I just moved here last week (never having even visited before) and while I’m generally doing pretty well since I speak elementary Japanese I’m starting to feel really homesick— I miss my family and being able to go places without feeling like a nuisance or struggling to understand what’s happening around me. I know it’ll pass but I’m finding it hard to do simple stuff like eating when everything is so intrinsically different so if anyone has any tips for
1. Making English speaking friends (I would go to a bar but I still have a month before I’m 20)
2. Recommendations on affordable places with good western food (especially Italian food) in the Tokyo area
3. Affordable things to do solo in Tokyo
4. Non overwhelming parts of Tokyo that are nice to visit (for example, Kichijoji)
It would be much appreciated 🥲
8 comments
Elio Locanda Italiana
Al Dente in Shinjuku. The one in the Center Building takes cash, while the one in the Sumitomo Building is cashless. Great pasta.
If you’re going to go to Kichijoji, take the rest of the Chuo special rapid and go to Tachikawa. There’s a base near by, so it’s a little bit in the middle of being in Japan and also not sticking out as a foreigner while still being able to find smaller areas to make you feel better. Next month, if the weather is nice, take a trip to Nishi-Tachikawa and go to Showa Park and enjoy the weather. Take the Ome to Akishima and eat food and sample beer at ISANA. I’m not advocating for underage drinking, so go next month, but they don’t check unless you look exceptionally youthful. They can tell you about all sorts of fun events they go to or places to check out.
You just need one in. It might take a couple of places but you just need to be social enough to find one person to tell you where things are happening. Small newerish breweries tend to have more laid back people (who also travel a lot to promote) which will lead you to other more laid back people.
Have you tried Saizeriya (chain) for Italian? It’s quite cheap but the quality is ok.
This probably won’t help but since you started the conversation I’m going to state my experience lol.
It’s been a goal of mine to come to Japan for over 10 years. I studied Japanese, the culture, and got into anime like many others. To help me study I was always watching anime in Japanese. Once I got to Japan it was right in the start of COVID so we were home a lot. I got home sick and missed my family (my wife and son couldn’t travel like planned because of COVID). All of a sudden I got into shows I wouldn’t normally and stuff just because I wanted to hear English and not feel so lost. I studied Japanese but I was only good enough to survive a bit without being completely lost. But once I was surrounded by it, it was comforting to hear my native language.
Hi! It really depends on whether you’re here through school or work, but if you go to Temple then Sangen has like, some really nice food places that are within a student’s budget. You could also go to Komazawa park to look at dogs, I loved to just go, sit down and sketch art or record little tunes while just vibing.
>I miss my family and being able to go places without feeling like a nuisance
As for family, video chat. It helps.
As for feeling like a nuisance, take a minute to interrogate that feeling (not necessarily publicly here. This community is not entirely filled with people who are reliable). What is it that makes you feel like you’re a nuisance? Like I get being frustrated by the language barrier – I used to feel it when I first got here and you’re absolutely right, it does pass (or at least, it does if you make any effort at all to study Japanese). But when you say you feel like a nuisance, that sounds like you’re judging yourself just for being here – maybe imagining other people are judging you too. It’s worth asking yourself why you think that way.
It’s natural to feel lonely. It’s natural to miss home. But feeling like you don’t fit is a part of the process of learning how to fit. After all, if you came here already fitting in, you wouldn’t be stretching yourself going to a new place! So if anyone is giving you shit for not knowing how to fit in right off the bat (including yourself), you need to have a stern talk with them. Be kind to yourself.
As for your other questions:
1. I’m assuming you’re in university? When I was in university I made all my friends by joining a club or circle.
2. I’m afraid I can’t help, but if Italian food to you means pasta or Neapolitan pizza, you should have plenty of options around you, depending on what is affordable for your budget.
3. I highly recommend exploring. Pick a station, pick a street, and see what you can find on it. With Google maps on your phone, you’re not in any danger of getting lost, and the weather right now is quite nice for a stroll. And it’s free.
4. The further west you go on the Chuo line, the more spread out and quieter (to a point) Tokyo gets.
Why don’t you use Skype, FaceTime, whatever to video call with your friends and family at home for free?
I’m not sure why you would feel that you’re being a nuisance. Just enjoy being here. Nobody is going to think you’re a nuisance unless you’re causing a lot of noise at home or on the train, or harassing women in the street lol.
Affordable Western food: Saizeriya is an Italian style family restaurant. Royal Host, Dennys, Gusto all have western dishes or hybrid dishes too.
A lot of people on this sub have had enough of the Hub, but it might be a good place for you to go. Lots of foreigners, and some foreign food. Don’t worry about not being 20 to buy alcohol, but anyway you can buy non-alcoholic drinks as well