Forum: Have you been to Japan?
This may of been asked at one point, but I am genuinely curious about how many serious Japanese learners there are who have not yet been to Japan, like me!
So please comment with:
'yes' (I have been)
'no' (I still haven't)
'still am' (here).
I have not yet been (I am going in 2 months).
So please comment with:
'yes' (I have been)
'no' (I still haven't)
'still am' (here).
I have not yet been (I am going in 2 months).
posted by Kimbo
Comments 394
'no' xD
No
no
nope
No
No~~
no
no :3
No..
no, but someday
いいえ...
no but its coo
yes
no
first time in two weeks
no.
No but i will in 2 years
I have not, and have no plans to.
No :(
no
yes
@Kimbo You will truly understand the language and culture by living IN Japan. Videos, DVDS, CDs, websites, photos, books, e-books, etc. do not replace human-to-human interaction. I lived there for three straight months, and it is tough. Best of luck when you go to Japan. :)- I skype in Japanese for 1-2 hours a day usually, so I have some of the basics down. Although I do know I will learn much more Japanese actually being there :D for example, I don't exactly go to restaurants and order a meal on skype xD
I was surprised by the results! I thought at least 25% might of gone on vacation or homestay or something :o 
no- question, do you talk to a friend or something, or do you talk to someone you met online? 'cuz I want to talk to someone like that, and I was wondering how you met them (if it was online)
I live here!- I met many friends from http www.conversationexchange.com! I recommended anyone who wants to make friends to use it. If you are planning to go to Japan, it's good to know a few people! Every time you log on, your profile goes to the top of the list, so the more you log, the more people will message you. Make sure to make a nice profile and also message other people!
yes
no
No
no
- Thank you~ :)
no ..
If anyone is interested, it's not difficult to move here. I got my AA from a community college with only like a 2.7, and was able to get into a 外人大学 (Foreigner School) for relatively cheap. APU is about 50/50 Japanese and International students, with classes in both English and Japanese.
My only complaint is because you don't /need/ to speak Japanese, I've been learning slower than I would if it was mandatory. I think registration for Fall semester might be over by now, but if anyone is interested, you can shoot me a message.- A university?
Yes. Have lived in Hiroshima for 2 years and planning to stay for some time more :)- Nice. What do you study? A degree would be useful, but I don't have an extra 4 years to spare! :/
Nope, but I'm thinking of at least visiting it in the futuree~~!
I'm just about to finish HS and then I'm about to go to college and man I'm so "itchy" to go to a japanese-learning college/university simply to just visit it(I heard there are exchanges at some point and you have the chance to visit it)
But then, the problem is that I might remain without a job if I do it, so yeah...I'll have to think about something else. o,o- If I ever were to visit it, the very first thing I'll ever do is to check out the arcades...I saw that they are incredible out there.
Then check out the sights and probably festivals(like to see the huge carriage at the fire festival...and taiko, I simply love Taiko).
(About the arcades...I simply love games...what can I do? ;P) 
no ~
Still am
Sadly, no :[
Yes! But I was still young so I don't remember much.
yep!!!!! all i want is to go back
いいえ- らいねん にほん へ いきます.
yes
Still am, life in japan is very tough. Make sure to save some money before coming here.
はい！
yes, I have been. ^^
No, and I don't think I would want to unless I had some Japanese friends there already or something. Being a gaijin is tough, especially if you aren't really good looking.- I don't think so Kant, japanese are one of the kindest and helpful people that I have ever met :D.
It's a beautiful and fascinating country you should visit it once :) - I don't know, I was under the impression that no matter how friendly they are with you, they still see you as an outsider. A native once said that he thinks foreigners are ok, but when they stay in Japan too long they're like bad food in your stomach. He wasn't one of the blatant xenophobes either. I guess visiting for a week or two would be nice when I'm competent enough in the language, but no longer than that and no sooner than that for me. Unless I have connections that live there by that time.
- Oh I see, so that was a point of view that you get from a native~ well I understand you're opinion about the longterm but I think that he said that because he might be afraid that foreigners that come to live in Japan, don't follow the system, and are not enough disciplined (towards rules). It's just a question about respect, being respectful about the country where you are, simple as that.
It's also about you, to come and be open-minded without thinking that all of their "kind/helpful" manners (that are just inside their culture, that's just how they are used to be) are just useless/without true intentions (a form of "hypocrisy").
It's still just my point of view ^_^. - respectful about the culture of the country*
- I think it was more about their desire not to lose their culture. America turned itself into a melting pot/stew and, while we still have "culture", it's not very interesting compared to other places. I agree that not taking off your shoes is part of the problem though.
- Well for America (the United States), it's another thing it's sure it's a melting pot due to the origins and the history of the country. But this particularity is one of the pillars of their culture.
And yeah, I think the same about "keeping the identity/the culture of the country" it must be something that they are afraid of, but we will back on the idea of respect. 
いいえ
You'll always be seen as a non-Japanese because you aren't one. That's just the way it is. People who don't like you because you're a foreigner exist, but they are very rare. More likely it's people who are unsure of your behaviours because they've encountered foreigners that come here and do weird things.
Yes..
I live in Japan. Not a bad place to live. Good food, good people, nice sights. Language is tough, and sure there are a few who don't like foreigners. But, is it any different than Americans saying that immigrants must speak English and act American? Anyway, show that you can act like a Japanese and you will be fine. It will get you places.
Yes
next year in the summer :D
I CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!
Yes
Yes - twice this year. Not good for the bank balance...
No, not yet, maybe next year or so.
no
yes I went during the summer!
Yup, once. For 3 weeks. Joined the Youth Friendship Programme. Best.Trip.Ever
A whole year. It was too early for me, I should have waited a year or two more. At least I learned how to behave better than I would in any book.
yes
no, maybe in the summer!
yes
yes. 3 times.
Wow surprised to see so many learning the language but haven't been or aren't currently living there o_o
I'm going next year over the summer, but I'm looking at the N3 test sometime this year. It all depends on what decides to pop up after this semester.
Yes!
Yes
No- lol just saw this post again and I did actually go this year
I haven't been but I have a trip planed with a couple of friends
I have been, It was great, I stayed in Tokyo with a friend and her family. Just always be polite and you will have a great time!! Remember manners ie Itadakimasu, arigatou etc I can't wait to go back :D
I have been and now im migrating. Language barrier is hard to deal with thats why im here.
Yes been there
no
i plan on moving there for a year or two once i become fluent- I made this so long ago, and here it is still going! Been here over a year now.
- lol, i just noticed
no:((
Wow, someone really digged deep down in the feeds xD
And the answer for me is "no".
@Kimbo no kidding lol, almost a year an a half old and still going ><
I think quite a few people that posted originally can change their answer to yes now as well. Yes for me.- Well when I first made it, I was surprised by how many had never even been to Japan (including me), but it seems everyone is slowly changing their answer now :P wooo go Japan!
- Still a no but that will change in a few weeks :D
- 一年半が経ったけど、俺はまだ行ったことない :(
No, but I found a really cheap language school in Japan. I'm hoping to go to it within the next few years.
Yes, just got my permanent resident visa on Friday (永住者), which means no more visits to the immigration office until 2022 to renew the card, and no more stupid applications! Yes! Well, unless I ever intend to actually take Japanese citizenship, but I doubt that'll happen unless they make it so you can have two citizenships at once.
Oh that's really nice Archkid! Congratulations! How long have you stayed in Japan?- Just over 5 years. Yeah, it's a nice change, especially since immigration center visits always take so long. Even when I got the perm, I went in, took out the number from the machine, 2 away from being called, not bad, huh... oh, an hour wait. :P Then half an hour after them taking my paperwork to prepare the card. So happy for 7 years free of that! Of course... yesterday my my number (ugh) arrived.
- That's nice! I've stayed here for more than 8 years and I only got 1 year visa.. I got 3 years visa before, but now only 1 year, maybe because I quit my job as a company worker, and at the moment my income is not as much?
- freakymrq!! Have a good time in Japan. You'll be there over christmas and new years? ^^
Congrats Arachkid too. I thought you already had it, as I thought you can get it sooner than 5 years when you are married to a Japanese national. Must be very nice finally having that. - 5 years is the earliest you can get it for being married to a Japanese national - if you are not, it's a 10 year wait.
- Oh.. I thought if you're married to a Japanese, you can get it right away.
So I have to wait for about another 2 years..
I got マイナンバー yesterday, still not so sure what that is though.. - Basically a social security number. That will be tied into most everything about you everywhere, that you should never show to anyone. But your employer wants it right away, and the number of any of your dependents. But hey, since it's the Japanese government, that information could never ever possibly be hacked. Garbage. :P
- Oh I see! thank you! So it's a sensitive information. I was about show it to my Japanese friend and ask what it is in more detail. haha
- Well, if you trust them, I suppose. Just remember with that number, and access to the right systems, they would know everything about you that the government knows. How much you make, your medical history, anything.
- @Mog86uk ひさしぶり！ I'll be around from the 15th to the 23rd in the Tokyo area with my father and cousin. Should be fun ^_^
'yes' (I have been)
i'm planing another trip next year, if nothing bad happen...
'no' (I still haven't)
'no'
yes, I go so much I don't have time to learn Nihongo very well.
うん、二回行ったことある！
No I haven't
I've been twice! So much fun, and handy to speak the language.
i have a goal to ride something there because i have always dreamed to go
私は二年位東京に住んでいたよ- aw i want to say it in japanese but my computer wont let me
No, I have not gone. :T I would love to go but I cannot at this moment of time.
行ったことがあります！- no (T ^ T)
no :(
No
Still am
nope
nope -.- sadly
No, not yet. I'll go to Japan in May.
Yes. Studying abroad/going there and staying for long periods of time is the best if you ask me. The problem is getting the お金 for it.. :')
no
No, but maybe eventually I'll visit or even stay.
Maybe.
No
no- no
no
No
No
no
No
no
I have not been (going in 5 months)
Yes
no (but really really want to... gimme the money v.v)
I haven't went, still too young. u_u
yes
no
no T__T
no
No
No.
Yes! I live in Japan and teach English!- So 'still am', yeah.
no :(
I haven't, though I'm going to live there one day. That's why I'm learning the language.
Not yet, i'm gonna go there as foreign exchange student in my junior year but during this summer i'm going to a university called Cornel to study in a immersion program for young Japanese learners for 6 weeks
Hopefully next year as an exchange student :)
I planing to go in March 2017
I've lived there as an international student. I loved it!
Yes and hope to live there in future
Have not been. I'm selling away all my expensive goods, so that I can travel this summer. Maybe not before next summer though.
I do plan on studying watchmaking in Japan in about 5-6 years time, which is one of the reasons I'm learing Japanese now.
Yes, but before I began to learn Japanese.
yes- *I mean, no (responded in affirmative to having never been)
No, in shaa Allah in three years later :)
Yeah, I live here.
sadly no TwT
I'm going in March 2017 for a full year~
no. i go this summer- Going in August for 2 weeks!
I used to live in japan
No. Planning to go before my graduation ceremony. Hehe
Yes, I have been there for last Christmas and New Year's Eve!
No, still haven't. But sometimes it feels like I've been in a previous life
No still haven't．Interestingly my brother who isn't a language learner has. Dont feel bad if circumstanxes don't allow- @Carrots Me too! Which program are you going with? I'm going with afs finland
sadly not :(
I have been there several times already.
No
no.
Vacation?- @niina I'm going with YFU~ almost chose AFS as well, but my relatives have used YFU and highly recommended it :d
Nope. Someday I will
Iie, mada desu.
No
'no' (I still haven't) but it will always be in my heart wherever i may be
Yes, but i started before going. I thought reading subtitles while watching anime is too tedious so i started learning and haven't stopped since.
I haven't been there yet. I hope I can soon!
I haven't been there yet either. Wish to go one day ^_^
I haven't been. I doubt that I'll be able to ever afford it since it cost something like $4000 to go.
I haven't been there either. I want to go there with my friend, hopefully during the sakura season in some years.
no
No, but I want to
No
No- No
- No
yes
I want to go to Japan and Korea I am learning Japanese currently and next Hangul.
No, but I'm going in two years! >u< I can't wait!!!
still am (just got here though)
nope
No, but it is a goal to visit at least.
No but my bf and I are going in a couple years- 'no' (I still haven't)
No. I hope few years from now it could happen. Nice to meet you all. Yoroshiku
Yes. It was really a wonderful experience!
I live here.
no
no, i haven't. i hope someday, i'll be there. amin
no, not yet, will go once i can get enough time off and money
Not yet
yes- still am
yes
No
no
No, but I'm planning to do so via study abroad in college
no
I'm here. Studying.
No, but planning to study abroad next summer.
いいえ- Plan on going after college
just started learning today I'm gonna go to japan during the olympics so my goal is to be fluent by that time. i think 4 years is enough time :)
I've just got back from japan did Osaka as well as Tokyo...need to get back there asap
@Kimbo: haven't visited Japan (yet)
@sid1968: which city did you like more, Osaka or Tokyo? would love to hear about your experiences, if you'd like to share (if not, that's fine too):)- Cool both cities are ace but i think ill do longer in Osaka next visit. Has a real vibe about it and i stayed 5 mins walk from Dotonbori such a great place so many things to do and see and so many people out and about...that's where my profile pic was taken holding my new found friend the lizard with his own ruck sack lol .. google Dotonbori its not just Tokyo that's happening
I have been in Japan for 3 years, yet my Japanese skill is so poor
Lived in Japan for about a year and a half.
日本にことがありません
yes
no (T_T)
The comment above me is spam, don't click it.- The comment above is spam too. WTF is going on...
Yes, I am here in Japan. I came from Brazil. :-)
Yes
No
No
I was for one Month in japan.
Yes (just went!)
no
No
no
I want to take a N3 minimum
No.
No
No
No
yes! :D
no
No
still am (Hiroshima)
yes ^^- I have been accepted into the Labo program for this summer, so I'll be there from July 13th to August 10th. If I can raise enough money.
- no :/
yes. i spent a week in japan
no (I'm hoping to change that in a year or so though)
i plan to learn japanese without ever setting foot in japan. i don't know if this is possible.
north koreans are able to learn english without ever speaking to a westerner. if that is the case, then i should be able to learn japanese without ever setting foot in japan. i plan to learn via japanese media (jpop, jdramas, anime, japanese youtubers, ect, grammar textbooks, and manga.
i want to learn japanese not necessarily to socialize, but to browse the japanese internet, read japanese books and watch japanese tv.- it's probably more difficult to learn japanese without ever socializing in japanese
- i'm able to learn english without speaking to well westerner... so your should able to pick up japanese without going to japan... interacting with native speakers just speed up the leaning process as your get more hands on practice.. you can also get similar practice by watching japanese show, if you can understand a japanese show without subtitle, your japanese should be acceptable.
I have not, but at the end of March I will got for the first time.
I will study abroad there in possibly 2/3 years.- how do you report a bot?
yes!
no
No
Nope. Just stubborn in that I chose Japanese as my binary. After experimenting with others I've come to the conclusion nihongo is the hardest. And of course I'm into anime.
Live here.
no- how do i stop receiving these notifications?
- Click on 'Account settings' (the cog on the navbar) -> 'Subscriptions' -> uncheck 'Comments'
- Thanks anyway; unchecking the 'comments' box did not work. I also see no way of deleting my account here or any way of contacting administrators.
no
no i haven´t, but even if i never can go, this is just something that worth in my life.
i haven't been to japan its on my bucket list but i've been interested in japanese speaking and japan since i was a kid so i wanted to learn- Sorry robface. Should have worked in theory. seems like really poor decisions by the developer(s) :/
I'm currently in Japan
No..actually I am the only one in my family that still haven't
いいえ
I still haven't been but iam only 15 >.<
I had, its great, spent 40 days and planning in going back next year.
Amazing culture.
I have been twice :) First time for 5 weeks just travelling and second time for 2 weeks going to a language school :) And going back in 2020 :)- Wow how was the language school?
- It was really cool :) There were lots of people from different countries :) And the school gives you a verbal test so they know which class to put you in depending on your level :) So it doesn't matter if you know hiragana or kanji or have a small vocabulary :) There is room for everyone :) And you can have japanese cooking and calligraphy or Manga if you want as well :) It was really cool :)
nope:(
No but hopefully one day
yes
no
- yes
- Wow that sounds amazing @EliteXrocker . I thought that you had to be really good in Japanese already if you wanted to go there. Cool.
- I'll be in 東京 during 秋場所
still am
I have not been there yet. I'm going in two months too!:)
No
No :/
nope. planning to though.
yes i have been great place
No..still haven't
just no ._.
No. But i will :D ganbatte!
i have not been yet. soon i hope. :D
Not yet. Hope to go soon.
Yes, this year for the first time!
Two wonderful weeks!
yes, in 2015.
Yes I have been for 3 months. It was ok.
No, but hopefully next summer
Not yet but soon
hopefully in April 2018
No, but my goal is to save up enough money to go on a vacation in Japan. I want to see and learn as much as possible while I'm there. And of course, I want to get my hands on some physical copies of rare manga that are hard to find anywhere online. Oh, and I'm really looking forward to the food there *-*- No I haven't been to Japan yet. But my goal is to learn alot of Japanese before I go. I am really looking forward to explore Japan and explore the city's as well as the countryside. I hope I will meet alot of interesting and nice people along the way.
nope
Still haven't but hope I will be able to soon. Gotta practice my japanese really hard until then! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و
haven't been. when i do i'd like to stay though. some people think that's dumb but i really don't like my own country.
No i haven't been but i really want to go
Yes (went to language school there and going again next year)
@sakaratt Thank you for your great and marvelous contribution to the whole discussion. My way of thinking has completely changed. Do you maybe have some more links for us?
＠Ag12x: If only I could like your commend a thousand times...
Yes - twice ^_^
No
no! But we all should go one day.
no =(
no
no.. (but i want to *sobs*)
yes! lived there for 4 years! its a cool place for sure, definite culture shock at first. But i lived in a countryside so im sure a first time being somewhere like osaka or tokyo will be crazier.
いいえ
But I might try to go there next year during the fall.- I did last summer with Labo. That was a lot of fun.
'no'
no- yes, it's a great time
yes
No :(
No
still am
I have not yet been
I have not been in Japan and it's my dream...
no, but i'm going in december!
I haven't been, but I wanna go one day. Add me as friend?
yes!
yes
No, I still haven't.
Yes
2000-2004,2008
I've been 3 times to Japan and cannot wait to go on a 4th time :) I am sure you will love it. https://es.hotelnights.com/hoteles-playa
Yes - born there on US base, lived 2 years then grew up in US. Returned last year. Not even JPLT N5 yet ;_;
living, but struggling
No
いいえ
here, nice place
Yes and currently am. Luckily I knew someone here who let me live in his family's house. Really nice people here overall but yeah the language is hard. But definitely want to live here one day. Some hard work in front of me but that is totally worth it
Still am! Been here for 4 years. I work as a teacher. Used to be at an international preschool, switched to an eikaiwa because I was getting too stressed out at my old job. More time to study now. ^_^
no :((
no:')
yes but i've been on this site before i went there
still am!
Nope, but someday for sure!
https://www.digitalkube.com/using-link-juice-effectively-to-boost-rankings/
No, but I wish I could!
Not yet. But I wish one day I could!
Still am
Yes, I travel to Japan last month with my friends and took lots of street hanfu photos. Japan is so beautiful and people are so good.
https://www.newhanfu.com/wearing-as-an-angel-chinese-hanfu-in-japan.html
clinical trials in Hokkaido https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/g38ys
Hi there
いえ。でもがんばります。
yes
no.png)
心霊現象の相談？http://www.area0.jp/
No sir
I am an English teacher.
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Yes
I still am in Japan. I've been here for over two years now.
No
Yes
no- https://www.webtalk.co/6921596 Great activity on the platform! I appreciate the questions and comments!
Join us and practice language skills!
- Yes
Yes
Yes
yes
yes
Yes
no
no
no ;-;
no
no
no
いえ。でも、日本に行きたいです。
no
いいえ, haven't been there yet- I answered 'yes' back in July, and now everytime someone adds a comment, I get a notification as if it was me that asked the 'been to Japan?' question.
Does everyone get this? - KitsuneMagic, yes and I've looked for a way to tune it down so I can still get other messages but I don't even see a way to turn off email notifications!
- notifs for everyone! 🤣
yes
no
No T_T- no
Yes
No
meeeee
yes
