If you were going to recommend something about Japan to your friends and family back home to get them to visit here, what would it be?
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65 Comments
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pathat
Japanese women are the most beautiful in the world and are not ashamed to be feminine.
It makes men happy to simply be around them, and not a few foreign women should check them out in order to see what a real woman is supposed to look like and how she should act.
The beauty and charm of Japanese women-Japan's #1 selling point.
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Blue_Tiger
Pathat - Agree, and ditto that for Mexican women, Brazilian women, and Korean women.
Also, I'd recommend the temples and other cultural aspects of Japan.
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ptolemy
The Japanese tradition of eating KFC on Dec. 24. As long as you reserve it months in advance of course.
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ca1ic0cat
I enjoy just going around Tokyo and enjoying the people but I zip to Hakone when the crowds get to be too much.
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LostinNagoya
pathat
errr...are you ok?
Anyway, I would recommend mountain trails, they're great. Japanese respect, and conservation, for nature is an example.
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JohnBecker
What would I recommend? A visit to Nikko (preferably in November). A lap around the entire Imperial Palace grounds (preferably during sakura season). A trip anywhere on the shinkansen, perhaps to get to Hakone (I know, Odawara Station and then a train and a bus...) or Himeji. A pilgrimage to Hiroshima or Nagasaki. A visit to Matsumoto to check out the castle, the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum and the Alps. A trip to Sakai City to see the burial mounds (if and ONLY if Sakai City opens up the observation tower in the city park! The gardens there almost make up for it).
A stop in Osaka to check out Dotonbori one evening. A ride up to the 150m level of Tokyo Tower just before twilight. (Or a climb up the Sky Tree?) A stroll into Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi at opening time. A day spent wandering aimlessly in Yanaka or Asakusa. An afternoon at Ryogoku Kokugikan to see what sumo is all about. A walk around Ginza (I'm partial to the Ando shippo-yaki and Watanabe hanga shops). A Giants game at Tokyo Dome (or, possibly better still, a trip to Koshien for a Tigers game). A boat trip from Asakusa to Odaiba. A spring morning at Koishikawa Korakuen. And I could keep going and going...
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rondh69
Women, food and gardens...
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LostinNagoya
@ S7: ok, it's not perfect, mainly near the huge metropolis. However, if you leave the big cities and head for the countryside, there's still an exuberant nature there. Try Nagano, for instance.
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tigerguy
I'd recommend the quality food like the sushi and ramen restaurants where they prepare it in front of you. The relaxing onsens are also a relaxing experience this time of the year. I definitely wouldn't mention the job opportunities and career side of things, that would make them never wanna come...
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hellhound
easy girls, okonomiyaki, roppongi and japanese TV. Ah, also they should try some whale in Asakusa. And japanese beer. Yeah!
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blvtzpk
OK - First, good question. Not recycled grudge-bait.
It depends on the person. Each has their own particular interest.
And I could go on...
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Katsuro1000
I would recommend the city and the Hot SPRINGS!!!!!!!!
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Katsuro1000
I forgot to mention The Japanese Food, Yummy.
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DXXJP
pink salon, mizu shobai, and asahi super dry. Enough to get any redneck in my family to show up.
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5SpeedRacer5
Two things are true pretty well anywhere you go in the country.
Good to excellent service. "How you guys doing?""Evthing ok here?""Juon frize widdat?" and 18% gratuities are not on the menu. It does not matter if you are shopping for a computer or ordering at just about any restaurant... the TEN-IN will be courteous, helpful, and will at least appear to be sincere. At the very least, they will be silent and unobtrusive. The food is clean. The merchandise generally has good quality. Nobody is trying to jerk you around.
"Relaxation" I put it in quotes because things here are hectic and weird in a way, but nobody is going to pick your pocket, the hotel will not lose your reservations, your train will leave on time, people will meet you where they say they will meet you, etc. Things work the way they are supposed to. There are things missing, such as benches at malls, but there are plenty of coffee shops and nobody will hassle you if you just order some orange juice and hang out for a few minutes. I swear, just knowing things will work out ok is better than lying on a beach and worrying about the rental car.
I don't know of any other country where these two things are almost universally true. Maybe Finland?
0
Potsu
That IS a tough question....
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nisegaijin
Women, Akihabara, and well... everything.. japan is awesome.. everything where government isn't involved is just awesome.
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Okinawamike
"For drinkers - nomihodais, beer garden bashes, nihonshu tours"
And then 23 days free room and board without worries about cell phone or e-mail from friends back home! In fact you don't need to worry about friends or any other familiar faces. Just a few visits from a guy who really can't understand what your saying, but he is there to help.
Come see Japan! The Land of Confusion!
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herefornow
Sorry, but there are 18 posts here, and I've yet to see a compelling reason for anyone to come here -- except possibly horny young guys who want to drink to excess with beautiful, "easy" women. Is that really the best thing Japan has to offer? Sure, Nikko is great, but it alone is not worth flying 12 hours and paying a grand or more to see. Ditto Akihabara, Kyoto, etc. Someone in the U.S. can fly to Vegas right now cheap, get a great hotel for well under $100, and drive a couple of hours and see the Grand Canyon, in addition to all Las Vegas has. And you want them to come for Roppongi? Please.
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tarento
It's the safetiest country on the planet. And ramen, ramen, ramen...though I'm trying to cut back.
0
Foxie
My brother is crazy about Japan and comes here every year. He loves wooden sake boxes, green tea, Japanese sweets, eating Japanese food and relaxing in temple gardens. I would recommend my friends going to Okinawa to see beautiful empty beaches and traditional towns in Gifu. I would recommend them to buy traditional fabrics and ceramics.
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seesaw
Execuse me, that's a bit un-called for statement, isn't it? considering that there are many gaijin ladies posters here too.
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abromofo
A few days in Tokyo is probably good for a start. Some all-night drinks with a bunch of Japanese people, with some shopping during the daytime.
But the real fun would be outside of Tokyo. Drive a few hours to Hakone, or further away, spend a few days at a Ryokan in the countryside, rotenburo, wonderful Japanese food, exploring some of the old towns.
As for women... Can't say I agree with that any more. Sure as heck used to. Perhaps if you keep your distance, and they keep the makeup and clothes on, they look pretty hot.
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womanforwomen
So many reasons. The good things are just wonderful in Japan. And bad things.. My mom and sister were here recently and they were glad that we don't have to live in crammed up cities, and were glad that they do not have to see mature old GIRLS dressed in pink dresses and bows... My brother is visiting me soon and my dad too... I select the things that I want to show them and the things I do not want to.
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Eyeblack
The beautiful Japanese ladies. Legs, legs, legs...!
0
Sarge
A proper bath. You know, one in which you can sit in with the water up to your neck. Try that in an American bathtub! It's impossible!
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Altria
The green tea. Also the onsens.
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RogueFive
Japan has four seasons.
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Richard_III
Unless you try and have a conversation with them.
That point aside, maybe Shinjuku and Shibuya for a bit of shopping. There's nothing else to do really.
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dolphingirl
I've been trying to get my mom to come here and finally, after 7 years, she's coming! I think she'll love the shopping.
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Disillusioned
24 hour alcohol with low tax.
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Patrick Smash
RogeFive, no, Japan does not have 4 seasons. Japan is four season country.
For me it's the local delicacies, and big Pat has sampled plenty of them. Drink until 5:00am, move on to another bar, and still take one of Japan's local dishes home with you. Fantastic.
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HonestDictator
It really all depends on their interests, but as an experienced tourist to Japan and still wanting to go again (my favorite country in asia), its great to experience a different culture, definitly the food, the baths, the scenery, and the society are the most basic reasons. The other side depends on how much of an entertainment buff they are too, video games, anime, manga etc.
0
Junnama
So much to do if you really want to. Tokyo has it all not neccasarily cheap though)...
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mrsynik
Get off the beaten track from where most tourists go. The far flung areas of Shikoku, San-in and Central Chugoku areas have some wonderful scenery and experiences. Gero-onsen in Gifu prefecture is also good.
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Scallopman1973
What do I like and recommend about Japan? For me, its the whole package. Everything and I mean everything, is cool and great about Japan. What stands out for me are the people. The are the kindest, generous, polite, courteous and most well mannered people you are ever likely to meet. I concur about some of the other comments about Japanese women, they really are the most beautiful in the world. There is so much to see, do and experience in Japan. Tokyo is quite rightly the most coolest and hippest city on the planet. I love Japan and everything about it, full stop.
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combinibento
Onsen, bbq shioyaki fish that you catch in a river, dinner in Kyoto's gion, a little bit of kyabakura for the fellas, a few beers in a hole in the wall in Oimachi, sushi at Tsukiji with a friend of the proprietor, etc. etc.
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memyselfI
I recommend to stay home, you will get a better reception from your home country.
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Beelzebub
No matter where you go or what you do, the hosts will take it in stride. They've been putting up with wacky foreigners since the 1850s. Taxi drivers won't take you on long, expensive detours out of your way (at least not intentionally) and merchants won't overcharge you. I think the honesty of the average person is what makes this country such an inviting destination.
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5SpeedRacer5
"RogeFive, no, Japan does not have 4 seasons. Japan is four season country."
Japan is safety country.
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5SpeedRacer5
"The far flung areas of Shikoku, San-in and Central Chugoku areas"
Oh my! We are getting into the backwoods, aren't we?
I recommend that Scallopman and Beelz move even further out of the cities and they will love Japan all the more.
Beelz, I should tell you about the cab driver in Kyoto who gave us a refund because he took the wrong road and wasted our precious time.
It is true that what Japan has to offer will not impress someone who is impressed by Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. But you know, those places get stale if you have been there enough times, and Japan still surprises me. It has that certain "I don't know what."
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Beelzebub
Let me just add that I've never met anyone who had anything but praise for the Shinkansen, although it's probably best avoided at O-bon and New Year's.
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Sarge
"Japan has four seasons"
Spring, summer, autumn and fuyu. Not winter. Fuyu is untranslatable. ( Tee hee! )
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Dewaashita
Proper baths and perhaps the onsen with that should opportunity arise.
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sydenham
I'm not telling. I'm keeping my places all to my self. I see other gaijin as threats...
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shugotokumaru
Everyone I have brought to Japan has really liked real ramen.
Onsen are pretty much unassailable as well.
0
Stillwater
Hospitality
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LFRAgain
Nara is vastly underappreciated, in my opinion. There's the Buddha, of course, and a plethora of temples and shrines to be seen, but if you're looking for some really interesting Japanese history, then it's pretty spiffy to be able to walk on the semi-restored grounds of the 8th Century Imperial Grounds at the Heijo-kyo Palace Site.
Also, nearby are the burial mounds (koufu) of several royalty, including the tomb of Empress Gemmei, 43rd imperial ruler of Japan, and 5th female to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.
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finbarr68
HERFORENOW getting out of the US is a good enough reason to come to japan!
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limboinjapan
I would say come here for many things, if in the summer, all the "matsuri" festival, go to Kyoto and see the Temples, take a hike up Fuji-san hit roppongi and check out the night life (and yes the ladies) gawck at the stange costplay and loli "otakus" in Akihabara and Harajuku, try some of the local food and enjoy yourself, BUT remember to leave do not get it in your head that this place will ever welcome you if you stay come see it visit but get out wile you can!
PS After nearly 20 years here I have still never figured out this constant remark that "Japan has four seasons" do they honestly think that this is the only place that does? (Any way it 5 seasons Spring, rainy season, summer, fall, winter)
0
LoveUSA
I will recommend Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku - for beautiful nature. Stay away from tokyo if possible.
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hakujinsensei
soap
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HonestDictator
Yeah, most definitely avoid Tokyo and other extremely big cities in Japan if you want to have a different exprerience from a major metropolitan area. Go up north and visit some places in Hokkaido, or more south and visit more traditional areas like Kyoto and the minor areas around it for a more Japanese traditional culture experience. I'd say go to major metro areas if you're into buying lots of modern stuff, and more traditional areas for small natural souvineer things like pottery, tea cups (I still have mine), Kimonos, Yukatas etc.
0
Farmboy
Items: pottery, paper with traditional scenes from paper stores, Hello Kitty vacuum cleaners and microwaves, bonsai and other neat plants
Places: Nara, Kyoto, Kamakura, Enoshima, Takayama, etc.
Customs and environment: No panhandlers (or other people who get in your face), comparatively safe places to walk or cycle in most neighborhoods (especially outside the cities), pretty good public transportation, lots of mountain walks, lots of places to park a bicycle, beautiful fireworks
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