Thailand, Japan share mutual affection that is rare in Asia

Three years ago, Japan waived visas for Thais for up to 15 days,

Just 15 days? That is slightly insulting of Japan. I bet the Thais are giving 90-day visas to Japanese nationals as a matter of course.

Kazue Takenaga moved with her THREE CHILDREN to Bangkok two years ago to ESCAPE the growing educational and SOCIAL pressures facing her family, ESPECIALLY her ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

It is only the Japanese who are FLEEING their own country who dare tell the truth...

Japanese oyaji love the tours in Thailand

Thais and Japanese have basically nothing in common, from my experiences.

JeffLeeJul. 03, 2016 - 05:54PM JST

Thais and Japanese have basically nothing in common, from my experiences.

Gosh!!!

A JeffLee post that I agree with.

Absolutely nothing in common.

@burakumindes. It's not a 15 day visa. Japan has waived visas for up to 15 days i.e. no visa required

@ roosterman - thanks for clearing it up. One would hope the visa situation is the same on both ends.

I really don't see any similarities at all, save that kiddie porn laws are lax in both nations, and in Bangkok's Pat-Pong area they have an entire street (Ume-no-michi) that ONLY Japanese businessmen on sex tours can visit. I'm glad more people are moving to Thailand and realising that while certain standards might be a LITTLE lower, and it is definitely hotter, life on the whole can be a lot easier if you can put up with both of those. I know more than a few people who have moved there by choice to retire (others Malaysia), and with the pension fund being gambled away here and a future of nothing but debt it might be a good time to take your savings and do what some of these people are doing.

@burakumindes. No worries. @lostrune. My father in-law and his mates used to go to Thailand and other SE Asian places often. They went there to play 'golf'. He stopped going... reckons he's too old and not up to it anymore. I said fair enough... and how about golf?

When I was still in Singapore working for a Japanese company, lunches were filled with Japanese co-workers' tales about their monthly adventures to Thailand's red-light districts. I joked that they should move the branch to Thailand for convenience, they actually asked management to do so, but of course it didn't happen, Singapore was just much safer and had better infrastructure.

"Many Thais also like Japan because it is safe and they believe they won’t get cheated by shopkeepers or taxi drivers" its true not only for Thais tourist and no tourists were cheating by Shop keepers or Taxi drivers.

"Kazue Takenaga moved with her three children to Bangkok two years ago to escape the growing educational and social pressures facing her family" Amazing!

“We have something in common that makes us feel secure.” If they knew you're Japanese and then you need to be very careful about bad guy. You should never tell you're Japanese to someone you didn't know. Thais think all Japanese are rich peoples and they carry a lot of money. Taxi drivers will over charge you if they knew you're Japanese tourist. There are many reasons for peoples want to cheat and make money out of your pocket if they know you're Japanese tourists. Also some bad guys will steal your luggage and pretend to be helping you by given drug fill bag and some money to continue your journey. You're unknowingly becoming drug mule for criminals. You will end up in jail for life. No one will believe your story. Thailand was magnet to all criminals from all countries. Iranian, Nigerians, Russians and East European criminals are married local Thais women and no job pretend to be as tourist guide. These criminals are waiting for their prey in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and other tourist attraction in Thailand. You should never discount danger in overseas. I lived and worked in Thailand for 5 years and I never trust strangers, Thais Motorcycle taxi drivers and Thais Polices. Sometime Thais Polices themselves involved in kidnapping and murder. If you think all Thais will treat Japanese peoples differently because Japan gave Thai many assistance and built bridges and then you’re wrong. You should stay low profile for your own good in overseas.

@Chop Chop : You are right on 100%

Thai at rice and we eat rice. Both don't have blond hair. Don't we look similar?

I feel like I am cheated every time I get in a taxi in Japan, but it is an institutionalised rip off. In Bangkok it may be the odd driver who tries to pull a fast one but I have found many to be friendly and courteous despite the misery of being a taxi driver in Bangkok. And it's cheap.

I feel like I am cheated every time I get in a taxi in Japan, but it is an institutionalised rip off.

If they are up front about the prices (and they are - the prices are clearly stated in every taxi in Japan), and you choose to get in while knowing those prices, then you are not being cheated, as you are accepting the terms when you get in the taxi. No one is making you ride the taxi, and no one is charging you a different price than is listed (or if they are, then you actually are being cheated).

Stop catching taxis if you don't like the price. But claiming that you are being cheated is just ridiculous.

It looks like I have been well and truly chided. I've learned my lesson, Strangerland. My pathetic defence is that sometimes I have to get taxis for myself and a sick and elderly relative because there is little alternative but with upfront costs in Bangkok at 35 baht (120 yen) I feel cheated in Japan when it is 5 or 6 times that and every taxi is the same. It looks like an institutionalised rip-off to me. But I guess I am just being ridiculous. All's good, eh?

with upfront costs in Bangkok at 35 baht (120 yen) I feel cheated in Japan when it is 5 or 6 times that and every taxi is the same.

Cost of living in Bangkok is significantly less than in Tokyo. The taxi companies would go broke if they tried to remain competitive with Bangkok taxis - and why would they? This is not Bangkok, it's Japan. You can get a taxi for like 25 yen in some countries - do you feel ripped off in Bangkok as a result? It's like 4 times more expensive in Bangkok. How dare they!

As for feeling cheated, again, they are not cheating you, they are very clear about the prices up front, and you are not required to ride the taxi.

If you have a sick elderly relative, and you don't want to pay the taxi fare, then you should probably buy or rent a car. Of course, that's much more expensive, so when you look at it, a taxi is ridiculously cheap in comparison. Does that make a taxi suddenly an excellent deal? After all, you feel cheated when the taxi is more expensive than in Bangkok, so you should feel it's an excellent deal when compared to buying or renting a car in Japan.

I just can't help my feelings, Strangerland. I know it's irrational and all. And your relentless burst of nagging logic and common sense just makes me feel even worse that it doesn't come to my mind as easily as it does to yours. But I get this crazy feeling cartels set the taxi prices in Japan and it does not respond to the market but it is irrational, I am sure. I get similar angry feelings with buying other overpriced things that can't be avoided but I must learn to look on the bright side and compare to what I might be paying, say, in nutty places like Luanda to make me feel better.

I get this crazy feeling cartels set the taxi prices in Japan

Well, the government does. Which is a cartel of sorts.

But taxi drivers here make crap wages. Dropping costs any further would put them even further into poverty. Market prices go two ways - not just what the consumers can afford to pay, but also what the sellers can afford to sell for.

"You can get a taxi for like 25 yen in some countries - do you feel ripped off in Bangkok as a result?"

No, because Bangkok taxis are usually clean, well-kept and newish Toyotas with air conditioning and comfy back seats, in my personal experience. In countries with 25 yen taxis, the vehicles are often broken-down ancient Chinese motorcycles with a nutcase in the driver's seat, in my personal experience.

And in Japan you get taxis that are washed every day, have covering over the seats, drivers who wear gloves, doors that the driver opens for you, payment through smart cards (pasmo, ikuka etc).

None of which I've ever seen in a taxi in Bangkok.

"None of which I've ever seen in a taxi in Bangkok."

Ah, you mean little rituals, cosmetic flourishes, etc.? Sure, if you're the neurotic type who has a fit whenever the driver fails to don white gloves, well, then, OK.

The essential things: the safety, comfort and quality of the vehicle and driving skills are hardly different. The price sure is, though.