Hitchiking from Fukuoka to Tokyo, then camping in Yoyogi park.. any experiences?
I like to have bizarre holidays, and am thinking in September of taking the ferry from Busan to Fukuoka then hitch hiking upto Tokyo (long way, but worth the experience) and camping in Yoyogi Park in Harajuku (been there last year, but not for the camping experience). Anybody have some similar stories they care to share? I can speak enough Japanese to get by, and might have a camping buddy when I get there. Interested more in the hitch hiking in Japan stories. Cheers in advance＊☆
2006-07-12T01:30:05Z
Thanks for your replies. I realise that it's no holiday park, but then it's not the worst place in the world I would have slept in either.
Kuriyama, I tried to send you an email, but for some reason it said that your email is not confirmed.
Anonymous2006-07-12T00:37:06Z
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I have hitched the length and breadth of Japan and had nothing but good experiences... but I could not recommend it to you.
I don't want you speak good enough Japanese I'm sure, and you like bizarre holidays; but bizarre ending up in a funny story is one thing... bizarre ending up dead is not quite such a lark. The reality is you're a woman... a foreigner... and doing 'unusual' things. It only takes one freak to get a weird idea and it can get plenty ugly. I'm sure you're capable of looking after yourself but even being able to look after yourself only really works against rational people... if your luck turns bad someone who picks you up might not be the full quid and you're history.
You should only consider going if you have a male friend with you. I hate to sound like a wet blanket because I do love Japan, and it is quite a safe country... but with a population of 125 000 000 even a small percentage is just too high a risk. Sorry that I have chosen not to put any concrete advice in here... but I just don't feel comfortable in you doing this...
You might try getting a ride organised before you leave Korea... I can't think how though.
Good luck, and feel free to email me if you want... I'll be happy to help you with the trip, but not at the risk of endangering yourself.
Are you serious? I can't really suggest you camp in Yoyogi park. It's not Yellowstone after all. You will be hassled by everyone from hentai who go to the park for nozoki; to the people who get watched by hentai, to bossy homeless dudes who will demand rent or that you drink with them, the local chonankai/assorted busybodies, punk kids, not to mention the police. If money is tight a sauna is a good place to crash, they have a room where you can sleep.
I can't recommend hitchhiking either, but you could luck out and get a trucker who runs you..say from Fukuoka to Kansai etc. and then hands you off to a colleague who is high balling it to Tokyo overnight. The independant truckers are the ones most likely to pick up hitchhikers and one of those guy might get on his wireless with his buddies and arrange onward connections for you. It's not like the expressway is the scenic route. You will see a lot of the inside of tunnels and roadside pissoirs and I hope you don't mind second hand smoke. A rail pass is a lot better idea IMHO.
Anyways, don't let me tell you how to spend your vacation. I just don't think Yoyogi is the best place to "camp" in the Tokyo area if that's what you insist on doing. You don't have to go that far out of town to find an acutal campground-Chichibu should do.
I'm sure you'll be fine. Not the best of ways to travel in japan but I guess you're no stranger to it all so you know more than I do about it.
As for Yoyogi park and camping are you thinking of pitching a tent? Or just sleeping on a bench in a sleeping bag? Either way I'm sure you'll be fine. The weather's hot enough and it's relatively safe. Just be sure you're close to one of the exits or near pedestrian foot traffic. I remember Yoyogi park was dark at night and as someone mentioned many creepy people roaming at night. But of course Yoyogi park is better than Shinjuku Chuou central Park. :) Hope you have fun!
I don't reccoment you to hitch such long distance. Hitch hiking is not popular in Japan. and if you enter into mountain side accidentely, you will lose easily and won't be able to see any other cars at all. I think you can not camp in Yoyogi park, it is prohibited and the park will be closed at night time. and many homelesses gather at night. If you wanna camp, you have to go to camping site. but no such place in the central Tokyo.
It is dangerous to do camping in the parks, such as Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. You may be attacked by big Large-Billed Crow. http://homepage3.nifty.com/shibalabo/crow/buto/zukai/buto.htm The Crows will also twitter since very early morning, and you will lack of sleep.
Some Internet cafe, Manbo in Kichijoji city for example, also provide shower and blankets (not free), and it is cheap for sleeping 5-6? hours at nignt, but may you need to pay attention to your own proparty so that it is not taken by other customer at Internet Cafe. because you can not lock your bath room like space up from outside.
or if you pay a bit more, you can find cheapest guest house for back packers from around 2000 yen / night in Tokyo.