So my Honeymoon to Japan is in 3 months

[oonter]

We're spending a butt-load of money just to get there. But it's gonna be amazing...We're taking a Self-Guided Onsen Tour for 2weeks...

I'll be honest guys....I'm very nervous. The only Japanese I know is from a Summer Session of Japanese class, Audio Lessons, and Books. I haven't studied my Kana and Textbooks for quite some time. I should get cracking on that if I wanna survive the 2weeks.

Also I put in a request for my job to have time off. And I've heard nothing yet...I know it's my job, and my job is important to me right now cuz it pays my bills and provides me the money to have this trip. But it's MY HONEYMOON and it's JAPAN. I;m gonna go one way or another.

PS: THERE IS NO QUESTION MARK IN THE TOPIC TITLE...OOPS!!

[nice gaijin]

Sounds like you're in for a great time! I can't see why they'd deny you time off for your honeymoon; if they didn't, I sure wouldn't want to work for that company!

I'd recommend practicing your reading and speaking more than anything else; there's no way you're going to understand what everyone around you is saying, especially if they're using keigo; your best bet is to be able to specify what it is you want, and to be able to read signs and menus if possible. I just met someone in the Air Force stationed nearby, and he doesn't speak any Japanese at all, so his safety net is a set of questions and phrases in his Ipod that he just shows to people to get the message across.

Either way, good luck and have a blast!

[Iron Chef]

Yeah, don't stress too much over getting prepped beforehand. Just remember that your there to relax and unwind and enjoy each other's company in an exciting and exotic locale. Take in as many things as you can and don't worry so much if you have a little difficulty communicating with the locals. They will appreciate your zeal and your effort so you should both be ok. Always keep a pocket dictionary with you and some vital info as well (address of where you're staying, personal contact info back home in an event of an emergency, etc.) just in case.

[misa.j]

Why don't you ask your boss about your time off? You still got 3 months, so maybe they haven't made the schedule that far yet. I'm pretty sure any company should be able to allow their employees to take 2 weeks and plus of vacation time.

You will easily survive for 2 weeks in Japan even if you are not confident about your Japanese. I know how that can make you worry, but I think it's sometimes good to jump in a situation. Nice gaijin and Iron Chef's advice are very good, you should definitely follow those.

[Glenn]

I edited the thread title for you -- no more question mark. :-)

[oonter]

Well, I work for HSBC. And all employees are required to take at least one week off in the entire year. To have 2 consecutive weeks off might need special attention according to my manager. My branch manager is well aware that I need those days off. I gave him details of who, what, why, when, and where I'll be. I don't think he's told the District Manager yet.... But I did tell the district manager back during my interview that Ill be getting married. So if no one says anything by this week, I'm gonna have to tell the DM myself.

The other reason why it might be hard to take off those 2 weeks is because my salary and job is based on sales and performance. So me missing the entire middle of June will probably GREATLY effect my month. But we'll see...

[pipokun]

Buy the following phrasebook before you leave or at Narita, and I am sure that you will enjoy your stay more.
旅の指さし会話帳〈21〉JAPAN (単行本)
Tabi no Yubisashi Kaiwacho (21) Japan
The Original Point-And-Speak Phrasebook
ISBN-10: 4795818436
ISBN-13: 978-4795818439
I don't know why the jref shop does not sell this useful book.

[puff_raddy]

don't sweat the english too much - a lot of younger japanese speak a little english but are too shy to speak it because they feel they are not very good at it. the japanese are generally pretty friendly and helpful.

just like travelling in any other country, try to memorize or write down the basics like "how much?" "where is the ____?" "thank you" etc....

[Gentleman10]

I'm not really sure what advice to give besides to have a good time!

Congratulations and enjoy Japan!

[Hypertokyo5]

Hoy how exciting! For both getting married = honeymoon and going to Japan! Well, try not to stress and enjoy your time there. I'm sure that the Japanese that you will need will find it's way out of your mouth. Congratulations and I hope for the best! Enjoy!!!

[oonter]

Well, I just came back from a district wide meeting.... So I talk to my district manager and he said it's alright that I take the two weeks!!! Then he opened up a tab at the bar for the 30 of us....We all had drinks and lots of appetizers!! It was good times!!

[Uncle Frank]

Good for you oonter! You deserve to be treated nice, glad your boss knows it. Hope your trip is trouble free and the greatest time in your life. Take some pictures to share with us after your return.

Uncle Frank

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[misa.j]

That's awesome oonter! I'm really happy for you.

HSBC rocks, I have a business with them through my work, and people at the bank have been always nice and helpful to me.

Keep us posted about your trip in Japan!

[dark_secrester]

Don't worry about getting prepped up, just make sure you know how to ask for beer, directions, food and where the toilet is.
Have fun! Take Piccies and show us upon your return!

[oonter]

I definitely will. I'm trying to post here more too....I'm attempting to become a dedicated regular like all my other boards

[undrentide]

Congratulations! :-)

The book pipokun mentioned (see the post #7) is really useful, I always present this to my friends or customers from abroad when they come to Japan.
You can find it at Narita airport (if you'll be flying to Tokyo). If you are travelling on your own, I strongly recommend to get one.

[oonter]

Buy the following phrasebook before you leave or at Narita, and I am sure that you will enjoy your stay more.
I don't know why the jref shop does not sell this useful book.
I can't seem to find the book on any english sites...I have a book store called "Kinokuniya" by my old school, I'll look there.

[oonter]

Buy the following phrasebook before you leave or at Narita, and I am sure that you will enjoy your stay more.
I don't know why the jref shop does not sell this useful book.

I found it on Amazon.co.jp for 4,200 Yen...I just bought it

[pipokun]

4,200 Yen???
The only way to get back the shipping cost is just to "point & speak" for millions of times in Japan.
Or buy 105JPY dictionaries (for kanji, proverb, or whatever) at a 100 yen shop and sell them to Japanese learners for $2 each.

[oonter]

4,200 Yen???
The only way to get back the shipping cost is just to "point & speak" for millions of times in Japan.
Or buy 105JPY dictionaries (for kanji, proverb, or whatever) at a 100 yen shop and sell them to Japanese learners for $2 each.

I'm guessing 4,200 Yen is too much for this book?

[oonter]

Buy the following phrasebook before you leave or at Narita, and I am sure that you will enjoy your stay more.
I don't know why the jref shop does not sell this useful book.

:cool: すごい！！　これ　は　ほん　こうかてき　そして　た のしっ　です

[pipokun]

:cool: すごい！！　これ　は　ほん　こうかてき　そして　た のしっ　です
Glad to hear that.

How many books did you buy?
If two, the shipping cost was not that expensive.

[oonter]

Glad to hear that.
How many books did you buy?
If two, the shipping cost was not that expensive.

Hooray!! Someone understood my sentence. I bought just one. It came to 1500 yen + 3000yen in shipping.

[pipokun]

3000yen in shipping
Recently I have not been interested in ebay/yahoo japan auctions or interenational shipping, so I am surprised to know the shipping cost in the amazon Japan.

I found the book extremly useful when I met a kid with the book, Canbodian-Japanese, in Cambodia. He had a photocopied one, but he did not sell the book for me.