I’m studying abroad in the Kansai region for one year and I am absolutely stuck on what to pack. Some people are saying long skirts and pants rather than shorts, some people are saying it doesn’t really matter. I am a plus size person, so buying many things while I’m there doesn’t seem like a feasible option atm. Any suggestions? (Anything toiletry or self care wise as well that people miss when they go to Japan?)
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**Studying Abroad in Kansai- Packing List help**
I’m studying abroad in the Kansai region for one year and I am absolutely stuck on what to pack. Some people are saying long skirts and pants rather than shorts, some people are saying it doesn’t really matter. I am a plus size person, so buying many things while I’m there doesn’t seem like a feasible option atm. Any suggestions? (Anything toiletry or self care wise as well that people miss when they go to Japan?)
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For clothes and shoes, it depends on where you’re coming from but try packing what you actually wore in the past year. If you’re coming from Southeast Asia, for example, you can just buy a coat in winter here. If you’re from somewhere that doesn’t get hot in summer, you might want to pick up a few T shirts before coming here. But there are plus size stores in Japan (try searching within r/japanlife, just don’t post there until you move here)
If you have curly or fine hair, take a look at iherb to see if they carry things you normally use. I’ve heard people say that Japanese shampoo seems to be too heavy for non-East Asian hair.
Stick deodorant is cheaper in the US if it’s where you’re coming from.
I think the advise against shorts is mostly about preventing unwanted attention, but depending on how “plus size” you are, you may get that anyways (especially if you’re a visible foreigner, i.e. not Asian). So, I’d pack whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in. I’d also things to cook with from your home country, things like spices, sauces, herbs, etc. Those will likely be difficult to find, and may be prohibitively expensive if you do find them. As someone else mentioned, deodorant is… different here. Most is roll on. If you like to read, I’d bring books in your native language, especially if it’s not English, since foreign language books here are mostly limited to books intended for English learning, and you’re mostly screwed if your native language is something else (although the Tsutaya near me does have Le Monde and Der Spiegel, but I wanted something in Spanish ðŸ˜)