Attracting More Tourists
Aug 3, 2016, 11:05 am
#91
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 9,341
Random tourists can't read Kanji and I'm sure you know what I meant. A person who speaks English can at least read the words and recognise how they are pronounced in Italy, Brazil, etc. Japanese (and Chinese) are very much harder and functionally impossible for a visitor with brief or no preparation - a tourist.
Aug 3, 2016, 12:48 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
In japan, I was hard pressed to realize I was on the same street I'd been on earlier in the day, etc. And, I knew hiragana and katakana at the time, just not kanji.
Aug 4, 2016, 9:50 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 1,659
My thoughts are:
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
Aug 7, 2016, 5:29 am
#94
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
My thoughts are:
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
Agree with the WiFi. I don't think credit cards are an issue. I rarely have an issue unlike the US where many newer restaurants especially in the big cities won't take plastic.
Aug 7, 2016, 10:44 am
#95
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
My thoughts are:
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
Try to get more places to accept credit cards. Square, which is available in Japan, has made this incredibly easy. Tourist attractions and small shops/restaurants don't accept credit cards which is a huge issue.
Increase the number of places offering wifi, plus making the signup process easy (most places it isn't at all).
Create unified rail passes - for example a JR/subway/private line pass for various areas. This doesn't exist and is a big barrier (usually JR seems to be the problem).
I get it that the Japanese rail system in major cities is kind of hard to figure out with competing private lines, but an IC card solves the fare issues, and you don't really need a pass in many instances. Some tourists seem obsessed with "what pass is best" even to save a few yen on the day.
Aug 7, 2016, 3:09 pm
#96
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
Why is unified rail pass so important. What major country of the world has a rail pass that includes all lines including urban subways?
I get it that the Japanese rail system in major cities is kind of hard to figure out with competing private lines, but an IC card solves the fare issues, and you don't really need a pass in many instances. Some tourists seem obsessed with "what pass is best" even to save a few yen on the day.
I get it that the Japanese rail system in major cities is kind of hard to figure out with competing private lines, but an IC card solves the fare issues, and you don't really need a pass in many instances. Some tourists seem obsessed with "what pass is best" even to save a few yen on the day.
Aug 7, 2016, 3:53 pm
#97
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,633
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/tokyo_free.html
For most people, buying a pre-paid SUICA card and paying for individual rides is going to be a better value.
Aug 7, 2016, 9:33 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 1,659
Within the Tokyo metro area, there's a Tokyo Tour Ticket - or "Tokyo Free Kippu" priced at 1,590 yen per day for JR, subways, buses etc.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/tokyo_free.html
For most people, buying a pre-paid SUICA card and paying for individual rides is going to be a better value.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/tokyo_free.html
For most people, buying a pre-paid SUICA card and paying for individual rides is going to be a better value.
There is no worrying about figuring out the price of train tickets (having to look at a board to find some name), actually buying the thing, and then having to buy tickets again when you got off at the wrong stop.
The price of that one strikes me as a bit steep, but not too bad though.
Aug 8, 2016, 12:59 pm
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 9,341
IMHO, the ticketing system works pretty well but it needs better information in English. When I catch the NEX into Tokyo at NRT, there are often 30 or 40 people lined up at the ticket counter even though the ticket machines (which speak English and take credit cards) have no lines.
Also I do think a fast train to NRT (e.g. Shinkansen type service) would be great and would eliminate the need to use Haneda for international.
Also I do think a fast train to NRT (e.g. Shinkansen type service) would be great and would eliminate the need to use Haneda for international.
Aug 8, 2016, 6:58 pm
#100
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
It might be a better value, but the well-designed day passes are quite helpful.
There is no worrying about figuring out the price of train tickets (having to look at a board to find some name), actually buying the thing, and then having to buy tickets again when you got off at the wrong stop.
The price of that one strikes me as a bit steep, but not too bad though.
There is no worrying about figuring out the price of train tickets (having to look at a board to find some name), actually buying the thing, and then having to buy tickets again when you got off at the wrong stop.
The price of that one strikes me as a bit steep, but not too bad though.
Aug 12, 2016, 5:45 am
#101
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
I noticed they now have Free Wifi on the Narita Express. Nice. Easy. Works well. How recent is this? Reduces the need to get a SIM card at the airport.
BTW - Why can't they just sell data SIM cards in vending machine at the airport.
BTW - Why can't they just sell data SIM cards in vending machine at the airport.
Aug 12, 2016, 9:30 am
#102
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Thought I saw an ad (in Japanese) for free wifi on n'ex in 2014...'cept that you needed a local number to access it.
Aug 29, 2016, 4:30 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
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Posts: 15,722
Advertise, particularly on the USA West Coast. Maybe something like:
This thread reminds me of the reactions we got when we told people we were going/had gone to Japan. Everyone was confused. "Why would you go there?" Umm, I don't know, because its vastly more interesting than a lot of other places, and we can live on sushi. (Of course it didn't hurt that we used miles & points for 2 C seats to NRT and 4 nights @ Park Hyatt
)
- Japanese people are friendly (contrast with a rude Parisian)
- Japan is clean (contrast with dirty streets in SF)
- Tokyo is closer than London (well almost, for the West Coast)
- Japan is cheap (compare to NYC prices)
- Japan is safe (compare to just about anywhere
)
This thread reminds me of the reactions we got when we told people we were going/had gone to Japan. Everyone was confused. "Why would you go there?" Umm, I don't know, because its vastly more interesting than a lot of other places, and we can live on sushi. (Of course it didn't hurt that we used miles & points for 2 C seats to NRT and 4 nights @ Park Hyatt
)