Japanese Culture and Travel
Learning more about the culture and the places you can use your new language skills is all part of your learning adventure. If you’re looking for some extra cultural tips or you have an experience to share, welcome! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!- No 食べ歩き ( tabe-aruki ) in Kamakura Today I learned a new phrase, 食べ歩き ( tabe-aruki, "eating while walking" ), though it appears to be viewed as a negative thing. An ordinance banning it passed a few months ago in Kamakura. I wonder if travelers are complying? https://japantoday.com/cate...4 replies • Last post by Bird-lover • Jun 8, 2026
- Shuri Castle destroyed by fire Another loss for Japan, but luckily no one was hurt. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_09/ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_41/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-castle-fire/fire-destroys-japans-world-heritag...9 replies • Last post by Bird-lover • Jun 8, 2026
- Has anyone climbed Mt. Fuji? I just finished the lesson on climbing Mt. Fuji, so was happy to see that the program "Strolling With Tamori" on TV Japan had a show about doing just that--climbing Mt. Fuji! They explained how Mt. Fuji was formed by a volcano, and they showed several e...3 replies • Last post by Bird-lover • Jun 8, 2026
- Losing Face If a Japanese person gets embarrassed or feels they are losing face, what would their behavior look like? Would they not look at the person they feel like they have slighted or offended, or what? I saw this recently and was wondering.3 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Jan 30, 2024
- Life in Japan konnichiwa! Has anyone gone to a museum in Japan before. I'm wanting to know more about the samurai and their history. I know in level 1 lesson 3.7 talks about the samurai but, I really like their history so much I want to kno...12 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Jan 10, 2024
- YouTube カラオケ (music videos with Japanese lyrics) In the "9 Ways How to Stay Motivated and Have Fun when Learning a New Language" thread (see My Forum > General > Rocket Languages Blog) suggestion number 4 is to "Sing at the top of your lungs." Of course lyrics need to be learned first and my favorite w...15 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Jan 10, 2024
- Tokyo, Japan Has anyone one been to Tokyo, Japan and if so can you tell me what its like there? Im planning on living there when I am older.7 replies • Last post by Hawke • Oct 29, 2023
- How has Corvid-19 affected your studying? How has the virus interfered with your japanese study, or made it easier? I know I have more time (haven't worked in nine weeks) and have been using this time to work harder on grammar. I've also passed two module tests. How about you?4 replies • Last post by JohnH197 • May 3, 2021
- Japanese Language Proficiency Test I am just wondering if anyone else has booked in for this test while registration periods are open. They are only held twice a year. I have taken the plunge and booked in and paid for the test to take this December in Sydney. There are 5 levels to sele...158 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Mar 2, 2020
- Typhoon Hagibis (2019) TIL the name "Hagibis" is from the Philippines (Tagalog?) and means "rapidity" or "swiftness". I hope everyone in the projected path is taking safety precautions. Western news coverage indicates a monster storm.5 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Oct 13, 2019
- Lesson needs an update: 4.9 Culture: Japanese Eras (Reiwa) The lesson states, "The current era is called 平成 (pronounced へいせい heisei)", but Emperor Akihito abdicated on 30 April 2019 and as of 1 May 2019, it is the 令和 (Reiwa) era.5 replies • Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor • Aug 27, 2019
- Travel I plan to travel to Japan in 2021 and I am wondering which place(s) will be the best to visit when I go there. I will be there for a week or so during the cherry blossom season. There will be a group of 4-5 people coming with me and the plan is to stay at...2 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Aug 21, 2019
- Japan Travel I plan to travel to Japan in 2021 and I am wondering which place(s) will be the best to visit when I go there. I will be there for a week or so during the cherry blossom season. There will be a group of 4-5 people coming with me and the plan is to stay at...2 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Aug 15, 2019
- Japanese Fonts I found this resource online and thought others might be interested. https://www.freejapanesefont.com/2 replies • Last post by toru e • Jul 18, 2019
- JLPT July Test Just wondering if anyone else from this site sat the recent JLPT test just this month on the 7th in various cities around the world?1 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Jul 11, 2019
- AnimeLab I have recently started watching Japanese anime as a way to further study Japanese. Leading a busy life I did not think I had access to this until an app all of a sudden popped up on my smart TV. Having a quick look it streams anime direct to my TV. I liv...5 replies • Last post by teacup • Jun 24, 2019
- hotel plans Hi How do I ask: 1. is breakfast included? 2. is the breakfast fee included in the plan? 3. which credit cards are accepted? Thank you!7 replies • Last post by risa-rocket-japanese-tutor • May 27, 2019
- Why are train station names sometimes in Katakana? I was riding the Tokaido line between Yokohama Station and Shinagawa Station. I noticed the little scoreboard that indicated the next station said カワサキ and not かわさき. Is Kawasaki a borrowed word? The sign may have had a Kanji version as well (I remember ...4 replies • Last post by teacup • May 23, 2019
- Japanese Documentaries—please suggest some I stumbled on Behind the Cove on Netflix, and regardless of my thoughts on the subject matter I was very happy to hear native Japanese speakers in everyday situations. While Japanese movies and tv shows are helpful I think that like their American count...14 replies • Last post by toru e • Apr 30, 2019
- Dōgen: Comedy & Japan (Twitter) Worth sharing IMHO—he posts lots of funny and educational videos about Japan/Japanese. https://twitter.com/Dogen2 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Feb 27, 2019
- Where did japanese come from? i know that japan created japanese, but who created it? and when. thanks10 replies • Last post by ClaudiaR27 • Jun 30, 2018
- Kumano Kodo / Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage Has anyone visited one or either of these slightly more unusual Japanese travel locations? I've been before and have done some of the main tourist sites, so wanted to do something a bit more off the beaten track. Was interested in Ise Jingu and walk...3 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Dec 27, 2017
- How polite to be I'm going to Japan on holiday next year (woo!), and I was wondering how polite I should be when speaking to staff, such as hotel staff and train-station staff. I don't want to seem awkward because I'm speaking too politely, but I don't want to be rude eit...4 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Mar 12, 2016
- Familiarization with Japanese culture? I assume many here are learning Japanese for the purpose of visiting and/or moving there, so what do you recommend outside of this program to help familiarize yourself with the culture?11 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Mar 12, 2016
- Life in Japan みんなさん、こんにちは！ I would life to know about how expensive is life in Japan right now :). As I would want to go and study there, I need to gather some information about the lifestyle of Japanese. The first and most important question: how much money (euros o...26 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Mar 12, 2016
- Where can I find the English translation of the lyrics of the song "Kanpai" sung by Sayaka at the end of Lesson 6.7? At the end of Lesson 6.7, Ms. Sayaka sang a song "Kanpai" by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, a great singer/songwriter. I just loved the melody and looked it up on YouTube. I found many reditions, some with hiragana and/or romaji. But I could find one with English...5 replies • Last post by Tony-S10 • Mar 11, 2016
- Japanese similar to korean Is Japanese similar to Korean?9 replies • Last post by maha266 • Sep 30, 2014
- hotel reservation confirmation Hi. I will be travelling to Japan & have asked the hotel to confirm my reservation. How do I ask the hotel clerk if the reservation is confirmed? Thank you!15 replies • Last post by risa-rocket-japanese-tutor • Dec 7, 2013
- Confusing interpretation I am visiting Japan in April for 16 days and attempting to get though the course as quickly as possible simply to have some fun and enjoy meeting the Japanese people. I'm confused by lesson 2.2. The phrase "shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?" is interpreted ...9 replies • Last post by Alan-R-G • Sep 19, 2013
- Backpacking or camping in Japan I'll be backpacking through the main island with a buddy of mine next spring/summer. Kind of a chance to feel vulnerable without technology or native language and do a little bit of soul searching. I'm an experienced outdoorsman, so no worries there. I fo...2 replies • Last post by 477580 • Sep 6, 2013
- Programs that take you to Japan Hi, everyone. I'm new to Rocket Japanese, as well as to studying the Japanese language, and have been looking for ways to go to Japan as cheaply as possible. I've looked into JET, but I don't feel that I could do that because I have a stutter that inhibit...5 replies • Last post by yanagi • May 14, 2013
- Japanese complex thought of politeness I am curious why Japanese language has complex thoughts of politeness. Are there any reasons behind this? I mean in terms of traditional Japanese culture and related matters.4 replies • Last post by Miss-Phunphen • Apr 22, 2013
- Calling Fellow Otakus! Konnichiwa~! Just wondering...any manga/anime fans out there? If so, what are some of your favs? >_<9 replies • Last post by Russell-P1 • Jan 12, 2013
- Where to go and what to do? 今日は！ こんにちは！Konnichiｗa! Hi! I'm planning a trip to Japan in May 2011 for two weeks. I will arrive in Tokyo and plan to travel to Okinawa for a few days SCUBA diving. I want to see Mt Fuji and visit friends in Kyoto and Osaka. Other than this I need ideas ...18 replies • Last post by mark-k4 • Aug 10, 2012
- Studying Abroad Hi, im going to be studying abroad for the fall semester in Tsuru University, which is located in Yamanashi. I was wondering if anyone visited or lived there, and if so, what it is like there, like food, lifestyle, people,. Any information would be helpfu...8 replies • Last post by monie.deb • Aug 28, 2011
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