If like me, you love films and like to go to the cinema to catch the lastest movie on the big screen, then you might be wondering what going to a cinema will be like in a foreign country and if its actually possible because surely you wont understand the language.
Well read on and you will find out if it is possible...
Answer: YES, and erm NO.
Unfortunately there is no straight forward answer to this because it depends on what you are going to see and where. I'm living in Japan and so can also comment on seeing films here.
But generally speaking if its a native english speaking film (live action) it will be in English with subtitles. If its a foreign film then it wont be in English and it wont have English subtitles. Finally if its an animation, such as Toy story 3, it will be dubbed in the countries langues (e.g. Japanese).
In Japan most of the big cities will have a cinema, albeit they maybe small and have limit viewings. In places like Tokyo they will probably show a dubbed version of the film and a showing in its native language with subs...other cities it can vary but general speaking its a version in its native language with subs.
Now because Japan dont have a huge film industry like the US they dont regularly go to the cinema, some of my students have never been and actually prefer to wait for the DVD release where they can watch at home in their own langauge (normally dubbed).
For this reason, expect high prices...not only in food but for the ticket. Food and drinks is about the same as back home - overly priced crap that is usually watered down soda and food that you know has been sitting under the heater for ages.
But the ticket prices is rediculas. Outside of places like Tokyo and Osaka you will probably expect to pay around ￥1300 during the week and ￥1700 during the weekend...some cinemas and high demand films (Harry Potter) may charge ￥2000...also expect higher prices for 3D films...most cinemas dont show 3D films in 3D but those who do are very expensive...
Just so you dont have to go google the exchange rate ￥1300 is about 10pounds and ￥2000 is about 17pounds.
This weekend i just paid ￥1700 to see Iron Man 2...did i think it was worth it...of course not...would i go to the cinema again...yes...
I know crazy but it will only be every now and then and its a nice change of scenary to do something western and have a break from constant japanese - i li\ove japan but its like the saying "too much of a good thing can be a bad thing".
Now for the other hot things...
If your from England, like me, then you will be use to summer usually being around 23C and even complain that its too hot at 25C...and certainly say its too hot when i reaches 30C for maybe 3 days over summer.
Well here in japan it is usually 23C at night and at least 28C (in the shade) during the day...currently i am on a break in the staff room, with the windows open and its 30C, so i'd hate to imagine what its like in the sun...The hottest day so far has been 33C but ive been told hotter days are still to come.
To make things worst it gets very humid here too...luckily i dont really sweat (unfortunately i know others who do, so i feel for them) but the humidity makes you all clammy and the air is somewhat dry.
So at school in the winter they only heat part of the school, in the summer they have no aircon - only windows and if your lucky maybe an electric fan...in fact mot people have a hand fan instead.
Still, no matter what the heat, the students still have to pay attention in class, they still do after school activities and sports and strangely enough the boys normally have a tshirt on underneath and complain its too hot :S
So if you want to know more about Japan please ask...
Also i am planning on starting a video blog on Youtube (videos will be linked to here as well) but i want to make things that will interest you...so please message or comment with things you want to know about
Also tell me what you are doing this summer or what you do on hot days
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