NRT or HKG?
 

I am heading off to Australia next year again, and have the opportunity to route through either NRT or HKG (or SIN I suppose) and do a 3 or 4 day stopover. I have never been to either city, and am curious as to what you would recommend and why?

Merci.

Usual question: give a few hints about what you're interested in and how much you're willing to spend, and maybe we can give suggestions. For example, Tokyo's Intestinal Parasite Museum would be must-see if you happen to be into bugs :p

I like just wandering around, exploring new cultures, seeing the touristy sites etc. In London for example I get lost with the crowds, Paris was the Louvre and coffee along the Seine etc. (plus Montmarte, Moulin Rouge, Catacombs). Sydney was the beaches, Opera House, Mardi Gras etc.

I just like to experience someplace I have never been before. Not a giant fan of the bar scene but I do love open markets, architecture...

Does that help?

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I could make a case for either place based on your preferences.

Tokyo is the more interesting city in terms of specific tourist sites and architecture. Also, the culture there is more focussed on a single ethnic background. Moreover, the overall Japanese culture is likely to strike a Westerner as being far more polite than you'll find in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is the more interesting city from just about every other perspective I can think of. Visually, it is an amazing place, with the central part pf the city sitting on opposite sides of a magnificent and incredibly busy harbor. In Hong Kong, all of your senses are involved with every step. Hong Kong is a ***much*** easier city for a tourist than Tokyo. The transportation system is the best and simplest in the world, and you'll see 10x as much English on signs as you will in Tokyo. And then there's the question of finding an address: simple in HK, but you really don't want to even hear about Tokyo.

To toss something else in the mix, one of the most fascinating cities in east Asia is Kyoto, with an almost overwhelming mix of culture, architecture, and history. While Kyoto is certainly a large city, it isn't nearly as overwhelming as either Tokyo or Hong Kong. Kyoto is about 70 mins by train from Kansai Airport (KIX).

Summary of my opinion: If you love cities, Hong Kong is easily the 1st choice; it's the best city in the world to visit. If you enjoy cultural/historical stuff and could do without the biggest crowds in cities, Kyoto is the place. If your best friend lives in Tokyo, that might be a reason to go there.

Hong Kong is like a banana. You unzip it, and it is ready for enjoying. Tokyo is like an onion. You can keep peeling and peeling and more and more stuff comes out. You can also cook an onion in many more ways than you can a banana. However, it takes longer and can make you cry.

Both are amazing cities, but for a quick swing Hong Kong has the edge. The Hong Kong skyline is amazing no matter how many times you see it.

I hope you will choose Tokyo.

http://www.japanwelcomesyou.com/

One other factor. If you want to be around people who are polite and helpful, go to Tokyo. If you don't care when people are rude and impolite, then Hong Kong will be acceptable.

Do you perfer order or chaos?

Is comparing bananas and onions the same as comparing apples and oranges?

Bingo! Very different places. As for rudeness/politeness/chaos, I don't know, but having lived in both, Tokyo has more than its share of rude and crass people. But you have to peel the onion to get there.

Try the following: get on a subway, find an empty seat between two sararimen, and sit there. Watch one or both of them get up and stand rather than sit next to you.

The crowds etc., don't bother me and by the sounds of it, Hong Kong seems like a better stopover for me. Now I just have to see if seats are available - oh LH are you there?

I thought there would be more English etc., in Tokyo and the fact it does not seem very tourist friendly makes me a bit nervous.

If Hong Kong is not available, then I will go for Tokyo and hope for the best. Thank you for your input.

HKG is much cheaper, much more enjoyable if you don't know your way around, and more distinctive as an experience. NRT is better if you have lots of money to spend and are willing to spend it and/or know your way around Japan. That is a gross over-simplification, but i think for the casual tourist without an agenda HKG is far better (really no comparison in my opinion).

But to be fair, if you do know your way around, Tokyo is more memorable and a more distinctive experience. But it will take time. It took me 6 months. "Figuring out" Hong Kong took me three weeks.

Both cities give me very profound experiences when I first visited. Tokyo is - for me - the urban experience par excellence, as Pickles says it has many many layers. A fascinating place, but not quite so initial accessable as Hong Kong. One walk along Victoria Harbour at sunset is normally enough to capture most people - the view, the people etc. And if you do get bored of HK, a day (or morning/afternoon/evening) trip to Shenzhen in China might be of interest.

If you are not a confident traveller, HK will be a much easier experience. While the level of spoken English gets worse year by year it is still MUCH easier to communicate, get around and get things done.

Either way you will have a great experience, so don't sweat the decision to much!

About the rudeness of Hong Kong people, I think they have greatly improved since the economic crisis of 1997. In the mid-90's, it was totally horrible. But during recent visits, people actually make an effort to greet you, and appreciate your business.

I also agree with Swanhunter that the English skills of HK people get worse by the year.

I don't speak Japanese, and I've always found them to be the most helpful people in the world (at least towards tourists).

And tourists try to do it in one day. Tokyo is bigger and richer, it goes without saying that there is more there; I think your synopsis is spot-on. But it makes Tokyo a very frustrating city to visit if you don't have 6 months (or even a week)! To put it into context, both Hong Kong and Tokyo are must-see destinations, in the top-10 list for world tourism. Much better than Singapore and KL, for example -- those are several notches down.

I've been to both more than once. HKG over 15 times.

If you've never been to either, I vote for HKG. You'll stay very busy for three days and will be amazed. The English signage on the subways and the train to/from the airport much more clear in HKG than in TYO.

And ...... IMHO the best Cantonese food is the best food period.

Others may disagree, but they,as one says in HKG, fong chow pei. :p

While TYO does have some interesting sites, however HKG is a much better bet. As for those who speak about rudeness, there are all kinds. A HKG taxi driver will almost never turn down a fare, and if he doesn't understand you will call someone to translate. A Tokyo taxi driver will often not even let you into their taxi because you are a foreigner. You decide.

A terribly hypothetical scenario -- it's hard enough to get a subway and find an empty seat :p

(And no, Tokyo's subways aren't quite as bad as you've heard, I lived there for 4+ years and never saw one of the famous white-gloved pusher guys. But empty seats are still a rarity.)

Well I found a flight to HKG, LH is working out the details right now. Gonna spend 4 days there before heading to SYD for 10 and then to AKL for 7. Nice 3 week break away from reality.

Plan on taking my backpack and getting out of the cities (SYD and AKL that is), and just go explore.

Thank you for the suggestions.

People in Tokyo are MUCH more helpful than in HK despite the language barriers.

I've been to both and love both of them but if I were to choose, I'd choose Tokyo based on the fact I could spend a month there and find it hard to get bored.

HK's nice because you can also go to Macao and Mainland China as well. HK's only good for 2-3 days unless you do some sidetrips to either area.

Tokyo's more expensive but after 40 months of deflation.. it's not too bad. Then again, HK's been seeing a whopping 67 months of deflation.. so it's gotten real cheap there too.

I didn't read that you decided on HK but regardless, you should love either of them!

My flights are all booked - HKG it is. Have until the 4th to ticket, but will call back tomorrow and do so. I am there 4 days in total, first day will be jetlag so 3 days to explore, immerse in the culture etc., before heading back to OZ.

I'm going to disagree on this point. My experience has been exactly the opposite.

Enjoy HKG and have a great trip! Sounds like a great time.

Just keep in mind that there's plenty of places to take a stroll outside the city centre in HKG too (perhaps not on the level of what's available Down Under, but definitely enjoyable nonetheless). A stroll up to the Po Lin monastery or some of the costal walks in the New Territories are quite enjoyable (and I was surprised by the quality of some of the beaches too, again, not out of this world, but pleasant none the less, and certainly not too crowded up that way!)

I was there for 3 days and I saw one! (a white-gloved pusher guy, that is) I thought they were myth :) I stood back and, of course, waited for the next train. He even helped this lady tuck her handbag into the train as it was sticking out between the doors (she would've been very unhappy if it weren't for the "pusher's" services ;)). And no, I never saw an empty seat :D

Since you've already decided on HK, my point is moot but I will have to say that for a 3-4 day stopover, HK is far and away better than Tokyo. Just the trip from the airport to downtown alone exemplifies why Hong Kong is better for a short-term tourist in terms of ease-of-getting around. You will love Hong Kong but nothing will compare to Sydney :)

I know that is why I am going back to SYD. Right now I am trying to line up work so I can stay there for 4 months during my school break and get truly immersed in the city and culture. That city and country just do something for me.

Hong Kong on this trip is a bonus.

HKG is probably my favorite city on Earth. You made a great choice.

If I can suggest a place to stay, the Renaissance Hotel in the New World Centre (Kowloon) is in a great location at a reasonable price. It's literally across the street from the Peninsula, where they have an excellent afternoon tea!!

I hear ya. In addition to having a beautiful city and climate with amazing beaches and restaurants, Sydneysiders are beautiful people too! That's so unfair :D I was there 10 years ago for a month and it was the best one-month vacation ever. Best of luck in finding employment!

Adjudicating with authority
 

Let me provide my learned advice, having lived in both places sufficient amounts of time to form a dangerous opinion. I am generalizing (not stereotyping), but I need to do so to make my point.

People in Japan are very outwardly polite towards guests and visitors, especially white foreigners. They will go out of their way to show you their country and things to do, and can be very welcoming at a first level. The Japanese have great consideration for the welfare and feelings of others, especially in a public setting.

Hong Kongers, on the other hand, are more abrupt and rude, and have in general no regard for their fellow man (or woman) especially in a public setting. Ambling along on the sidewalks (or moving so fast that collision would result in certain death), rude cell phone manners, blocking escalators, not waiting for others to get on or off the bus or train, loud conversations at all hours of day and night, are common denominators to life in Hong Kong. Not as bad as Shanghai (queues? a Capitalist Running Dog tradition, most certainly), and not unbearable, but certainly noticed.

Having said that, the Japanese are in general, very insular, and hold judgmental opinions and perceptions about foreigners that are usually not positive. These opinions are for the most part kept to themselves, and as a tourist (and even a resident), you will not see them come up in conversation or behavior. But they do come up sometimes (e.g. the taxi example, or the fact they won't sit next to you or let you in their restaurant), and when they do, they are worse, since they are premeditated and willful.

In contrast, the Hong Kongers are democratic about their rudeness, and their view of foreigners (by virtue of their geography and history) is much more realistic and informed, leading to greater acceptance and ease of living and doing business.

You said it very well.

Well considered and well expressed, Pickles.

But this doesn't happen if you are a 'lady' ;)
However, man don't have to worry about the chikans (gropers) - something that is finally being tackled as a side effect of the Madrid train bombing.

I thought you made some very good points Pickles!
Worth also knowing that you will rarely see anybody give their seat to an elderly or pregnant passenger in Tokyo, and I seemed to acutely offend a young lady when I offered a seat to her when she seemed about to faint.

Tokyo really is an onion - yet it will be mostly everything you expect it to be, so the challenge is to open your assumptions and expectations before you get there.

This thread has really opened my apetitie for Hong Kong.

The reason you don't give your seat to an old lady is that invariably, they will givr it to a kid. ;)

I will live in Sydney one day! Next on my list of places to live..

BTW - I lived in Hong Kong for 2 years working for a big financial services company..Spend at least part of one day in the Outer Islands..There is great hiking and wonderful seafood..Very easy to get there because ferries leave all the time from the Central Pier..Have a great trip.

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. My boyfriend and I are considering Japan in the spring (courtesy of AA fly3 get one 1free) and were also considering Hong Kong as a stopover on our way to India this November. Good food for thought!

huh? :confused:

I've given my seat to dozens of obaasans (old ladies/grannies) in Tokyo and they've always seemed very pleased - resting their bones to the end of their journey.
It was only when I once tried to give to give my seat to someone younger (a kid, I suppose) that things went pear shaped.

What did you mean? I'd LOVE this insight into Obaasan behaviour :)

Same thing happened to me. I was taking the 5:00 AM train after a night out on the town. I had a seat near the door and this young lady looked very tired. She was actually sitting on the floor of the train. I got up and offered her my seat and she looked at me like I was crazy. She took the seat anyway.

Children are worshiped (spoiled rotten) in Japan. People tend to to cater to the kids. While it may not happen in all cases, it was the running joke when I lived in Tokyo. As a matter if fact I have seen in happen.

So if I go to Japan and act like a child, will I be spoiled rotten as well? :confused: