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Living in a foreign country? (Japan)
GabrielQ
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello everyone!
In September I will be moving to Japan for at least 7 months. My work will provide me with my own apartment in Urayasu, Chiba.
I need some advice from someone who has been in a similar situation. Living in a foreign country and not knowing the language, etc.
Are there any books that would be helpful? Any tips?
In September I will be moving to Japan for at least 7 months. My work will provide me with my own apartment in Urayasu, Chiba.
I need some advice from someone who has been in a similar situation. Living in a foreign country and not knowing the language, etc.
Are there any books that would be helpful? Any tips?
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You'll be living close to Tokyo so you really won't have to worry about speaking much Japanese, most everyone speaks English. I live in another prefecture in the country and I rarely use my Japanese because everyone wants to use the English they learned in elementary school, and junior high, and high school.
The only time I really have to use Japanese is like the post office, the bank sometimes, and any time a random person walks up to me to ask me where I'm from.
If you have any specific questions just PM me, or post here and I'll check back.
Convenience stores -- They are the center of your life. Called combinis, they provide an obscene amount of services not traditionally provided at an American convenience store. The most important to remember is the combini bill. In Japan, if you receive a bill that isn't automatically deducted from your bank account, it's probably a combini bill. Take it to any combini, hand it over, and pay the dude there. There are other awesome things that you can do at a combini, but this is really important to figure out early on. Late bills can be troublesome to handle if you don't know much Japanese.
ATMs -- ATMs in Japan hate you for living your life. That is to say, there is no such thing as a 24 hour ATM that I have found. For example, most ATMs shut off at 9 PM on weekdays for me, and 12 AM if it's one belonging to my bank. Prepare for this by getting cash in advance. It's even worse on the weekends, as idiotic as that sounds. I've been refused by some ATMs after 5 PM on a Saturday, to give you an idea of how early they can cut you off. Also, grow comfortable with carrying cash around, because Japan is a cash society.
Heating/AC bills -- Knock on your walls when you arrive. That hollow sound is the complete absence of anything resembling insulation. By far, most Japanese housing seems to be designed to make you waste money. Either be prepared to handle the weather in more cost effective ways, or suck it up and eat the costs of living comfortably.
As MoSiAc said, living close to Tokyo means that you're not going to be forced to use Japanese as much as, say, someone stuck in the deep countryside. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how much of an interest you have in using the language. It's good to have as much working knowledge as possible though, because it's nice to be able to travel a little outside the gaijin bubble if you want.
I'm sure there are other important things I'm forgetting, but that's all that comes to mind for now. Feel free to try and contact me as well if you have any specific questions.
Oh and don't get upset if your co workers that are Japanese ask you the same questions every day, it's just sorta how they do things (at least where I am). I've told my boss how much I love alcohol and hate natto at least 100 times in six months.
Isn't he permabanned?
Don't worry too much about language -- enough people can speak enough English for you to get by in most situations; besides, learning Japanese in only seven months will be hard unless that's your focus. As long as you don't look Asian, most people will want to try their English with you, pretty much anywhere in the country. I know of a guy from Belgium who went there to study Japanese, and ended up learning English instead!
However, if you study one thing, it should be katakana. It's one of the three(!) scripts used in Japanese writing, and it's basically used to write English words with a really thick Japanese accent. Once you've got that down, you'll be able to recognize any number of words you see around you, particularly on products, signs, and advertisements. This should help you get around a bit more easily.
The main problem you'll face is that of culture shock and possibly loneliness. A lot of people who go to Japan find that it's very different from their samurai-and-magic-school-girl-filled fantasies, and realize that they don't like it very much. Even people with more realistic expectations may find that spending a year in a country with different customs and a different language can be very stressful and occasionally confusing. If you're not prepared to do a little adjusting in order to get along, it's easy to become depressed, bitter, or angry. Don't become one of those people. They're not very fun to hang around with.
Also, if you have a life you're leaving behind, make sure you put someone in charge of it (legally) with Power of Attorney forms. If you suddenly need something paid for at home, make sure you left an account to pay for it, and gave someone the authority to operate the account.
There are several options for sending money back to your home country, but I would personally reccomend a service like GoLloyds (the one I use). Once the initial paperwork is completed, it's a relatively painless process to send money using the ATMs at your local Japanese bank.
I am fortunate enough not to have any expenses such as utilities, etc while in japan. So heating, A/C etc will be ok.
My pay will be in US dollars, unfortunately, but it gets deposited directly into my bank acount every month.
I will also be receiving a per diem of 5,000 yen (approx 45ish dollars?) in a separate account accessible through japanese ATM machines. It is very helpful to know about the ATMs hating you though, hahaha :P I will definitely be carrying cash at all times.
I will look into Katakana for sure, sounds very helpful.
The only thing I am leaving at home will be my family, I am a youngster with no estate stuff yet! I understand about the homesickness though (had to have a talk with my employer about it, they basically try to convince you not to go) but luckily my family and close friends are very supportive. Hurray for Skype!
The hardest part for me will be leaving my new nephew behind
Anyways thanks again for everything guys! I will check up on this thread again tomorrow at school.
5000 yen a day isn't loads but it isn't nothing. Since your salary is mostly paid in dollars, what things are being provided for you? Accomodation, obviously, but meals? transport? You can get a filling bowl of ramen (with pork and veggies) for 6-800 yen, or a set meal (meat/fish dish, rice, miso soup, veg/salad/pickles) for about 700-900. The more Asian you eat (Japanese of course, but also Chinese etc) the less you will spend.
I'd agree about katakana - so useful.
One thing that's often surprising is how un-international Japanese banks are. If you have an emergency, it can be a chore to get money transferred from home quickly - so make sure you have some kind of emergency funds in Japan if possible.
Anyway, I've lived in Japan quite a while, and part of my job is looking after newbies ;-) so you can ask away.
edit: Hold on, I do know Urayasu - are you working at Disney?
My housing and transportation is all taken care of, as well as some meals. The per diem is to take care of meals basically.
This is all very new and exciting (and admittedly overwhelming) so I have a thousand different questions for you!
What are a few touristy type locations I should check out when I am brand new to Tokyo?
Any tips on eating cheap? Are groceries an option?
Cooking for one is tricky - unless you eat super-carefully and very traditional Japanese, it's difficult to cook cheaply. It's often better to go out to a cheap place.
Touristing? Depends what you're into. Bright lights, big city? Olde-worlde-samurai-templey? Or trees and mountains?
Urayasu is a concrete jungle. Lots of big housing complexes and people commuting to Tokyo. Lalaport, a big shopping mall, isn't too far away. There's an outlet mall in Makuhari (all along the same trainline as Disney). There are also rapid trains into Tokyo, so that's easy enough. During August, you can also hop on trains going the opposite direction and head to Chiba for the beaches (bit of a trip and will probably require transfers at Soga or Chiba station unless you know someone who has a car).
Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. I lived for years in both Chiba and Tokyo.
Not really. Getting a decent meal even at a cheap restaurant will run you about $10/1000 yen. For that same amount, with a little bit of care, you can get noodles, beef, tofu, vegetables, and some sort of sauce. Cook it up and throw the leftovers in the fridge, and you can get a good three or four days worth of lunch or dinner out of that.
Spaghetti works the same way, plus if work lunch involves bringing a bento, it's always worth a couple 'good impression' points to show up with your own cooked food, rather than conbini bentos all the time.
In my position, I'd see $5000 yen a day as an insanely luxurious food budget, but I don't live near Tokyo, nor do I face the prospect of potentially having to buy from theme park restaurants.
For general living tips, learn hiragana and katakana. Route repetition will get both of those down in a couple of weeks, and since Japanese is written the same way it sounds, it can be a big help in facilitating communication. Not to mention a big help in reading signs, since Tokyo's train and subway systems can be irksomely inconsistent in providing roman character readings.
100 yen stores for me are a reason alone to just go back to Japan.
Getting around Japan isn't hard either, the train system is easy to learn. Red trains, green trains and black trains. Black trains are local, green trains I believe are faster than red trains if I remember correctly. Also, know /some/ kanji. It will help you travel around a bit better because sometimes the colors aren't enough. I've learned this the hard way traveling home one night at 11pm.
I'm trying to think of some things I've learned from living there but its been a bit. I'll write back when I can think of some more.
Oh, Yoshinoya and CoCo's curry, are a must to hit up.
100 yen stores sound great.
Strange question, do the US and Japan use the same outlet type? For things such as computers, cel phones, Nintendo DS etc?
The .injapan websites are very interesting as well.
I am glad I started researching this early, there is so much to learn!
New places also have polarized outlets, but you'll run into older ones every now and then. However, most places that sell electronics will sell adapter plugs.
Is there a good guide to the japanese language for buying things, dining, banking, etc? Like a book i could carry around with me day to day?
I know I could google a lot of this but I want to hear your firsthand experiences and advice, ya know?
Thank you all so much, again. So incredibly helpful!
http://www.outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html
lots of really funny stuff of cultural differences that hit him like a tornado.
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Before typing my next section, I would strongly recommend the Lonely Planet Japan Guide as noted by Gabriel above. It is fantastic and guided me to a lot of places I would have not ever discovered had I not had it with me.
Tourist Stuff in/near Tokyo
I could write all day about the cool shit in Tokyo to see, these are some of my favorite places
Meiji Shrine - If you ever go to Harujuku to see the crazy chicks, the shrine is in the big park next to it. It's where Emperor Meiji and his wife's ashes are (IIRC.) He was a very important part of Japanese history during a period known as the "Meiji Restoration." If you get sick of the concrete jungle this is a good place to go for an afternoon.
Akihabara - I'm assuming to some degree that you like video games and Japan, and if you want to see where all of the geeks go then this is your place. I didn't spend much time here but it's a fun place to go. They have some crazy ass arcades in Akihab.
Nikko - It's about an hour or so train ride north of Tokyo, and if you have any interest in seeing temples and historic sites, this is a good one. It's where the Emperor lived during World War 2, and has lots of noteworthy things to see. Tokugawa (super samurai!!) is buried here, there's the Nemuri Neko (sleeping cat) which is a very popular image, and lots of other very cool things. Cheap train ride, cheap ticket to see all of the stuff up there, and has more traditional restaurants. I highly recommend this trip.
Ryogoku Kokugikan - This is a sumo wrestling arena in Tokyo. Even if you are not able to catch a live sumo match, this is still pretty cool to go see. It's close to Akihabara so you can hop over here while you're in the neighborhood. I think there are two sumo tournaments in Tokyo throughout the year, one in January and one during the summer. If you can make it, I highly suggest going. They are a LOT of fun to watch.
If you want any other suggestions or have questions about living in Japan, you can drop me a PM too.
2008, 2012, 2014 D&D "Rare With No Sauce" League Fantasy Football Champion!
Sumo is in January, May and September in Kokugikan. The first two full weeks of the month. It's great, and don't let 'people in the know' tell you it's expensive. I've been about 15 times, and usually spend about 3000 yen on a ticket.
Kamakura (where I live) is southwest of Tokyo, so a bit further than Nikko, but full of old temples, shrines, giant buddhas etc etc. There's a swordsmith on the main street that I still pop into from time to time just to pretend I'm not gawking.
There's just so many great experiences in the country that you can't really go wrong. I climbed Mt. Fuji which was physically grueling, but worth it. You might still be able to get in before climbing season ends if you go right away. Bring friends though.
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From what I've heard secondhand, YES learn hiragana and katakana, just so you can sound things out (as they would expect a small child to be able to.) A great little game program for doing that is at http://lrnj.com (or it was free back in 2004, haven't looked lately.) It's a kind of dumb NES Dragon Warrior-esque game where you fight monsters that have kana in speech bubbles, and you defeat them by typing the phonetic sound the character makes. (It will also teach you basic kanji but meanings only, no readings. The kanji study might be useful but I don't agree with how they teach. The hiragana and katakana study is awesome, though.)
Beyond that I know some Japanese exchange students but I know nothing. You're getting plenty of real-world experience help already so you don't need my help.
If you had a couple years to prepare I'd say start formally studying the language, so you arrive in Japan with basic small-child-like communication skills -- but with only a few months to prepare, take a few weeks to learn hiragana and katakana.
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Edit: I realize Osaka isn't exactly near Tokyo, but I was so impressed with the area that I'd reccomend you travel there.
Jesus - I spent two incredibly boring weeks in Osaka for work, and everyone I asked sent me to places like the Osaka museum (dull, ripoff) or DenDen Town (not a patch on Akihabara). No bugger mentioned this place.
Mr GQ, go to this place - it sounds great.
Try and get yourself a small phrasebook - I used to have a Berlitz one. Lonely Planet is great, but too big to carry everywhere easily. A little phrasebook can live in your pocket and teach you a lot.
My name is Gabriel.
I am a drummer.
Thank you.
So far off to a great start! :winky:
Again, thank you everyone that has replied. I expected some awesome help, but you guys went above and beyond for me!
I am planning on doing a blog/video journal thing with lots of pictures and stories to keep myself occupied in my off time, and as a way to keep in touch with friends and family back home so they can see how I am doing and how great Japan is. PM me if any of you would be interested in this sort of thing!
I didn't get to spend much time in Tokyo, but in Akihabara there is an awesome Indian place in the giant shopping center, floor 6 I think it was. Visiting Osaka would be interesting, but for the money I think that visiting Kyoto would be more fun. There are all sorts of interesting places in Gion that one can go, along with all of the temples, etc (If you're into that kind of thing). If you do make it to Osaka, eat some Takoyaki from a street vendor, its freaking delicious.
By all means, don't be afraid of speaking to people and trying to use what you know. I've seen people become crippled by a fear of making mistakes and simply begin to clam up. Despite being in an environment where you'd expect them to improve, they end up no better and sometimes worse. Sometimes I have to fight this tendency as well, as normal nervousness in social situations can be drastically exacerbated by language barriers. Just remember that mistakes are natural and necessary, and that people will always appreciate your efforts to try and use their native language.
This is just a question I have always been curious about. How do people move to Japan without a job moving them there or because of university? I assume you just save up a lot of money and just buy a place there and that's it? Haha, sorry if the question is a little vague, I have just always wanted to live in Tokyo but never really made my life move in that direction.
You cant really move here without a job. There is a travel visa and it only lasts 90 days, in theory you could come here and try in 90 days to get a job, but most places want you to have an apartment, and a cell phone, etc already. But on the other spectrum many of the apartment groups ive dealt with won't give you said place to live until you have proof of a job, and a working visa.
I got my job in the states and then they paid to move me to japan, from there I was able to get other jobs as need be.
If you want an easy way to get to Japan at least short term, be an English teacher. There is usually a big divide between people about the whole "English Teacher" system, but its probably the easiest way to come to Japan if you are no longer a student, and want to stay for say six months or a year (though since Nova is gone, six months is a bit harder, and ususally schools require a year contract).