eru - can you speak japanese? it is tough to get aroundin english there... you need a translator.
sex is cheap sure, but the girls in the nuki kyaba are NOT good looking. And Japanese massage bar is NOT what you see in the movies - you can get an ugly old hag before you get a stunning ex actress. This is why my partner over there wont let me go to them... although, kyaba kura is cool if you get a girl who speaks some english.
and the twelve year recession really hasnt done much except make the japanese guys sleep in their suits in the train stations in between working two jobs. kinda sad. no beggars tho.
Japan is strange. Hokkaido is beautiful tho.great country. But, I went thru about $2500 US in 10 days and I didnt pay for a hotel.... it is an expensive place.