Immerse yourself in the safe arms of a proud,ancient culture

[Steve Bildermann]

Japan Makes New Pitch to Lure Americans

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/travel/28rep.html?ex=1065326400&en=75e77a5164edf537&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

CONJURING up a return to the 1960's, when Japan was a popular and affordable tourism destination, Japan wants to double its foreign visitors to 10 million a year by 2010. With the hubris and sky-high prices of the 1980's a fading memory, tourism officials are trying to sell Japan as a destination with newly reasonable prices, no recent history of terrorism and streets that can be walked without fear all night long.

Despite the new advertising, visas remain a major hurdle to tourism growth. About 70 percent of Japan's tourists come from Asian countries whose nationals must spend weeks and varying but significant sums to get visas to visit Japan.

A Guide to Japanese Visas

But even at new developments, language barriers can stand tall. At the sleek new Shiodome media and business complex, the minimalist décor does not include prominently posted signs in English for the anchor hotel, the Royal Park. Recently, a friendly janitor walked a quarter-mile out of his way to show the entrance to a gesticulating American visitor.

Lauren Rooney, a 21-year-old Georgia college student who went on a student tour last spring, said, "Sometimes I would find a young adult like me who spoke English, but there were not many."

13 Secrets for Speaking Fluent Japanese

[Caustic Saint]

Why does this statistic "A cab ride from Narita airport to downtown Tokyo still costs a stunning $220. But the Narita Express train to Tokyo Station costs $30." always get trotted out? Sure, the $220 figure is high, but do any of these articles ever mention how far outside the city Narita is?

[AssKissinger]

Why does this statistic "A cab ride from Narita airport to downtown Tokyo still costs a stunning $220. But the Narita Express train to Tokyo Station costs $30." always get trotted out? Sure, the $220 figure is high, but do any of these articles ever mention how far outside the city Narita is?

This won't exactly answer your question but the prices to get out of Narita are a typical example of 'welcome to Japan, now touch those toes!'. The real bullshit is that it costs 3,000 yen to take a fucking city bus from Narita to Haneda. It's Japan's shortcoming that they can't make Narita big enough to deal with domestic and international flights so they could at least have the courtesy to make a convenient and cheap (if not free) connection between the airports. It doesn't exactly make a good first impression on people to be trapped into paying around $25 for a bus across town.

And another thing, this article is bullshit trying to say prices are down in Japan. It's still the same ol' expensive as hell, bend over and take it, there's no way around it, price fixing place it ever was.

[Greener]

They seriously need to get airfares below $1000.00 Canadian year round. This will be a big help. The next step is getting the price of non Gaijin hotels to a reasonable level in Tokyo. (At least in similar price range as New York or San Francisco.)

[Big Booger]

$220... I'd rather walk.

[Taro Toporific]

Japan Makes New Pitch to Lure Americans
nytimes.com/2003/09/28/
..... tourism officials are trying to sell Japan as a destination with newly reasonable prices, no recent history of terrorism and streets that can be walked without fear all night long.

Let's 'tighten immigration controls' to make Japan the "safest"...

Justice minister pledges to make Japan 'safe again,' tighten border controls
The Japan Times: Sept. 28, 2003
Daizo Nozawa says Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has ordered him in his new job as justice minister to make Japan the "safest country in the world" again....
"My primary task should be to return society to a condition in which women and children can walk alone on the streets at nights," the 70-year-old Upper House member said in reference to the soaring crime rate, which has jumped 58 percent in the past decade.
What the Justice Ministry can do toward that goal, Nozawa said, is ensure prompt public access to the justice system, and reform the tighten immigration controls ...
Daizo Nozawa

[Crispy]

You don't have to worry about getting lost in a back alley in Japan.

Funny, I got lost all the time in Japan, and it seemed to be all alleys. I could ask for directions, for people who can't speak the language...

[kamome]

reference to the soaring crime rate, which has jumped 58 percent in the past decade.[/u]...
Daizo Nozawa

Typical bureaucratic overreaction to statistics. The large percentage leap could be from a small number relative to the population of Japan to a slightly larger small number. In other words, it's a big leap to think that a large statistical increase in the crime rate means Japan is no longer safe and requires stricter immigration controls. It's like using a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito.

[Taro Toporific]

.... a typical example of 'welcome to Japan, now touch those toes!'.... bend over and take it, there's no way around it...

Foreign visitors waiting too long at Narita: transport minister
Tuesday December 16, 3:02 PM / KYODO
Foreign visitors to Japan have to wait too long for immigration procedures at Narita airport, and measures will be taken to improve the situation, the minister of transport said Tuesday.
Most foreign travelers have to wait three times longer than Japanese citizens at the airport, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nobuteru Ishihara told a news conference.

[Caustic Saint]

Foreign visitors waiting too long at Narita: transport minister
Tuesday December 16, 3:02 PM / KYODO
Foreign visitors to Japan have to wait too long for immigration procedures at Narita airport, and measures will be taken to improve the situation, the minister of transport said Tuesday.
Most foreign travelers have to wait three times longer than Japanese citizens at the airport, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nobuteru Ishihara told a news conference.

Any word on the lines at Haneda?

[Alcazar]

Typical bureaucratic overreaction to statistics. The large percentage leap could be from a small number relative to the population of Japan to a slightly larger small number. In other words, it's a big leap to think that a large statistical increase in the crime rate means Japan is no longer safe and requires stricter immigration controls. It's like using a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito.

I had to remind myself of that the other day, I was reading a report about some particularly cruel/brutal Japanese crimes by young people and I was feeling a bit scared about eventually coming to Japan as I read it. But then I thought 'Hang on, crime is everywhere, and most of the people on FG live there, and they have never had a problem as far as I know'. You're right, fear can become disproportionate to real danger if you let it rule you-it was happening to me.

Have any FG here got any crime experiences they would like to share?

[maraboutslim]

Foreign visitors to Japan have to wait too long for immigration procedures at Narita airport

Just a reminder to any FG going home for the holidays: if you have a visa, and get the usual re-entry permit, and then go out of Japan for the holidays, you can get in the Japanese line at Nartia on your way back in. (at least this worked before).

[Jack]

They seriously need to get airfares below $1000.00 Canadian year round. This will be a big help. The next step is getting the price of non Gaijin hotels to a reasonable level in Tokyo. (At least in similar price range as New York or San Francisco.)

I don't know what you mean by non-gaijin hotels but Tokyo hotels are substantially cheaper than hotels in New York and San Francisco. Including the top of the line Four Seasons in Marunouchi is cheaper than the Four Seasons in NYC and San Francisco.

[Jack]

They seriously need to get airfares below $1000.00 Canadian year round. This will be a big help. The next step is getting the price of non Gaijin hotels to a reasonable level in Tokyo. (At least in similar price range as New York or San Francisco.)

What do you mean by "they" when you say they need to get airfares below $1,000? Airlines decide what airfare to charge, including your own Air Canada. Are you suggesting that somehow the government should tell airlines to lower their fares or what?

[Caustic Saint]

They seriously need to get airfares below $1000.00 Canadian year round. This will be a big help. The next step is getting the price of non Gaijin hotels to a reasonable level in Tokyo. (At least in similar price range as New York or San Francisco.)

What do you mean by "they" when you say they need to get airfares below $1,000? Airlines decide what airfare to charge, including your own Air Canada. Are you suggesting that somehow the government should tell airlines to lower their fares or what?

Airline prices fluctuate based upon the season and travel volumes. Where you're flying to and from also has a lot to do with it.

Example: In January I'm going from Seoul to Toyko, round trip is costing me $509. For the same dates you can go round trip from L.A. to Tokyo for $557.

How the hell does that make any sense?

[Taro Toporific]

Foreign visitors to Japan have to wait too long for immigration procedures at Narita airport

Just a reminder to any FG going home for the holidays: if you have a visa, and get the usual re-entry permit, and then go out of Japan for the holidays, you can get in the Japanese line at Nartia on your way back in. (at least this worked before).

Yes Slim, any FG with an Alien Card can go through the "Japanese Line".
And now there will be a special express line just for me--Wo0t!:)


Moves afoot to accelerate Narita arrivals processing
Japan Times, Dec 17
... The survey was conducted in response to an opposition lawmaker's claim in a Diet session in November that foreigners frequently wait in line to enter Japan ... To ease the inconvenience, the Immigration Bureau said it will allocate inspection booths for foreigners and Japanese with more flexibility...Inspectors will also frequently move between the two entry sections at Terminal No. 2 when one becomes more congested than the other.
The bureau will set up special booths for elderly, disabled and pregnant visitors.

[ramchop]

What's the deal with that? Last time I went through Narita I remembered the old FG advice "Residents can line up with the locals". But the signs above the counters clearly state "Japanese passports", now I know you don't have one of those.

Anyway, at 6am there were bugger all in the FG line so I didn't even try it.

Wife and kiddies 4 weeks later, put on the tired "I'm a harrassed mother with children"-angryface and walked straight up to the "Flight Crew" counter. That's got to be quicker than any other option out there.

[Caustic Saint]

Wife and kiddies 4 weeks later, put on the tired "I'm a harrassed mother with children"-angryface and walked straight up to the "Flight Crew" counter. That's got to be quicker than any other option out there.

Not to sound like too much of a dick, but boo-fucking-hoo. Kids don't make you special. Get back in line with everybody else.

[ramchop]

Not to sound like too much of a dick, but boo-fucking-hoo. Kids don't make you special.

Very true. But if after an overnight flight you're stuck in line behind two screaming infants what would you rather do? Put up with the noise (remember you're tired and irritable) or watch the annoying trio march off into the distance through a special lane?

[Caustic Saint]

Not to sound like too much of a dick, but boo-fucking-hoo. Kids don't make you special.

Very true. But if after an overnight flight you're stuck in line behind two screaming infants what would you rather do? Put up with the noise (remember you're tired and irritable) or watch the annoying trio march off into the distance through a special lane?

I'd calmly hand the harried mother two hefty bags and ask her to move to the rear of the line.

[cstaylor]

If you have a Japanese re-entry permit (which you have if you're a resident of Japan), you can take the Japanese line. I'm in and out in less than 10 minutes.

[ramchop]

I'd calmly hand the harried mother two hefty bags and ask her to move to the rear of the line.

I hope you're trained in the art of self-defence.

[Taro Toporific]

What's the deal with that? Last time I went through Narita I remembered the old FG advice "Residents can line up with the locals". But the signs above the counters clearly state "Japanese passports", now I know you don't have one of those.
.

Don't worry. That "Japanese passports" sign is just there to scare off the FG n00bs. Many Japanese Immigration lines now have smaller sign that say "Japanese Residents" meaning FGs with Alien Cards and a re-entry permit .

Wife and kiddies 4 weeks later, put on the tired "I'm a harrassed mother with children"-angryface and walked straight up to the "Flight Crew" counter. That's got to be quicker than any other option out there.

Japanese word-of-the-day" ZUZUSHI (brazen)
If you kids are screaming and the wife is growing horns after a 2 hour wait in line, just go to the "Flight Crew" counter. It's ok, really. I do it all the time on crutches. If you've got a solid visa and meshi as well as a "reason" the Japanese don't seem to mind.

[Big Booger]

I tend to bypass the passport deal all together, and as I am exiting the aircraft, there's generally a space just big enough for me to squeeze through in between the aircraft and the exit tunnel. A 10 meter jump to the tarmac, and I am free! Then it is just a 30 minute walk around to the front side of the terminal, and I am on a bus to Kinki

LOL

[kurohinge1]

I tend to bypass the passport deal all together, and as I am exiting the aircraft, there's generally a space just big enough for me to squeeze through in between the aircraft and the exit tunnel. A 10 meter jump to the tarmac, and I am free! ...

My own technique was to carry-on a sandwich-board marked with airport runway codes like B 30-12, then hide under it after exiting the plane and shuffle over to the perimeter and freedom. But I gave up after last time when, after reaching the fence, I turned around to find 4 jumbos following me !

[GomiGirl]

What's the deal with that? Last time I went through Narita I remembered the old FG advice "Residents can line up with the locals". But the signs above the counters clearly state "Japanese passports", now I know you don't have one of those.
.

Don't worry. That "Japanese passports" sign is just there to scare off the FG n00bs. Many Japanese Immigration lines now have smaller sign that say "Japanese Residents" meaning FGs with Alien Cards and a re-entry permit .

I always go through this line but without fail, some "kindly" person in the line will tap me on the shoulder and point out that the line is for "Japanese only" but I calmly show them my re-entry permit and point to the sign that says Japanese residents and explain that it is OK for me to be standing in the Japanese line. Does everybody else get strange looks while waiting in this line?

My last trip to China, I was travelling back with a Japanese client who said the same thing.. It just goes to show that most Japanese people don't realise that an FG with a work visa and is a resident is not so different after all. (except for voting, guarentees for apartments/bank loans etc)

[ramchop]

Don't worry. That "Japanese passports" sign is just there to scare off the FG n00bs. Many Japanese Immigration lines now have smaller sign that say "Japanese Residents" meaning FGs with Alien Cards and a re-entry permit .

I need my eyes tested. I didn't see the smaller sign. (Either that or I wasn't all there after a sleepless overnight flight)

[kamome]

[GomiGirl]

The Japanese always tell me to go to the FG line until I point out that I am a reentrant. They actually look displeased with the fact that I can stand in line with them. F-in' bastards.

Yes well I am glad I am not alone in feeling the displeasure of being in this line.. I always make sure my passport and Alien card are clearly visible for others in the line so that they know that I am a FG.. It will be interesting in a few weeks when I will be returning with a whole gang of FG.. so we will descend on the Japanese line en masse.. will be fun.