Have you ever been under- whelmed by a place that is great ,mine was Paris .How about you.

[Heidi13]

On 10/28/2020 at 6:56 PM, ilikeanswers said:

 

Everyone thinks they have more time till it is too late. Flying across the Atlantic is however much easier than what Australians have to do to get to Europe😂 so you can definitely make a lot more return trips😉. 

 

So true, even from the West Coast we are only 9 hrs non-stop to LHR.

 

After paying off Oriana in 1978, my first flight from Sydney to LHR was well over 24 hrs with 3 stops before LHR. Then had a couple of hours before the hour flight up to Glasgow.

[Hlitner]

3 hours ago, dolittle said:

It is funny that Japan is just not on most people's list of must see places. It is odd for a rich and advanced country to have such a small tourist trade I guess this is why.

As a young man I was lucky to have spent 2 years (while in the Air Force) living in Japan (northern Honshu).  When I left Japan in 1970 I can still remember being wet eyed since I had fallen in love with the country.   Tokyo was one of my least favorite places, and yet this is the #1 destination for most tourists who visit Japan.  Tokyo is a huge sprawling city and like most great cities it is a city of many neighborhoods...much of what is not seen by the typical first time visitor.   That being said, Tokyo does rival many other great cities when it comes to a huge selection of eating venues (in all price ranges), shopping, and some decent museums.  But it is true that Japan does not get near the number of tourists we find in some European countries and I suppose much has to do with the fact that it is expensive and somewhat difficult for much of the world to get to Japan.

 

One other factoid.  When I lived in Japan (60s and 70s) the exchange rate was 360 Yen to a single US Dollar.  Now it is close to 100 to 1.  Where Japan used to be an amazing bargain for tourists it is now quite pricey.  To be honest, it is the exchange rate (and related cost) that has kept us away from Japan...even when we head to Asia for a few weeks.  

 

Hank

[ilikeanswers]

6 hours ago, dolittle said:

It is funny that Japan is just not on most people's list of must see places. It is odd for a rich and advanced country to have such a small tourist trade I guess this is why.

 

I think it depends where you live in the world. In Australia it is a very popular destination. Last year it was the 7th most visited destination. We even have travel agents that specialise in Japan and pre covid there were Japan travel expos. I managed to visit some of Japan before it all closed up and I have to say I did not experience anything that poster alluded to. We overall had a great time even in Tokyo were we spent a few nights. Each neighbourhood is like entering a different city. You do need to take your time with Tokyo it is not a place you can fully appreciate in one day. 

 

Had a look at the stats Japan had 31.9 million international visitors last year. That is pretty respectable I think. 

Edited November 1, 2020 by ilikeanswers

[K32682]

11 hours ago, ilikeanswers said:

I think it depends where you live in the world. In Australia it is a very popular destination. Last year it was the 7th most visited destination. We even have travel agents that specialise in Japan and pre covid there were Japan travel expos. I managed to visit some of Japan before it all closed up and I have to say I did not experience anything that poster alluded to. We overall had a great time even in Tokyo were we spent a few nights. Each neighbourhood is like entering a different city. You do need to take your time with Tokyo it is not a place you can fully appreciate in one day. 

 

Had a look at the stats Japan had 31.9 million international visitors last year. That is pretty respectable I think. 

 

My experience in Japan was not as a dewy-eyed youngster or a tourist on a package tour. I went there initially as part of a government delegation and subsequently did private business there. We employed non-Japanese who spoke and read the language meaning we knew what the locals were saying when they thought otherwise. My time in Japan lead to the conclusion that once past the cherry blossoms and the bows what is left is a rigid, autocratic, dissolute and systemically racist society.  

[ilikeanswers]

17 minutes ago, K32682 said:

My experience in Japan was not as a dewy-eyed youngster or a tourist on a package tour. 

 

I'm not sure why you felt the need to categorise me into these two boxes😳. For the record my visit was neither of those things you listed. 

 

Quote

I went there initially as part of a government delegation and subsequently did private business there. We employed non-Japanese who spoke and read the language meaning we knew what the locals were saying when they thought otherwise. My time in Japan lead to the conclusion that once past the cherry blossoms and the bows what is left is a rigid, autocratic, dissolute and systemically racist society.  

 

I don't know what industry you were dealing with and I can only speak to the people I know who have lived and worked there and while they have faced some of the things you have mentioned from what they have told me they met and befriended more nice people than nasty people but perhaps the people in the creative industries might have a different culture to the people in the industries you were dealing with🤔. 

Edited November 1, 2020 by ilikeanswers

[K32682]

18 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

I don't know what industry you were dealing with and I can only speak to the people I know who have lived and worked there and while they have faced some of the things you have mentioned from what they have told me they met and befriended more nice people than nasty people but perhaps the people in the creative industries might have a different culture to the people in the industries you were dealing with🤔. 

 

It doesn't matter how long you live there. You are an outsider (gaijin) and always will be. People are often friendly but are not your friends.  Japan remains the only country in the world where I've been denied service at a restaurant because of my skin colour. 

[Gwendy]

On 10/29/2020 at 1:22 AM, NIATPAC29 said:

A BIT CLOSED MINDED PERHAPS !

I agree.  I was lucky to visit Charleston last year on Princess WC.  I found it a delightful city, loved its history, visited one of the plantations, and did the horse and cart ride through the city.  At all times I found the people I spoke to were so friendly and helpful. I could just sit and listen to the way they talk all day.  That southern drawl drew me in, lol

[NIATPAC29]

I agree. Fun City. Good people. Good food. Safe place to visit .Im  looking forward to going back soon

[PasadenaDave]

I have not read all of these posts so this might have been mentioned.  There is a fun podcast called "Not So Bon Voyage."  The hosts discuss or interview people of experiences that were not so great while traveling.  One question they pose to guests is this same topic of where did you not like visiting or what did not live up to your expectations.  They often give the disclaimer of what one person likes someone else hates such as some hate beaches and some hate cities.

 

Mine, Milan.  I do have to preface this as I was only 23 years old and after spending three days on Corfu I took an overnight ferry and then a train from midnight to 0700 arriving in Milan to a damp day.  I got back on the train to Zermatt and went skiing that afternoon, the end of June.  I was on a two week vacation from New Jersey and at that time of my life preferred nature to art.  I also was not into cities at that time of my life.

[rkacruiser]

23 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Tokyo was one of my least favorite places

 

Tokyo is a city that ought to be experienced once, at least.  A favorite of mine?  No.  But, in its own way memorable.  The welcoming that we received as the Volendam sailed into Tokyo Bay in 2002, the Drum Ensemble on the pier's rooftop as we docked, the Welcome Ceremony held in the Wajang Theater because of the Volendam's maiden visit:  all of this was before I left the ship.

 

Starting my shore excursion, I decided I wanted to see how long it would take before I saw a McDonald's.  15-20 minutes is what I recall.  The sites we visited were interesting with maybe the most being in the Ginza District and people watching.  Department stores which needed guards to regulate the flow of customers when the doors first opened.  Entering one store--after the initial rush had ended--the endless variety of items to buy!  It's a different culture that one ought to experience.

 

Visits to other cities of Japan provide memories, a couple of which are indelible.  My visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima:  their exhibits were well done, the messages that they provided were balanced.  What I remember most, however, are the wails, the cries of horror of what they were seeing from Japanese citizens who were in the Museum.  

 

Do I want a re-visit to Tokyo?  No.  Another return to Japan with a visit, this time, to the Museum in Nagasaki, as well as another ride on the Bullet Train?  Yes.  

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

The sites we visited were interesting with maybe the most being in the Ginza District and people watching.  

 

I would put Ginza as my least favourite😂 But shops even high end has never been interesting to me, we only went through the district on the way to the fish market. For me I much preferred Asakusa and Ueno. But I would agree that one visit to Tokyo is enough, I certainly have no desire to return, I feel like I have experienced enough of the city to satisfy my curiosity. 

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

I would put Ginza as my least favourite😂 But shops even high end has never been interesting to me, we only went through the district on the way to the fish market. For me I much preferred Asakusa and Ueno. But I would agree that one visit to Tokyo is enough, I certainly have no desire to return, I feel like I have experienced enough of the city to satisfy my curiosity. 

 

I've been to Japan twice and spent several days in Tokyo each time....and I really enjoyed it. It's a crazy mix of frenetic activity and traditional oases. Because I went when I was relatively young (22) and then took my son when he was a junior in HS, we did some off the wall things, including going on a walk with a local in the Akihabara district (manga and anime central) and Harajuku, ground zero for very avante garde fashion and shopping (e.g., the famous "Condomania" shop). But also visiting the Meiji shrine next door -- and just happening upon a traditional wedding ceremony there. Or attending a performance at the Kabuki-za theater in Ginza. Playing pachinko.

 

Going to a maid cafe. Eating at ramen shops. Marveling at the subway system. Or a lesson for my son with a real "Living Treasure" samurai sword master. Or taking one of these cool modern water buses for a cruise down the Sumida river to Odaiba (and riding in the first car of the automated train coming back....):

 

  

I found it invigorating and miles of fun. Would be happy to go back any time. 

 

[ilikeanswers]

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 (and riding in the first car of the automated train coming back....):

 

I loved the automated train 🤗We took the one that went over the Rainbow Bridge so much fun and great views. We didn't see a wedding but we see some sort of ceremony at the Meji temple. Would have been nice to know what was happening but fascinating nonetheless. 

[Hlitner]

18 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Tokyo is a city that ought to be experienced once, at least.  A favorite of mine?  No.  But, in its own way memorable.  The welcoming that we received as the Volendam sailed into Tokyo Bay in 2002, the Drum Ensemble on the pier's rooftop as we docked, the Welcome Ceremony held in the Wajang Theater because of the Volendam's maiden visit:  all of this was before I left the ship.

 

Starting my shore excursion, I decided I wanted to see how long it would take before I saw a McDonald's.  15-20 minutes is what I recall.  The sites we visited were interesting with maybe the most being in the Ginza District and people watching.  Department stores which needed guards to regulate the flow of customers when the doors first opened.  Entering one store--after the initial rush had ended--the endless variety of items to buy!  It's a different culture that one ought to experience.

 

Visits to other cities of Japan provide memories, a couple of which are indelible.  My visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima:  their exhibits were well done, the messages that they provided were balanced.  What I remember most, however, are the wails, the cries of horror of what they were seeing from Japanese citizens who were in the Museum.  

 

Do I want a re-visit to Tokyo?  No.  Another return to Japan with a visit, this time, to the Museum in Nagasaki, as well as another ride on the Bullet Train?  Yes.  

Enjoyed your post :).  My first visit to Tokyo was in 1968 (when in the USAF) and I had a small paper map (yes, we used to have maps on paper) that showed me where to find the USO facility located right in the Ginza.  I walked up the steps to that place hoping to get some decent local information (there was no Internet or cell phones in those days).  It turned out the USA had a really nice snack bar and my first meal in Tokyo was a burger and fries :).  By the time I left Japan (about 2 years later) I had gone native and there was no way I would have a burger/fries although several of my Japanese friends really loved American fast food.  Some of the best southern fried chicken I have ever had was from a tiny Japanese place in Misawa Japan :).   Things have not changed much in that you can find just about any kind of food in Japan (especially Tokyo).   But in the 60s going native in Tokyo usually meant eating ramen and playing Pachinko.  Even in these modern times you can still find old fashioned Pachinko parlors in Tokyo.

 

Hank

 

Hank

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Some of the best southern fried chicken I have ever had was from a tiny Japanese place in Misawa Japan :).   

 

There is a dish brought over from Korea that is deep fried chicken that you dip in melted cheese. They call it UFO😆. You could see in the restaurants groups of locals huddled around this pan of melted cheese and they were dipping their pieces of chicken and taking photos of the strings of cheese that would form😂. 

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

playing Pachinko.  Even in these modern times you can still find old fashioned Pachinko parlors in Tokyo.

 

You jogged my memory!  I remember seeing these parlors almost everywhere in Tokyo.  I was unaware of this "game" at that time.  One of our guides told us that it was a form of gambling, rather like slot machines in the U. S.  

[George C]

For me it’s San Juan, just a dirty city , garbage everywhere, I no longer get off the ship there. 

[chloemonkey]

On 10/21/2020 at 10:22 AM, lenquixote66 said:

Montreal.We were there in 1969.We stayed at the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

We were also underwhelmed with Paris!  Only spent 3 days and 2 nights there (on a cruise of course!) but enjoyed London much more.  Not sure what it was exactly.....as the weather was great, the sites were amazing....maybe the people in the service industry?  As we spent almost 2 hours waiting for our dinner at one outdoor restaurant that was highly recommended by the Concierge at our hotel, or the waiter at yet another outdoor cafe that told me that I had already "sampled" the champagne that I had ordered a glass of for lunch and asked to be sent back due to lack of any bubbles and the fact that it was warm......not sure how I was supposed to "taste" the champagne without having "sampled" it....lol.....and this was for a $40 a glass champagne!  We were just left "flat" with Paris....but hope to give it another chance one day.....God willing!