Preparations for Japan

Before you come to Japan, there is plenty that you can do to avoid unnecessary hassles and make the most of the time you are here.

Things to bring:

Not too much. Travelling heavy is always a chore. However, balance this with how long you are staying. Be sensible: Japan is a developed country, and you can find toilet paper, soap and other items. You do not need to bring a year's supply. Likewise, most major brand names are sold everywhere all over the world, so you'll get the same razors, the same deodorant, and the same tissues that you get anywhere else. Do bring:

• A good electronic dictionary if you have one - they are the fastest means of finding words, whatever anyone claims. If you don't, they are fairly cheap in Tokyo's Akihabara district, or in Osaka. Prices are also quite low in major electronics discount shops around the country.
• A good paper dictionary if you do not have one or cannot afford an electronic dictionary.
• A good kanji dictionary, if your electronic dictionary cannot search for kanji (most new ones can).
• Clothing to suit the season. See the section on climate for details.
• If you have feet over sized 27cm or over, bring shoes. Your choice of new shoes in Japan will be very limited.

Study:

The writing system:

You should do your best to learn at least hiragana and katakana before you come to Japan if you don't already know them. See the Japanese Language information section for details. As mentioned before, when choosing a course, make sure that you are being taught in Japanese, using the Japanese writing system. If you aren't, you are holding yourself back. There is almost nothing written in Japanese using romaji only.

Grammar:

If you can, try to familiarise yourself with the basic grammatical structures, even if you cannot remember them. Just having seen them once will help when you're studying them in Japan.

Vocabulary:

Learn some basic greetings and courtesies in Japanese. Even if you only remember "sumimasen" you've learnt the most common word in Japanese and can probably cope with almost any situation. Almost.

Health:

Many doctors will advise you to get vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis. This may be because it is the only disease with the word Japanese in it, but it may be better safe than sorry. We have never heard of a case. We would recommend that you get your tetanus innoculation up to date, and when travelling, it is always sensible to keep your Hepatitis A and B vaccinations up to date. There is no risk in Japan itself, but if you decide to travel around Asia before, during or after your studies, it would be as well to have them.

Insurance:

Make sure that you take out some kind of health insurance to cover the period that you are in Japan. If you are on the tourist visa, you will have to make your own preparations. If you are on a student visa of some kind, then you will be eligible for the Japanese National Health Insurance plan. This is quite cheap (about 15,000 yen per year) and will cover 70% of your medical expenses. Your maximum liability is limited to 60,000 yen. If you do not have a student visa you cannot get this insurance and should make your own preparations before coming to Japan. (Note that the amount you pay is based on the amount that you earnt the previous two years, so if you have been in Japan working before changing to a student visa, you may find that you have to pay a little more for the National Health Insurance. However, it is still cheaper than most other policies.)