Yes I am (partially) an otaku, and yes I've been to japan
but I didn't go there because of it :)

I'm not really considered an otaku. I kind of lost interest in anime and manga when i hit 17. >.< I still enjoy it, just not frequently, XD

but i would still love to japan for the food. i want to go to hokkaido-SEAFOOODDD. *drools* [im a food otaku xD]

Not an otaku (don't think I am one anyways) but I try to go visit my uncle there as often as I can

Well, I've never been, but I plan to. I guess I'm an otaku of sorts, but honestly, that's not what drives me to go.

I am genuinely interested in those islands. The history, the food, the culture, everything. The fact that they've survived history as a few islands off the coast of a giant mainland, and stayed Japan, not just a territory of Korea or China, very much interests me.

The fact that, once I get there, there will be anime/manga/video games/etc., probably won't even interest me nearly as much as everything else.

And I do definitely intend to go, at least once in my life.

Just no time soon, :p . Money, school, you name it, it's an obstacle right now, lol.

I've never met a person alive that would consider me otaku. I enjoy anime, I read manga, but I've never had the mentality to be a very good candidate for that particular title.

I do plan on going to Japan, but I plan on going there for the cultural experience. I've read up on several interesting cultures and Japan is one of the ones I'm most excited about, the others being Turkey, Greece, Italy, Tunisia, Israel, and (whenever it calms down enough for me to go there) Iraq.

I do like anime, manga and J-pop, but they weren't the reasons I visited.
They were definitely benefits to the trip, though.

Not sure which one to vote under.

I'm staring to like this thread

Now accepting applications for the "Legitimate appreciation of Japanese Culture" clan :D

It sort of has that vibe, doesn't it? lol

... But even if an "otaku passion" was what led me to Japan, I wouldn't have a problem admitting it.

Ha ha...an interesting development, to be sure.

Im going there next summer, :] exciting i know,

But it was not fueled by my love of anime, I am going because the culture,
and there is a USA deaf program going :]