yes, open till 5 or 6pm as I had mentioned earlier. But if you are aware of the limitations then you can make sure that you get to them before they close. Are you in Japan now Tanuki?
yes, open till 5 or 6pm as I had mentioned earlier. But if you are aware of the limitations then you can make sure that you get to them before they close. Are you in Japan now Tanuki?
Yes, you have to be aware. I wasn't aware of this on my first trip to Japan and almost got stuck at the office one evening without enough Yen to pay for my train ticket home.
Thanks every so much for the .gif Tyler. I've printed out two copies and will keep the file on my laptop when I go.
I just got back from the bookstore, picked up a pocket phrasebook, Lonely Planet guidebook to Tokyo and several maps. Now it's time to study.
Ideally I'd love to travel outside of big cities to the smaller rural areas but given I have a lot of obligations already on top of it only being a week and a half, it might have to wait until the return visit.
You guys have all proven to be an enormously big help!
Also Thad thanks for the tips. I should start studying now. I hate going to a foreign country and not understanding even a most basic level of the language. Especially as I come back I always want to become fluent.
Dō itashi mashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mosh-teh) You are welcome.
Hm, another question: It appears that this phrasebook has everything from "I'm high" to "Is the water OK to drink?" but I have no idea how to say "May I take your picture?"
I'm High! A phrase that I fins myself using here everyday!
To say May I take your picture you should say:
Shashin wo tottemo ii desu ka?
As for pronounciation, just remember that all vowel sounds in Japanese are the short vowel sounds in English.
a (cat)
i (if)
u (sounds like the sound in "who" or "loop" )
e (let)
o (dog)
There are no other possible ways to pronounce the vowels. Sometimes they get lengthened. The "tt" in the word above "tottemo" acts to kind of stop the sound for a brief second. So "tot...temo". But hold your tongue in the "t" through that pause. Get what I'm saying?
I'm High! A phrase that I fins myself using here everyday!
To say May I take your picture you should say:
Shashin wo tottemo ii desu ka?
As for pronounciation, just remember that all vowel sounds in Japanese are the short vowel sounds in English.
a (cat)
i (if)
u (sounds like the sound in "who" or "loop" )
e (let)
o (dog)
There are no other possible ways to pronounce the vowels. Sometimes they get lengthened. The "tt" in the word above "tottemo" acts to kind of stop the sound for a brief second. So "tot...temo". But hold your tongue in the "t" through that pause. Get what I'm saying?
Wow, the accent is very different in Hiroshima from Tokyo for some of the vowels. In Tokyo, it's...
nah, it's the same. I just realized that some of those I wrote can be taken in different ways. Also, I am Australian, so my natural pronounciations, and what sounds in Japanese are close to them, may be different from other countries' accents. Where are you from Tanuki? Nice name BTW
For me if you say "father", then it is a long a sound (British English) etc...
Trust me, although there is Hiroshima dialect, the sounds themselves are the same.
So to clarify:
a = not "ay!" as in what we call the letter A, but "a" as in "at"
and so on for the vowels. Don't imagine how you read them as individual letters Schmoo, but as how you actually pronounce them in the words listed above.
This is extremely interesting to me, not only because my father, having grown up during Japanese occupation of Korea, reads/speaks a little Japanese, but because I have a fascination with linguistics in general. But my knowledge of phonetics so far has been limited to European languages, and the differences between them.
nah, it's the same. I just realized that some of those I wrote can be taken in different ways. Also, I am Australian, so my natural pronounciations, and what sounds in Japanese are close to them, may be different from other countries' accents. Where are you from Tanuki? Nice name BTW
For me if you say "father", then it is a long a sound (British English) etc...
Trust me, although there is Hiroshima dialect, the sounds themselves are the same.
So to clarify:
a = not "ay!" as in what we call the letter A, but "a" as in "at"
and so on for the vowels. Don't imagine how you read them as individual letters Schmoo, but as how you actually pronounce them in the words listed above.
That's too funny for words. The mystery has been solved! (I have an American accent by the way.)
Schmoo, you dad grew up in occupied Korea eh? Wow. How much can he still speak or understand of Japanese? I hear the older generations still can speak it quite well, also in Taiwan!
Schmoo, you dad grew up in occupied Korea eh? Wow. How much can he still speak or understand of Japanese? I hear the older generations still can speak it quite well, also in Taiwan!
He doesn't speak it quite so well anymore, but he can read it. It's interesting because my mother cannot, but she grew up in the city whereas my father was a country lad.
They don't talk a lot about their childhood so it's hard for me to piece it together.
Another reason why I'm pretty fascinated with going over to Asia (finally!) since I typically don't travel in that westerly direction.
So have you not been to Korea either then? Japan will certainly be an interesting experience for you. Very different to what I have seen of Korea (admittedly little).
I was in Japan 2 times, layovers on the way and from Vietnam, at Osaka Airport. All I can say - the airport was confusing, the hotel was nice, the food at one of the restaurants sucked, the other was good and I lucked out with a TV show of some Japanese kids spending a day in New York talking with New Yorkers.
My 2 vietnam travelers with me, 1 lead the way thru the airport. He asked directions and while doing so became furious because no one understood English. I on the other hand was and made the help desk girls
The one restaurant we ate at in the evening, the menu was multi pages in Japanese, when we asked for another menu for us, it was 1 piece of legal size paper - front side only and big text/no pictures.
DJT I'm not heartened by your stories! I'm counting on the restaurants having pictures so I can just grunt and point.
Well, considering I never left the airport grounds, you shouldn't listen to my advice... You'll have fun, and be sure to get a shot of the sunrise and sunset. It truly is the BIGGEST REDDEST SUN I've ever seen cresting above the ocean, and I didn't take a picture of it.
Yeah... I ended up going back to the Multi-paged Japanese menu and pointing to a picture. Then having eaten my food, I found out they didn't accept American Money nor did they accept travelers checks. Had to run back to the hotel and exchange some money, while one guy stayed at the restaurant.
I still have about $30.00 in yen (my trip thru Japan was in 1999).
But I would love to go to Japan and tour around the country. Can't wait to see your photos.
I was in Japan 2 times, layovers on the way and from Vietnam, at Osaka Airport. All I can say - the airport was confusing, the hotel was nice, the food at one of the restaurants sucked, the other was good and I lucked out with a TV show of some Japanese kids spending a day in New York talking with New Yorkers.
My 2 vietnam travelers with me, 1 lead the way thru the airport. He asked directions and while doing so became furious because no one understood English. I on the other hand was and made the help desk girls
The one restaurant we ate at in the evening, the menu was multi pages in Japanese, when we asked for another menu for us, it was 1 piece of legal size paper - front side only and big text/no pictures.
DJT,
Your experience is very typical. English is not very common even in Tokyo. Even though everyone has to take English classes in school, they don't really learn it. And menus don't always have English or pictures, especially in Japanese restaurants.
DJT,
Your experience is very typical. English is not very common even in Tokyo. Even though everyone has to take English classes in school, they don't really learn it.
Mike
I agree. The most common English words seemed to be ad slogans and movie catch phrases. When I was there three years ago my uncle tried explaining something to me in a combination of Japanese and limited English. It sounded so much like I was listening to a tv commercial that I kept wanting to hit the mute button. I nearly had a heart attack when I heard the phrase "fuainalu ansa" (final answer) on TV. Ug. The guy even looked like Regis.
Anyway, some more handy tips while in Japan.
Don't bother carrying a water bottle. Carry loose change instead. There are vending machines selling hot and cold drinks everywhere.
Cold Japanese-coffee-in-a-can is coffee as the Gods intended. You'll never go back to Charbucks. Coffee is pronounced kohee.
If your walking along a street and you come across a mom-and-pop stationary store, buy some origami paper (simply origami in Japanese).
First I want to thank everyone for being so unbelievably helpful. All this info is wonderful! You guys truly rock.
One more question, electricity? We are going to be bringing our laptops, cameras, and a few other small electronics. I've read and heard conflicting reports on what will and won't work. I know they use the same configuration we do, but do I need a converter? I'm told that it's 100v instead of 120v... is this a problem?
It sounded so much like I was listening to a tv commercial that I kept wanting to hit the mute button. I nearly had a heart attack when I heard the phrase "fuainalu ansa" (final answer) on TV. Ug. The guy even looked like Regis.
That's one thing I don't get over easily. Even in Europe -- in Germany where they are immensely proud of their language and the revival of national pride -- they still had a lot of English in their culture. But a large portion of locals couldn't speak English! I just can't comprehend having an even medium-sized regular presence of a foreign language in my culture and not being able to understand it.
So Dan, I've heard about those infamous Japanese vending machines. The real question is: are they overpriced? :giggle
So Dan, I've heard about those infamous Japanese vending machines. The real question is: are they overpriced? :giggle
And +1 on Zwei's plug question.
They're quite reasonably priced, compared to most things. 100-300 yen for coffee, tea or softdrinks, 500+ yen for beer.
I never had any problems with the voltage. However, and this might have just been coincidence, I think I only ever saw two pin outlets. If your plug has a ground pin, like most laptop power cords do, you'll need an adapter.
Don't worry Schmoo, it's not that bad, and that is all part of the fun. With restaurants, you can always pick one that has the plastic food displays outside in the shop window! There you can decide what you want pretty easy. 18 hours?!? non-stop?!? Damn! I always get 2 nice and manageable 5 hour flights with a coupla hours in Singapore. Very easy to handle.
First I want to thank everyone for being so unbelievably helpful. All this info is wonderful! You guys truly rock.
One more question, electricity? We are going to be bringing our laptops, cameras, and a few other small electronics. I've read and heard conflicting reports on what will and won't work. I know they use the same configuration we do, but do I need a converter? I'm told that it's 100v instead of 120v... is this a problem?
Thanks!
Japan is 100V, but the frequency is 50 Hz in Tokyo and 60 Hz in Kyoto.
Most electronics have a DC converter that is rated for 100-240V, 50-60 Hz. You should check your laptop, your Nikon battery charger and other electronics to be sure.
Electrical equipment is another matter. They can overheat or have other problems. It's best not to use them unless they are rated for the specific voltage and current. Be wary of miniature travel voltage converters, as they aren't good to use with electronics or electric motors.
One more question, electricity? We are going to be bringing our laptops, cameras, and a few other small electronics. I've read and heard conflicting reports on what will and won't work. I know they use the same configuration we do, but do I need a converter? I'm told that it's 100v instead of 120v... is this a problem?
Thanks!
As far as the voltage, the best thing to do is to check the individual device and see what it is rated for. My Canon battery charger (CG580) says it can take input from 100V-240V, so it should be fine. I have two chargers for my cell phone, one of which lists only 120V, and the other one lists 100V-240V. I would only trust the one that lists 100V-240V. Same story on my Palm chargers, one lists 100V-240V, the other is specifically 120V.
Not sure if this will help or not, but addressing a Japanese person by name can have some very important connotations. You may already know this, but they introduce themselves wth their family name first (last name/first name instead of first name/last name like here in the states). Addressing someone by their family name alone is a sign of extreme familiarity. To play it safe, I always add "-san" when addressing them to show my respect (e.g., "Schmoo-san"). If I'm more familiar with them, I'll use "-chan" instead, but this is reserved for very close friends or family.
I'm obsessed with the culture and haven't been, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Listen to the people who have actually been there. I hope someday my studying will pay off when I visit myself. For now, my scant knowledge only comes in handy when the JAXA folks visit us.
Have a great time, girly. And take lots of pictures!
Well....I wouldn't use"-chan" with a man even if he were a relative unless I were kidding him. Or, perhaps a fast runner. It's used for little children, especially girls, or occasionally from children to their mother or grandmothers. Stick with "san" or even Mr. or Mrs.
That's one thing I don't get over easily. Even in Europe -- in Germany where they are immensely proud of their language and the revival of national pride -- they still had a lot of English in their culture. But a large portion of locals couldn't speak English! I just can't comprehend having an even medium-sized regular presence of a foreign language in my culture and not being able to understand it.
A lot of folks are that way. Sort of like most Americans not learning or speaking Spanish in the US. But in Japan, a lot of people put a lot of money and effort into learning English, and though not everyone speaks it well because most people never really use it or need it, many can speak or understand a little--especially in big cities. As has been mentioned, many Japanese are very helpful and some will go much out of their way to help a tourist. Getting food and that sort of thing should be no problem. If all else fails, McDonalds is everywhere.
And the canned cold "coffee?" Good luck on that , but it would go well with a "real" burger from Mcds.
Comments
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
Yes, you have to be aware. I wasn't aware of this on my first trip to Japan and almost got stuck at the office one evening without enough Yen to pay for my train ticket home.
I am in Tokyo now. And you?
Mike
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
Wow. That makes me a relative newcomer at just over 2 years. But I hope to stay as long as possible.
By the way, the photos on your Smugmug page are fantastic. Nice work!
Mike
I just got back from the bookstore, picked up a pocket phrasebook, Lonely Planet guidebook to Tokyo and several maps. Now it's time to study.
Ideally I'd love to travel outside of big cities to the smaller rural areas but given I have a lot of obligations already on top of it only being a week and a half, it might have to wait until the return visit.
You guys have all proven to be an enormously big help!
Domo arigato gozaimasu!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
Dō itashi mashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mosh-teh) You are welcome.
Thad
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
To say May I take your picture you should say:
Shashin wo tottemo ii desu ka?
As for pronounciation, just remember that all vowel sounds in Japanese are the short vowel sounds in English.
a (cat)
i (if)
u (sounds like the sound in "who" or "loop" )
e (let)
o (dog)
There are no other possible ways to pronounce the vowels. Sometimes they get lengthened. The "tt" in the word above "tottemo" acts to kind of stop the sound for a brief second. So "tot...temo". But hold your tongue in the "t" through that pause. Get what I'm saying?
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
Thanks.
2 years is enough to be getting a good feel for the place
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
Wow, the accent is very different in Hiroshima from Tokyo for some of the vowels. In Tokyo, it's...
a (as in "father")
i (rhymes with "bee")
o (as in "so")
The others are the same.
Mike
nah, it's the same. I just realized that some of those I wrote can be taken in different ways. Also, I am Australian, so my natural pronounciations, and what sounds in Japanese are close to them, may be different from other countries' accents.
For me if you say "father", then it is a long a sound (British English) etc...
Trust me, although there is Hiroshima dialect, the sounds themselves are the same.
So to clarify:
a = not "ay!" as in what we call the letter A, but "a" as in "at"
and so on for the vowels. Don't imagine how you read them as individual letters Schmoo, but as how you actually pronounce them in the words listed above.
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
This is so educational
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
That's too funny for words.
Mike
Schmoo, you dad grew up in occupied Korea eh? Wow. How much can he still speak or understand of Japanese? I hear the older generations still can speak it quite well, also in Taiwan!
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
They don't talk a lot about their childhood so it's hard for me to piece it together.
Another reason why I'm pretty fascinated with going over to Asia (finally!) since I typically don't travel in that westerly direction.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
My 2 vietnam travelers with me, 1 lead the way thru the airport. He asked directions and while doing so became furious because no one understood English. I on the other hand was
The one restaurant we ate at in the evening, the menu was multi pages in Japanese, when we asked for another menu for us, it was 1 piece of legal size paper - front side only and big text/no pictures.
Photos | Blog | Youtube
Being on the east coast makes going in that direction very time-consuming. As it is I'm not sure how to pass the time on the 18-hour flight...
DJT I'm not heartened by your stories! I'm counting on the restaurants having pictures so I can just grunt and point.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
Well, considering I never left the airport grounds, you shouldn't listen to my advice...
Yeah... I ended up going back to the Multi-paged Japanese menu and pointing to a picture. Then having eaten my food, I found out they didn't accept American Money nor did they accept travelers checks. Had to run back to the hotel and exchange some money, while one guy stayed at the restaurant.
I still have about $30.00 in yen (my trip thru Japan was in 1999).
But I would love to go to Japan and tour around the country. Can't wait to see your photos.
Photos | Blog | Youtube
DJT,
Your experience is very typical. English is not very common even in Tokyo. Even though everyone has to take English classes in school, they don't really learn it. And menus don't always have English or pictures, especially in Japanese restaurants.
Mike
Anyway, some more handy tips while in Japan.
Don't bother carrying a water bottle. Carry loose change instead. There are vending machines selling hot and cold drinks everywhere.
Cold Japanese-coffee-in-a-can is coffee as the Gods intended. You'll never go back to Charbucks. Coffee is pronounced kohee.
If your walking along a street and you come across a mom-and-pop stationary store, buy some origami paper (simply origami in Japanese).
www.dkoyanagi.com
www.flickr.com/photos/dkoyanagi/
One more question, electricity? We are going to be bringing our laptops, cameras, and a few other small electronics. I've read and heard conflicting reports on what will and won't work. I know they use the same configuration we do, but do I need a converter? I'm told that it's 100v instead of 120v... is this a problem?
Thanks!
That's one thing I don't get over easily. Even in Europe -- in Germany where they are immensely proud of their language and the revival of national pride -- they still had a lot of English in their culture. But a large portion of locals couldn't speak English! I just can't comprehend having an even medium-sized regular presence of a foreign language in my culture and not being able to understand it.
So Dan, I've heard about those infamous Japanese vending machines. The real question is: are they overpriced? :giggle
And +1 on Zwei's plug question.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
I never had any problems with the voltage. However, and this might have just been coincidence, I think I only ever saw two pin outlets. If your plug has a ground pin, like most laptop power cords do, you'll need an adapter.
www.dkoyanagi.com
www.flickr.com/photos/dkoyanagi/
Sounds about right!
Don't worry Schmoo, it's not that bad, and that is all part of the fun. With restaurants, you can always pick one that has the plastic food displays outside in the shop window!
http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
Japan is 100V, but the frequency is 50 Hz in Tokyo and 60 Hz in Kyoto.
Most electronics have a DC converter that is rated for 100-240V, 50-60 Hz. You should check your laptop, your Nikon battery charger and other electronics to be sure.
Electrical equipment is another matter. They can overheat or have other problems. It's best not to use them unless they are rated for the specific voltage and current. Be wary of miniature travel voltage converters, as they aren't good to use with electronics or electric motors.
Hope this helps.
Mike
As far as the voltage, the best thing to do is to check the individual device and see what it is rated for. My Canon battery charger (CG580) says it can take input from 100V-240V, so it should be fine. I have two chargers for my cell phone, one of which lists only 120V, and the other one lists 100V-240V. I would only trust the one that lists 100V-240V. Same story on my Palm chargers, one lists 100V-240V, the other is specifically 120V.
Well....I wouldn't use"-chan" with a man even if he were a relative unless I were kidding him. Or, perhaps a fast runner. It's used for little children, especially girls, or occasionally from children to their mother or grandmothers. Stick with "san" or even Mr. or Mrs.
A lot of folks are that way. Sort of like most Americans not learning or speaking Spanish in the US.
And the canned cold "coffee?"