Sunday, 22 January 2012

Traveling to Japan 

Currency

$1 CAD (Canadian Dollar) = 75.13 JPY (Japanese Yen)
¥1 JPY (Japanese Yen) = 0.01328 CAD (Canadian Dollar)

Daily budget

Breakfast
¥200 - ¥500 per day ($3-$7 CAD)

Lunch
¥400 - ¥700 per day ($5-$9 CAD)

Dinner
¥400 - ¥700 per day ($5-$9 CAD)

Sightseeing
¥0 - ¥3,000 per day ($0-$40 CAD)

Souvenirs
¥0 - ¥1,000 per week ($0-$13 CAD)

Flight

Cost: $1,435.00 CAD

Toronto, Canada – Chicago IL, USA
Flight Number: 501
Depart: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:30am
Arrive:  Thursday, May 10, 2012, 8:08am

Chicago IL, USA– Tokyo, Japan
Flight Number: 9
Depart: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 11:25am
Arrive: Friday, May 11, 2012, 2:15pm

Tokyo, Japan - Chicago IL, USA
Flight Number: 7010
Depart: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 6:15pm
Arrive: Friday, May 24, 2012, 4:00pm

Toronto, Canada - Chicago IL, USA
Flight Number: 510
Depart: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 5:35pm
Arrive: Friday, May 24, 2012, 8:05pm




Culture Shock

Dos and Don’ts

-Dress conservatively if visiting a temple or shrine.
-Don’t take food from the serving plate with the ends of your chopsticks that you've eaten from. Instead, turn your chopsticks upside down and then pick the food up.
-It’s rude to pour soy sauce over white, steamed rice.
-Keep the bowl close to your mouth when eating noodle soup. This will avoid a mess.
-It’s good to slurp when eating soup and noodles.
-Don’t stick chopsticks into your food or spear your food with the chopsticks.
-At social gatherings, drink alcohol if you can. It is socially important in Japanese culture and you will probably be pressured to participate. If you cannot partake, be ready with an excuse and an explanation.
-Make an attempt to pay at a restaurant, even if someone else invited you. They won't let you pay, but your effort, as insincere as it may have been, will make a good impression upon those you are dining with.
-Don’t tip. It is not customary in Japan.
-Give and receive gifts with both hands.
-Give a gift to thank somebody. Good gifts include cake, sweets, and sake.
-Don't open a wrapped gift until later.
-Avoid giving gifts that have to do with the number four. It is bad luck.
-Don’t use your chopsticks to point to something.
- Bow when greeting someone. A bow can range from a small nod to a ninety degree full-body bow. If you are greeting someone with a higher social status, the bow should be more pronounced. For the most part, however, as a foreigner in Japan, you won't be expected to know the specific bowing etiquette.
-Don’t say something to the effect of "I hope to see you again" when parting.

Things to Expect
Phases of Culture Shock
When I go there I will experience “The Bubble Phase” or “Honeymoon Phase” this occurs when you live in another culture. At the very end of the trip, the last day or two I will experience the second phase “The Negotiation Phase”. I will long for home and will miss friends, family and food. Peoples habits will start to annoy me and I will get agitated. I will not get to Phase 3 or reverse culture shock because I will not be there long enough.
Challenges
Language
Although English is an official language in Japan I will still have to deal with a huge language barrier. I will have to prepare by learning basic Japanese characters and how to pronounce them. 
 Food
Food will not be a problem because I love Japanese cuisine. Although I have only tried ramen and sushi I want to try more of their food.

Arrival Accommodation
Hotel Fukudaya
Address - 1-35-11 Kiyokawa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Price - $31.42 CAD (¥2391 JPY)

Visa Requirements
If you are going to Japan for less than 90 days for Tourism you require a transit or temporary visa. To obtain one of these you need to contact the Japanese embassy.  Most businesses in Japan require cash and do not take credit cards. You will have to find ATM’s which are very prominent in Japan.

Travel Warnings
According to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada you should avoid non-essential travel there due to the earthquake on May 11, 2011. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada says that you shouldn’t travel within 20km of Fukushima nuclear power plant in Okumacho, as well as to the districts and towns that have a Government of Japan recommended or pending evacuation order, including the districts of Katsurao, Namie, parts of Kawamata and Iitate, and  some districts in Minamisoma. 


Canadian Embassy info:
Japan - TOKYO, Embassy of Canada
Address: 3-38 Akasaka 7-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107-8503
Tel.: 81 (3) 5412-6200
Mail: tokyo@international.gc.ca


Health and Safety
When going to Japan there are no required vaccines, but you should have immunizations for hepatitis and B as well as Japanese B encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis.




Climate during Visit
During my stay the temperature is going to be an average of 18.7°c and will rain an average of 75mm.
To me this is the perfect temperature, not too hot not to cold this is pants and t-shirt weather. It also won’t rain as much compared to other months in Japan. If necessary I can always get an umbrella from the nearest umbrella vending machine!

Travel Motivators/Barriers

In Japan the culture is very different. The food can be both a motivator and a barrier. Sushi for example, it sometimes contains raw fish and is very light. Most people are going to want a hearty bowl of mashed potatoes instead. But others (like me) love sushi and find it awesome! A major barrier in Japan is the huge language barrier, even though Japan’s second language is English. Japan’s unique culture is a huge motivator for me and I’m sure it is for most, as well as Japan’s amazing climate and terrain. Japan has a huge population density, everything is pact in and that is a barrier for almost everybody. The Price to fly to Japan will be a barrier to everyone and will definitely stop some people from going.

The Five “A”’s

 Attractions

Bio-Physical
-       - Mt. Fuji
-The highest mountain in japan and a great hike (I’m not hiking all the way up).
-       -Nine Hells of Beppu
-The second largest producer of geothermal water in the world.
-Cultural
-        -Sensoji Temple
    The oldest temple in Tokyo with the Kaminarimon as the symbolic gateway of the temple. Traditional events are held seasonally at the temple.
-       - Tokyo National Museum
-The museum displays historical exhibits from all over Asia.
-        -Kyoto
A history enriched city with amazing architecture everywhere you go.
-        -Nijo Castle
Includes Nimomaru Palace the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several gardens.


Access 
Japan has one of the best train systems in the world, They are never late and are extremely efficient. I will be using the JR System which is the connection of several railway systems. A train pass costs ¥45,100 JPY ($592.76 CAD). With this rail pass I will be able to travel anywhere in japan.

Amenities

Bed
I require a western style bed and pillow. I wouldn’t be able to sleep on the floor or with a Japanese style pillow.

Clean Water

Clean Hotel/Hostel/Motel

Indoor Plumbing

Locked Doors
No one likes getting robbed.

Bathroom
3 piece.

Wi-Fi
Not a complete necessity but I really like having access to the internet.

Activities

-        -Sumo Wrestling
-        -Museums
-        -National Parks
-        -Tokyo boat tour
-        -Restaurants
-        -Temples (Historical, Shinto and Buddhist)
-        -Biking through the cities
-        -Bath houses
-        -Shopping


Bibliography
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada - http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=140000
Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan


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