sixbigboys that’s all such good advice! Thank you!
In addition to Tokyo and Kyoto, I want to get out to the mountains, so I figured it would be useful just like you described. Also, it’s really rewarding. I’ve never really committed to learning a new language before but I feel like I unlocked a new way to challenge myself cognitively.

    2 months later

    This might be a dumb question.

    Last night I was talking to Geros from Japan, using a translation app. We started talking about "dark wave" and I asked "if you had a dark wave band, what would you call it?" But the question didn't seem to come across. I asked it a few different ways, hoping to get some weird band name for an imaginary project, but they didn't know what I was talking about.

    Is there anything lost in translation here? Like do Japanese people "name" bands, or is there any sort of subjunctive mood issues that would prevent this hypothetical from crossing the language barrier?

      Nathan Loud
      The subjunctive shouldn't be a problem but maybe it just needed a little more clarification like, "imagine if you had a dark wave band..." I don't know if I have necessarily played the band naming game with Japanese but there shouldn't be any impediment to it, especially given the wild names some bands have. Would really love to know or figure out what "Assfort" is supposed to mean...
      btw, "The Geros" is a perfect fit for their KBD mutant punk, as besides the Germs and Zeros proximities, "gero" means vomit! I wanted to name a garage punk band "Los Dorobos", dorobo is thief in Japanese, and Japanese has the same vowel sounds as Spanish.

        Touring Japan in early June, second time going but will have more free time this go around. Anymore recommendations for cool shit, especially in Shinjuku I would love to hear it.

        Hey friends, have returned to ask for mooooore help like the sponge of a person that I am...

        My girlfriend and I are headed to Japan from Dec 20 - Jan 5, mostly to have an excuse to not be at family christmas stuff haha; my partner has been a few times and speaks a decent amount of Japanese, but everything is new to me so I'm struggling to be of much use with planning the trip and I feel a bit hopeless -- we're running into a few uncertainties around the transport system during the holiday period and was wondering if you had any tips? (I suppose I'm directing this in part at @Sukebe_GG; hello!)

        We're arriving in Tokyo, heading to Kyoto on the shinkansen all of which looks relatively straightforward so far, but were then planning to head into less well-trod regions to visit a couple cool onsen... in and around Koyasan, Wakayama, Yunomine. We just had the tip that some of the buses in these areas (Tanabe & Hongu bus?) may not run during the holiday season (we were planning that part of the trip for Dec 25 - Jan 1), but can't find reliable info on what the holiday timetables might be (don't wanna get stuck at a train station in a snow storm!)

        We're asking around for some help trying to figure this out, and thought maybe this thread could be helpful for anyone who has travelled at that time of year? Thanks so much for the help and let me know if i can ever return the favour with anything!

        also re: pre-booking Shinkensen.. so many third party websites and not sure what to trust.. from quick online research it looks like https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php might be the best hub to pre-book a train? have you guys had any experience with this kinda prebooking so far in advance? we don't wanna get stuck, but it does seem like most people book close to the date of travel... (thank uuuu again)

        Herro! As far as the year-end holiday season, things really do shutdown heavy. There should be at least some public transportation running but maybe some extremely rural buses do not. It should all be scheduled in advance, so try contacting the bus company or whatever directly, or inquiring at the onsen you want to stay at.
        That Smart-Ex site is the official site AFAIK and we always use it. I heard a while back some people had trouble registering their foreign credit cards but I have to imagine that has been resolved.

        Many many years ago I got stuck for a few days because all the ATMs were completely closed over New Years. 24-hour 7-11 ATMs didn't start until the mid 2000's and bank ATMs still have early closing hours.

          Transcribing an interview with The Geros. Angel, the singer/guitar player, also DJs idol music, which I had never heard of. He loves this song and it makes me love The Geros even more:

            Also mentioned by The Geros as an influence.

            Never seen this before but you can cross your eyes like a Magic Eye poster and watch The Candies in 3D.

            Now just imagine if this technology was used on a Green Screen RockerTM.

            Nathan Loud Can't wait to read! The Geros made a big impression on me. Such a brilliant and funny lot.