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10 things to take to Japan.
1. Prescriptions to accompany your prescription medicine.
2. Over the counter drugs (they can be weaker in Japan due to the smaller body size and body mass).
3. Deodorant with an anti-perspirant (most local products are just deodorants and are not strong enough for the heat and humidity).
4. Toothpaste (if you prefer, with fluoride because neither the water or toothpaste in Japan have Western levels if any).
5. Shoes in sizes 8 and above for women, and size 10 and above for men.
6. Likewise, larger Western-sized clothing if you are not a small size or if you are taller than the Japanese average.
7. For women, feminine hygiene products, some of which familiar types can be hard to find in Japan.
8. Familiar comfort food to get you through days you may feel homesick.
9. A good dictionary.
10. Small, inexpensive souvenirs to gift to students and helpful strangers -- kitschy memorabilia from your home country can go far).
Ten things to do in Japan.
1. Visit temples and shrines.
2. Go to karaoke.
4. Attend summer and cherry blossom festivals.
5. See a sumo wrestling match.
6. Climb Mt. Fuji.
7. Participate in a tea ceremony.
8. Get pushed onto a train at peak hour.
9. Take a print club photo.
10 things to take home from Japan.
1. A kimono.
2. A Japanese CD.
3. A traditional block print.
4. Print club photos.
5. A traditional tea set.
6. A calligraphy set with brush, ink and ink plate.
7. A wooden doll.
8. A Japanese fan.
9. Unusual Japanese snack food.
10. Some cool new Japanese technology.
10 cultural tips for Japan.
1. Take your shoes off before entering an apartment. Having “easy access” shoes is strongly recommended. (Make sure your socks don’t have holes in them). Have a pair of slippers available for guests who come to your house.
2. Gift-giving: Give your neighbours a small gift when you move in to an apartment.
Give a small gift when you visit someone’s house. Bring back a small gift for co-workers when you travel, even if the travel is within Japan.
3. Pour drinks for others in a social gathering. Do not pour your own drink. Drink slowly if you don’t want t a refill.
4. Place used chopsticks across your bowl or on a chopstick holder- never stick them into your food. Use the back end of your chopsticks to take food from a shared serving plate.
5. Carry little packets of tissues, the type of which have advertisements on them, as not all public toilets have toilet paper.
6. Always bow if someone bows to you. Don’t be afraid to bow first.
7. Learn a couple of words or phrases of Japanese (below).
8. Don’t talk too loudly on trains.
9. If you are in a social situation where sitting on your legs is painful and you need to stretch, do not point your legs directly at anyone. Stretch discretely.
10. Wash before entering the bath at a Japanese-style bath or onsen. The baths are for soaking after you have washed.
10 useful Japanese phrases.
1. eigo o hanashimashitaka? Do you speak English?
2. ohayoo,* gozaimasu,** konichiwa, konbanwa, oyasumi(nasi): Good morning, good day, good evening, good night (said when retiring for the night).
3. (biru) o kudasai: I’d like (a beer) please.
4. watashi wa (name) desu: I am (name).
5. hajimemashite: How do you do? – you say this when you meet someone for the first time and can use it in conjunction with “watashi wa (name) desu”.
6. yoroshiku onagaishimasu: Pleased to meet you.
7. arigato (gozaimasu)**: Thank you.
8a. o genki desuka***? How are you? 8b. o genki desu***: I’m well.
9a. daijoobu* desuka? Is everything OK? / 9b. daijoobu* desu: Everything is OK.
10. o toire wa doko desuka***?: Where is the toilet? (You may substitute anything in place of toilet).
* oo sound is pronounced as a long vowel sound as in yo-o (not you).
** adding “gozaimasu” after these terms makes them more polite.
*** putting “o” before these terms makes them more polite.
Both can be left out in informal situations.
You may have also noticed that adding “ka” at the end of your sentence turns a statement into a question. |
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