively to English speakers.
When I went to Japan I felt very bad and embarrassed for not knowing the language. I was amazed at how hospitable everyone was, despite the language barrier :)
HumanoidSparky Thank you for sharing and such a nice comment.
+HumanoidSparky I agree, also, in my opinion Japanese is superior to English :)
***** Are you trolling, or did you really just step off the set of Django Unchained?
Danitabori I think that every culture has its pro's and con's, but there are definitely a lot of things about Japanese culture that are in many ways superior to western culture. The fact that it's wrapped in tradition (whereas Australia and America are relatively new countries) is just one of the many things I loved about Japan.
HumanoidSparky I was only talking about the languages.
Some thing I discovered while in Japan this summer:
1. You can find portable wifi hotspots to rent for a reasonable amount. Also, one of the apartments that we rented provided a portable hotspot for us while we were there. Probably not super useful for high data video streaming, but was very helpful for locating destinations and navigating the streets of the big cities.
2. I only ran into one person who was particularly fluent in English, but many people seemed to have some small amount of English ability. I have some small amount of Japanese speaking ability. Between the two, we managed to communicate enough for daily transactions (ordering at restaurants, buying things at shops, asking for directions, etc.). I was only in Tokyo and Osaka; I'm sure that the smaller and less touristy an area is, the fewer people will have English speaking experience.
3. In Tokyo, at least, ATMs were pretty common. I discovered that the ATMs in the ever-present 7-11 convenience stores (which run through the 7-Bank system) can accept chip-cards with 4-digit PIN. The conversion fee is less expensive than it was to convert at the location in the US airports, but a bit more expensive than the conversion fee at the Narita airport. It was super convenient, though, because 7-11s are, simply put, everywhere in Japan. I think they have over 2,600 locations. We couldn't walk 3 blocks without seeing another 7-11, or at least it seemed that way.
4. Trains are super-on time. If it says they'll leave at 3:04 PM, that means 3:04 PM, not 3:05 or 3:03. But, don't worry. Almost certainly, there will be another train in a few minutes if you miss the one you wanted. There are apps you can get for your smart phone that will help you navigate which trains you need to take to get from Point A to Point B. Sometimes the stations can be a little confusing, especially if you have to take a train run by one company (such as Japan Rails) and then switch to a train run by another company (such as Keio).
5. Waste bins are easier to find than I was originally led to believe. There are vending machines everywhere, and there is usually at least one waste bin when you find a group of vending machines. There are also waste bins by convenience stores, which are also just about everywhere in Tokyo. The only time I had trouble finding a waste bin was at one of the entrances to Yoyogi park. There was a sign saying "No bottled drinks allowed," or something like that, and I couldn't find a place to throw away my bottle. So, I asked one of the security guards at the entrance, and he took it and threw it away for me at the guard station.
Recyclable bottles are indeed easy to get rid of- in most districts anyway. It's trash trash that's a bit trickier.
i lived in tokyo for 5 months and fell in love with japan ever since. i had few bad experiences but it was nothing compared to good things i found and experienced there. i didn't speak japanese (only some basic japanese). i traveled alone to nagoya to visit a friend in golden week. when going back home to tokyo, i got lost in nagoya station because the bus didn't stop at the place it did in my first arrival. i asked some people but they totally didnt speak a word of english. but there was this man who was about to call someone. i greeted him and asked him about the place i was going to. he didn't speak english well but we managed to communicate. he wasn't sure about the place but he was willing to help me. he opened his google map and came with me (in a rush) to find the bus stop. we were late and i missed the bus. he tried to call the bus company but nobody picked up. so he led me to family mart. bought me a glass of ice coffee and lunch. fyi, i didn't have enough money to buy the new ticket (only 1000yen in my wallet and no money on the atm). i was an exchange student. i was confused and planned to go back to my friend's apartment (she was still in school at that time), but came to think of it, it would take more money as the next day's ticket was more expensive and i'd need more money to have dinner and round trip ticket from and to nagoya st. then, he offered to buy me a new ticket. omg, he was so nice!!! we talked in mixed languages (body, english, japanese). but i refused the offer because still he was a stranger. then i contacted my mom and she sent me my monthly allowance. i managed to buy the ticket but he wanted to wait for me until the bus came. but he had to go because his friend (whom he was waiting for in the station before i bothered him) couldnt stop calling. and some similar experiences. i was never afraid of getting lost in japan because there would always be people trying to help me out. you japanese are awesome, keep being nice! sorry for the long comment i just gotta share the story. lol. now, i'm planning to pursue a master degree and live for a longer time in tokyo. wish me luck
GL!
thanks for sharing, but I hope this story isnt the ´bad experience ´ you said you had. This story is actually a great experience.
Waw! So really lucky! If it was me i might ask him a phone number(If he single).. Lol just kidding'.' He's nice and you're so brave. Respectfully ^^
I don't know why so many people just expect people to speak English. Japanese people shouldn't feel obligated to speak English at all. In my opinion this shouldn't even have had to of been a topic on the list, but seeing as how a lot of people just expect English to be a universal language I can see why it needs to be brought up. When a person is visiting another country, they are a guest in that country. They shouldn't go to a country with the expectation that everyone will conform to their needs. If you're planning to go to Japan and you want to be sure that you'll be able to understand people and such, learn some Japanese. You don't have to become fluent, but just be able to hold your own.
I have clanmates in a lot of different countries all over the planet. We use English to communicate because English is one of the easiest languages to read, write and speak. To avoid communication barriers, everyone should be able to speak basic English in my opinion.
Azan Four Well that's fine. English is often seen as the universal language. I'm just talking about in the sense when someone visits another country. They should learn a little bit of the language of that country so they aren't ill prepared.
MikePlaysIt I understand, but it's not always possible because one country can have multiple languages.
And you have all kinds of different accents which makes it really hard to identify words if you only know the basics.
Azan Four Some countries are heavily immersed in the Anglosphere and its culture. But not all countries at all. Japan, South Korea, Russia, China (which has more than a billion people) and France among others have their own cultures and are not immersed in the Anglosphere.
The opposite is true for irrelevant South East Asian, Central European and Scandinavian countries. Those aforementioned places are heavily immersed in the Anglosphere.
You hold a cultural misconception and apply the context of your own culture/counry to other cultures/country, which are much bigger and great cultures (in terms of population number and the size of their economies)
This is blatant ignorance. You are unaware of how things work in other societies around the world.
Azan Four You basically have different cultural spheres around the world: Chinese-speaking world, English-speaking world, French-speaking world, Spanish-speaking, Russian-speaking world and so on. A country like Sweden, despite having Swedish as its native language, is part of the English-speaking world. France is to a certain extent also part of the English world, but more than anything else it's part of the Francosphere, which has its own media and (pop) culture.
Places like South East Asia are complicated. Both Chinese influence and English influence (mainly from the USA) are strong there.
It's understandable if they don't want to or can't speak English, they live in Japan, as tourists we should learn their language, when in rome, do as the romans do :)
No need to apologize for the Japanese People not speaking English. Why should they speak English? It is up to visitors to learn enough Japanese before they arrive in Japan and with the internet this is easy to do.
Yuka! Thank you for your vlog. This past May my husband and I went to Japan! It was beautiful! We travelled from Osaka to Kyoto and then to Tokyo. It was a lifelong dream come true!! I didn't want to leave your beautiful country and I was tearful as the plane took off from Kansai Airport. We will be back!!
Angela Morris Yes, Please!!! Were there anything you felt uncomfortable or problem during your stay in Japan? I appreciate if you let me know. Also, how did you plan your trip to Japan???
No troubles or discomfort at all, Yuka! My husband and I planned the trip all on our own! I have long admired your country and have kept a notebook of the places I have wanted to visit and see. Mount Hiei was at the top of my list, and it was breath taking! I learned as much as possible about the culture for many years, although I am not fluent in Japanese. I am familiar with customs and traditions. I love the food and the history. It was a great adventure! A guide would have been very helpful, but by 2017, when we return, I hope to be more fluent in Japanese.
We used google maps a lot and Google earth before we went to plot out all of our walking trips!
Angela Morris Thank you for the reply. So glad to know you enjoyed Japan!
this video makes me want to go to japan MUCH MUCH more. I have always dreamed of going, but never been there.
+J. Obergfell Please go if you can. It's beautiful. And Tokyo is a shopper's paradise. :D
+Candy Wolff Yeah, Harajuku or for Osaka Namba or Kyoto Kawaramachi is really worth seeing, even if you do not plan on buying.
I wanna live in Japan, but I need to learn Japanese first..
Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com thank you 😊 this is really helpful
I suggest learning from a textbook(Japanese from 0) and to watch videos! hope this helps!
I don't know what's wrong with the people who disliked this video.. This video was great! And you should be thankful... This person is spending her time to educate you guys... She is giving you good and important info about Japan.. She might not have good English but as she said.. Most Japanese don't speak English.. She's absolutely great and have some good humor .. She also tries to entertain people while watching this video so they wouldn't get bored..
Concerning PET bottles, PET is the type of plastic of those bottles. PET= Polyethylene terephthalate and not a pet animal
Bakerygo I was going to comment this, but you beat my to it by a week.
@Matt Halpin Thank you for the comment and the info about PET. And Yes, you can walk around the street with your coffee. There are many starbucks in Japan. :)
This lady is so adorable
if you mean "PET bottle", it actually makes sense.
PET it short for Polyethylenterephthalat, so basically, it indeed means plastic bottle.
I am from the United States, and have been to Japan twice so far. I have enjoyed both times very much. Japan is a very wonderful place, and I appreciate it 100%
Well done. I have never visited Japan, and this seems to be valuable to people like me. Thanks.
Gregory E. Thank you for watching and a comment!!! :)
Very interesting information. You are very thorough and friendly. Your English is quite good and I enjoy listening to you. I like you, Yuka. You are sweet and friendly!
This has to be one of the most entertaining videos on TH-cam!
Thanks Yuka! This was a very helpful video. You mentioned several things not included in other videos about visiting Japan.
+alphakub Thank you for watching!
7:48 Wow, I'd totally buy a t-shirt that said "Born To Fist"! That is hilarious.
CaptWii60 Really!? :)
Experience JAPAN with YUKA
Ummmm... not sure about the rest of the English speaking world, but ''fisting'' has a crude meaning in Hollywood English...
Craig Nichols
That's what makes it great.
What motivated you to learn English so fluently when so many people don't want to? You're very good at speaking the accent! I am a fan of your cute and charismatic way of describing everything haha :)
***** Thank you for the comment. Well, people in Japan want to learn and acquire English, though...
And I've loved different culture since I was little. So, I'm interested in foreign languages. I can speak English but it's not fluent enough... :)
Experience JAPAN with YUKA It's very fluent, definitely enough to get by in an English speaking country :)
Starbucks in Japan does offer wifi service, but first you have to sign up, which first requires being connected to the internet. If you're going to be in Japan for awhile, I suggest you pre-purchase a sim card which give you a data plan in Japan. If you're going to use multiple devices, then get a portable wifi device. I use econnect, but there are other companies. Purchase a couple weeks before you go on-line, and you can pick up the device at the airport, or have it delivered to your hotel.
A very friend of mine just came back from Japan (he was there as a classical musician). He was very delighted and loved the country very much although he couldn't spend a lot of time there and he was in many countries already. He especially pointed out that people were very nice and helpful there.
My first day - actually, my first hour - in Japan, I was in the train station at Narita trying to figure out by the pictures just which of the 5 bins I needed to put my drink bottle in. I must have looked really confused, as a few moments later, one of the cleaning staff came up and pointed out which bin to put it in.
I'm watching this after I visited Japan last week.
Owh! I love Japan. Very nice place and people. ^__^
I've been to Japan twice last year and I really enjoyed it there. How I wish I can work and live there. For me Japan has the perfect society where everyone co-exist harmoniously with one another. Japanese people are just innately disciplined, well-mannered and very polite.
For me, although the big cities are awesome to explore and experience, the true beauty of Japan is in the countryside. I will go to Japan soon and I know the experience will be magical and magnificent!
"I think it's gonna be ok if you think you are a woman" --- with this line i am officially a fan. cheers :)
PET bottle probably means polyethylene terephthalate bottle. PET is the type of plastic usually used to make beverage containers.
Nice to see a japanese lady from your generation beeing so fluent in a foreign language. Congratulations for your english, you are probably more fluent than me.
Yuka is delightfully entertaining and informing. Makes you want to go to Japan even if you have no plans.
1) Just buy mobile wi-fi before you go- if you go for a while it's about $3 a day, more for a shorter trip, but cheaper if you order online and send it to the airport or hotel than trying to buy there. Expensive,but SUPER HELPFUL. Wi-fi in Japan is all over, but it's password locked everywhere. It's hard to find free wi-fi even in the cities. And why waste time trying to find it? Additionally, you'll be using subways a lot. When you pop out from underground, will you know where the hell you are? No, and the maps right outside subway exits are terrible, often there's not even an indication which way is north! (Buildings often block the sun even in the day!) Get wi-fi, place a little star on google maps for every place you want to go, and walk to your stars. Worth the money.
redfish337 Thank you for sharing.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA Nov 2014 I paid 2,840 Yen for 7 days of SIM card rental through rental.cdjapan.co.jp . Delivered to hotel before arrival and dropped off at airport's Post Office mail box upon departure. Prepaid online.
Other tips: Get the Hyperdia app (train guide) and Google Translate (language translation).
Júlia del Puerto Well, if you want to reply, just say こんにちは or こんばんは :)
Thank you so much for the advice. I am Japanese but I was raised by an American family and I have always wanted to travel to Japan just to see how Japanese people raised in Japan would treat a Japanese raised in America!
i went to japan last year - tokyo and kyoto - wonderful polite place. i don't expect japanese to speak english but i felt that alot of people do speak enough english. everyone is helpful. the people working in the train stations speak english well enough so get directions from. don't travel during rush hour!
Arigato!! Great info especially about the trains! I had no idea about that.
Will Carr Thank you for watching!!! Arigato! ;)
Haha this is the first video I've watched in this channel, totally subscribing.
Renato Garcia Thank you! You made my day!!! ;)
I just went to Japan on December last year, I got to admit japanese people are the most friendly I've ever come across.
And yep, you're right in regards to the English language barrier but people are so nice they're always going to find a way to help you out :)
Can't wait to be back, thanks for making this video :)
Thank you so much Yuka for the information, since Japan is one of my favorite countries
that I'd like to visit 👍🏻
@paul levasseur It depends on when and the how many, though... It costs from around $90 per person for a night.
Shitsureishimashita, Hai do yu know If same banks that are In north america are also In japan? such as Wells fargo bank
Riki Sikisu
Hi, I think I can help with this. By asking at a Wells Fargo, they should be able to tell you or direct you to someone who can give you the correct information. Also, the Wells Fargo web page might also be able to help you.
Riki Sikisu Aside from the banks I understand 7-Eleven in Japan has ATMs you can use.
Phil Nolan f ty
Fony Melinda I assume ty is thank you, what's f?
#6 size matters......W-W-WHAT???!??!?!??!
It's true, finding shoes is especially difficult
thats why dont i look for clothes or shoes becuase im a big lady. ill be there to look for anime, gifts and visit the place
so true about the trash cans! my husband and I looked everywhere for one and finally gave up. we just took our trash back to our hotel room and threw it away there lol.
+Kyleigh Seward Yea....
I am glad I found yoor channel, I am an African American who loves Japanese culture and lanuage thank you.
When I visited Japan. I remeber when my dad tried to offer a tip to one of the staff at the hotel becuase he felt the service was very good. Despite his best attempts the worker kept politely refusing the tip. My dad was baffled, but eventually just laughed it off. Funny experience. The japanese are extremely polite.
Thank you so much! I'm going to Japan this spring this was so helpful. I'm Vegan but honestly I think that there is a lot of vegetarian/vegan resturants ir bigger cities. Of course, I'm living in Vilnius and here we have only 1 vegan resturant :D
I really like to travel to Japan when I got holidays , I have been to Tokyo for many times and I still love to go there , people are so nice and polite to foreigners that very impressive and so many delicious food !! Every time I extremely enjoy it .no wonder Tokyo is the most popular city in Japan !! Love Japan
I have been to Kyushu, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Wonderful country.
Learning some Japanese will definitely enhance your experience as you get to speak with locals especially in the rural parts.
Thank you sooo much 😊😊
I will travel to Japan next mouth lucky I saw ur useful video first 😉😉😉😉
Tukta Sirinapa Thank you for watching!!!!
Yuka, your english is quite good. If there are enough people in Japan who can speak english as well as you, I will be fine.
"Born to Fist" - I'm liking Japan more and more haha
Oh no! I stood photographing a bin with PET bottle on it at a train station because I thought it was cute! Now I know why people were giggling at me! :D
Amazing that i find more shoes of my size 39-40 in Japan even I live in Thailand (small size people as well as Japan), most of my shoes bought from Japan lol. anyway your English is really good Yuka.
+Pooky Mansion Thank you!
"if you think you are a woman" LOLOL
haha i was like that is one way to say transgender
I'm Australian and I think many people know what PET bottles are in Australia too ^_^ PET is an acronym for the type of plastic that's recyclable, so a trash can with that written on it is a recycling can ^_^ I love these videos and learning about different cultures!
I loved Japan when I went. I found learning as much Japanese as possible both fun and useful during my three week holiday there.
SO my recommendation is to learn at least the basics as they will definitely be useful.
You misunderstood about PET bottle, it stands for polyethylene terephthalate, they are recycle-able :) nice vid there, and yes I regret that not many Japanese speak english, but luckily google translate could help
Roy Pratomo I know! You're totally right!!!
we can't expect everyone to speak English.
to me I find it rude when ppl expect everyone to speak English.
I really want to ask.
im partly disabled.
do Japan have disabled access facilities.
like toilet or if you went to a concert to find a chair for disabled people.
or train access.
I can walk but im limited with energy and need to sit alot.
I loved Japan since I was 15 and im 28 now.
my father wants to take me to Japan because he knows how much I want to go.
so many places I want to see.
I want to go to see my fave band also but I struggle with crowds of people so im curious to know about how people with difficultys get around Japan.
I know a few Japanese words here and there.
ppl I know expect Japanese people to know English, but I know this is not true.
sorry for the rant.
I love your accent by the way.
it sounds very nice.
+kanatapaw I can't really tell you specifically since it doesn't affect me personally. Overall, I'd say they are worse than you may expect for such an advanced country, since they sort of joined the party late in terms of adopting disabled access. Nevertheless, it's there, particularly in the cities, and increasing more and more.
The basic train system should be fairly accommodating. Most people take stairs so getting around by elevator may be a bit out of the way (just crossing platforms requires 2 elevators after all), but it can be done. If you stick firmly to the tourist track, as I call it- airport, city trains, hotels, famous landmarks- then there should be at least some stuff in place for you most of the time.
One thing to remember though concerns one of the best things about Japan- safety. It may be a bit harder for you to get around. But you can do stuff pretty earnestly. You don't really have to worry about anyone ripping off your stuff or trying to take advantage of you. For me, this is why it's one of the great places to travel alone- no pickpocket issue or whatever where you want extra eyes and need to make sure everything is secure. If you have a problem and need to talk to someone, someone isn't behind you taking stuff out of your bag while you're distracted. In that sense, it's easy.
Also, just so you know- it can be quite difficult to buy tickets for concerts in Japan, from outside of Japan. It depends on the artist though. But they usually DON'T use an e-ticket system or whatever where you can just pay and print.
I am also not too sure, but I think there are alot of subway and train stations that have stairs and no other options. So for some stations you have to go up/down the stairs. In Tokyo though maybe it is okay... But already in Kyoto...for temples they usually only have stairs as well :/ come to think of it, I know someone that has a disease that will eventually make her be disabled, so she decided to move to Japan now because when she does actually get disabled there will be alot of stuff she cannot do/see in Japan anymore. :/ but do ask around more for it, I really hope for you there will be a way...
Cool video Yuka! :) I just started making videos about Japan too. I hope I can share Japan with everyone like you too!
thank you so much for your video . it really helps though , i m planning on coming to japan as a student so this video really helps me a lot
+khushi verma Glad to know!
I don't think PET bottle is somekind of mistake thats the PolyEthylenTeraphtalat internationaly.
Eimantas Rutkauskas Yes, thank you! Now I know!
very useful video. thanks!
mentalmetal1 Thank you for watching!!!
Excellent video for the people who is planning one's first trip to Japan. Good for you, YUKA!!!!
I just came back from Japan and had a great experience. I loved the people, the culture, and all of the sights I got to see. Even with the language barriers, I still got the help I needed with the limited Japanese I know and the limited English they knew. Again, I really enjoyed your lovely country and hope to visit again soon. Arigatogozaimas
im 14 and when i get older i want to go to japan i always talk about when i get older i will always think about your tips thank you
Ahh^^ Same here xD i plans to abroad Japan if i'm older than this^^ I think we're same.
Glad to see somebody who have plans like I do maybe I can see you there
xD
Yeah^^ If i live there, and see you i'ld like to ask you to be friend dear! No no',' Can't be.
cant wait to see you there and maybe i can show you around my house and have fun at your house i am also learning how to speak it you also seem pretty cool :d
lol, for me i think i dont buy a house',' Thought, I rent an apartment. But if you're have house, Glad to visit :3 Now i'm learning how to speak Japan. Thanks for your good comment! "."
@adaorakingありがとう！！！漢字をならいたいですか？
日本人ですが英語勉強のためチャネル登録しました。それだけ流暢に英語を話せてうらやましいです。僕はおじさんなので（おじいさんかな）、おしぼりで顔をふくことがたまにあります（でも目立たないようにはしています）が、、、
You are so cool! Japanese are hard working, intelligent, and very hospitable people 😊😊😊
great video Yuka
+CopLock Thank you!!!
Love the video and you were very cute!!
Jerico Navas Thank you!!!
Loved the video, you're adorable! I lived in Japan back in 2003, but I'm coming back in 2017 to climb Mt. Fuji, so I've been brushing up on my Japanese and watching videos of things that have changed in Japan since last I've been there. Thank you for posting the Video!
+Wil Robinson Thank you for watching!
Japan is a beautiful country, the hospitality industry in the USA could learn much from them. Also the sense of HONER!
PET = polyethilene, so yes, that is plastic.
Also, PP = polyprophilene, PVC = polyvinylchlorine. No idea if there are acronyms for polystirene and some other polymers
SwineNahNah Yes,you're right!!! Thank you for the information!
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. PET is one type of plastic.
German people call plastic bottles that can be recycled 'pet flasche' too :)
P.E.T. stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It's a type of recyclable plastic. So it does make sense for PET bottle bins. :)
mrriceman1984 Thank you for letting me know!
This was one of the most useful Japan guide videos I've seen! When I went to Japan last summer, I encountered almost all of the things you talked about like having trouble getting Wifi and so on. Also, knowing Japanese helps so much because I can speak intermediate level and had to help many people translate at places like hostels, convenience stores, and train stations. I subscribed. :)
really nice video
+contabilidadetv Thank you!!!!
I live in Tokyo, and my suggestion is go to Tourist Information Centres to borrow portable wifi for free (¥5000 as a deposit that will be given back to you ).
Just came back from Japan :
about the wifi connection : got a mobile router and that combined with google maps on my smartphone realy is a must have :). They delivered it at my hotel and it was by all means worth the rent .
I am a big fan of Japanese people and their culture
Love from India.
I think if people want to go to Japan, they need to learn how to speak Japanese. I believe that it's very rude to just expect Japanese people to know your language. You are in there country. Learn it.
I'm from the U.S. and I'm teaching myself Japanese. I have one question can you exchange U.S Dollars to Japanese Yen in Japan.
Ben Hidlay Yes, you can do that at the airport. Please do that at there. In the city, it'll be annoying and tome consuming,,,
Experience JAPAN with YUKA Is there also a thing about having pets in the house, like what types you can or can't have.
Ben Hidlay Do you mean at your apartment???
Yes.
Experience JAPAN with YUKA You can exchange easily in Akihabara. I'm not sure about the rate, but it didn't seem that bad. Unlike at the airport where you have to fill out the form yourself and wait in a line (can easily take +15 minutes), I could exchange in Akihabara in about 3 minutes and they did all the paperwork themselves. All this said, you'll definitely want to do the majority of your exchange at the airport, in Japan. The rate for dollars to yen is MUCH MUCH worse if not done in Japan. Do not exchange before arriving in Japan.
Re: Wifi, you can buy a sim card at the airport, or you can buy one before hand off Amazon. I bought the eConnect 1gb data SIM, and had them confirm my device was compatible before buying.
Also, Re: Cash, in my experience American ATM cards basically always work at 7-11 ATM's, regardless of country. Not all post office ATM's in Japan work with American cards. This has saved me, even in Canada (!).
i love japanese culture,food,and appreciate literate japanese.
Yuka is super cute
はい。She is very 可愛い。
You tell us to avoid rush hour, but you forgot to mention the rush hour times in Japan.
Kevin De Bondt Probably about 7AM until 8:30AM will get you the worst of it, but IMHO, it's not that important. As a tourist likely staying very central, you should be going opposite the rush much of the time. Of course Yamanote as a loop line will always be busy in rush hour. It'll be busy at night, but there's no true rush hour. It tends to be a bit less crowded because overtime is rampant so the time workers can leave work (or the nomikai) varies and so it's never quite as packed. Aside for Tokyo, it's pretty irrelevant- the trains shouldn't ever be THAT bad anywhere else.
When I was there I met a nice elderly lady who spoke english very well and helped us find the temple we wanted to go to. Talking to her she said she never has been anywhere but Japan, my mind was blown because not a lot of people in Tokyo speak english, and in Kyoto you'd think the language was banned.
I love japan, it so peaceful country.
"I think its okay if you think you're a woman" x'D
Docter Yoda I don't think they'll really do anything except look at you funny if a man does go on them.
Tomos Burton Yeah, probably lol
Tim klein xD
Thank you for this piece of advice.
But is it true that Japan really don't like foreigners?
+TheAnimeFreak. No, from my experiences. The Japanese are normally okay with foreigners. You may get nationalists that dislike foreigners which can give a negative impression, but please be assured that they are not the majority of the Japanese nation. There is good and bad people in every country worldwide.
+TheAnimeFreak No, I don't think so!!!
+BritishRail60062 Thank you!
+TheAnimeFreak Out here for 11 years now. Japan is just like ANY OTHER COUNTRY. There are racist idiots out here just like there are in America. They are the minority. In fact there are some Japanese people that love foreigners so much they go out of their way to be super nice to you - which is just as annoying as the racists unfortunately.
+TheAnimeFreak I know and met Japanese people, mainly girls, who "avoid" white people. But there are some girls who hunt white people. lol.
I know some Japanese people who don't like Koreans and Chinese.
I know in Okinawa they don't like white people due to the rapes reported from US service men.
It's Japanese culture to be polite and passive. So even if they don't like you they won't show it.
I used a company called eConnect Japan for wifi. They send a 3g/4g wifi device to the airport post office and you pick it up. It provides you with wifi wherever you go, even at 160mph on a speeding bullet train! :) It was a bit expensive but worth it when combined with apps like Japan Trains, etc. Once you're done, slip it into the provided envelope and drop it into a post box!
Hi Yuka! Loved the video! Please continue to share these to travelers who like to experience Japan at its best!
Hello Yuka, I am planning to come to Japan but I am looking for a high end ryokan and I dont know which area to choose from between Hakone and Kyoto. Can you please advice me which area and which ryokan, thanks
Khalid Al-Ateeqi Hi! If you want to Onsen (hot spring) at Ryokan, I recommend you to stay at Hakone. In kyoto, there are many nice anf higend ryokans, but not onsens. I mean not many... Check "Gora kadan" www.gorakadan.com/gorakadan/index.html or "Hakone Ginyuu" www.hakoneginyu.co.jp/english/main.html
If you don't mind onsen, you can enjoy ryokans in Kyoto. I recommend "Hoshinoya Kyoto" global.hoshinoresort.com/hoshinoya_kyoto/
Hope it'll help!
Thank you very much Yuka-san
Khalid Al-Ateeqi Any time!
I think Japanese seemed to be respectful when I said Sumimasen when I was trying to get past them if space was tight, is that generally the case?
Also someone once told me when trying to emphasize a city I'm travelling to, that I should use a Japanese accent, which some in the west may feel it's condescending but this sort of helped me communicate to staff at the train station when travelling to say Kyoto.
Also when do you add 'san' to someone's name, is it always the case, like Makiko-san(Female), Yuta-san(Male)?
+Carl Salisbury Sumimasen is a general purpose "excuse me". It's pretty much always good. If the train/bus is tight, and your sumimasen doesn't elicit much movement then "sumimasen, orimasu" is better, as that indicates specifically that you're trying to get off and it wasn't just that you bumped someone.
I don't know why you wouldn't try to use a Japanese accent as best as possible. If you're lazy about it you might end up in Iidabashi instead of Itabashi, or Kanagawa instead of Kanazawa, or Nakano instead of Nagano...and the list goes on. I'm sure almost everyone has heard Tokyo and Hiroshima's pronunciation butchered and would understand what you're talking about. but many others would probably just leave them with empty, questioning gazes.
San is most commonly added to last names. It's the baseline standard polite name suffix, and the standard naming procedure is by last name. So, the baseline common way is Watanabe-san, or Yamada-san. If you were on close enough terms (or enjoy a higher social standing), then you would probably use a closer term suffix like -chan or -kun... or a nickname. In there somewhere is a point where you can use first name, with san. Somewhere.
+redfish337 Also, if it wasn't obvious- you get the pass to avoid honorifics because you're speaking English. Not using honorifics sounds weird in Japanese. I probably know more first name-san than most people because I'm on a plain first name basis in English- we haven't really figured out what it'd be in Japanese- so it just gets defaulted to first name-san if it's Japanese. But if I wasn't a foreigner I know a lot of these would be last name-san.
were gonna visit japan again by april and im soooo excited!!!
Hi Yuka ! I'm flying on Wednesday to Japan and I'm watching your helpful videos again !!! Thank you so much !!!