Japan

The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.

Revision as of 18:47, 9 October 2009 by Spin13 (Talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Current revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
Japan Flag of Japan Category, CS group, Wikipedia, Wikitravel, Hitchwiki Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Nagoya

Japan is the third largest CouchSurfing community in East Asia behind China and South Korea. Japan's community is about 5000 people strong and growing. Over 40% of the members live in just five cities - Tokyo claims 27.8% and Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Yokohama each claim around 4%.

Currently the only complete city page for Japan is the Tokyo page. Please check the Tokyo page for additional tips and info not included on this page.

Contents

Places

  • Osaka - Page not yet written

CouchSurfing in Japan

Living spaces in Japan are generally small, particularly in bigger cities. It is not common to be invited into a Japanese home, let alone stay the night. However, there are still many CSers - both Japanese and foreign residents - willing to share their couch and even more who are willing to meet up or show you around. Do keep living conditions in mind if you do find a couch in a city; don't be surprised if you share the floor with your host or other CSers.

Alternative Accommodation

Hostels and Guest Houses

At least in big cities there are often a few hostels or guest houses to stay in. Some multi-location options include:

Internet Cafes

One of the cheapest ways to travel in Japan is by staying at Internet cafes, also known as "Manga Kissa" to Japanese people. They're in fact more focused on manga (comic books) than internet, but they offer computers with internet access and privacy. Staying for short periods of time can be expensive, but they usually have special deals if you stay more than 3 hours. Most of them include unlimited free drinks and some cheap food you can buy (cup noodles, etc...). They sometimes also have other unique services like tanning beds, showers, couples rooms, and pool tables/darts.

A recommended Internet cafe all over Japan is Popeye's Media Cafe . (Sorry - only Japanese) My personal favorite is the branch near Oji station in the northern part of Tokyo on the Namboku subway line. There's a map at the bottom right of this link If you go there, try their instant miso soup - it's free. ^_^ Also some people seem to recommend Manboo

You can usually find internet cafes by going to big hotels and asking them. Oddly enough they'll usually explain in great detail how to find them and happily tell you how you can stay there much cheaper than staying at their hotel. I've found this method to work in almost every town in Japan, including some not-so-big towns.

When to come

  • Spring - Cherry blossoms bloom starting in March in the south and ending in April in the north. This is a great time to join CS community events - everybody is drinking and having picnics under the cherry blossoms - but plan ahead to find a couch. The first week of May (sometimes the last week of April) is Golden Week. Most locals have vacation and are traveling so prices are high and hotels are crowded. Couches are likely crowded or hosts are traveling themselves.
  • Summer - The second week of August is O-bon, which means conditions like Golden Week. Because O-bon is a serious holiday, it is less exciting than Golden Week but with just as many hassles. Many English teachers, a sizable portion of the CS community, enjoy school vacations for all of August.
  • Autumn - Except for typhoon season, there aren't any major obstacles to CSing in Japan during the autumn.
  • Winter - Japan celebrates Christmas as well, though in a purely commercial sense. However, many ex-pats do request vacation to return home so this might leave some couches out of commission. For New Year's most Japanese will spend the holiday quietly with family, so those couches are often also unavailable. For others, it can be a great time to join in CS events, as many CSers are often up for partying. Plan well in advance for a couch.

Language in Japan

It goes without saying that Japanese is the language of Japan. It would certainly benefit most travelers to learn a few key phrases or carry a phrase book, even if you don't have time to study the language. However, English holds a special position in being the required foreign language of junior and senior high schools. Starting in 2011, 5th and 6th grade elementary students will also be required to study English.

Unfortunately, the realities aren't so picture perfect. While many Japanese possess a basic passive knowledge of English, the majority does not consider themselves English speakers. If regular communication in English fails, however, it may be possible to communicate either through keywords or through writing. Because the Japanese education system focuses on reading and translation, this may be a viable option when other communication fails.

The vast majority of non-Japanese residents are of Chinese and Korean descent. While these nationalities make for only about 1% of the population there is a chance that use of Mandarin, other Chinese dialects, or Korean might result in successful communication.

Transportation

Transit Planners

English language transit planners are available to find train, shinkansen, and plane information including: price, distance, travel time, transfers, and train schedules.

Additional maps and websites are linked below as necessary.

International

Airports – There are a number of international airports in Japan, so check for the city that is most convenient for where you want to go. Many of the airports are far from the cities, so plan on at least an hour of travel to get to the city from the airport. The most common airports are Tokyo's Narita Airport (NRT), Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair Airport (NGO), and Osaka's Kansai Airport (KIX). Note: If you want to stopover in Tokyo on a Japan Airlines flight, you have a maximum of 7 days.

National

  • By Plane – There are hundreds of domestic airports across Japan serviced mainly by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
  • By Bus – There are many discount bus tickets available on websites in both Japanese and English. Buses arrive from and depart to destinations all over the country. Check out Japan-Guide's national bus service info and 123 Bus for discount bus tickets.
  • By Train – Japan Railway’s Rail Pass is an excellent option, available for 7, 14 or 21 days and MUST BE PURCHASED OUTSIDE JAPAN. It can be used on most bullet trains (shinkansen. It can also be used on the city JR lines, but not the subway lines. See below for links for train schedules, fares and other information.
  • Hitch-hiking – Although hitch-hiking in Japan is relatively easy, and you might have gotten an easy ride in to a major city, it is NOT always easy to hitch-hike out of the city again. WikiTravel's Hitchhiking in Japan article provides a good overview.

Culture and entertainment

Food

Japanese food is often served "family style": Each group usually orders a variety of smaller dishes and everybody shares. In addition to the novelty of ordering your food through a machine or off a conveyor belt there are a number of cook-it-yourself style restaurants. Because the cooking surface is in the middle of the table and everybody is sharing, these meals are very social and a great idea for a party. The CS Tokyo Group welcomes all visitors to join the group and organize or join a CS event.

The foods that are best shared with friends are listed below:

  • Sushi - especially the sushi in or near Tsukiji Market. Don't forget conveyor belt sushi ( kaiten-zushi/guru-guru-zushi).
  • Sashimi - don't forget to try raw or flashed grilled beef, horse, and chicken as well. An expensive treat, it's always good to share!
  • Yakiniku - an indoor barbecue! Specialty shop.
  • Nabe - Japanese stew, including chanko-nabe, a dish famous for its ability to fatten up sumo wrestlers!
  • Shabu-Shabu / Sukiyaki - use your chopsticks to swish ("shabu-shabu") your meat in the center pot. Specialty shop.
  • Monja-yaki - a Tokyo Shitamachi specialty, especially in Tsukishima. Check for regular CS gatherings for monja. Specialty shop.

Other popular Japanese foods include yakitori, ramen, okonomiyaki, soba, udon, tonkatsu, tempura, and kushi-age.

Drinks

The Japanese sure love to drink! Even in the quietest areas there is bound to be at least one or two bars or pubs that are open till the wee hours. In the more popular spots, bars will stay open to 5am or so, just in time to catch the first morning train home. Note that izakayas and bars often charge a “seating charge” in addition to your bill.

Japan has a variety of alcohols, from known to unknown. Here are the main types:

  • Beer - Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory are the big four companies, each with a wide range. Most parties start with beer and "kampai!" the most popular Japanese toast. Most bars will only carry one brand/variety on tap.
  • Happo-shu - a cheap, low-malt drink that looks and tastes like beer. Unless you can read Japanese, it might be hard to tell until you buy it except by the lower price.
  • Nihon-shu (Sake) - Japanese rice wine can be enjoyed hot (atsukan) or cold (reishu). Both come in group bottles of various sizes, although sometimes cold sake is served by the glass (often with a saucer or wooden box).
  • Shochu - distilled Japanese liquor usually made from sweet potatoes, barley, rice, or black sugar. Try a "sour," a Japanese style cocktail with soda and/or fruit, or even shochu and your choice of tea.
  • Liquors - mostly Japanese whisky, plus the standard imported vodkas, rums, and tequilas, etc.
  • Wine - Although Japan does produce a little wine, most is imported from France, Italy, Australia, the USA, and other famous wine regions.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones (keitai) are the most popular form of communication in Japan, though mainly through MMS email and SMS texting. Getting your host's keitai email address is often the best way to contact them. Japan's mobile phone system differs from most of the world so changing SIM cards on your personal phone is not an option. Renting a mobile phone is recommended for a number of reasons: communicating with your host and other CSers in Tokyo, checking train times and weather conditions, and finding your way via GPS navigators.

It is possible to rent a mobile phone at an airport. There are a lot of mobile phone renters. Most charge a few hundred yen per day to rent, and a few hundred yen per minute to talk. These phones don`t run out of money and instead you pay for the minutes you used when you return the phone.

If you have a friend living in Japan or some form of Japanese ID, then you can buy a pre-paid cell phone. The cheapest cost around 5000 yen, and calls cost roughly 100 yen per minute. These phones need to be refilled when they run out of money, or you will not be able to make calls. If you have a softbank phone, then you can refill it at a softbank store. Another option to recharge is through the softbank prepaid website, which accepts international credit cards. Recharging can be done in increments of 3000 or 5000 yen, typically.

Incoming calls are free on all cell phones in japan, including rented ones. Because per minute charges on rental phones are extremely high, try having people return your calls. Keep in mind this costs the caller, so it might be appropriate to treat them to a small gift if you call them often.

Rented and pre-paid cell phones usually can`t use SMS or Email. The majority of phones in Japan don`t use SMS. To get 30 days worth of unlimited email for 300 yen, Softbank Prepaid users can call 1400, select option 4, press 1, press #.


Tips for CouchSurfers

As the CS community in Japan grows, in true reflection of the local culture, it has started to establish a reputation for requiring careful planning and organization on the part of visiting couch surfers. Please keep this in mind and plan ahead for a couch as much as possible. Most CS hosts in Japan ask for at least one week's notice before they can offer a couch.

How to be a good traveler in Japan

  • Keep Japan clean. Trash cans can be found at most stations and convenience stores, but not many other places. Please carry your trash with you until you find one or return home. Please sort your trash according to the labels. Bringing a cloth hand towel with you is also recommended to avoid extra waste in restrooms, etc.
  • Please wait in the queues for trains and buses, especially when platforms are crowded. In very crowded trains, to avoid incidents and accusations of inappropriate fondling, men should keep both hands on overhead bars/straps and women should be careful.
  • Even when excited or frustrated, please keep your voice down. Sudden and loud public displays of emotion disturb the "wa" (harmony) and are frowned upon.
  • Try to speak and learn some basic Japanese. People will try to help you more and will reward your efforts. At the same time, many Japanese are excited by the chance to use English with you, even if it is not your native language.
  • You may find extreme differences in reaction from Japanese people if you ask them for help. Some will take you by the hand to exactly where you want to go, while others will avoid you and ignore you. If the latter happens, don't get angry, with so many people in cities like Tokyo, it is common for people to tune out what's going on around them. Just try asking another person.

How to be a good CouchSurfer in Japan

For a comprehensive description, see Customs and etiquette of Japan

  • Bring a gift for your host(s). This is a particularly significant Japanese custom.
  • Don't use any soap in the bath tub, it is meant for soaking your already clean body.
  • Don't wear your shoes inside the house.
  • Offer a skill if you have one. If you can cook dinner, cut hair; if you know Shiatsu... any of this could make your host(s) very happy!

Additional CouchSurfing Information

CS Events

Join the Japan group to read up about CS events happening across the country.

History of meetings

Japan's liveliest group is the Tokyo group, so be sure to join the Tokyo group to find out about upcoming meetings.

Regular gatherings in Tokyo

Currently there are regular gatherings in Takadanobaba organized by Philip C. To find out about the next one, join the Tokyo group and check the listing (e.g. link).

Media mentions

CouchSurfing Japan has so far functioned mostly "word-of-mouth", but it has had at least one mention:

Easy couches

Currently none listed.

Off the beaten track

Currently none listed. wikitravel:Japan hitch:Japan

Retrieved from "http://wiki.couchsurfing.com/en/Japan"
Personal tools