Going to Tokyo early 2009 (Australian)

[Gabcom]

Hey,
As all you other NSW citizens may know about, after the HSC is a great time . Anyway, I'll be finishing my schooling in 2008 and a few friends and I are hoping to get some good marks for the HSC and be able to travel to Japan for a few weeks. By then I'll be 18 but some of my friends would be 17, so I think clubbing is out of the question .
We haven't really planned anything since it is a bit early to think about it and we do have a bigger issue to worry about, but I'm probably thinking we'd be staying around Tokyo for a majority of our stay, if not all.
I've been learning Japanese in school for a while and am doing it for my HSC (Extension Jap, hope I don't need to drop) but I don't really know how I'll fare in Japan with that amount of skill in regards to the Japanese language.

I'd like it very much if others who have gone on such similar trips or have any advice for our trip to add something, or just tell me about your trip. Again, we haven't really planned anything so if there are any recommendations on activities for us high school graduates, they're more than welcome. Anything you think we should know or any kind of suggestion, speak up

Also, if there are others out there who are planning to go Tokyo at a similar time and would like to meet up or something, I'm all up for that, the more familiar faces (and languages) the better.

[kuronekoaus]

Hey. Your plan sounds really fun. I wish I could go, it's just really expensive. Funnily enough, I'm your age and living in NSW too- and if you're doing extension Japanese then you're pretty much set. Even with plain Japanese continuers I don't think communication would be a problem.

[Danierux]

Sounds awesome! Is this trip a schoolies subsitute?

Anyway in Japan you need to be 20 to drink, smoke or go clubbing. just thought I'd give you a heads up. Apart from that I think there is much more in Japan to offer entertainment wise.

[Nanobyte]

Well if i don't get any transfer plan to Japan, i have to wait 5 or 10 years to go there after finish 12th grade and then University in Japan, but wich grades are in high school? can i repeat them in Japan if i made them in Portugal? Well, it wasn't for study, but it would be for fun and socialising with Japanese teens!

[Gabcom]

I'm doing Ext Japanese, but I'm not really confident in it :| and right now my reading/writing is pretty crap and kanji is almost non-existent. But yeah that should change after a year and a few HSC exams on the way. I hope.
I'd expect it to be pretty damn expensive, which is why I'm aiming for a high UAI mark (even if I may not need it) to please the parents so they'd pay for it .
I think we're even planning to stop over at Vietnam for a bit (one of our friends is Viet) for some shopping and stuff.
But yeah, its pretty much a schoolies substitute, so coming back broke would be expected.

I've heard about the age limit being 20 and that seriously sucks, thanks for pointing it out though Danierux. Were kinda hoping we'd be able to get into clubs by making it blatantly obvious that we're tourists or something (I'm Chinese so I guess I look a bit like them) with no ID.
We're probably considered tall over there anyway lol.

Nanobyte: I don't really get what you're saying, but I recommend you finish you're education where you are now rather than moving to another country to finish it, if you can help it.
In Japan they have Junior High (Yrs 7-9) and Senior High (10-12).

[keeyin]

*sigh* Coming back broke really can't be helped eh... xD for my school trip I spent around $600-$700 and that was in 18 days... :O but there was this one guy who was really stingy and scabbed money off the teachers x| I wonder if he'll ever pay them back... ^^;

Aah, memories...

Your plan sounds really fantastic!! You should be all set to go with your Japanese skill, I mean, I don't know if you've done any Japanese proficiency tests, but I haven't done any and I was fine...! What's more is that you learn new stuff while you're there, so it's great!

You must go to a kareoke bar... XD okay, not must, but it's a recommendation!! I mean, they're SO much fun!! And they have tons of english songs (a whole book/menu of them) to choose from, so you guys'll be a-okay~

Onsens and temples and all that traditional stuff is pretty amazing too!! Festivals are also TONS of fun And of course, you can't not go shopping... try Aeon if you can find it. The place I went to was MASSIVE. :O

AND VENDING MACHINES you can't miss them... I mean, they're EVERYWHERE. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff they sell in them... xD

Okay, I've rambled too much... but I hope you have tons of fun!!

[Danierux]

awesome skoolies subsitute!!! Wish I went for skoolies!! damnnn (for all you non-aussies Skoolies is like the australian version of spring break held on queenslands gold coast MY SECOND HOME!) hehe

Yeah make sure you don't pass up a good onsen on your visit! Especially if it will be in the colder months. Id say plan going to one of their theme parks, they absolutely rock ! (either Tokyo disney sea, disneyland, fuji Q, Nagashima spaland or universal studios Japan) Depending on what part of Japan you are visiting.

Shopping in Osaka rocks if you are heading that way. Kyoto has some awesome sights if you are into historical japan. Don't miss some awesoem temples either! Before you go I'd just brush up on general (touristy) japanese so you can get around with ease and learn the customs. no shoes in the house, no noseblowing in public etc.

Have a good one!!

[Gabcom]

Thanks for the input keeyin and Danierux.
Lol, you just reminded me of my trip to Japan with school (Yeah I actually been before, twice infact ). I was planning to buy a PSP and a few games when I was there and I didn't really think enough about the remainder of my money, so I ended up having to be stingy with my spending to be sure I'd survive for the rest of the trip.
What a scab ROFL I doubt my teacher would have given me money, a few 100yen maybe but nothing actually useful.

I'll check out these Proficiency tests one day, never heard of them.

Ahaha Karaoke. I've done enough of that over here in Sydney, but I doubt we'd say no if a nice bunch of Japanese wimmenz invite us . The places there are probably much better than ours anyway.

We'll do a lot of shopping for sure IF we have enough money. I'm yet to do some research on where are some good shopping areas. I'll check out this Aeon place, among others like Shinjuku or Ginza (rich peoples place?) and such that I've heard and possibly been to (wouldn't know lol)
Those vending machines are mad. I saw a particularly interesting one when I was in Osaka with the school trip. Too bad there was an old couple walking past at the right time. Those Japanese can sure give dirties..
Somehow I don't think my friends would be really interested in temples and honestly, neither am I. Onsens I don't really have an intention for visiting them either hehe. I guess I'm not too into the traditional Japanese culture.

Danierux: Theme parks for sure, Disneyland is probably a must, though I still have bad memories of that boat ride and all those dolls in it singing Its a small world after all.
Though there was another theme park that I went to before and I have no idea whats its called. All I remember about it was there was a big proper Ferris Wheel. Doesn't help much does it..

I don't think we'd mind going over to Osaka after Tokyo, but I really doubt we'd have the money to do that comfortably, nor the time we want to spend on a holiday where were most likely spending buckets of money daily. Though I guess it would be nice checking it out again, all I remember was the crowded streets of the Kyoto shopping district (I don't even remember where it was..)

Anyway thanks for the suggestions/tips and keepem coming. I'll be linking this page to my friends who've never been to Japan before so think about them too

[Shouganai]

Dont worry if you are a foreigner - all will be forgiven if you are drinking in the cities, just as long as you dont break any important laws. At least you wont throw up like the locals. Us Aussies dont like to waste our beer!
I saw 13-15yo's drinking in Tokyo no prob, they got away with it because they were foreigners and big compared to local kids. Japanese kids are much more innocent. They are still playing with kittens until they are 21yo.

[Gabcom]

LOL Thanks, that's actually some pretty relieving advice. I wonder if they'll let us into clubs. Actually my friends and I are Asian, and the closest we can get to looking like proper foreigners is having one of our friends look more half-cast then he actually is, or we may have a person of Greek descent with us to do the talking, that might do the trick, if he comes with us. I myself may not look too different to the normal everyday Japanese people, though I might be a bit taller. Or maybe they can tell, since I'm actually Chinese.


Haven't been on this forum for a long time, I'd like to ask another question. Can anyone point me into the right direction for finding details about live concerts that will be happening at a certain time? I'll be looking at around the time I'm going, so early 2009 I guess. After watching videos and stuff, I really want to attend a concert, so I want to find out if the artist/s that I like are holding a tour/live concert or anything during that time. The issue of getting tickets will come later