Expo Recommendations

[kurohinge1]

I'm heading to the Aichi Expo in the second half of June, with the wife, a 2-year old and the outlaws in tow. From those who have been, do you have any recommendations as to which pavilions should not be missed?

BTW, it's a pity the airship doesn't appear to do joyrides ...



Thanks in advance.

[GuyJean]

I'm heading to the Aichi Expo in the second half of June, with the wife, a 2-year old and the outlaws in tow. From those who have been, do you have any recommendations as to which pavilions should not be missed?

Haven't been there, but I thought Japan-zine had a decent map and 'realistic' coverage (in the print version).. Metropolis had a decent fluff piece..

Again]http://www.japan-zine.com/new_page1.php?id=118[/url]
Metropolis article - http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tokyo/558/travel.asp

GJ

[Blah Pete]

My wife is there now so I can give you a report in about a day.

My neighbor went about two weeks ago and said it was way too crowded. The only pavillions he went to were Nepal, Sri Lanka, Botswana, etc. because all of the Japanese (Toyota, etc.) had over an hour wait. He liked the architecture though (real estate guy) so he was content just walking around and checking the outsides of the building.

Other observations;
Not good if it is a rainy day because there is not much shelter.
Long walk from the bus stop to the gates if you have kids, old people.
Food is expensive. Can't bring your own in. There is a combini inside but the line took 1/2 hour to get through.

I would make sure I hit it before the schools let out and you have a zillion people there.

[kurohinge1]

Thanks GuyJean, and Blah Pete.

I've also heard that it's mega-crowded and so it's wise to plan which pavilions to focus on.

I suspect that it will be an enormous test of patience and I've already resigned myself to the fact that, like Blah Pete's neighbour, we may not see the inside of many pavilions in the end, however, our 2 year old is alot of fun, even in a line, so we'll just try to see a couple/few of the best ones and leave it at that.

I should think about where I need to hide the bentos so they don't get confiscated on the way in. Do they do body cavity searches?

Anyway, I look forward very much to Mrs Blah Pete's report and any other recommendations from those brave enough to face the crowds at Aichi.

[GomiGirl]

Cheap hotel recommendations - a friend of mine has just reopened a chain of love hotels nearby. A clean and cheap alternative to the overpriced hotels.

[kurohinge1]

Cheap hotel recommendations - a friend of mine has just reopened a chain of love hotels nearby. A clean and cheap alternative to the overpriced hotels.

GomiGirl Thanks for the offer, but what would my wife say

Just kidding. Please PM me or post the details, as the Mrs was looking into accomodation this week. We plan to go up (from Nara) the night before then tackle the lines first thing the next morning. Are those ex-Rabu Hoteru in Nagoya? Also, do they still have the themed rooms?

[Blah Pete]

The wife and friends just returned from Nagoya.
Hotels are tough. This was the 2nd trip for one of her friends and her boss hooked them up this time at a friends hotel. They had to ride the trains 40 minutes one way.

All the Japanese pavillions were real crowded. They ended up waiting 3 hours at the Hitachi exhibit. They were near the front of the line then got held back because some big time VIP was coming so they kept everyone outside.

The big attractions like Toyota have reserved tickets but you have to get there when they first open. They may also take reservations online.
The Toyota exhibit is worth putting up with the crowds, etc.

If it rains it would not be fun as there is not much shelter. She said if it rained she wouldn't go.

[dimwit]

What exactly is the attraction of Expos anyways? They seem to be like amusement parks without rides and with extra long lines. I hugely doubt ANYTHING in the Toyoda pavillion or any other exhibit worth lining up for three hours. I get the feeling the for most national pavillions they empty out the most boring displays from their national museums and unload them on the host country.

Another question. Why do all expos have to have monorails? They seem to be the Expo future vision cliche except they ain't anymore.

The only good thing about Nagoya Expo is that it will keep enough fools going there that some of the better tourist atrractions in this country will be less crowded this summer.

[kurohinge1]

Thanks again Blah Pete for the report.

What exactly is the attraction of Expos anyways? They seem to be like amusement parks without rides and with extra long lines ...

I used to think like that about girls, when I was about 8. "What is the attraction of girls? They are like boys without the ability to throw a ball, or any interest in video games." But I came to appreciate them (very much) for their differences. So, I'm keeping an open mind about the Expo too.

There are rides there, and from the pieces I've seen on NHK and a local science show, I'm sure we'd have a fantastic time if it were posible to see everything we wanted. The reality of crowds will mean lots of queues and waiting but it's a day out with the family and better than going to work in my books.

[dimwit]

What exactly is the attraction of Expos anyways? They seem to be like amusement parks without rides and with extra long lines ...

I used to think like that about girls, when I was about 8. "What is the attraction of girls? They are like boys without the ability to throw a ball, or any interest in video games."

The difference is that when I was eight (actually six) I used to like Expos; they had weird new architecture, cheap electronic gimmicks and all the things I thought were modern in 1967.

But someone please tell me what exactly what there is to see there!

[FG Lurker]

[quote="dimwit"]The difference is that when I was eight (actually six) I used to like Expos]
Just about exactly what you described... I went to Expo 86 in Vancouver a number of times and enjoyed things exactly like you wrote.

I think the concept is cool, but I don't think I'll be going to one anywhere in Asia. Tooooooooo many people and I think it would drive me nuts.

[Charles]

[quote="dimwit"]The difference is that when I was eight (actually six) I used to like Expos]

"Nothing ages more rapidly than our concept of the future."
-Gene Roddenberry

[Tsuru]

If I knew beforehand how much of a disappointment it was going to be I would have spent my precious time looking at Nagoyan concrete that day.

It was supposed to be the highlight of my short holiday in Japan during golden week (aside from meeting my inlaws, of course ), but as much as I hate to admit it, I hated every minute of it from the moment we walked through the Seto gate... and I'm not kidding neither.

Despite the fact that it was a saturday _as well as_ golden week, the fact that I was dragged there by my fiance and 2 of her friends, and the fact that it was just insanely hot that day I concur with dimwit that the expo more resembles a themepark with no rides and longer lines than an exposition.

And to further add to my misery the pavilions that I did see were nothing short of a disappointment... most notably Canada and my home country, Holland. I don't know, maybe you have to be Japanese to see the point of such an event, but in the future I'll be happy to give it a miss...

On the plus side it's a very nice, long walk for your 4000-something yen

[Longo]

Hi all,

I also attended Expo during Golden Week, and yeah, it was busy.....my wife and I stood in line for an hour for the JR pavillion, which was a really bad 13 minute 3-D movie of the MagLev bullet train.... The train is impressive, if it ever comes to fruition..the movie was not. After that we wandered into the Pacific countries pavillions.. Singapore was arty and cool. Laos was interesting as were a couple of the others...there were several dance performances that were OK if you like that sort of thing. We then ended up in the Europe pavillion area, a couple of the countries were again OK.. I liked Greece (cradle of western civilization theme) Ate at the German restaurant which was a little pricey but not out of line with prices in general in Japan. My impression is that a lot of the countries are using this as a way to attract tourism to their countires. Overall it was worth the visit I think.

[GomiGirl]

Finally I was able to get the link for the Love Hotel that I was talking about a while ago.. I had to beg the owner to give it to me as he is embarressed about the site not finished...

Hotel Bonita Chain (Japanese only)

For the one near the expo, click on the Komakai link. It only has the address and phone number and the map is not ready. But Google maps will be your friend.

[Taro Toporific]

The Platypus, our sustainable future

Japanese queue - gladly - for a 35-foot platypus and [octopus dumplings]
In most countries, a long line may turn off visitors. In Japan, it signals that something good awaits.
ABC News: Sept 27
AICHI, JAPAN---After 185 days and 22 million visitors, the 2005 World Expo ended here Sunday.... and 95 percent of the crowd, were local. Foreigners aren't keen, it seems, to wait hours in line, even to see interactive talking animals at the Hitachi pavilion, a 35-foot platypus at Australia's exhibit, or to sample the curry, falafel, or octopus dumplings ...
.... fundamentally, Japanese know how to stand in line - in a way perhaps that no other nationality on earth can match.
The Japanese approach shopping, dining, events like the Nagoya world expo, art openings, films, and so on - with an assumption that they will queue. Lining up and waiting, and doing so willingly, is something expected, anticipated, even if not always enjoyed. In fact, many Japanese at the expo said, an event may be viewed suspiciously if there is no line. No lines indicate something possibly amiss; no crowds can mean low value.
"I don't always like the line," says Tamia Ito from Osaka. "But I know a line means that something at the end is super good. So I don't mind waiting even though I don't want to."...more...

[IkemenTommy]

I'm proud to say that I stayed as far away possible from that place and those gazillion people.

[Captain Japan]

33 foreigners have gone missing since entering Japan for Aichi Expo
Kyodo via Japan Today

NAGOYA — The Aichi prefectural police said Tuesday that 33 foreign nationals from eight countries have gone missing after entering Japan for the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, and that some of them are believed to be overstaying their visas.

The police said they suspect the missing foreign nationals from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon may be working illegally in Japan. Of the 33, 20 Indonesian dancers arrived in Japan on Sept 1 for a performance at the Aichi Expo. But police said they have been unable to contact them since they participated in the event, and that they had not showed up at Chubu international airport in mid-September for a flight back to Indonesia.

[kurohinge1]

... "I don't always like the line," says Tamia Ito from Osaka. "But I know a line means that something at the end is super good"...

The gas pavilion proved the super good theory wrong - long line but a show hosted by a kid that looked like an elementary school bunkasai performance.

However, the Toyota pavilion's robot show (to the melody of "When the Saints go Marching In") was super good and our 2 year old still sings the tune whenever she hears "robot" or sees one on TV.

I'm still not sure if that's a good thing, but it's very cute to see that kids can be conditioned so easily and at such a young age. Now to teach her how to bring daddy a beer when she hears the key in the front door. That would be super good.