Alpha's J-Adventure 2 - Final Update (P28) All Updates (P1)
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:48 am
by Alpha eX
Original Post:
So i'm going to Japan in a weeks time (monday), this will be my second visit to Japan, some of you may remember I went two years ago with a friend, I had a thread to post my adventures and updates. I'll be going back to Tokyo but for a specific reason.
This time it's going to be very interesting, in August my girlfriend moved back home to Japan, i'm going out to visit her which means I have to meet the parents, sister and the dog... (spoiler boxed the rest of the story)
I've met the mother and she was really nice, didn't seem to care about her daughter dating a white guy but she did seem a bit bothered when my gf told her how far along our relationship was in terms of us sleeping together. Anyway, that should be fine and the sister is an otaku gamer so no problems there. The problem? The father.
My gf never spoke much about her father, infact she only did once. Aparently he's very strict and traditional which means he is against her daughter dating a foreigner. I was originally going to stay at the family house after my gf and her mother convinced the dad, he said I could stay for a week but wasn't happy about it. So out of respect, I booked a hotel as a back up plan.
So yeah, going to be an interesting trip, meeting the family and parents, hopefully we get along and I don't do anything to offend them. I'd also like some suggestions of things to do, if you know any crazy things for us to try in Tokyo.
Things to do: Shopping in Asagaya (West Tokyo) Fuji-Q Highland Meat Tataki Platter (if this kills me i'm haunting lewisD) Pepsi White - Pepsi & Yogurt Flavor Drink Ueno Zoo Find the LOVE statue (somewhere in West Shinjuku, as seen in the amazingly awesome series, densha otoko) Hakone (mt.fuji) Nikko (traditional shrines) Photo perfect Big Mac (seriously, if there's anyplace in the world to get one it'll be Japan) Gyudon from Yoshinoya (also, if possible, start a riot claiming another beef shortage) Mos Burger (best fast food burger place in japan)
Suggest me some fun and interesting, not life risking or criminal things to do in Tokyo, Japan!
I stayed at the Oak Hotel in a single room for about £36 a night, pricey because of the exchange rate but I was very happy with the room. It had a nice little bathroom with a shower, tv and internet in the room. It was very clean and in an amazing location, very close to Ueno station, 1 minute from another and in an area with lots of places to eat.
You can also stay at the Tokyo Hostel in a dorm for about £12 a night, I stayed here last time in a single room but the dorms seemed nice. It's a good place but location isn't as good as Oak Hotel but still only a 5 minute walk from a station close to Ueno.
Travel Guide
Ueno
Ueno has two main areas worth visiting, Ueno Park and Ameyoko shopping market.
Ueno Park is pretty much next to Ueno Station, there are free tour guides that take you around the park, worth going on one to learn more about the history of the park and what the shrines are for, very interesting and takes you on a nice route around the park.
Ameyoko is again, right next to Ueno station, pretty much opposite one of the exits. It's a shopping market for locals rather than tourists, worth checking out. Very busy Saturday mornings, there is also a flea market near Ueno Park on Saturday mornings.
The rest of Ueno is not that interesting, the area around the station is nice, lots of places to eat and a few arcades if you're interested in that. I'd reccomend two restaurants on Asakusa Dori, a 5-10 minute walk from the station. One is famous for food from Okinawa and the other is a Korean BBQ shop, you can save 10% on the bill with a voucher, i'll update the post with names and the voucher.
Asakusa - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asakusa Nice place to visit in the morning, if you decide to stay at the Oak Hotel, you can walk from there to Asakusa in about 20 minutes passing Kapabashi along the way. It's good for a morning, i'd reccommend doing Asakusa in the morning and then taking the river boat tour from outside the station down towards Odaiba and Shinigawa, it's up to you what you do from there but i'd reccomend the Epson Aqua Park (aquarium) followed by Odaiba and Pallet Town in the evening.
Akihabara Geek central, go here for you gadget and gift shopping. Lots of shops for games and electricals. There's not much else to do here but there is an Anime Museum if you're interested in that and it's worth checking out the giant Yodabashi store by the station.
Harajuku, Omotesando and Yoyogi Park Popular for young fashion trends and shopping, go on a Sunday for the most popular day to see the latest fashion styles and trends swarming the place. A nice route is to walk down Takeshita Dori which is full of clothes shops, when you reach the bottom, take a right and head towards Omotesando, check out Kiddy Land and then walk up towards Harajuku Bridge. From the bridge you can go to Meiji Jinju shrine and walk around the surrounding areas, after that, head towards Yoyogi Park. Best time to go to Yoyogi Park is nearer the evening for a nice sunset, i'd suggest starting this route in the afternoon around 1 or 2 leaving you the evening to check out Shibuya.
Shibuya - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya,_Tokyo Very popular place in Japan, lots of shops and department stores. Also home to that Starbucks from Lost in Translation, nice to sit in there and have a drink if you can grab a front window seat just to over look the busy crossing below but don't be a dick and stay there long because it's very popular.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:56 am
by Roonmastor
Youtube it. Every trip to Japan has to now be recorded for the forums pleasure as set by the Aaron and Lewis precedent.
Hotel sounds like the best bet to me. I'd probably advise you stay there as your first choice in terms of being respectful, but I'm also partially thinking about your penis too. You won't get sexy time in the J-parent's house and I doubt you or the J-girlfriend will be able to keep your hands off each other.
This was a three style meat tataki platter which had chicken, pork and beef, all seared on the outside but still ice cold and raw on the inside.
Do this. !
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:06 am
by LewisD
Oh, and for bonus internet respect points.. come home half way through.
In before any of you other banana splits try that joke!
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:15 am
by emilythestrange
Sounds a bit terrifying meeting her father, but it should be interesting to see how it goes
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:16 am
by Vermin
Obviously avoid dragging them into Shinjuku at night. Some of the shopping bits in Asagaya (West Tokyo) are nice to walk around for a day.
Perhaps get the Bullet Train out to Kyoto for a day, and see all the old castles; you can make sure to say that you think the Kyoto Railway Station is a disgusting piece of over-elaborate Western architecture, then get your gf to translate. Your future father-in-law should be impressed, as ALL Japanese hate that building. It seems.
Get a bus out to Fuji-Q Highland - it's not too long a ride from the centre of Tokyo. There are tame rides there for the old bigot and his wife, and a couple of gut-wrenching ones for you and the gf (I had to stop going on anything faster than 10 mph after going on 'Dodonpa'). My mates were pissing themselves laughing at the photo of me taken automatically just after 'launch'. Looked like someone had just shot me.
There's lots more to do in Tokyo, but I'm sure you know some things to do yersel.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:19 am
by Jango
What happened to Proto's post?
I thought it was a good idea.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:22 am
by Alpha eX
Roonmastor wrote:Youtube it. Every trip to Japan has to now be recorded for the forums pleasure as set by the Aaron and Lewis precedent.
Hotel sounds like the best bet to me. I'd probably advise you stay there as your first choice in terms of being respectful, but I'm also partially thinking about your penis too. You won't get sexy time in the J-parent's house and I doubt you or the J-girlfriend will be able to keep your hands off each other.
You guys want Youtube videos? I might do some actually but I don't want people to think i'm ripping off what Aaron and Lewis did.
I'm actually staying at the hotel from day one, i'm actually looking foward to checking in and going to the room, my gf will be picking me up from the airport and we're going straight to the hotel. I don't plan to stay at the parents house, in their culture it's weird for a bf to stay with the family so I can respect that. You're right about us not being able to keep hands off each other, lucky i'm not staying there cause the parents will probably catch us, nearly got caught by the mother back in London
Lewis, that meat tataki thing looks dangerous! Is it really safe to eat that? We're going to try those strange ice creams, has to be done!
Gil-Martin, awesome suggestions, cheers.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:25 am
by LewisD
Alpha eX wrote:You guys want Youtube videos? I might do some actually but I don't want people to think i'm ripping off what Aaron and Lewis did.
I certainly won't think that, it'd be awesome to get some more Japan related videos.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:27 am
by Alpha eX
LewisD wrote:
Alpha eX wrote:You guys want Youtube videos? I might do some actually but I don't want people to think i'm ripping off what Aaron and Lewis did.
I certainly won't think that, it'd be awesome to get some more Japan related videos.
Hopefully my gf is willing to be in some of the videos too, i'll try get her to do her infamous Wall-E impression. Expect videos of me on Drum Mania and Taiko no Tatsujin when I visit the arcade with the sister.
Videos will be done, I have a Canon Ixus 800 something, is that ok for taking videos?
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:18 pm
by aayl1
LewisD wrote:
Alpha eX wrote:You guys want Youtube videos? I might do some actually but I don't want people to think i'm ripping off what Aaron and Lewis did.
I certainly won't think that, it'd be awesome to get some more Japan related videos.
Yeah, me neither. It's not exactly original to make youtube videos, and as such I won't get upset if you do it.
Who do you think we are, DML?
Hope you have an awesome time by the way! I'm so jealous. I'll have to wait for 2 years before I'm off to Japan again.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:38 pm
by SuperFinal
Good luck, fella!
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:47 pm
by Fatal Exception
Alpha eX wrote:So i'm going to Japan in a weeks time (monday), this will be my second visit to Japan, some of you may remember I went two years ago with a friend, I had a thread to post my adventures and updates. I'll be going back to Tokyo but for a specific reason.
This time it's going to be very interesting, in August my girlfriend moved back home to Japan, i'm going out to visit her which means I have to meet the parents, sister and the dog... (spoiler boxed the rest of the story)
I've met the mother and she was really nice, didn't seem to care about her daughter dating a white guy but she did seem a bit bothered when my gf told her how far along our relationship was in terms of us sleeping together. Anyway, that should be fine and the sister is an otaku gamer so no problems there. The problem? The father. My gf never spoke much about her dad, infact she only did once. Aparently he's very strict and traditional which means he is against her daughter dating a foreigner. I was originally going to stay at the family house after my gf and her mother convinced the dad, he said I could stay for a week but wasn't happy about it. So out of respect, I booked a hotel as a back up plan.
So yeah, going to be an interesting trip, meeting the family and parents, hopefully we get along and I don't do anything to offend them. I'd also like some suggestions of things to do, if you know any crazy things for us to try in Tokyo.
Things to do: Yakuza (thanks proto) Shopping in Asagaya (West Tokyo) Fuji-Q Highland - Link Meat Tataki Platter (if this kills me i'm haunting lewisD)
Don't worry too much about the Dad. Just be nice and polite and they will accept you. The fact they are letting you in the house should mean they are OK with it.
My Ex was from an Indian family so I had to deal with some stuff like this. So long as you don't come across as a dick you'll be fine. Oh and if the Dog likes you it's a big bonus. If the dog hates you then you're in trouble.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:26 pm
by That
SuperFinal wrote:
Good luck, fella!
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:44 pm
by coldspice
SuperFinal wrote:
Good luck, fella!
That picture = made for this thread.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:12 pm
by Alpha eX
Fatal Exception wrote:Don't worry too much about the Dad. Just be nice and polite and they will accept you. The fact they are letting you in the house should mean they are OK with it.
My Ex was from an Indian family so I had to deal with some stuff like this. So long as you don't come across as a dick you'll be fine. Oh and if the Dog likes you it's a big bonus. If the dog hates you then you're in trouble.
I think I should be ok, I am a polite person, got approval of the mum for being honset, genuine and very kind/nice ect so just have to be the same when I meet the Dad and try not to destroy the family dog.
I really am screwed if the famlily dog hates me. I should do a video of me trying to bond with the dog, it'll end one of two ways, the dog biting my hand or me accidently throwing it out the window.
Oh and SuperFinal, that picture is hillarious if not a little worrying.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:20 pm
by DrPepperMan
Good luck Alpha, I'm sure you'll be fine. And you have your gf there for support anyway, so go have fun!
How long are you going to be in Japan? I wouldn't mind going back this time of year to see the autumn in Japan. Bar the cherry blossom autumn is the second best time of the year to visit. Which hotel you at btw?
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:21 pm
by Fatal Exception
I want to go to Japan.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:24 pm
by Alpha eX
DrPepperMan wrote:Good luck Alpha, I'm sure you'll be fine. And you have your gf there for support anyway, so go have fun!
How long are you going to be in Japan? I wouldn't mind going back this time of year to see the autumn in Japan. Bar the cherry blossom autumn is the second best time of the year to visit. Which hotel you at btw?
I'm going to be there just under 3 weeks, got to get back for work, the day after I get back I have to teach a class at 10 in the morning! I'm staying at the Oak Hotel in Ueno, it's about 10/15 mins walk from the station, quite cheap, 6000Y a night for a single ensuite room.
I'm hoping to go back next year for the cherry blossom.
Fatal Exception wrote:I want to go to Japan.
If you have time, go, you can get a flight for around £400-500 and a place to stay for two weeks really cheap if you go to a hostel.
Oh, and i'll be trying this,
Hopefully it's better than the fowl cucumber flavor I tried time.
Re: Alpha's Japanadventure 2 - Meet the J-Parents
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:28 pm
by Mr Thropwimp
Roonmastor wrote:but I'm also partially thinking about your penis too
!
