Should You Cancel Your Trip to Japan? | Vote for This Month's Exclusive Episode

I live in Ohio and so far my University is closed and now I have to take online classes because of it. Also, all restaurants and stores are closed but carryout and drive-thru's are fine. People are also panic buying food and other supplies, which makes it hard to buy what I want and need. There's also the threat of Nationwide quarantine which will force you to stay inside and only go out for basic amenities. So, there's my comment complaining about the Coranavirus situation and thanks Chris for the videos during this difficult time and stay safe everyone.

The situation is dire in California (mostly due to panic hoarding); we're "sheltering in place" in San Francisco, only allowed to leave the house for essential needs. For videos: I think we all get bombarded by covid-focused news and content approx 8 million times per hour, so I'd appreciate any sort of content from creators like you, Chris! Probably even better if it's unrelated to the virus; I want to believe there is a future where we are able to be social and travel again.

I would like some simple entertaining video, to change our mind from this virus. Something very simple, even stupid if you can ;). Try to do a Muppet show in your apartment. Or simply telling jokes ?

Serious question: re:corona videos. Can't you just make videos about its impacts on japan and never mention the "-word? Just, here's what it's like in Japan in April 2020 and refer to it through euphemisms. We'll all know what you mean because it's also 75% of what we're thinking about. Seriously, I'm pretty sure you're smart enough to make the video you want and make that sweet YouTube cash.

NM

It has been quite rough in Eastern Canada. 2 of my friends ended up having to self isolate as their office had someone travelling come into work who may have had contact with the virus. There's a bunch of paranoia about who may or may not have it despite the number of cases in my city still being low. It's also a bit stressful for my family since my parents have underlying health issues and they're quite reluctant to go out and just causes overall frustration in general conversations due to all the unease. I really hope this is under control soon and I hope you are safe, Chris.

H J

I didn't hear back from them until early April Rob, so don't worry just yet. Although certainly given all the ongoing travel issues at the moment, I imagine it's all a bit chaotic this year. Hang in there and best of luck to you!

Abroad in Japan

It's surprisingly bearable! Though bread back home is certainly better. And hopefully I'll get that damn haircut one day eh!

Abroad in Japan

My hunch is the situation will have normalized somewhat by August - but certainly hold off another few months before booking just to be on the safe side. Fingers crossed that birthday trip comes true!

Abroad in Japan

I wish I could say there was an easy way! It took me about 3 years to actually learn how to sit down in front of a camera and talk naturally as though it was another human being. Even now I find it slightly surreal. The trick is - as you're talking - just try to imagine the end result of yourself on screen and how it'll be viewed and try not to overthink how awkward and bizarre it is, as you sit a meter away from the camera lens pointed in your face.

Abroad in Japan

I'm currently waiting back to hear about my interview for JET, so am wondering what the situation with that is at the moment, they haven't been in contact to say anything is out the ordinary, but given the current circumstances it's hard not to be a bit concerned about what the response will be....

Sorry to hear you spent the visit sick and miserable :/ I was looking forward to the before/after haircut photos! Surprised to hear you buy bread in Japan, though? What kind of bread, how does it compare to Hovis and rye?

Ah, should i vote for the topic i want or show my support for you liking nigahiga ;)  On a serious note  iam a little concerned about my Trip to japan too. I want to go over my 30th Birthday which is in August so i still have Hope that the Situation "normalized" a Bit till then but i can't help to wonder what to do if Not.

Sorry to hear about your food poisoning, Chris! But I'm surprised this ever happens in Japan, to be honest! And yes, do revisit Natsuki for a second chance at fun and a haircut :). And be safe and clean of course! I'm sure the spread of the virus will be relatively slow in Japan compared to here in the Netherlands, where people normally cough and sneeze around each other a lot, and kiss and shake hands and whatnot, but still... Let's hope Japan doesn't find out the hard way when hospitalisation soars :/. Here in the Netherlands, everyone should now be practicing social distancing, most people are at home, but at the supermarket the other day, trying to keep a six foot distance from others (or even the locally recommended 1.5 meters) was like playing Pacman. I kept dodging oblivious fellow shoppers!

Nynke de Haas

I had to haul ass out of Germany on Tuesday, two weeks before the semester is officially over, but I'm fine. Don't even know anyone who has been infected here in Sweden yet. Your videos helped a lot when I was struggling with Uni and I'm sure they will help a lot of people get through this.

Eels

Hang on in there Donna! I think you're quite heroic for getting by in isolation from your partner *and* helping out someone else.

Nynke de Haas

It's under control to some extend, but groceries really depend on your location. Here the supermarkets can't stock quick enough and are constantly out of toilet paper and things like meat, canned vegetables, pasta and eggs. Here being somewhere in between all major cities, so not the middle of nowhere. All for no reason...

Buzzin

I had to cancel my trip last friday, just 1 day before I would've flown. But as we say in German "aufgeschoben nicht aufgehoben" (postponed not canceled).

I bought a ticket for September. Hopefully all this shit will clear out. But even if not, I will dig an underground tunnel to Japan, as no one will stop me from visiting.

Here in the Netherlands things are kind of under control. Enough groceries, toiletpaper etc. I am staying at home though like most people so your channel is a real help in staying positive. Please make the Kyoto video and also I really love the Perspective channel so Id love to see more videos from you Chris. ESPECIALLY now! We were planning our trip to Japan in October. Already have plane tickets and 1 of the 5 hotels. But we put it on hold for now since things are so uncertain. But I hope by that time travel will be possible again.

In the UK, it’s ridiculous. No clear direction from the govt. I’ve had the rotten virus, I’m high risk and just been told by my husband, who has isolated from me because he works in an Oncology wing, that I did look paler than a white sheet at Halloween last week! Edit: Thanks for all the support guys, I feel very humbled but I’m not heroic. So I’ve edited the post to take it out. But thanks to those that sent kind messages. And the only thing that’s kept me going has been watching Natsuki lose his shit when trying to say ‘vacuum’. Okay the coughing fit I had during that was a little scary, but it was worth it! So I’d like to say thank you, whatever you create you’re brilliant and I have enjoyed so much of it while I was stuck in bed feeling like death. (This was the point at which I was going to say thank you in Japanese, but I chickened out 🤣 I chickened out bad) Stay safe everyone.

Donna Jones

I welcome non Coronavirus videos, it is all we hear about everywhere. The empty Kyoto one sounds great! If you have footage at the inari gates and the golden temple that would be I retesting to see the contrast. The places might feel more powerful without the horses of tourists and school groups.

Georgina Luxford

Haven't cancelled my flight for May but that's mostly because JAL haven't extended their special refund policy to May yet. After I had to skip last year my return to Japan this year was going to be a three week trip through the country to places I haven't seen yet. Up to last week I had a tiny sliver of hope that I maybe still could go but not anymore. I can't see international travel picking up again soon. Right now Germany is pretty much shut down - like the rest of the world. Today would have been my brother's wedding but that had to be cancelled. Somehow things like this make you see the reality of this situation very clearly...

Christian Könemann

Instead of vlogger mistakes... I kind of want to know how you became more comfortable talking to your camera? Especially if you live stream and you just have no one there to even interact with.

Linda T

Life is definitely strange at the moment for all of us, and everybody’s situation is unique to them but as for me, Mine officially SUCKS. I live in a tourist town in the Canadian Rocky Mountains calked Canmore (right beside Banff and Lake Louise). Our economy is pretty much 90% based off of tourism, as for me I work in a hotel/resort and as of yesterday My girlfriend and I have both been laid off from work. No tourists = no money to make. I really hope this all blows over soon and things can get back to normal or everything I’ve planned to do this year will be out the window because I have to use my savings money to survive. I refuse to even think of cancelling my trip to Japan in October because I need it as a glimmering sign of hope at the end of the tunnel!! Also, I’m just happy for our health and the fact that we both save our money or else we’d be in serious trouble! Sorry for the long rant guys! Hope everybody takes care of themselves and family right now and we can all look back on this one day with positivity!

Unfortunately also had canceled my trip but earlier. A week or two after I did, the company I work for banned international travel and now it seems so did the government. Now I am also working from home also in California trying to avoid people.

I am in California and the situation is not good. TrumpFrump lied over and over. He has refused to do any national emergency guidelines, he's dragged his heels on this whole issue. He constantly politicizes things, even though this is a health care emergency not votes. I am cloistered in my house in Santa Cruz, California. I was thinking of coming to Japan to visit my daughter who lives in Nagoya, but it looks like neither of us is going anywhere now. She is laying low and so am I. Thank goodness for Skype! Take care of yourself there. It is a sneaky virus that lays low for over two weeks before it shows itself. Maybe I can come over in Summer - time will tell. Keep up your videos - it makes it feel like we are there with you! :)

Not the fucking Vlogger videos...please... you're so much better than a goddamn Vlogger, Chris! So don't waste your talent on those stupid videos!

Joke's on you Chris, I chose one of the legitimate options AND to waste my vote! Ahaha! Kidding aside...the last couple of months have been surreal. Much like the tone of this post, my attitude has changed from optimism at my approaching trip, to assurances that we'll still go and just be careful, to disappointment at being forced to postpone our trip, and now being practically forced to bunker down at home while waiting for this thing to pass. This has really turned our world upside down, and I'm at the point where I'm just grateful for my health and being able to share a home office with a loved one for the next month or two. It's made the transition easier. My heart goes out to everyone else who had to put off travel plans over this. Even worse, I've heard from some people that it's also messed with their JET/Interac plans too, and I can only imagine how awful that must be. For that reason, I lean towards the Vlogger video, if only because like Gabe mentioned above, many people will probably turn to vlogging as an outlet during this time, and it's interesting to see how life has changed across the world in the wake of the Coronavirus. Then again...it was a close call, since I'm sure there will be people looking to apply for the next School season, and those tips could be useful. As for you and the gang, Chris - please be careful and stay safe, but know that your videos are helping to keep our spirits up during this whole mess. Even if non-coronavirus videos feel insignificant by comparison, they're a nice slice of escapism. The Sapporo videos in particular genuinely made me smile. Your videos are providing a great service and I'm happy to continue my support. Besides, we're going to need travel ideas once this Coronavirus thing is on lock! :)

Argus9 (Jonathan)

I canceled my flight today and I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. After all, I quit my job (it was a good company) to study Japanese in Tokyo. I kept asking myself, should I take the risk and go to Japan. I have no job and applying for a new jobs feels useless. But somehow, reading your post makes me feel it was a good idea to stay at home (Germany). Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

I've cancelled my upcoming trip as well which is supposed to be in May. I live in NYC and we're currently the city with the highest amount of Covid-19 cases in the States and it doesn't seem like it'll get any better soon. :( Hoping to be able to reschedule my trip for the fall if things get better but I'm also wary about work and the economy since I'm a freelancer.

RC

I'm glad you are doing ok! (sadly...things are not looking up at all in the States....I fear at this point we aren't too far from where Italy was a few weeks ago....). I live in Nebraska, right smack in the middle of the States, and we've just confirmed our 33rd case. None confirmed where I live, but there are stupid politics related to the low testing numbers (and I hate it so much. I want out of this god forsaken country). People in this country are being stupid. I had a fight with someone I knew wasn't really smart, but I didn't think was totally stupid over things (he claimed we were fearmongering back in the beginning of Feb when we said this virus was something to take seriously when we saw the news out of China......sadly.....as we know now....he is also no longer talking to me partly because he knows I was right and I didn't want to be) . I could go on and on. But yeah. I really hope others are doing ok. Please stay safe!!! I'm lucky I still get to work (I work as a nurse in an ophthalmology clinic), but that can change at any time where we stop working for a few weeks in a quarantine situation.

Barbara Smith

Hi Winchester, It's generally aimed at everyone who holds a degree as that's the largest demographic eligible for a teaching role in Japan (though it's possible to teach here without one in special circumstances). With a Master or Doctoral degree you should be able to find work at a Japanese University though depending on the field - it'd certainly give you more options.

Abroad in Japan

There's a lot of people going to be vlogging from their various isolations.. performers doing teaching vids, etc. I think this is super timely xx

Gabe Monson

Chris, if the teaching video is the one you’ll put out, are you going to cover potential ways people with Master’s or Doctoral degrees can find jobs teaching? As always thanks for what you do and your videos are always a welcome sight!