Post: #1

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Post: #2

Learn as much the language as possible.

It may be different in Tokyo (not sure), but in general, very few people in Japan speak enough English to communicate. At least learn some basic phrases, such as how to ask for directions, "what's your name", "where are you from", etc.

Also, if women are a priority, do not expect to get by on exotic capital, and ignore the stories about it being a free-pussy ticket (I know a lot of guys like to say that). Other than that, the overall attractiveness of J-girls is pretty good, and difficulty should be about medium.

Safety and/or scams shouldn't be a concern. Japan is one of the safest countries there are, and scams are very rare.

Other than that I wish you all the best should you come here.

Post: #3

Of course it will be worth it.

I spent a month hitchhiking, taking trains, camping at temples.

I have also spent a lot of time partying in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

One thing I did everyday is learn more vocabulary and practice my conversation. Barely anyone in Japan speaks English.

The country is amazing, the people are generous and curious, the women among the most beautiful in the world, and there is no place like it.

Post: #4

C'mon guys, what are you talking about? I didn't speak a lick of Japanese for the first six months here and got along just fine. I know people that have been here 10 years and can barely order a beer in Nihongo and have no trouble living here. The vast majority of people under 60 will be able to understand most basic sentences. If the person you're talking to doesn't understand "what's your name?" in English, then you are either talking to a really old person, a really fucking stupid person, or more likely, you are just speaking too quickly and not enunciating your words. The Japanese language has half the phonemes of English so they simply can't hear the sounds your making properly.

When you talk to someone, sssssssssssssssssssssssssssllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooo​ooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww down. You thought you WERE speaking slowly? No, you're probably still too fast. And don't say "waddaywannadodomarrow?" Say each word as if they were uttered alone. Break between each word if you have to. "What...do...you...want...to...do...tomorrow?" I guarantee if you do this you'll find that the number of people who understand 'some' English will quadruple overnight.

I wouldn't worry about learning Japanese for any real utilitarian need. That said, learning a few phrases from "Making Out in Japanese" will certainly provide you with much entertainment! But spending your time learning Japanese for a one-month trip is just a waste of time. Once you get past the "what's your name?"s then what? My reasoning is, if you can't carry an actual conversation beyond the introductions, you're fucked anyway. Any girl that doesn't know that much English is not a girl that you're going to be able to pick up with three months of study under your belt. Just concentrate on finding the girls that do speak at least some basic English. There are a lot and their basic English will trounce your three months of Japanese any day.

As for whether it's worth it or not, that depends on you and what kind of traveler you are. If you're coming here thinking that it's easy pussy, you'll be disappointed. It really isn't all that easy here, although newbies can actually do better in certain circumstances. A lot of girls here are wary of the long-termers like me because "we are all playboys" but more importantly, we all apparently know how to play them like fiddles. Yeah, whatever. It's hard to be a player when everyone has their defenses up at all times. The newbie does not cause alarm and the ones looking for fresh meat will pounce on you if they see you. Anyway, don't come for the pussy. It's not that easy and you won't be able to count on a new ONS every two days. If banging one or two would satisfy you (and realize that you might not even get that), then by all means.

If you're into touring the place, then there is lots to see and do. However, I think that any travel site or guide would be able to give you mountains more information than we could.

If you want to know where to go to meet hot girls in Kansai, there are a few clubs, but you'd probably actually do better with day game if you're not too shy to approach.

IME, the in-your-face cocky approach is not the way to go. They like nice guys here. You can't really be too beta. However, they do like cool, too, so have a bit of style to you. Don't need much as every second foreigner here is in a t-shirt and khaki shorts and sandals with a backpack. It's a running joke here among the lifers, actually. That said, it doesn't necessarily work against you as that's what Japanese expect from you anyway and it also makes you stand out as more likely newb material. I recommend indirect as your go-to game. Start with asking for directions or some shit like that where you can develop the convo. Just walking up to a girl and saying, "nice boots" can work but will freak most of them out. Go for directions, help with something, whatever. Sometimes, they'll even offer to go out of their way to take you where you're going.

Anyway, getting long here so I'll let the others take over.

One last thing, I would highly recommend (we are, after all, on this forum for girls, right?) is to get yourself a few pipelines going before coming here. Tell them you're moving here, NOT just visiting! You plan on traveling for a month and then will come back to settle and look for a job in the city the girl you're talking to is from. At the end of the month, to leave them better than you found them, oops, there's a family emergency you have to go home for, sorry honey, I will let you know when I can come back. Try to, if you can, find out if they live alone (without coming off creepy) and ditch the others. Keep warming these independent girls up, building solid rapport with them. Remember, you're 'moving' here so they will be more open to it. Occasionally, complain about not having much of a budget and you hope you can get by till you find a job. You will probably get a few offers for a place to stay. Maybe even before you get here. hehe

All JMHO, of course.

Post: #5

Japan is a blast... but pickup without knowing how to read the more westernized chicks will be an exercise in frustration.

Not surprisingly, often the language ability is directly inverse to hotness, so be forewarned.

Otherwise just go mang. Get drunk with salaryman, watch the robot restauranto show in Shibuya, eat strange things ('omakase okudasai!" and point to x amount of yen), get lost and find your way. Its a great country, very civil people.

Post: #6

While I like your post ImmoralPsychology, just because you think you "got by" just fine without speaking English, doesn't mean your experience wouldn't have been far better if you learned some several phrases here and there, and would have opened up plenty of doors and options for you. I think there's an illusion people because they think just because they didn't die or weren't in some emergency that they didn't "need" language, without ever seeing the other side of the coin...

Gold tip on the speaking slowly part tho. I'm shocked by how retarded some foreigners are with this (in general).
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Post: #7

(06-25-2013 04:43 PM)Cyclone Wrote:  While I like your post ImmoralPsychology, just because you think you "got by" just fine without speaking English, doesn't mean your experience wouldn't have been far better if you learned some several phrases here and there, and would have opened up plenty of doors and options for you. I think there's an illusion people because they think just because they didn't die or weren't in some emergency that they didn't "need" language, without ever seeing the other side of the coin...

Gold tip on the speaking slowly part tho. I'm shocked by how retarded some foreigners are with this (in general).
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Well, opinions differ, I guess. I've lived here for over 15 years so I do have the experience of someone who has lived here both with and without Japanese language skills. Just sayin', the amount of Japanese that one can learn in three months of self-study hardly seems worth it for a one-month jaunt.

Post: #8

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Post: #9

I'm not in Tokyo so I don't know. Also depends on your goals. Sightseeing? Meeting people? Picking up girls?

Outside of Tokyo, I don't know what I could tell you that you couldn't get in a guidebook. Kyoto is very nice. Check it out and the temples and stuff too. Osaka Castle is cool. But again, you can get all that from guidebooks. There are no stand-out things that I can think of here in terms of "only us locals know about". Or maybe I do and just don't realize it cuz I've been here so long and now it's all just part of the background to me?

Post: #10

Just moved to Kyoto. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, I can show you around a bit.

Post: #11

Timeout Tokyo and Osaka always has cool events and listings going on. Their maps for 100 things to do in Shibuya and other cities-hoods are invaluable. I picked them up for free in one of the main stations, I think it was in Tokyo station.

Kyoto is a cool town, but if you are looking for the 'weirdo Japan' experience Osaka and Tokyo can provide you with that way more. Just my 2 cents.

Post: #12

One thing I can say is, there are some very cool restaurants you can check out. Food is expensive here but the atmosphere is out of this world in some places, especially for dates. Some places have "koshitsu", which is essentially a private table that is walled off so you and your girl can have some privacy. If you're in Osaka, check out a place called Christon Cafe for a resto with a church decor. If you're religious maybe avoid it. Some Christians get offended by it. LOL There's a restaurant called The Lock Up (I think) that will apparently handcuff you at the door and take you to a jail cell mockup for dinner. I haven't been there. There's another with a Alice in Wonderland theme decor. There used to be one with an Aladdin type of Arabian thing decor that was very cool but I think they only have one in Kobe now.

If you have $150 per person for dinner, I do recommend trying the teppanyaki steak wagyu. Very very good stuff if you don't mind fatty meat.

A few months ago, some guy in Tokyo cut his balls and dick off and served them up to a few guests paying something like $500 a plate. There is definitely some freaky shit here, that's for sure.

Of course, it might be worth going to a "maid cafe" to have girls treat you like a manga king. Not cheap from what I can tell but if that's your thing...

Also, not that it needs to be said, but you can't visit Japan without trying the sushi. And don't forget to get yourself a real bowl of ramen. Awesome stuff. Tonkotsu is the flavor for me.

Too bad you'll miss summer. Some of the beaches are insane for the girls. I would have said Mt. Fuji but it'll be to late in the season to climb.

Above all though, if you're coming alone, definitely get some girls online first that will be happy to show you around. Fake some real interest in them for a month or two before coming and closing them should be easy as pie. Look for those who live alone because many of them live with parents till their 30s.

Can't think of anything else right now.

Oh, one more. Hot spring. Very cool. Bring a girl, obviously. And get the ones with the "tennen rotenburo", which is your own little private hot spring attached to your room. Otherwise, you'll have to split up to the men's and women's respectively for your dip in the onsen. Not much fun hanging naked with a bunch of geezers if you ask me. Very expensive for that though.