Pre-Trip Bee's Big Birthday!

Intro

For those who don't know me, I'm Bee, an opera-singing, Epcot-loving, ex-Floridian now living in New Jersey just outside of New York City. My wife M and I both grew up going to Walt Disney World and carried our love of Disney into adulthood. We buy WDW Annual Passes every other year and take 3-4 trips during the "on" years, and we often meet up with her parents in Florida since they live a couple hours away from Disney.

I am turning 30 this year and I've been trying to figure out the best way to celebrate. 2018-2019 is an "off" year for WDW so that's not an option. My birthday is also very close to Christmas so most destinations are extra expensive and crowded when I want to travel.

Our close friend S is married to a US Naval officer, and they're currently living in Japan where he is stationed for the next few years. She is enjoying it but she's understandably lonely and wants as many American friends to come visit as possible. They also happen to have a three bedroom house for just the two of them where guests can stay for free.

Put all of this together, plus the fact that M has a decent chunk of paid vacation around Christmas, and you get:

A BIRTHDAY TRIP TO JAPAN!!!​

Obviously there will be Disney park visits, but there will be much more! I'll post more specifics later, but the countdown has begun and we're already in double digits! If you have travel tips for visiting Japan in general or the Tokyo parks specifically, please post them! We have both traveled overseas but never to Asia so we'll take any advice we can get!

 

[bee]

Omg were going to Japan for our honeymoon and will be in Japan the same time as you. We will arrive December 19- January 2nd.

Whaaaat?? That's crazy! Great minds think alike...

I feel your pain. The friend that I went to Disney with for a couple days in June, who is not a Disney person, is taking her family this December. So she is having me plan it for her. It is fun to plan, but I want to go too! I keep thinking about all the fun holiday stuff that I won't get to see. Although, it is fun planning a trip that I don't have to pay for.

Good point, it IS fun to plan but not have to pay!

If there's any consolation it's that the F&W photos he keeps sending me (and we are both vegetarians) are nearly the same as last year's so I know I'm not missing much. Maybe one day we'll actually get to go together.

 

[dclfan]

Whaaaat?? That's crazy! Great minds think alike...

I know so random but our schedules are a little different. We are doing Disney first, then Kyoto, Osaka and finishing in Tokyo. Still so insane to be there at the same time. Let me know if you pick up any amazing tips, or must do's in your planning.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Why now?

The obvious answers: a milestone birthday, paid vacation time, having a friend who lives there and can help us navigate a totally foreign place.

A less obvious answer: it's been a tough year.

In April a horrible fire broke out at my school while I was teaching a voice lesson. Another teacher and I had to get seven students out of the building, and the only way out was to jump from a second story balcony. All of the kids were fine (THANK GOD) but both of us adults were injured. I spent two nights in the hospital and have had a long and difficult journey toward recovery. You can read more in these posts from previous TRs:
1
2

Less significant but still difficult, last fall M and I had a huge moving debacle. The story ends happily with us in a nice new apartment, but we were sort of homeless for 10 days and the journey there was not fun, to say the least. You can read more here:
1
2
3
4
5

Needless to say, we have been through a lot in the past year. I am grateful not only to be alive, but to get to share my life with my wonderful wife, to live in a place we love, and to work in the field I am most passionate about. I am choosing to allow these struggles to make me stronger, and to reaffirm what is most important to me in life. Now is the perfect time to take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, and we'll appreciate it even more knowing everything we survived to get to this point!

What a wonderful trip you have planned! So exciting and something super positive to look forward to after the terrible year 2018 has been for you. Excited to read all about the plans and then seeing the pictures when you get back!

 

[bee]

I know so random but our schedules are a little different. We are doing Disney first, then Kyoto, Osaka and finishing in Tokyo. Still so insane to be there at the same time. Let me know if you pick up any amazing tips, or must do's in your planning.

Our friend S (who has now lived there for over a year) has emphasized to us that a big part of Japanese culture is to take rules very seriously. People don't cross the street when they don't have a walk signal, even if no one is coming, for instance. As @amjt660 mentioned earlier, trains always run on time. Restaurants don't allow changes or substitutions from the menu because you're expected to eat what is served to you. I think @Juneau Biscuits mentioned in a Tokyo Disneyland trip report that once he asked for an extra something at a restaurant in the park and was met with confusion, like no one ever asks for anything extra.

S also said that, unlike in America, you can be assured you'll have a good experience even at cheap hotels because the Japanese take pride in their work. Here in the states M are I almost never book any hotel below 3 stars and we are suspicious of anything cheap. It's not because we are snobs but because we have had bad experiences at cheaper places.

What a wonderful trip you have planned! So exciting and something super positive to look forward to after the terrible year 2018 has been for you. Excited to read all about the plans and then seeing the pictures when you get back!

Thank you! I plan to take pictures of EVERYTHING!

 

[DisneyGigi]

This all sounds so amazing. I have been out of the south, twice in my life. Once to Ohio, and California and Disneyland. (I have celebrated my 29th birthday for the past 16 years) I will be lucky if I can get the Hubby to even go to Disneyland with me before I die. (Hint- he has only left the southern US, once and it wasn’t to California.
I am slightly jealous, but also excited to hear of your adventures.

 

[Sabrina1705]

Oh wow how exciting! Following along!

 

[bee]

Here is an actual trip update!

S booked a flight for the three of us from Fukuoka (near their home) to Tokyo. We will take an early bus to the airport and be in Tokyo by early afternoon. This way we'll have much more time to explore the city than if we had taken the train.

This all sounds so amazing. I have been out of the south, twice in my life. Once to Ohio, and California and Disneyland. (I have celebrated my 29th birthday for the past 16 years) I will be lucky if I can get the Hubby to even go to Disneyland with me before I die. (Hint- he has only left the southern US, once and it wasn’t to California.
I am slightly jealous, but also excited to hear of your adventures.

Both M and I were fortunate enough to study abroad on scholarship during college. The travel bug bit us then, hard! I am sending pixie dust for you and hubby to both get to Disneyland!

Oh wow how exciting! Following along!

Thank you!

 

[amjt660]

I agree with your assessment that the culture is something very special to experience

And being yelled at ( in a very nice way) ever time you come into a restaurant

You will have to try to pick up a few Japanese phrases

Like everywhere else I have travelled ( and especially in Japan) if you make an effort the locals will greatly appreciate it and help you learn more

Max

 

[bee]

I agree with your assessment that the culture is something very special to experience

And being yelled at ( in a very nice way) ever time you come into a restaurant

You will have to try to pick up a few Japanese phrases

Like everywhere else I have travelled ( and especially in Japan) if you make an effort the locals will greatly appreciate it and help you learn more

Max

I've been doing DuoLingo Japanese for a few weeks. I can say some suuuuuuper basic things. I don't know how much I'll be able to read but I think it's important to be able to understand and say the basic niceties!

I haven't heard of the yelling in a restaurant though!

 

[amjt660]

I've been doing DuoLingo Japanese for a few weeks. I can say some suuuuuuper basic things. I don't know how much I'll be able to read but I think it's important to be able to understand and say the basic niceties!

I haven't heard of the yelling in a restaurant though!

Do not sweat the reading part
I went eight times- cannot read any of the 3 alphabets
Just please , thank you , your welcome , and a few more will go a long way

Here is a fun one for you
At the end of the phone call in toy story 2 Al from Als toy barn say “don’t touch my moustache “ to the potential Japanese buyers of woody and his roundup friends

What was Al trying to say?

Max

 

[bee]

Do not sweat the reading part
I went eight times- cannot read any of the 3 alphabets
Just please , thank you , your welcome , and a few more will go a long way

Here is a fun one for you
At the end of the phone call in toy story 2 Al from Als toy barn say “don’t touch my moustache “ to the potential Japanese buyers of woody and his roundup friends

What was Al trying to say?

Max

どういたしまして
(Dou itashi mae)
(You’re welcome)

(SO glad the forums censored four letters of “mash ite”)

 

[amjt660]

D

どういたしまして
(Dou itashi ma****e)
(You’re welcome)

(SO glad the forums censored four letters of “mash ite”)

Nice!!

Wakarimashta

Max

 

[bee]

Last year for Christmas S sent us some nice presents from Japan, including this bank...

...which of course shows a map of Japan. We have put it to use and are putting our loose change inside to save up for something for the trip. Don't tell M, but I have sneaked a few bills in there as well.

Starting Monday I will officially be back to work at my school. Yes, the same school affected by the fire, but they had two buildings and they have condensed everything into the one that wasn't on fire. I'll be teaching there four days a week, plus teaching privately two days a week. I also started a new church job that pays more than my previous one. It's a lot of work, but I have a Disney/general travel addiction to support!

 

[MinnieM123]

Starting Monday I will officially be back to work at my school. Yes, the same school affected by the fire, but they had two buildings and they have condensed everything into the one that wasn't on fire. I'll be teaching there four days a week, plus teaching privately two days a week. I also started a new church job that pays more than my previous one. It's a lot of work, but I have a Disney/general travel addiction to support!

Very nice news that you'll be back at your school job! Life is getting back to normal.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

bee!!! This sounds awesome! I am totally in!

 

[bee]

Nothing to report, really, but M wanted me to inform you all that we tracked down Schöfferhofer grapefruit and she enjoyed one this evening. The second picture is from a DuoLingo fail on my part.

 

[LisaBelle]

View attachment 319280View attachment 319279

Nothing to report, really, but M wanted me to inform you all that we tracked down Schöfferhofer grapefruit and she enjoyed one this evening. The second picture is from a DuoLingo fail on my part.

I Grapefruit Schofferhofer! I am super lucky to have Jungle Jim’s International Market near my house because they carry it there. Nothing better on a hot day!

 

[Swissmiss]

I Grapefruit Schofferhofer! I am super lucky to have Jungle Jim’s International Market near my house because they carry it there. Nothing better on a hot day!

Unless you don’t pay attention to anything other than the word grapefruit and take a huge swig at 10 am thinking it is like Schweppes citrus . Though I must be honest, I didn’t like it much. A nice cold grapefruit rosé wine on a hot day is another story

 

[LittleTuna12]

Following along! Sounds like an awesome trip! Can't wait to experience Japan through you & M!

 

[bee]

I Grapefruit Schofferhofer! I am super lucky to have Jungle Jim’s International Market near my house because they carry it there. Nothing better on a hot day!

We had to go all the way to Total Wine in another county to get it!

Unless you don’t pay attention to anything other than the word grapefruit and take a huge swig at 10 am thinking it is like Schweppes citrus . Though I must be honest, I didn’t like it much. A nice cold grapefruit rosé wine on a hot day is another story

TBH I am not a big fan, either. I'll have a sip once in awhile but I can never drink a whole can/bottle.

Following along! Sounds like an awesome trip! Can't wait to experience Japan through you & M!

Thanks for following!