Vaccinations for Japan and China and What Foods to Avoid
Jul 7th, 2012, 07:23 PM
#22
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The annual vaccines formulated for use in North America and Europe are mostly for influenza strains that started in southern China and spread rom there. Typically, they first spread in China (and sometimes VN).
Ray, I'm not talking about protection from H1N1, but protection from the current strains of influenza.
JPM, and how far is the US or Europe from southern China and VN? Distance is no longer much of a barrier to the spread of the flu. My point was, if the new vaccine is available before the OP goes, it's a good idea to be vaccinated.
Ray, I'm not talking about protection from H1N1, but protection from the current strains of influenza.
JPM, and how far is the US or Europe from southern China and VN? Distance is no longer much of a barrier to the spread of the flu. My point was, if the new vaccine is available before the OP goes, it's a good idea to be vaccinated.
Jul 8th, 2012, 11:27 AM
#23
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kuranosuke, shomben yokocho, as mentioned above, but not my favorite in Tokyo for obvious reasons. There are the yatai stalls in Ueno Park and the temple in back by the pond who's name eludes me right now. Then there are the stalls at Ameyokocho where you can sit and eat all the fresh sashimi or chiraishi you want...... Of course take away or street vendors are not the same in Tokyo(always offer you a place to sit or stand and eat) as say Bangkok....it would be rude to have take away food to eat on the run in Japan except for those gaijin vendors carving those meat stacks .... 
Aloha!
Aloha!
Jul 8th, 2012, 11:45 AM
#24
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For China, as others have said, definitely do not drink tap water or use it to brush teeth. Fruit with a skin you have to peel is a good idea.
As for street vendors, I tend to avoid them for the first few weeks while my body gets acclimated to what I'm eating. (For me, as much as I love street food, I'd rather not risk stomach upset and lose day(s) of my trip!) And while it's true that the street food in Beijing is often cooked right in front of you, the sanitary considerations are quite different there than in the US. Vendors with a queue of people waiting for their food are always the better bet - anywhere in the world!
As for street vendors, I tend to avoid them for the first few weeks while my body gets acclimated to what I'm eating. (For me, as much as I love street food, I'd rather not risk stomach upset and lose day(s) of my trip!) And while it's true that the street food in Beijing is often cooked right in front of you, the sanitary considerations are quite different there than in the US.
Vendors with a queue of people waiting for their food are always the better bet - anywhere in the world!
Jul 9th, 2012, 04:23 AM
#25
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Thank you everyone for all of the information. This is very helpful! I have located a travel clinic at a local hospital, which I will be visiting soon. I will print out the CDC information on vaccinations for both countries when I visit the travel clinic.
Jul 9th, 2012, 05:34 AM
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I've come a bit late to this discussion, but wanted to offer a few comments about food dangers in Japan. With street vendors or food stalls at temples, you will seldom have any problem. You ask about sushi, though it may be that you mean sashimi (westerners often confuse the two). Not all sushi has raw ingredients.
Sashimi made from fish is commonly encountered and in my experience in Japan, and by all accounts, is perfectly safe. There are potential problems with some foods that may be served raw--such as chicken, pork, or horse sashimi--but the sanitation levels and conditions of raising and handling the product are so high that the issue is likely to be your own squeamishness rather than any risk to your health.
Sashimi made from fish is commonly encountered and in my experience in Japan, and by all accounts, is perfectly safe. There are potential problems with some foods that may be served raw--such as chicken, pork, or horse sashimi--but the sanitation levels and conditions of raising and handling the product are so high that the issue is likely to be your own squeamishness rather than any risk to your health.
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