Does anyone have sugestions for someone moving to Japan? What do I need (or not) to bring?

Question

I will be moving to Kitakyushu, Japan in March 2007.

Answer 1

The other answers are all great, but one thing I would add, or actually get into a little more detail would be about pants.

I am American and have been living in Japan for 15 years, and the thing I find myself needing most that I cannot get in Japan are my pants. American's have bigger butts while Japanese butts are SO FLAT. Therefore, be sure you have a good supply of pants with you.

Well, to add to that, American's (basically) have bigger chests. Our bodies are just thicker, so like when I try to buy button-down shirts, My normal neck size still give a tight fit around the chest area. Shirts too.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Can only give advice on small scale stuff, not knowing your budget.

Shoes, if you're over size 10 US.
Clothes, if you've ever been called "tall", or never been called "skinny". Clothes designed to fit most Japanese bodies (generally thin, shorter limbs, slight build) tend not to fit some Western bodies (long limbs, and "extra padding" if you catch my dirft) so well.

Your preferred underwear.
Your preferred hygeine products.
Cold medicines/vitamins. Japanese equivalents are far weaker and more expensive.
Pictures of home.
Mom's secret recipe for your favorite dish, and any spices for it.
If you bring DVDs, be sure you have a way to play them, look up the region code.

An open mind.
These days, you can get almost anything in an international shop in any city, or imported by the FBC, Foreign Buyers' Club (see above)
But don't go nuts. Learn to use Japanese substitutes for things you want from home. The FBC actually sells imported PAPER TOWELS, for about 10 times the cost of just buying paper towels made in Japan. And some people actually buy them. I guess they want to pretend they never left home, and probably stay indoors all day watching satellite TV and eat hamburgers (imported, of course) every day.

Insane!

Answer 3

I moved to Tokyo, Japan 3.5 years ago. Here are a few of the things I think I could have done differently. In my case I am a corporate transfer. I left 80% of our family belongings in storage. I was told in advance how much my copr rental budget was, but I could not determine how large of a place my budget would allow. My apartment is very large for Tokyo standards. After about 1 year, I was wishing for all of the creature comforts that we left behind. Our nice huge couch and sofa set, our home entertainment system, our mountain bikes. We did bring enough toys for the kids. Most of our furniture would have fit into our apartment. We did bring all of the kitchen stuff and the apartment came with all of the needed appliances, execpt a refridgerator.

On the flip side, my colleague who is single had the same wishes for creature comforts, his budget was smaller but he still managed a good sized place for Tokyo.

Now in your case, do you know the apartment size and rental budget? I would bring the maximum you are allowed to bring and all creature comforts anyway.

Answer 4

I lived in Japan for 7 years and was lucky enough to find everything I needed... except for one thing... deodorant! Stock up because you can't get it over there. Also, you ay not like the toothpaste there, so it's good to get bring some of your own. Shops like Tokyu Hands, Sony Plaza and the Loft usually carry foreign products if you get homesick for certain products. You can also order from the Foreign Buyers Club ( http://www.fbcusa.com/public2/ ) in Kobe, which is amazing and you can pretty much get anything from them.
Good luck!

Answer 5

You just bring the medicines and vitamins u used to drink and all the things or products in which compatible to your body because sometimes it is hard to adjust and use products that is not suited to you.

Regarding food and clothes, you can find better shop there that is not too expensive. Anyway everything is there and all are trusted products.

Dont worry japanese people are very helpful, respectful and reliable if u have any question.

And rest...just be physically, mentally and financially prepared.

Good Luck and happy trip!!!!

Answer 6

You can get anything you need as far as furnishings food and stuff like that.
So, just bring what you would if you were moving into the dorm your freshman year,

If you wear shoes size 12 and up you will have trouble getting new shoes.

Answer 7

japan has mostly everything that the usa has, the one thing that they don't is food items that are easy to find in the usa, in japan they cost alot more. clothes and shoes.... americans are bigger than them...shoes for a america male are harder to find. and pasta don't forget the pasta haha good luck sweety and have a good time.