Got an internship in Japan, what should I prep for?

5 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Got an internship in Japan, what should I prep for?**

   I hope this counts as relevant to this sub…

   I’m going to be heading to Japan for a 2 month internship this summer in Kyoto. I haven’t bought my flight tickets yet (still trying to figure out my options, one big downside is I’m paying for my own tickets and I’m leaving during peak season).
   Some quick details:

   – I have housing already paid for

   – I have a stipend for transportation to my internship

   – I know a little Japanese (I’ve been studying for 3 years, some formal study, mostly self-study. I’m nowhere close to fluent, but I can ask basic questions).

   What else should I prepare for? What things should I bring with me when I leave (besides the straightforward things, like clothes)?

   Specific transportation question: I have a friend who I was thinking of visiting before my internship starts, and the closest airport to them is KIX in Osaka. I was mostly looking at tickets to Narita, as those are just the cheapest. They mentioned to me I could maybe take a flight from Narita to Osaka with Peach airlines… has anyone done this before? I know I have to go through customs, and I assume I have to grab my luggage and then switch terminals to take Peach? If I only had 1-2 hours from landing in Tokyo to my next flight, would this be enough time? Is there a better way to get from Tokyo to Osaka with a giant suitcase that’s not too expensive?

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2. > I know I have to go through customs, and I assume I have to grab my luggage and then switch terminals to take Peach?

   Yes, most likely. I know Handa has a free shuttle bus between terminals, and I imagine Narita does too though I’ve never been.

   > If I only had 1-2 hours from landing in Tokyo to my next flight, would this be enough time?

   You do not need to arrive very early at all for Japanese domestic flights – I’ve arrived 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time flying Osaka -> Tokyo without issue. 1 to 2 hours should most likely be enough of a buffer in case you have any difficulties with baggage/transferring terminal or your flight into Japan is delayed, though if you’re worried there’s no harm in booking the domestic flight maybe 3 or 4 hours after instead.

   > Is there a better way to get from Tokyo to Osaka with a giant suitcase that’s not too expensive?

   The shinkansen is the only alternative I know of. If you’re flying into to Narita though, this would be pretty inconvenient as it takes about an hour just to get into Tokyo proper before you can even get the shinkansen. Once you factor getting from Narita to central Tokyo, it’ll very likely be more expensive than a domestic flight.

   I’d also double check on Skyscanner or Google Flights that getting a flight to Tokyo actually is cheaper than to Osaka. I would imagine a ticket going your city -> Tokyo -> Osaka with one airliner will often be cheaper than a ticket going your city -> Tokyo plus a separate Peach/ANA/JAL ticket Tokyo -> Osaka. Don’t forget to consider the cost of large/heavy bags/suitcases too when looking at domestic flights, as the free limits will likely be stricter than international flights.

3. As far as tickets go, I’d look into the cost of flying to a major airport hub like LAX or SFO which have discount Japanese airlines, and a ticket from your area to those spots.

4. > (besides the straightforward things, like clothes)?

   Check with your company about the dress code because they may not require a suit. Other than that, the same as for tourists.

   >If I only had 1-2 hours from landing in Tokyo to my next flight, would this be enough time?

   No, it seems it takes more than that just to go through immigration these days. Personally I’d just send my luggage from the airport to my lodging and take the shinkansen to Osaka.

5. Enjoy yourself, make plenty of mistakes communication-wise, and bring cash with you at all times. Overthinking does nothing but takes away the fun of living abroad.