Poll: Ever been to Japan?

[Berethond]

I'm there now. For the second time.

No, and I never will. Because they're racist. And they hate white people. And their culture is really annoying.

I hope that's sarcasm.
It is right?
I'm not good at detecting it.

It's not sarcasm. And the intensely racist and xenophobic culture is well documented.

Well, so far, no one here has been half as racist as you.

Make no mistake, I'm not racist.
And yes, the sources are quite accurate and up-to-date.

But that's sarcasm, right?
I mean, you're arguing with someone who is IN JAPAN RIGHT NOW.

Also not sarcasm. You haven't noticed any racism. Good for you? Once again, <url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061214115324/http://imadr.org/geneva/2006/G0610396.pdf>Japanese <url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100226a4.html>racism <url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4671687.stm>is <url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071110f1.html>well <url=http://www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html>documented.

 

[witness51]

I want to. So bad. It hurts.

 

[Hiname]

I was born there, does that count?

 

[Cogwheel]

Rather hard to avoid, considering I live here. So yes, you might say I've been to Japan.

 

[N_of_the_dead]

Yep, spent my spring semester of last year there in Fukuoka. Great place, great friends and even better memories would kill to go back.

 

[similar.squirrel]

No. I'm not sure how well I'd cope with the overcrowding in the cities, but I would love to visit the rural areas. They look beautiful.

 

[Yopaz]

No, but I would like to one day. It's not on my top priority though. First I want to go to Hungary, USA and Australia. Only 2 of those are likely to happen though... One dau I might get lucky... one day I might win the lottery and go to all 4 places...
The reason Japan is not on my top priority is because of the language barrier. When I was in Poland I had a lot of problems being understood since almost no-one spoke enough English to make an attempt on a conversation.

 

[kortin]

Yes i did, I had fun. Lived there for 3 years.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Yes, yes I have. Over the Summer in 2008 for a school-sponsored 2 week trip, myself and our class stayed in Okinawa and surrounding area. Probably one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. Not only did I do the whole tourist thing, but this was during my time of studying the Japanese language. The host family I stayed with is also the same girl whom came and stayed at my house for two weeks prior. In turn, she has moved to America and is now dating my brother.

Yeah, I'd say it was a good trip.

 

[JochemDude]

Yes, went with a dutch magician (Hans Klok) on a world tour and did japan. Nice country, really shitty food though.
Off topic: China was more fun, we had like a constant budget to hire people to help out. So in China you get like a lot more people for that money so in japan we got like 4 people and in China we park the tourbus infront of the theater and they're like 200 Chinese guys in that theater. So fucking funny.

 

[babinro]

No, if all goes well I'll never go there either.

For reasons that I both hate to travel, and hate to be in crowded places (read: cities with more than 50,000 people)

 

[Jebusetti]

Yep, I was there for a few weeks on a sister city exchange program in the summer after grade 7. It was pretty awesome back then; however, given that my world view has changed quite a bit from then, I probably wouldn't put it on a list of the places I want to go, unless it was possible to stay the fuck away from Tokyo and the other big cities. The out of the way temples and monasteries were pretty cool though... We went to one place that was set up like an old village but I can't remember the name of it, started with an N, Nikko maybe?

Oh and for anyone who is wondering what the above poster meant about how they love Western culture but don't seem to "get it", go to Tokyo Disneyland and it will become readily apparent

 

[SonofaJohannes]

One day when I'm confident enough in my japanese to talk to someone I'll go there. But until then I'll stay at home. And watch anime. That's my way of learning japanese.

 

[brass munkey]

I haven't but I hope to some day.

 

[archvile93]

It sounds okay, but I don't really like horribly crowded places. I've heard they're also horribly xenophobic, at least to everyone other than themselves and Americans. That's what friend's girlfriend told me who's from there.

 

[MakerOfRoads]

I live there, so yeah, I've been.

Its not all anime and pocky.

Its racism and awkwardness.

They hate foreigners, their culture is based around being awkward in front of other people, and deep down inside most of them is a lunatic waiting to come out.

I've lived here for over a year now and I've seen the sights. Tokyo is cool. Climbing Mt. Fuji was nice. The Cherry Blosom festival at Hirosaki castle was pretty. But thats really the problem. The country is beautiful, but because i'm a foreigner (5'10" 230lbs of military) I stand out, people notice me, and immediately tag on the stupid problem causing asshole stereotype.

My year here has been interesting, but once I leave I probably won't come back.

 

[shroomie]

Haven't been, mainly due to age, money, time, family etc. but as an anime and gaming fan I would love to visit Japan. I also like the idea of seeing a country that has grown differently from the West.

 

[llubtoille]

Went for a week to stay with a friend who was working there at the time,
I consider it one of my better holidays, tho a little rushed,
To be honest, the only real difference I felt while being there - as opposed to any other modern city / country, was a lack of fear.
It's the kind of place where you can walk home trashed at 3am with near certainty for your safety.

 

[iphonerose]

It is my absolute dream to go to japan specifically Tokyo! haven't been yet though