[eBook] Free - Japanese Travel Phrases 35: Simple Phrasal Book to Enjoy and Survive in Japan as a Tourist @ Amazon AU/US

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[eBook] Free - Japanese Travel Phrases 35: Simple Phrasal Book to Enjoy and Survive in Japan as a Tourist @ Amazon AU/US

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Taegukgi on 11/08/2023 - 19:30 amazon.com.au (3419 clicks)
Last edited 11/08/2023 - 19:45 by 1 other user

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This book is perfect for those people who:
・are traveling to Japan
・are worried before traveling to Japan
・have booked a ticket to Japan but don't know how to speak or read Japanese
・don't have time to learn Japanese before traveling

This is also great for those people who:
・are currently learning Japanese
・have given up Japanese but want to try learning again
・want to learn the practical and survival phrases
・want to try something different from textbooks

Books & Magazines eBook Japanese Language

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14 Aug 2023 5:00pm

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AaronRain on 11/08/2023 - 19:32

+2

Amazon US link is still pointing to Amazon AU, US link here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYPDC38R
INFIDEL on 11/08/2023 - 19:56

+9

Makes the common mistake of suggesting asking "Are there any ATM nearby?".

Watched my French travel companion ask that. She was studying Japanese at Uni, but lacked local knowledge.

Unless you are living in Japan, in.my experience travellers can't use just any ATM. Japanese usually don't know that, so will direct you to the nearest one.

It's better to ask for the "JP" - Post Office. That worked even in small villages on my travels.

In cities 7-11 & some combini (convenience stores) have ATM for travellers. And at some banks like Citibank.

Better to check an app for suitable ATM!
- sponson on 11/08/2023 - 20:08
  
  +1
  
  Never had an issue with the ones in konbini. The ones that don't work are the bank ones/little places with just a bunch of ATMs on their own. Usually SMBC branded.
  - INFIDEL on 11/08/2023 - 20:10
    
    Very easy to find kombini ATM if you stick to big cities! So unlikely to need to ask "where is the ATM?"
    
    But in areas away from travellers (eg remote villages on my many travels), not all had a kombini. And then those may not have an ATM. But there is almost always a JP ATM.
    
    It's not a problem, if you are aware of the ATM issue in Japan. But that's missing from this simple phrase book.
    
    So could cause confusion asking for an "ATM".
    
    Following this guide, asking a Japanese person - you will likely be directed (like my friend) to a bank ATM, which usually won't give you cash.
    I took her to the JP, as the nearest kombini had no ATM.
    
    Simply be aware of what you are saying. It may not have same meaning for locals.
    
    For fun… The Kombini Store song
    - dlovep on 11/08/2023 - 22:23
      
      Should have asked "where is the toire?" more frequent than atm.
      - INFIDEL on 11/08/2023 - 22:27
        
        @dlovep: Never had a problem with Japanese understanding what I mean by "WC". Even on remote islands.
- INFIDEL on 11/08/2023 - 22:49
  
  +1
  
  Many of these travel phrases are pretty unnecessary.
  
  Under section "at the hotel" - asking in Japanese for an ATM. Just ask in English. Staff at the most basic accommodation will help you & understand what a traveller requires.
  
  Using a faulty phrase will often cause confusion.
  
  If you ask a question in Japanese, the answer is likely to be given in Japanese. Which will require a translation…
  
  It can be embarrassing when a person talks quickly in Japanese for minutes, because they think you speak their language. (I don't. Never stopped me having a great time there.)
  I reply with the catchall phrase "so desu ne" ("that's right", "I see", "I understand").
Turd on 11/08/2023 - 21:05 Comment score below threshold.
- theHMASfriendship on 11/08/2023 - 21:12
  
  +3
  
  On the contrary, I wish to gain superpowers so I only buy made in Japan foods and goods and only visit Japan.
  - fenikkusu on 12/08/2023 - 08:33
    
    LoL
RockyRaccoon on 12/08/2023 - 08:00

+4

Actually found this site to be more helpful. You can download free PDF Plus on the site there are pronunciations and also free

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/japanese/japanese-travel-phrase…

Note that they also say the most important/effective word to use is

Excuse me/Sorry — sumimasen

Remembering politeness is key in Japan

Far more effective than saying - "I dont speak etc" or "hey"
- INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 09:17
  
  +2
  
  the most important/effective word to use is — sumimasen
  
  Yes. As with starting any conversation, in any language, getting the other person's attention first is important. Don't start with "Where is the ATM?".
  
  Hence the importance of politely saying "sumimasen". It's used in many contexts.
  
  Along with the various ways to say thank you, & the greetings at different times of day. Being polite & respectful is important in Japan🎏
  
  Don't put on a Japanese 'accent'! You will likely be told Japanese has no accent.
  
  Japanese is a Formal language. Like many aspects of Japanese ways, it follows conventions.
  
  Most Japanese understand Foreigners don't understand & make allowances for their mistakes.
  So don't worry. Politely say "sumimasen".
  
  You may be praised for your basic attempts - Japanese are generally very polite. (But you may realise you are unintentionally being treated like a child.)
  
  Even when complimenting your understanding of their customs, they may add "…but you'll never be Japanese."
  It takes years for Japanese to master formal customs, like with food & tea.
  - INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 10:11
    
    Examples of how strong the formal customs are, even with the young in Japan…
    
    At a remote historic site, was having breakfast provided at the Shrine. I sleepily added soy sauce to my bowl of rice. All the young Japanese gasped!! One said "You like soy sauce…". Oops!
    
    Later checked with a PhD student in Japanese history at the site.
    1. I had disrespected the rice farmer by polluting their pure rice. In the Edo period, the rice farmer was just under the Samurai in status.
    2. By making a meal out of rice & sauce, it showed I was a poor person. Something shameful.
    
    I asked about the common Japanese meal - curry rice, where sauce is added to the rice…
    It's a 'Foreign food' introduced later to Japan along with all fried foods, so not governed by Edo period customs!
    
    As few Foreigners visit the remote site, seems it was presumed I lived in Japan & should have known better.
    
    Learnt a lot from that simple mistake.
    But my rice farmer friend in the mountains North of Kyoto said not to worry.
    Unlikely to be an issue in a city.
    
    Similarly, wearing 2nd hand clothes is considered only done by the very poor. Very shameful.
    
    Bought a beautiful used Yukata (cotton summer kimono👘) for 400¥ in a poor area of Osaka. Old woman saw that - treated me to lunch & 2 traditional shows. Had a great free day!
    The lead performer said to come again. She said "How? No money!".
    Only realised then she thought I was poor! I had bought used clothes.
    - AlphaGamma128 on 12/08/2023 - 11:07
      
      Wow very interesting, thanks! Shame there's such a stigma for 'poor people', especially when second hand clothing is just much more sustainable and economical.
      - INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 11:08
        
        -1
        
        @AlphaGamma128: It helps to understand the thinking & customs inherent in Japan's formal culture.
        
        Many visitors to other cultures complain they should change their ways. It is often a very hard task, disrespectful to elders!
        
        Reuse & recycling is a hard idea to sell in Japan. It goes against centuries of customs. Add to that the conformity of the culture & the desire not to make others uncomfortable by your behaviour.
        
        But Shrines are maintained with wood salvaged from other temples. Every 20 years the Emperor's shrine Ise-Jingu is rebuilt, using 2500 year old techniques. The wood from the old shrine is used in many other shrines. They plant new forests to support this. A great reuse / recycling model for Japan
        
        I do my bit to bring back used clothes (for my use) every trip👘
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 11:30
        
        @INFIDEL:
        
        Reuse & recycling is a hard idea to sell in Japan.
        
        Huh? 2nd Street, Book Off, Hard off, Treasure Factory, Suruguya etc. are always full of people in the clothing aisles even in well off areas. Harujuku and Shibuya are full of them too.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 11:32
        
        @Gehirn: Yes, Harujuku and Shibuya…
        That carers for a very small sector of Japanese people. Its more about a specialised fashion trend (in mainly Japanese youth culture), rather than promoting real. recycling.
        
        For the general population in Japan, the idea of wearing used items means you are poor & therefore shameful is hard to break!
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 11:38
        
        @INFIDEL: Recycling is a large part of Japanese culture. From the simple garbage recycling at home, those shops I mentioned being massive chains across the country where you can recycle and buy used for everything imagineable, the recycling of toys, games, etc., the recycling of good likes bicycles and furniture to be sold by local groups to be used for community funds, the fashion districts being packed with thrift shops, all the weekly markets selling such goods, etc etc etc.
        
        It's not a trend.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 11:44
        
        @Gehirn: Garbage separation is very different to recycling.
        Despite lots of indication of recycling, Japan has a low recycling rate
        
        As I showed above, Japanese considered me very poor (& shameful) for buying used Yukata
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 11:51
        
        @INFIDEL: The rate at which government and business actually complete the recycling process is a very different argument than "Reuse & recycling is a hard idea to sell in Japan.".
        
        Yes but that is YOUR one experience in a poor area of Osaka, it's a bit much to generalise that experience.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 11:56
        
        @Gehirn:
        
        Yes but that is YOUR one experience in a poor area of Osaka, it's a bit much to generalise that experience.
        
        Gave examples of 2 experiences of thousands I've had in wonderful Japan🎏
        
        I've spent quite some time with poorer & other groups in Japan. The poorer areas are old leatherwork areas in Tokyo & Osaka - still considered "dirty" & looked down on since strongly Buddhist times.
        Spent time there distributing clothes & food.
        
        Travelled extensively over most of Japan for more than a decade. From islands North.of Hokkaido to ones off Okinawa. Learning from Japanese. But spent little time in trendy & touristy Harujuku and Shibuya… a bit shallow & commercial for me.
        
        Japanese people often ask me to explain aspects of Japanese culture. (My avatar is the Kanji I am known for wearing on my t-shirts there. Locals have recognised me by them from TV.)
        
        Japan is so full of trends. My rice farmer friend is a reviewer for a Jazz Mag. His specialty is 2 years of 1950's US jazz of a particular style I've never heard of.
        
        Not unusual to have such particular interests in Japan. And shops & businesses catering to them. It's an interesting aspect of Japanese culture. Many Foreigners visit Tokyo just for that.
        
        The population seems segmented into so many subgroups. If you look closely at 1, you can easily think all Japanese are into that trend!
        Guess that's what you've done.
        Maybe explore more of Japan!
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 12:42
        
        -1
        
        @INFIDEL: I've explored and lived in many areas and that is what my basis is drawn from. Poor to rich, young to old, recycled train parts to clothes to anything imagineable, everyone and everything was apart of big recycling.
        
        Thanks for assuming you know how my opinion is drawn though.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 12:44
        
        @Gehirn:
        
        Thanks for assuming you know how my opinion is drawn though.
        
        Lol! You claimed I based my knowledge only on 1 limited experience😜
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 12:56
        
        @INFIDEL: Because that was the experience you kept referring too.
        
        It's not a strong argument when you're saying someone thought I was poor because I bought cheap clothes in a poor area, and thus Japan hates second-hand.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 13:03
        
        @Gehirn: Thanks again for your incorrect assumptions😜
        I've written about my experiences in Japan on Ozbargain for years.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 13:06
        
        @Gehirn: Just because you're lived in a place, doesn't mean you see or understand all around you. We are often blind to what we see every day.
        
        My degrees, interest & experience are in Social Psychology - groups. I've designed research in the field.
        
        For example, took a local 30 year old woman for a walk through her small Japanese village. She was amazed by what she had never noticed before - a woman harvesting shellfish off the rocks. I encouraged her to ask how the 90+ year old woman prepared the meal. The old woman was excited to share her life with a younger local woman & an interested Foreigner!
        
        I've also seen piles of rubbish (tv's, laser disks, a bus, etc) dumped into a narrow scenic valley. Locals refused to take it to the recycling centre.
        
        Outside of cities, recycling is a different matter.
        Since China stopped Japanese waste from being imported, it's caused a major problem for recycling. (As it has here.)
        
        Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 13:12
        
        -4
        
        @INFIDEL: Sorry for doubting the guy with kanji on their shirt that Japanese people and tv go to learn about Japan from because he can see behind social constructions, and even myself.
        
        INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 13:14
        
        @Gehirn: Gee, Thanks😉
        
        There's a very old saying "None so blind as those who will not see"!
        Sometimes we can use a trained guide to see what is in front of us. I gain a lot of knowledge from them when entering new territory.
        
        kanji on their shirt…
        
        I travel to other countries where I might have language difficulties, with my name phonetically in the local language. But that one was written in Kanji, which most don't recognise as my name.
        
        Am treated better by officials I need to deal with.They say wearing the t-shirts shows respect.
        Revisited an official in Nara. After 4 years they excitedly remembered my t-shirt. Certainly made discussions easier.
        
        But wearing the t-shirt - was to help the locals. Japanese can be hesitant approaching a Foreigner. They don't want to make a mistake. It reassured them it was me, that they could tell me about their life. Otherwise am 'just another Gaijin'. They received my namecard with the same kanji. It all helped in building trust, rapport, & deeper understanding.
        
        Japanese often seek out Foreigners to discuss matters Japanese culture won't allow. Helped a man in Kyoto prepare for his imminent death. Quite a privilege.
        
        Enjoy the FREE Japanese films
    - sponson on 12/08/2023 - 16:01
      
      I find that very interesting about the clothes, I would have assume it to be the opposite.
      - INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 16:12
        
        @sponson: In poorer areas, people can't even give away their used clothes. Most there are very old, & so too are their clothes.
        
        (Much the same here, so much used clothing is unwanted by charities, with plenty going to landfill. Even surplus new fashion clothes are dumped here. See ABC's latest "War on Waste".)
        
        No one would risk the shame of wearing used Japanese clothes. That is far more important than the cost of new clothes!
        'Face' is vitally important to Japanese. Even people sleeping rough often wear suit jackets & keep their area swept & tidy.
        
        But they accept used clothes that were worn by Foreigners. So I collected those from people leaving (at end of their 2 year work visa) to distribute. People loved those.
        
        Stayed in an old apartment in Tokyo, where the family had just moved out. Lots of old clothes in original packets. Japanese admired the old Happi I wore, advertising a mattress shop. Still part of my collection.
        New manager I knew, said to take what I wanted. Brought back a stack. Wore many onto discount Jetstar flight.
        
        At markets, very old gowns can be very expensive. But often are very frail. Am happier with my found or cheap Japanese clothes.
        
        RockyRaccoon on 12/08/2023 - 22:17
        
        +1
        
        @INFIDEL: When I travelled to Japan for business for a past employer, my Boss liked to go to this secondhand clothes store around Rappongi, which imported these from the USA. It targeted the young trendy kids who wanted to look cool. Like us they were rebelling against their traditions.
        
        Your insights reminded me of something that we found in that store. It was full of military and other uniforms. One had a arm badge that was on a buttoned epaulet shirt that looked like a law enforcement shirt. The words on the badge were Sausalito Pest Control.
        
        INFIDEL on 13/08/2023 - 00:23
        
        @RockyRaccoon: You gotta be tough on ~~terrorists~~ insects🤣
        
        Yes, the specialist & vintage 2nd hand clothes market is strong in Japan. But targets only a small percentage of the population.
        
        Western & especially US clothes are popular there (likely since US occupation), as Japanese clothes are popular with Westerners. I've drunk in many cowboy cafes there.
        
        Cashed up collectors know what they want and are willing to pay the price. They (used to) use 'data-books' outlining what is sought after or rare. They know the market & where to shop for it.
        
        [As I've found selling old toys from my collection at a collectors fair here - ridiculously high prices!]
        
        But it can hardly be called reuse / recycling.
        
        At the other end of the market are community (charity) stores, selling low end items to raise money to help locals. But locals are rarely interested in buying used items - there is a stigma. Because of that a manager explained they try to sell to Foreigners.
        
        So the carton containing my 400¥ cotton Yukata robe was labelled in English 'Kimino' to attract Foreign buyers on a budget. Caught my eye.
        Many backpacker hostels & budget hotels are located on the outskirts of those 'slum' areas. So there's a ready (budget) market.
      - Gehirn on 12/08/2023 - 16:19
        
        -2
        
        @sponson: Well it is the opposite.
Ryk on 12/08/2023 - 10:05

+1

Counting in Japanese is a minefield, it's beyond me. I just make everybody laugh.
boomramada on 12/08/2023 - 11:54

You only need three words when you visiting, hello, excuse me and thank you in Japanese.
- INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 12:34
  
  You'll find those aren't necessarily a single word in Japanese, & vary depending on tbe situation.
- sponson on 12/08/2023 - 15:59
  
  “this” is very helpful, so you can point at something and say “kore kudesai” ie may I have this please.
INFIDEL on 12/08/2023 - 12:39

+3

Don't miss… 12 Free Independent Japanese Movies & docos (with English Subtitles) to Stream @ Japanese Film Festival+
- pn09 on 12/08/2023 - 15:40
  
  Thanks for all the tips and opinions - they're helpful and informed.
  
  Keep it up.
  
  Cheers
ThatNintendoKid on 12/08/2023 - 19:46

Commenting to save for later!
- INFIDEL on 13/08/2023 - 00:38
  
  Bookmarking is handy & easier to find. File under Japan, Travel etc.

This was posted 1 year 3 months 24 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

[eBook] Free - Japanese Travel Phrases 35: Simple Phrasal Book to Enjoy and Survive in Japan as a Tourist @ Amazon AU/US

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