School me on Japan

[twitchyzero]

has anyone rented a car in okinawa main island before?
getting intl license + driving on rhd seems like the easy part
i read parking is free or cheap...do tolls add up? how's the traffic?

looks like many attractions are doable with tourist bus but wwii sites are a PITA to get to without tax $$$$$ or car rental

[Rallydrv]

^ twice,

rush hour Naha is bad but bearable,, otherwise ok, toll on highway arn't so expensive. If i remember correctly i only paid toll on way back when using expressway. most rental places give u nav, but should change to English. i had Japanese friends w/ me so wasn't bad. if you have a dashcam bring it.

i rented the day i was leaving Naha for resorts etc, so you dont have to worry about driving around in the city as everything in naha downtown is walk able.

some resort charge $10-15 overnight parking.

people are impatient in Okinawa than Osaka/Kobe and dont hesitate honking for small things (guess that's american influence).

drop off is near the airport, and gas stations are close by.

[DragonChi]

I've heard whispers and legends that mountain pass races actually happen just like in Initial D.

[twitchyzero]

ok i might rent for a day then
was there a bus/monorail you took from downtown to airport to pickup/dropoff rental?
which company did you rent with? did you provide an international DL?

[Rallydrv]

monorail from airport to downtown yes. and then when u drop off ur car, usually they have airport dropoff. yeh int. DL. to rent we just walked to our rental place from hotel in naha.

first time i forgot to bring my int. lic, my gf rented and then we just switched in parking lot. carry both domestic and int. lic

ORIX paid 129xx for 2/3 day rental. typical fridge on wheels

[MG1]

Got my questions answered elsewhere. Thanks for the replies.

[Hondaracer]

What are you trying to get out of it? Lounge? Upgrades? Points from purchasing the flights?

Scotia infinite passport gets you 6 lounge access and no international transaction fees. Over 3 weeks it might not make much of a difference but would probably save ya $50-$70 maybe and you get the lounge access (plaza lounges but better than nothing)

[CivicBlues]

Isn't Japan still largely a cash-based society? I last went in 2014, so things might have changed. Didn't use my CC once while there.

[G]

I don't think its that largely cash-based but depends on location.

I would say you can survive in Tokyo without cash at all (all the newer taxis have tap to pay when you get out, and most popular ramen shops have credit card tap). Even Osaka has modernized a lot and cards are more widely accepted. Once you get into Kyoto, Nara, and more further regions then I would say cash is more viable. A 90 year old grandma making fresh dango ain't gonna accept your American Express card lol

[MG1]

Well, I survived 18 days in Japan. Just got back.......... sort of. Still fucked up by jet lag. Not much sleep in the last few days. Afternoon flight, but had to leave in the morning. Making sure I didn't forget anything and getting shit together took most of the night. I went with my three adult children as a promise I made to the wife (passed away nearly 8 years ago) that we'd go to Japan as a family. My daughter and I left after 18 days, but my two sons are still there. They're staying for a month.

We stayed at three AirBnB's, a Ryokan (everybody has to do this at least once), and a rented house. Crossed off a lot of bucket/wish list items. Mt. Fuji (400 stairs climb) viewing platform, Tokyo (close to 400 million people - totally nuts), Kyoto, Nara, Bamboo Forest, Pagodas, Shrines and Temples (buddhist and Shinto), Akihabara, Shizuoka, Shibuya, Tamiya Store and the Museum, The Yamato Museum in Kure, Tokyo Tower, Osaka, Ginza (if I weren't with my kids, I'd get myself in so much trouble), Himeji Castle, Nijojo Castle, Imperial Palace, Itsukushima Shrine (floating torii gate), Samurai Museum, etc. So many places, so little time. The kids split up throughout the trip, but one of them was always with me. If they weren't with me, I'd be lost or arrested. They basically baby sat me. Took the Shinkansen, urban and suburban trains, and local buses. No rickshaws (too expensive). If any of you are foamers, I took this totally restored and functional old school train that was out of this world. Everything was done up in finished/polished wood (rosewood?) It was like going back in time.

Anyway I can fill this entire thread with info. If you have any questions about Japan as of this month, I can answer your questions. Oh, the food there is nothing like it is here. High quality and really affordable. I did go to an Ikea and Costco. Yes, they had those hand cranked onion dispensers. jbol. Sample lines were very orderly and everybody was polite (except for tourists).

[MG1]

Oh, forgot to mention. If you're going there soon, try to get your hands on the limited edition "Welcome to Japan," Suica Card. It's a collectors item as well as a card that you can use just about anywhere, even Donki (Don Quixote), shops, and 7-Eleven. Oh my god.......... 7-Eleven, called something slightly different in Japan is just beyond cool. They sell nigiri, bento items, sandwiches, teriyaki this and that, and every cool drink that's available in Japan.

Along with the special edition Suica Card, they sell this lanyard that's meant for the Suica Card. It was so convenient. You could store your JR Pass in the other pocket that's opposite of the clear plastic window. It also pulls out and retracts. Built like a tank. I had that sucker around my neck at all times. Both these items are available only at the airports and select JR booths at major train stations.

As for credit cards, most places, except small shops, take cards. I loaded the Suica Card in Apple Wallet. Instant reload capability (I used Home Trust Visa to load the Suica) Also Home Trust Visa card itself using Apple Wallet. No Foreign Transaction Fee. I also discovered that MBNA Amazon.ca Mastercard gives back the Foreign Transaction Fee (as amazon credit, though).

I topped up my Freedom Mobile with unlimited International Calling (to an from Canada) Cost me $30/month. There's WiFi just about everywhere. Trains, buses, entire neighbourhoods. In remote areas, I used my number one son's Pocket WiFi. Damn that thing was a game changer. First day was a nightmare, as it was a dud and looked beat up. They sent a brand new one via courier the next day. Worked flawlessly. Youngest son went the eSim route. My daughter also went with the top up plan, so I could call her at any time. My daughter can be very stealth. One second she's there, the other gone like a ninja in a cloud of smoke. "Let's ditch dad, hee hee.........." My wife worked her magic without being there. I've never been so close to the children. There were some tense moments, but family, what can you say?

Now for the weird stuff. Toilets are everywhere in Japan, but they are in very tiny spaces. If you're not careful, you'll hit your head and bang up your elbows and knees. Oh, we complain about toilet paper. Their toilet paper is like single ply. Disintegrates if you look at it long enough. No Kirkland or Charmin. I get it though. One word. BIDET. Heated seats, music, different sprays, dryers. No real need for toilet paper. I just couldn't do it. Hit the wrong button and you'll be spraying your dick instead of uranus. The other one is meant for Venus, not penis, jbol.

They are really technologically superior while at other times, so far behind. You tap your IC (Suica) Card and it's instant. You put your train ticket or JR Pass in the receptacle and it's out on the other end in milliseconds. Everything is instant. Has to be to handle all those people going through. The locals are very efficient in the way they go about their business. 400 million people in Tokyo alone, jesus........... Canada has how many people in the entire country?

Having seen and experienced all this wAnderful stuff, I still looked forward to going home to my, Mansion of a bathroom with Charmin Super Stong and comfy mattress and pillows. I had the longest shower of my life when I got home.

When I got home, I realized how filthy our city is. My Uber app went wonky on me, so I transited home (first time on SkyTrain for a hella long time). Get to Waterfront and there's a crackhead passed out on the bench. Garbage everywhere. In downtown Tokyo i didn't see a single piece of garbage. There's no garbage cans out in the open. People just don't litter (only tourists do).

I was waking down the hilll from the Mt. Fuji Viewing Platform and witnessed this caucasian guy with two chicks. He had a bag with him. He picked up tiny pieces of paper and garbage along the way. I caught up to him and thanked him. He was appreciative. Not sure if he was local or not, but that made me look for garbage as well. Felt good to do my part. I'm sure there are parts of Japan that are not sparkling clean, but I can't imagine a DTES anything in Japan. I could be wrong...........

[SkinnyPupp]

Best way I've seen Japan's technology described is that they were 2 decades ahead in the 80's, but haven't progressed since then

[CivicBlues]

Japan, where it's been the year 2000 since 1980.

Also Tokyo is 40 million not 400 lol can you imagine?

[donk.]

Originally Posted by MG1

Sample lines were very orderly and everybody was polite (except for tourists).

As my dentist said: "how do you know your no longer in japan? When your leaving at the airport and some american or canadian is yelling or being disorderly"

[SkinnyPupp]

In my experience, Canadian and American tourists are very well behaved compared to tourists from many other countries

[MG1]

Yes, so true. The worst tourists were euros and middle eastern types.

I was surprised by how well behaved the chinese were. There were a lot of chinese tourists, by the way. Everywhere I went, announcements were in Japanese first, then English, then Chinese.

I ran into quite a few Aussies. Really cool people. Typical vacations down under are four weeks long. Damn. Some public servants get more. These two dudes I met in a Wendy’s told me they go once a year to various spots for six weeks at a time.

[MG1]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiben

I remember seeing this coffee table book a friend of mine showed me. It was an illustration book on the subject of Ekiben in Japan. My mouth watered by just looking at it. I picked me up a Shinkansen Bento. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/food-...n-bento-boxes/
The box was in the shape of the Shinkansen (Bullet Train). I kept the container – so cool.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025121/

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/bento/

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by donk.

As my dentist said: "how do you know your no longer in japan? When your leaving at the airport and some american or canadian is yelling or being disorderly"

When I saw your dentist I thought you were going to say "...when you look at people's mouths and their teeth are straight again". A lot of Japanese folks have crooked and gnarly teeth I noticed. Well at least 10 years go, not sure about today.

[TypeRNammer]

Zip Air has finally opened up the rest of the flight schedule for spring and summer if anyone is looking for flights. Probably about 800 ish round trip in the summer time?

I'm sure there will be deals from other major carriers.

[donk.]

Japan, in the summer? Only if you like profusely sweating. Japan is a 3 season holiday destination

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by donk.

Japan, in the summer? Only if you like profusely sweating. Japan is a 3 season holiday destination

Good to know I'll keep that in mind

[Hondaracer]

So trying to create a rough outline for Japan 2026, will be there for the F1 race

We are flying in Wednesday March 24th, departing on Friday April 4th, so 11 days total including both flight days.

Without much thought, I’ve kind of figured Land in Tokyo - Shinkansen to Osaka, train to Nagoya and stay there for the race, either Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Saturday/Sunday. All I want to see is qualifying and the race. Then from Nagoya back to Tokyo for Monday-Friday.

The only must do in Tokyo is the wife wants to go to Disney Sea.

Would this be a reasonable itinerary? Is Osaka worth a few days there or should I just spend everything outside of F1 in Tokyo?

[CivicBlues]

Osaka is the food capital of Japan, but personally don't think there's much to see. Then there's Kyoto which is nearby and is the cultural capital with tons to see. Not to mention Nara, Kobe also nearby all worth visiting.

But doesn't sound like you and your wife want to see anything so

[Hondaracer]

Would you use those days before F1 in Osaka or Kyoto?

I got a killer redemption for aeroplan points so I was kind of stuck at 11 days otherwise I would have went 15-20

[SkinnyPupp]

street food, shopping, night life go to Osaka (or Kobe which is much smaller but kind of cooler)

sight seeing, traditional stuff, go to Kyoto

If you go to Kyoto I have a recommendation for a nice relaxing place that is popular with domestic tourists, but at least when I went, wasn't flooded by the international tourists yet. I hear Kyoto is kind of a nightmare post covid though, so maybe they got hit too