Advice for Moving to Japan

Last time, I posted a Japan Thrival Guide on what to do before, after, and while in Japan. I think as someone who lived in Japan for three years, there are some things I wish I knew before arrival. A new country means lots of changes, but we also shouldn’t forget some of our own values in the process.

This guide is to help you as you prepare to move to Japan and how you can make your transition a lot easier. I sincerely hope this guide will point you in the right direction and excite or quell your fears about moving to the Land of the Rising Sun.

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• Japan Thrival Guide – I don’t want you to just survive in Japan. I want you to THRIVE. This guide was born on how to live in Japan like a pro so you don’t feel like such a hopeless gaijin.
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• How Not To Be a Complete Dickhead in Japan – This guide will teach you a thing or two on Japanese manners, being an outstanding citizen, and most of all, not being an asshole.
• How To Deal With Culture Shock – Culture shock is a HUGE bitch, let me tell you. It can really make or break your experience in a foreign country. Check out these tips on how to deal with it and make the best of your situation.

1. Pack What You REALLY Need

The maximum weight you can bring is 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. The suitcase itself weighs into that, so the lighter and sturdier the actual make of your suitcase, the better. I honestly recommend the American Tourister Sunset Cruise 28″ spinner. It’s lightweight weighing in at only 9.7 pounds, it’ll be super useful when trying to get the right weight limit.

Plus, it comes in all sorts of fun colors like pink berry, apple green, and night shade. And if you’re an organizational freak like me, I also suggest getting the Bagail Packing Cubes too. They really help sort your essentials and pack them in for optimal storage and space.

If you absolutely cannot survive without Sour Patch Kids, bring a few packets, but don’t bring your entire kitchen. Foreign goods may be more expensive in Japan, but you can check Amazon Japan to see if they have your favorite beauty products, electronics, etc. By the way, electronics are super cheap in Japan compared to other Asian countries! Winning!

Clothing

If you’re anywhere above a size super tiny (size 4-6) then you are SOL in Japan. I highly suggest you bring pants and bras in your size. For whatever reason, the bras in Japan are teeny and stuffed full of padding. Bring your own undies. In big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, there are store like H&M and Forever 21 that carry bigger sized bottoms and tops.

Shoes

If you are a woman who is above a US size 8 in Japan, then I highly suggest stocking up on shoes in your size before you leave for Japan. Size 9 actually starts the men’s section, so if you’re cool with wearing men’s shoes, then you have that option too.

Deodorant

When I tell you Japanese don’t stink… I mean it. Many Asians lack the gene in their body that doesn’t make their sweat stink. Most of them don’t even need to wear deodorant. Us stinky foreigners on the other hand… We NEED it. I would bring a year’s supply when you first come to Japan. Then, if you need to, shop for your deodorant on iHerb.com.

Toothpaste

I personally hated the toothpaste that was made in Japan and I feel like it didn’t have enough flouride and whitening ingredients in it. I would also bring a year’s supply or have a friend or family member ship you some from America. If they can’t then, please refer to iHerb once more. 😉

Foundation

Japan only carries two foundation shades. White and white af. If you have tanner skin (like me) or your undertones aren’t yellow, then I suggest bringing foundation or finding a MAC store in a big city near you.

2. Learn Japanese

Do yourself a favor and don’t develop the mentality, “I’ll wing it as I go.” I was so dumb in my younger 20s and thought I could get by just fine. I wish I would have learned some simple phrases like how to order things at a restaurant, how to shop at a grocery store, and how to ask for directions. Japanese has three writing systems and if that doesn’t make your brain hurt, I don’t know what will. It can be seriously overwhelming when you become illiterate and I would have saved myself a lot of anger and culture shock if I could do simple things. I recommend learning Japanese for FREE with Japanese Pod 101.

3. Be Prepared To Drive

It never hurts to get your International Driver’s Permit. There may be a situation where you have to drive a drunk coworker or friend home in their car or just an emergency situation. IDPs are usually inexpensive and great to have. I recommend getting yours from AAA before you leave the country.

4. Learn How To Budget

Most of us get paid once a month so it’s good to have your finances in check and learn what you spend and where it goes. Some JETs go over the top with expenditures and end up eating Cup Noodles until the end of the month. Yikes…

5. Get CHEAP

One of my favorites while in Japan has been: http://www.iherb.com. This wonderful website has been a life saver with its international shipping on everything! It’s the best value for your money. You can find almost anything on there from herbal supplements to food.

Another favorite has been The Flying Pig.This is a great way to get cheese in Japan from Costco. Granted you can’t go to the grocery store and get it right then and there, but the shipping is quick and painless.

6. Love Yourself

I find this to be one of the most relevant pieces of advice I can give. Once upon a time, I was considered attractive in America. I’m tall and tan and have been described as “exotic.” In Japan, I was no longer beautiful, but too tall, too tan, too strong, too fat. My self-esteem took a huge hit and I started to feel ugly and down on myself. Don’t EVER let others dictate how you should feel about yourself! You’re amazing, unique, and wonderful. Look in the mirror and know you are the author of your self-worth. If you’re interested in what the standards of beauty are in Japan, check out my guest post Are You Attractive in Japan?

7. You Will Deal With Racism

A lot of us have been lucky to dodge this bullet and don’t come into Japan with the mindset people here are racist pigs. They’re not. Wherever you go there will be racism. Even in America, we have the ethnocentric, ignorant idiots who don’t care about others. The racism here is a bit more subtle. For example, I have seen establishments that say, “No Americans.” Others have been denied housing for being a foreigner and carrying the stigma, “foreigners are loud, unruly, and disrespectful.” It’s important to recognize it can happen. If it does, act with poise and rationality. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do. You just have to let it go. Check out some of the difficulties Japan poses to foreigners here.

8. You Won’t Get Along With Everyone

The truth is, you’re not going to like or get along with everyone you meet. Some JETs can be downright cliquey and you’ll feel like the odd one out. Don’t feel pressured to bond if you don’t like the person but always treat them with courtesy and respect. You may also be at a school where the atmosphere screams Debbie Downer and no one talks to you or you feel ignored. Talk to someone about it. You can’t change others, but you can control how you feel.

9. Get Down With Your Bad Self

There will be lonely days and nights. You’ll get homesick and wish you could go home. Find out how to get involved in your community, do some volunteer work, or get a new hobby and polish and old one. JET is all about exploring you and testing your limits. It’s about discovering a different part of yourself and developing your best self!

10. Don’t Change the Culture

Don’t come here thinking you’ll be a savior and expose people to their “wrong ways”. This is a cultural exchange. Learn the culture and understand where they’re coming from. You don’t have to like or accept it or change into being Japanese, but realize they’ve been doing some things a certain way for thousands of years and it still works. If it didn’t why are they still here?

11. Your Job Will Suck Sometimes

Not every day will be roses and unicorns. Some days the kids will be awful, or you’ll have a class you hate or a teacher you don’t get along with. Take these days to appreciate the good ones and don’t focus on it. I love my job and working with high school students, but kids will be kids. They’ll want to push your buttons and see how far they can take it.

How Much Money To Bring To Japan

I’m sure by this point, you’re like… Gina Bear, now show me the MONAAYYY. Okay, compadre, I got you covered, but it’s kind of hard for me to give you an estimate because Japan is a pretty big country and there’s a lot of different situations you can get into.

When I went to Japan, I was told to bring anywhere from $3000-$5000.

Why?

Well, it depends on if you need to buy a car. You also need to put down key money for an apartment. In addition, Japan is kind of expensive and you will need to carry yourself until your next paycheck. Start up costs in Japan are actually quite expensive.

In Conclusion

I hope this guide helps you with your initial start ups and moving to Japan. When I moved there, it was an exciting and fun adventure to behold for sure. Japan definitely taught me a lot about living abroad and if I could go back in time, I would do it all over again.

Let me know in the comments down below if you found these tips helpful or you have any additional questions.

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