Coming To Japan In March

[Minihux]

Hey everyone,

Basically im coming to live in Japan in March and will be residing in the Gunma / Maebashi area along with my friend, we have many good friends there. I know when i came to Japan 4 or so months ago i got so much crap from people saying why the hell did you go to Gunma but hey i love the place and all my friends are there.

Just sorta wondering if theres any general advice or anything i should know before i pack my bags and head over. Now im not a complete drop kick and i have researched a bit etc so i would appreciate sensible responses nothing stupid.

We were all in the same boat once....

Thanks guys!

- Luke

[FG Lurker]

Just sorta wondering if theres any general advice or anything i should know before i pack my bags and head over.

You mean besides, "Don't go to Gunma"?

[Mulboyne]

Don't close any bank accounts or cancel any credit cards even if you think you won't be needing them for a while. If you have any prescription medicines, make sure they are legal to bring through customs and, if they are difficult to obtain in Japan, bring a big supply.

[Taro Toporific]

Deodorant.

[maraboutslim]

Condoms. Japanese ones are smaller.

[GomiGirl]

Ditto what the others have said:

Deodorant, pharmaceuticals (eg cold and flu tablets), personal care items, photos, music, a good computer and other creature comforts. All the stuff to make sure you don't feel too alien, cos you will have some culture shock/home sickness from time to time, especially being out in inaka. Make sure you have some things from home to make the crash after the honeymoon period less severe.

Once you are over that you will be fine.

But after 8 happy years full time here, I still send home for medicines, deodorant, toothpaste, fabric softener, wool wash, chocolate, vegemite and chewy lollies. Some things you can't live without.

I arrived with my photos, CD's (it was the days before iPods), clothes, shoes, tupperware (long story) and have been happy to acquire everything else I have needed to survive. Being in Tokyo though is not that difficult to adjust - there seems to be the big cities which really are the same all over the world and the "real Japan". It would be hard for me to live outside the city but I sure do love to visit inaka areas as often as I can.

Make sure you have some things from your hometown to do "show and tell" with new friends. It is a good way to break the ice and really make friends understand you and where you are from so you can get all that stuff over with in the beginning. After that you can work out who is going to be real friends and like you for yourself rather than your foreign-ness.

Also - LEARN JAPANESE!!!!! You are going to need it my friend.

[gomichild]

.....chocolate, vegemite...

Oh honey - get you to a Coffee Farm/International Supermarket - you can get Cadbury's choccie and vegemite here now - save on postage!

[GomiGirl]

Oh honey - get you to a Coffee Farm/International Supermarket - you can get Cadbury's choccie and vegemite here now - save on postage!

Postage? No way!! With all the visitors from home lately, I just put in my order and they deliver FOC to my kitchen. But then I am playing hostess and tour guide but it is a small price to pay. BTW GomiDad is coming soon - what is your order?

Would love a Kaldi's coffee farm near us but the closest one is near your old place at Shimo Tokaido.

[gomichild]

Postage? No way!! With all the visitors from home lately, I just put in my order and they deliver FOC to my kitchen. But then I am playing hostess and tour guide but it is a small price to pay. BTW GomiDad is coming soon - what is your order?

Would love a Kaldi's coffee farm near us but the closest one is near your old place at Shimo Tokaido.

OOooooo home delivery - nice!

Would GomiDad mind bringing me some yogurt covered muesli bars?

Man coffee farm need to spread out more....

[Marked Trail]

Shoes.
Remember, if you want to go to a gym, they will require you to change to a pair of never-worn-outdoors athletic shoes and Japanese shoe sizes run out at 27cm (US size 10).
Oh and you might try the old thread, What to bring to Japan?

[GuyJean]

Ditto what the others have said:

Deodorant, pharmaceuticals (eg cold and flu tablets), personal care items..

Med Shop expensively ships most things 'personal' to Japan. For example, deodorant:

http://www.medshopexpress.com/personal-care-deodorants.html

GJ

[kusai Jijii]

A sense of humour, an ability to roll with the punches, and a determination not to take yourself too seriously. In my view, that's survival 101 for living in Japa:eeh: n.

[Doctor Stop]

Also - LEARN JAPANESE!!!!!

Or Portuguese.

[Minihux]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your advice sounds like im pretty covered. If i go to gym i will have to worry about my back tattoo's more then the shoes haha. No onsens for me aswell eeeeeek!

I have never been to a country before where i can walk into any shoe or clothes shop and not have to try anything on, everything fits me perfect!!! So thats all covered.

I also learnt very quickly on my holiday with my Japanese local mates to roll with it, and just keep trucking on no matter how weird the situation maybe haha. I found out very quickly that Gunma has a dark side i never knew about lol.

Thanks for all info and anything else u can think of just drop it in here.

Also thanks for not bagging out my move to Gunma to much lol, i know it might be hard to not give me some crap but hey i think its the people that make the place worth living in. And we have great Japanese friends there.

When i went to Osaka we meet some old Gaijin friends there who have completey changed since they were in Aus. Basically they think there Mr Japan and show no respect to anyone, they would barge over Japanese girls etc. The Japanese people that would sit around us at restaurants would get up and move because these Gaijins were that bad / rude. We nearly got in a bar fight with them before we left haha.

- Luke

[omae mona]

If i go to gym i will have to worry about my back tattoo's more then the shoes haha. No onsens for me aswell eeeeeek!

Well now that you mention those tatoos (is that you in your avatar?), I think you need to add to your list of things to bring to Japan. In addition to the deodorant, you should bring your own set of workout equipment, since you may have a hell of a time finding a gym. There are some tatoo experts on the forum who may have some relevant advice for you if you end up needing it.

Good luck with the move!

[dimwit]

How long are you going to stay? If for a extended period, I would suggest visiting a dentist before you get over here, as denisry can be scary over here.



Another successful patient

[GomiGirl]

About the Gym thing - I go to Golds gym and there are heaps of people with tatttoos that are not covered. Not sure on their policy though.

[Minihux]

Yeah those are my tattoo's in my Avatar pic still waiting for them to be done in full colour before i come over.

I dont mind no gym i dont do it over here, pitty there aint no Muay Thai places over there cause i enjoy doing my Muay Thai every day over here in Aus....but u get that. I might take up Kyokushin or something when i come over.

Cant wait to come over, losing sleep over it lol. Thanks once again for all the help guys!

- Luke