LOL-- really! where?

Finally the site is working again for me (sort of!), so I'll reply whilst I have a chance, lol.

I was curious - for those of you who stayed in Japan for holidays/work, as opposed to merely touching down to transfer elsewhere - how did your initial impressions and reactions compare with your latter perceptions of the country? How do you feel now - or how did you feel when you left - compared to when you first arrived? Was there a noticeable difference in thoughts/feelings?

My first reaction was just "Oh my God!!!!!" when my sister and I went there last May. I was kind of terrified and excited at the same time. That was the first time either my sister or I had gone out of the country on our own, so it was a little scary, but after about 15 minutes, the excitement took over and I was really happy. i wasn't disappointed for a second, either, the people, food, and places were all as great as I had hoped. :)

Hmmm... I'm surprised. So you're all basically saying that with all the weeaboos, Japanophiles, Otakus, and obsessed people, that no one has ever seen... or at least heard about someone over-reacting at the airport when they first landed in Japan? I would have thought that there'd be a few people every day at the airport breaking down in tears because they're so happy to finally be in Japan lol

Sorry for leaving this thread for a while, so I'll answer now! :D

It seems like this may be better answered by someone who's stayed here long term, but I'll give it a shot :L

It's quite hard to say... When I first touched down, I was very excited from all the new writing and language around me. Plus, it was the first time I stayed in a city so big. After thew first day, the excitement wore down quite a lot, and I began planning of all the things I was going to do. This mood basically stayed with me the entire trip... I mean, I'd be scared if I was that excited every day :L

Near the end of the trip, I had an AWFULLY bad back (from the futon for 2 weeks...) and chaffed thighs from walking non stop, all day, every day. This did put a bit of a downer on me near the end of the trip, because they were both EXTREMELY painful... and I couldn't walk more than a few shops before needing to sit down, stretch my back and give my thighs a rest.

When I left, it was good to be home, but then I did start craving to come back again... and I'm here right now ^^

My perceptions near the end of the trip certainly changed how I feel about the country, some ways better and some ways worse. Being here a second time, I'm definitely a lot more toned down, and now the country just seems really... different to me.

Heh, I hope I helped! It's really hard putting my thoughts to words with this topic. :L

No because they are normal people. They know that if they did that,they would get some funny looks. If anyone did do that,it wouldn't be to do with being a weaboo,it would just be something like the story before about plane problems.

Going there tonight! So excited...

Have a great time!

I'm getting ready to go back too. It's been a nice holiday in the states. I still always lol at the "Welcome to Japan/日本おかえりなさい" translation difference when coming through the gates haha.

It's welcoming both! those who are coming to Japan and those returning home! I'll take yet another photo of that sign in March.... I don't grow tired of them....

I just think it's funny because the English version is "Welcome to Japan" as if you've never been there before, but the Japanese version is "Welcome (home) to Japan."