Originally Posted By Mr X ***Malin, are you a neurotic person? Why would you worry about all that stuff. Just look forward to travel day with anticipation. Then have fun.*** I assume Malin wrote that a bit tongue in cheek, however if not... ***I will have a new set of problems to worry about, like earthquakes, getting lost etc.*** Earthquakes are always a concern in Japan of course, however as others have pointed out it's a great comfort to remember that Japan is probably THE most state of the art "Earthquake prepared" country in the world...as evidenced by the fact that there have been several 6.5 and higher quakes in the past 5 years (all the way up to an offshore 8.0!), and yet not a single person has died as a result. Pretty impressive, imo. As for getting lost, that is simply NOTHING to worry about in Japan. First of all, unlike most other countries there is absolutely no chance of "getting lost and wandering into a bad neighborhood", as the violent crime rate is a statistical ZERO (40 muggings a year in Tokyo, compared to 11,000 in New York City). Secondly, no matter where you are on the entire island of Honshu, as long as you can say "Maihama", or "Tokyo Disneyland" you can easily find people who will point you in the right direction, perhaps even walking you to the appropriate train platform. And even if Maihama isn't your destination, as long as you have the name of your hotel and its nearest train line and station name written down and stuck in your wallet, someone will help you find the way back there no problem. And there really isn't anywhere on the whole island (unless you go hiking in a forest or something lol) where public transportation isn't close at hand. So, don't worry. Be happy.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Here, here. Be happy. My first earthquake experience (since I live on the east coast) was in Tokyo, in my room at the Universe Hotel about 10 years ago. Had a couple of friends in the room and we were having a few beers and I felt the building start swaying. I said, "What the hell is that?" with some degree of alarm. My Japanese friends got a good laugh out of my reaction. To them it's very common.
Originally Posted By OrionLive We have earthquakes here in Los Angeles all the time. As a matter of fact, we just had a 4.4 quake last Friday. Everyone at work just puts any fallen action figures and other cubicle tchotchkes back into their upright positions, and then go back to work!
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi M4.4 tremors? Sigh, ho-hum, been there done that. Those could be felt in the Tokyo area at least once a month. Hehehe. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Those little tremors aren't from earthquakes: they are the footsteps of Gojira.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi ^^^ Ahahaha. Haven't seen Gojira around lately. No new movie for a few years now. Wink. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By Mr X FWIW, I think this article points to the "worst case" scenario the OP was worried about... <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Crew-Passengers-Detained-Over-Flu-Concerns.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/loc...rns.html</a> "Two American Airlines flight attendants and 37 passengers were released Monday afternoon after they were detained for hours in Japan over concerns about swine flu." "When the flight arrived, government health inspectors quarantined one passenger and took the passenger to a Tokyo hospital for tests." "Other passengers who were sitting nearby on the flight were taken to a hotel, where they were held under the observation of health officials. Two flight attendants who were working in the same section of the Boeing 777 were also detained."
Originally Posted By barboy MN ///OrionLive, where are you travelling from? Mexico?/// OL ///I'm flying out of Los Angeles/// same thing, no?...... Mexico, LA ----- what's the difference.
Originally Posted By Mr X A Japanese frequent traveller told me that they are pulling aside anyone coming from Mexico or the U.S. and forcing them to take a flu test (the nasty one where they stick things up your nose), and that the delays can amount to several hours. He thinks that will be eliminated within a few weeks though, since the virus has already infiltrated Japan.
Originally Posted By barboy ///anyone coming from Mexico or the U.S/// I wonder if that means literally arriving from Mexico or the US or does that mean any Mexican and US nationals entering Japan irrespective of their originating flight/airport. Would I(a US national) be subjected to screening if I come from Hong Kong or Manila??
Originally Posted By Malin I think that H1N1 Flu outbreak may be the least of Japan's worries at the moment when you have North Korea firing missiles.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I wonder if that means literally arriving from Mexico or the US or does that mean any Mexican and US nationals entering Japan irrespective of their originating flight/airport.*** I would assume anyone coming from those places (whether or not that's their nationality), and I would also assume the questionnaire asks whether you have been there recently. My friend filled one out traveling from Korea to Japan, so obviously they are trying to sort out who has been there recently regardless of the country of origination on that day. Otherwise, it would be a simple matter to detain any pax with a Mex/U.S. passport, without any need for a questionnaire.
