Gaijin Spotting

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

The only reason I can imagine it concerning me would be if there was a huge influx of foreigners being stupid and making me look bad by association.

But I'm sure if there were rotten apples showing up in Nagoya, the people who know you or of you wouldn't associate you with them, would they? Of course there are people who would generalize, like everywhere in the world, but I can't fathom most Japanese being so closed-minded to think all gaijin are the same....

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by BobbyCooper

I will stop there Nyororin

Don't understand why people just by pass this city when it's on the way really.

Because it`s not a huge tourist spot.
Tokyo is, well, Tokyo - with everything centered there as it`s the capital.
Kyoto was a capital in the past and somehow managed to keep most of it`s important cultural stuff from being destroyed during the US bombing of Japan during the war.

Nagoya is a huge manufacturing and commercial center... But it`s not the capital, and most of the historical parts of the city were destroyed by heavy bombing. The city was rebuilt as a place to live and work, so it has a great design with wide roads, tons of parks, etc... But normal and comfortable life isn`t what people visiting Japan want to see. They want the incredible crowdedness of Tokyo or the historical stuff of Kyoto.

It`s kind of sad as there is a lot of history in this area - most of the big figures in Japanese history (founders of Tokyo, etc) were from this area. Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and so on. Atsuta Jingu, where the Kusanagi is held is also in Nagoya.

But it`s just not a huge tourist spot for foreign visitors to Japan.

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

But I'm sure if there were rotten apples showing up in Nagoya, the people who know you or of you wouldn't associate you with them, would they? Of course there are people who would generalize, like everywhere in the world, but I can't fathom most Japanese being so closed-minded to think all gaijin are the same....

Of course people who know me wouldn`t associate me with them. The thing is, if there were a bunch of problems caused by foreigners in this area, chances are the foreigners would all be associated with the same thing.
The best example would be to bring up the military bases in Japan. The areas around them tend to have a poor view of foreigners because the number of foreigners they encounter who cause problems is a lot higher than those they encounter who don`t. Even if people don`t come out and judge you vocally, there is indeed going to be some level of association in their minds.

Really though, it`s just the only big example I can think of where the number of foreigners in the area would have some effect on me. Chances are, nothing would change at all. Nagoya is a huge city, so there would have to be quite a few bad apples running about to make any dents.

[BobbyCooper]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Because it`s not a huge tourist spot.
Tokyo is, well, Tokyo - with everything centered there as it`s the capital.
Kyoto was a capital in the past and somehow managed to keep most of it`s important cultural stuff from being destroyed during the US bombing of Japan during the war.

Nagoya is a huge manufacturing and commercial center... But it`s not the capital, and most of the historical parts of the city were destroyed by heavy bombing. The city was rebuilt as a place to live and work, so it has a great design with wide roads, tons of parks, etc... But normal and comfortable life isn`t what people visiting Japan want to see. They want the incredible crowdedness of Tokyo or the historical stuff of Kyoto.

It`s kind of sad as there is a lot of history in this area - most of the big figures in Japanese history (founders of Tokyo, etc) were from this area. Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and so on. Atsuta Jingu, where the Kusanagi is held.

But it`s just not a huge tourist spot for foreign visitors to Japan.

Exactly the kind of place I would have settled down as well.

But fortunetly entire Japan is still like that, especially now!

[OHayou]

I just want to report in that I saw 3 Chinese, 1 Vietnamese, and one Laos, and zero Japanese working at the local Japanese Restaurant.

I think if we all chip in and work together...we can do it! (whatever it is we're trying to do!)

Also, I don't think you can't win as a Gaijin...we're either all alike (and not in a good way) or if you assimilate successfully into the country you're a Japan-o-phile, a wee-a-boo, a watanabe, or some other kind of outcast freak.

Thank God i'm Japanese and I don't have to worry about this kind of crap.

[BobbyCooper]

Originally Posted by OHayou

I just want to report in that I saw 3 Chinese, 1 Vietnamese, and one Laos, and zero Japanese working at the local Japanese Restaurant.

I think if we all chip in and work together...we can do it! (whatever it is we're trying to do!)

Also, I don't think you can't win as a Gaijin...we're either all alike (and not in a good way) or if you assimilate successfully into the country you're a Japan-o-phile, a wee-a-boo, a watanabe, or some other kind of outcast freak.

Thank God i'm Japanese and I don't have to worry about this kind of crap.

That must have been the only Restaurant in entire Japan


Also, if you want to behave like a Japanese (which means to be kind and polite to your fellow) makes you a good human being and a better human being.

And if you want to bow and bow even a little further then the JApanese, it makes you a wonderful human being.

If you live in a bowing culture, you gotta have to aclimate yourself to the culture no matter what other disrespectufl Western might call you if you do so.

Everybody should be willing to learn as much as possible from the Asian Japanese culture to make this world a better place all around.

[OHayou]

Originally Posted by BobbyCooper

That must have been the only Restaurant in entire Japan


Also, if you want to behave like a Japanese (which means to be kind and polite to your fellow) makes you a good human being and a better human being.

And if you want to bow and bow even a little further then the JApanese, it makes you a wonderful human being.

If you live in a bowing culture, you gotta have to aclimate yourself to the culture no matter what other disrespectufl Western might call you if you do so.

Everybody should be willing to learn as much as possible from the Asian Japanese culture to make this world a better place all around.

LOL -- I had a lot of ideas in responding to THIS one but basically BobbyCooper I can understand and see you admire the Eastern lifestyle (and there is a lot to learn in the Eastern way-of-life and I admire it as well) and wish you the best.

[BobbyCooper]

Originally Posted by OHayou

LOL -- I had a lot of ideas in responding to THIS one but basically BobbyCooper I can understand and see you admire the Eastern lifestyle (and there is a lot to learn in the Eastern way-of-life and I admire it as well) and wish you the best.

I am glad you have chosen this one and very surprised too.

Because normally people especially on here which is weird because we are on a Japan Forum just don't want to see and appreciate the kindness and love a country like Japan and its people spread around this World.

It's really sad.. but it gives us a great indication on why we live in the world we live in.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

You should get off the train and stay a few days. :P Nagoya is a big city, but for some reason it has gotten a bad rap as far as tourism goes.

I've looked into Nagoya a bit. I'd sure like to make a stop to see the castle. I could do it as a day trip from Tokyo as it's only a couple of hours each way. What do you recommend? I'm not there for shopping, as I can buy anything there elsewhere, really.

Do you recommend the Arimatsu area? How about the Osu area? Is it possible for you to name a few interesting points? Perhaps you can change my mind about it just being a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen!

Would you recommend the day bus pass or the bus/train pass? Which mode of transport would be more useful? Also, is the TIC at JR Nagoya Eki?

I'll be in country for the Tagata Shrine Hounen Matsuri, which is the festival you mentioned, but I'll be in Osaka that day and I'll be headed west, not east. I don't think I'd want to be around for that either!

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

I've looked into Nagoya a bit. I'd sure like to make a stop to see the castle. I could do it as a day trip from Tokyo as it's only a couple of hours each way. What do you recommend? I'm not there for shopping, as I can buy anything there elsewhere, really.

Actual *Nagoya* castle is a disappointment, in my opinion. At least from a historic view. It`s great to take pictures of from the outside, but it was destroyed in the war... They rebuilt it, but the only "castle" bit is the outside shell. The inside is a concrete and steel building.
For the Nagoya area, Inuyama castle takes the cake.

Do you recommend the Arimatsu area?

Arimatsu has suffered the fate of "I used to live right by it", so I can`t really say whether it would be a good thing for a tourist. When there is a festival going on, it is great for getting Japanese tie-dye.

How about the Osu area?

Think a slightly smaller version of Akiba when it comes to shopping, but they have some really neat festivals.

Is it possible for you to name a few interesting points? Perhaps you can change my mind about it just being a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen!

I think the big problems with foreign tourism in Nagoya is that the "famous" spots - like those you listed - aren`t really all that spectacular.
Things I would suggest seeing;

Atsuta Jingu
The area around Yagoto (with it`s museums, temples, and the massive cemetary parks)
Tokugawa En
The Aquarium (One of, if not the best in Japan)

If you`re interested in that sort of thing - the Nagoya TV tower is the oldest TV tower in Japan, built before Tokyo Tower.
Oh, and of course the Toyota museum.

There are tons of smaller things - I could go on and on - but it really depends on what you`re interested in. The whole area has a massive amount of history, but if you don`t know who the historical figures something is associated with are... they would be less than exciting, I`m sure.

The biggest problem is that things aren`t packed into a very small area, so you can`t just hop off at a station, walk for a bit and see a lot in one go.

Would you recommend the day bus pass or the bus/train pass? Which mode of transport would be more useful? Also, is the TIC at JR Nagoya Eki?

JR is pretty useless in Nagoya - the subway and Meitetsu is the way to go. I have no clue about buses as I never use them - with Meitetsu and the subway you can usually get almost everywhere without a bus.
I`d recommend getting a Manaca pass for travel.

I'll be in country for the Tagata Shrine Hounen Matsuri, which is the festival you mentioned, but I'll be in Osaka that day and I'll be headed west, not east. I don't think I'd want to be around for that either!

I`ve never gone to it, but in every picture it seems like at least half the people attending are foreigners there to point and giggle. I`ll pass.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Actual *Nagoya* castle is a disappointment, in my opinion. At least from a historic view. It`s great to take pictures of from the outside, but it was destroyed in the war... They rebuilt it, but the only "castle" bit is the outside shell. The inside is a concrete and steel building.
For the Nagoya area, Inuyama castle takes the cake.

I thought about that one as well. As I'd have a full day there, a 30-45min train ride isn't too bad....

Atsuta Jingu
The area around Yagoto (with it`s museums, temples, and the massive cemetary parks)
Tokugawa En
The Aquarium (One of, if not the best in Japan)

I thought about the Osaka aquarium, but this one could do as well...

JR is pretty useless in Nagoya - the subway and Meitetsu is the way to go. I have no clue about buses as I never use them - with Meitetsu and the subway you can usually get almost everywhere without a bus.
I`d recommend getting a Manaca pass for travel.

I'd heard that JR was useless there. The JR station was just a means to get there. Some other cities have a Tourist Information Center in the main train station, so that's why I asked. There seems to be a day pass for the subway for 740yen and I remember Kyoto TIC sold their version of it. I gather the Manaca is like Pasmo in Tokyo, but for one day, I don't know if I need it.