Japan

[otaku]

I've wanted to visit this country so badly for the last few years (a big part of it is to take pictures of course!) and now that I have saved up some money (still saving) and have good steady work I can finally go this January, if my parents let me that is (I still live with them, I'm not that financially well off yet sadly)

Would you let your 19 year old son go to Japan on a guided tour with other tourists? Its not like I'm asking to backpack europe or anything

 

[manfromh]

I dont know what the law is where you live, but if its the same as in Estonia, then 19 is an adult and you dont realy need your parents permission.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Go for it! But I'd be tempted to skip the guided tour and make it up myself. It'll be a lot more fun and Japan is VERY safe afterall. Judging by your username, you have some Japanese language skills!? A little Japanese language knowledge will get you a very long way!

 

[cp_ste.croix]

I've been to Japan a few times and have never had any problems that were more than my inability to read the language.

As for travelling on your own, I backpacked through Africa when i was about your age, and of course my parents were worried. I think it depends on the kind of person you are. If you are mature, responsible, and not prone to idiocy, then I'd let you go.

That said, why would you care about my opinion? As a fledgling adult, you should probably have a conversation with your parents without resorting to mentioning the fact that a bunch of guys on the internet said it was ok for you to go...

 

[steamer]

If I had a 19 year old I would be very concerned that I had not raised him well if he chose to go somewhere on a guided tour. Buy a ticket and just go there and wallow in it.

 

[otaku]

No intention of saying guys on the net said to let me go that'd only make things worse haha. I'd love to freelance the trip but I think they'd be more comfortable if I were on a tour (plus this tour will get me in to some exclusive places otherwise impossible to go) I may just have to take off and suffer the consequences later.

Backpacking africa? That is a story I'd like to here (with photos!)

 

[John Camp]

I let my daughter go to France when she was 17, with a study group. I was worried, of course, but hell, you've got to let go sometime. I think a tour is a good way to go to a strange country if you've never been there before or haven't traveled a lot, because it takes care of the details of daily life that you might otherwise not learn so quickly (like how to use the trains and mass transit, get into restaurants, tipping customs, etc.) When I was young (17) I went to Venezuela and Colombia, and spent a lot of time doing things like trying to get clean, figuring out where to stay, and whether the food was going to kill me (again; I got killed about three times; then you've got to learn how to find public bathrooms.) So don't think of it as a tour -- think of it as a scouting trip for the next time back.

Remember, doing something is always better than not doing anything.

I wouldn't tell my folks about the internet, either. I'd simply say, "Hey, I love you guys and want to continue living in the attic, basement, whatever, but I'm going to Japan and everything will be cool." When you get back, you'll be a changed person. If your parents offer to go along, decline.

JC

 

[FrankS]

Definitely, go, for, it!

 

[otaku]

I'm definetly gonna go for it just need the money 🙂 I started a second job but quit within a week (to much work and it was rough on my family they missed me 🙂