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foriegner tax

16th of Dec, 2003ce* in: diary

Never really noticing it in the past, as I’ve usually been alone or with japanese, but yesterday and today took the piss.

First off, in the station I went to pick up a newspaper. How much, I asked. 500 yen was the reply. Thats about two pound fifty in uk money, an astronomical amout from some crummy rag. Needless to say I left the stand, feeling like a stupid tourist.

Secondly while I was out with my motly crew from the hotel (a chineese australian, a large aussie girl, a tall black man and myself, a pale tall white man) we got something that I’ve only ever read about, we got refused from a bar! They made excuses about time and how they were closing etc, when they sign said they were open till 2am. Bastards.

More tourist tax the next day, so much so that it almost took the piss! Even the taxi driver grumbled and groaned when we all got in. Now my japanese is not perfect, but this guy was livid that we were wanting to go the wrong way to which he was driving, and he might have to drive all around to get us in the right direction! He was too busy watching a fight outside between two bussiness men to notice that we had all piled in :)

I shudder to think how badly they take the piss with american tourists, who are notouriously brash here.

Unfortunatly if you are not out with a japanese, you’ll never know for sure if you’re being ripped off or not.

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