Florence, <BR>It appears that you have advice on every single message related to Japan on this forum. Give us an idea of your real life Japanese experiences. Where do you get all of your info. Been there, done that? or not been there, read that? <BR> <BR>Thanks....

Been to most places I write about, (except Disneyland and Catholic churches , had to organise a lot of travels and long stays for friends, colleagues and students, so I have a lot of books, guides, and internet addresses on hand, which makes it easy to give advice and find addresses on a lot of subjects. On some occasions, I've just topped a message before it disappeared by giving a reference or an "opinion" in the hope that someone more knowledgeable than me would have better information. <BR> <BR>I also read Japanese newspapers and magazines whenever I can find one, talk to a lot of Japanese at home, etc. <BR> <BR>I'm going regularly to Japan to meet Japanese friends and family, play kendo, collect and study antiques, watch sumo, learn and buy traditional crafts and food, meet fellows aquariums fans, etc. <BR> <BR>I've helped a lot of travellers when in Japan, who didn't know how to travel confortably and where to find information, or received totally impractical information from long term residents (this happened to me too on my first travel). <BR> <BR>This is not a criticism of long-term resident, only an observation: you don't see things in the same light when you live somewhere than when you just visit for a few days (and that's why I don't give lots of advice on the European forum - my information about France and Switzerland is not suited to what a tourist wants to see, and I'm constantly amazed at what some know about the areas I'm living in). <BR> <BR>So I'm trying to pass information from a short term visitor, or tourist's point of view here, knowing how it can sometimes be really confusing. Sorry if my constant presence offends some . <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

This question doesnt seem to have a nice tone to it so in case Florence decides that it isnt worth responding to - my comment is that having travelled to Japan 7 times over the past few years and like to think that I know a certain amount about many of the regions and prices that everytime I read Florence's responses they are spot on. Helpful, precise and uptodate. Thanks Florence!

Sorry Florence you must have posted 1 minute before me. - Please dont stop offering advice, Im sure its appreciated

Thanks Gayle, but I did not feel WannaKnow was unfriendly, just curious, and I can understand his/her point. The question arose some time ago on the European forum, about how people were giving advice, whether they only relied on personal experience, first or second hand information, books, guides, etc. <BR> <BR>It appeared that most people will use all of them: you can't trust your memory for addresses, opening hours, prices, and you never know whether the second-hand information you collected might not be useful for someone... <BR>