As a gamer I often see videos on YouTube like “Things I wish I had known before starting (insert game name). It made me think of helpful quality of life tips I learned over the years in Japan, but when I learned them, I wished I had known earlier.
Not regrets, but just things to improve living in Japan. I’ll give some examples and maybe others can give theirs too. Of course they won’t necessarily be helpful for everyone, but hopefully we can all learn something useful and new.
When you first come to Japan, settle on a katakana version of your full name and use that anytime you need your name in Japanese on official documents etc. I allowed officials to create their own versions of my last name which is difficult to pronounce, and it became a headache when various documents didn’t match.
Most companies pay for your train pass and don’t mind if you add extra stations on either end as long as the price is the same. This can be helpful on your days off (confirm with your HR though)
The walls of modern bathrooms are magnetic so you can buy magnetic holders for shampoo bottles etc. Took me over 20 years to get this
Living in a condo that has a 24/7 garbage room is extremely helpful if you have the option
The Japanese version of websites are updated much faster than a dedicated English site. It’s always better to translate a Japanese page instead of reading the English page if you can’t read Japanese. I got great package deals from some Japanese hotel sites as opposed to the English version or Booking.com.
Most cell phone companies allow you to pay your bill with your foreign credit card which is very useful for those who want to use the money they have back home, especially with current currency conditions and generate points. (SoftBank/Yahoo/Linemo users can indirectly use their foreign cc to charge PayPay this way) Make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees
Always carry your residence card and a handkerchief, and in summer, a lightweight folding umbrella and sensu. My friend had a big problem when they didn’t have their residence card during a random police stop.
An ETC card is very helpful when driving on highways. If you have a Japanese credit card you can get it for free
Mystery New Year’s lucky bags are usually filled with crap they couldn’t sell during the year. Nowadays many companies don’t have a mystery version, they clearly state what’s in there, so it may make sense for some
Spend time walking around local neighborhoods. There are so many wonderful little shops and restaurants hidden down side streets!
14 comments
If you turn the bum spray up to maximum power, you can blast shit water everywhere.
>Always carry your residence card
This is not a tip, it’s the law.
>An ETC card is very helpful when driving on highways. If you have a Japanese credit card you can get it for free
It will be even more useful as time goes on, since Nexco want to make all gates ETC-only by 2030.
>An ETC card is very helpful when driving on highways.
Yes, some PAs/SAs have exits/entrances that can only be accessed with an ETC card.
One time my credit card was hacked and someone in Oregon used it for a purchase, but I was able to prove that it was not me because I coincidentally used the ETC card in Tokyo on the same day.
If you stay here long-term, stick with learning Japanese. It really does make life easier and apply for PR as soon as you can. I know so many older foreigners who didn’t do either.
Make sure you drive on the left side of the road, it helps you avoid more cars.
Make sure you keep enough money in your bank account to cover rent and living expenses. Things can get really difficult if you run out.
Life is much easier with a smartphone. There are many companies that offer them like AU, Softbank, Docomo, and even Rakuten. If you play your cards right you can even earn points on the bill! If you want to read each carrier’s rules for doing so, I recommend Google translate.
Nice tips, i’ll add a few that come to mind..
If you rely on money from overseas that you regularly withdraw or use a card to spend, play it safe and keep an extra month’s worth of cash hidden away in your apartment. All it takes is one weird transaction or dropped card and you could find yourself locked out of accessing your money for days/weeks.
An IC card is the first thing you should buy after you get off the plane and come to Japan. Even if it is just a short trip, it saves so much time with lines and trying to figure out the fare for each station. Then there’s the fact that you can use it everywhere too.
For most grocery chains I have frequently visited, 7:30-8:00 is the happy hour where sushi and other foods get the 50%+ discount.
Almost all hotels stop check-ins at midnight. If you are travelled somewhere, don’t risk arriving late and being stuck outside. Plan ahead and be safe.
Tip: Many of the threads asking for help here could be solved simply by calling them up and asking for an explanation.
If you are rather tall, be weary of doorways.
If you are rather short, be weary of doorway steps.
My top tip.
> Most companies pay for your train pass and don’t mind if you add extra stations on either end as long as the price is the same. This can be helpful on your days off (confirm with your HR though)
Many companies will never check if you actually buy it, you can extend it if it would be more convenient for you no problem
if you travel a lot, use ahamo. free roaming service is a lifesaver
on the same note, sign up for rakuten premium credit card for lounge access
convert your DL if you have one even if you don’t drive, may come in handy during trips to the countryside
careco/times for short rentals, 2525r for longer ones
mcdonalds always have free wifi in a pinch
airport bus is often the most comfortable mode of transport into the city that’s still cheap
overnight bus takes longer but you don’t have to pay for a hotel at your destination
try at brick and mortar, shop on amazon
municipal gyms let you work out on a budget
municipal/university cafeterias for a cheap meal
the fancier the mall, the nicer the public toilet
use the underpass to escape the cold/heat (shinjuku subnade comes to mind)
if youre waiting for an appointment with time to burn and are too cheap to pay for a cafe seat, just remember that it takes exactly 1 hour for the yamanote line to complete a loop
> dont mind if you add extra stations on either end as long as the price is the same.
How can I check this? Good tip for next month…
Tokunai Pass saves a ton of money if travelling around Tokyo on JR.
Anything ‘foreign friendly’ is actually unfriendly because the service is shit or inferior.