Last year I posted a guide for future ALTs in Japan on how to pack for a year (or more) in Japan with the constantly shrinking baggage allowance. Since then I’ve decided a few things on my original list were not so necessary, while some are much more necessary than I made it out to be. So I present the revised list of crap to bring to Japan:
Essential
Clothes: Japan has four seasons: Too damn Hot, Too Damn Cold, Too Damn Rainy, and Pretty Nice (note that the “Pretty Nice” season accounts for about 6 weeks in the year), so you have to bring a wide range of clothes. Japanese people are on the whole shorter and thinner than the average Westerners so it can be difficult to find your size, especially in fitted garments; pants, button-up shirts, bras, etc. Even if you know you won’t be buying many clothes here, it is easy to over-pack. Dress in layers; for example bring a sweater and a light to medium weight jacket rather than a massive down jacket. Bring rain gear as well.
Shoes: For Women, most stores carry sizes 22-25 (US size 6 to 9). Anything outside that range is really hard to find. I have searched far and wide in the Tokyo area and have found exactly three stores that carried women’s shoes in my size (Japan26, or US10). Even when I did find them, they were expensive and uncomfortable. I say bring as many shoes as you can manage (and, even if you aren’t in a snowy area, bring something waterproof) and bring a comfortable pair of easy-to-put-on shoes for your school.
Deodorant/Sunscreen: Can’t speak from experience with deodorant but I’ve heard pretty consistently that it sucks here. As for sunscreen: while there’s no limit to the wide brimmed hats, long sun gloves, and sun umbrellas you can buy, sunscreen is still relegated to 4 or 5 varieties of tiny little tubes filled with watery, greasy sunscreen.
Dental Products: While dental care is relatively cheap, dentists in Japan aren’t fans of giving enough Novocaine to numb you up during a procedure. Avoid cavities by bringing plenty of fluoride toothpaste (something else they’re not a fan of here) and dental floss.
Some of your favorite DVDs: Japanese TV can be entertaining, but really, how many variety shows with celebrities eating can you take? Internet can take weeks (and in some cases months) to get set up, DVDs are a good way to pass the hot summer nights and can fend off the culture shock/homesickness.
A big bottle of painkillers: Over-the-counter medicine here pretty much does jack, so bring a nice big bottle of your favorite brand. Just be careful, some meds that are over the counter back home contain substances not allowed in Japan.
Thermals: Aside from some of the southern most prefectures, it get chilly in Japan. Buildings are not insulated and heating at school consists of kerosene “stove” heaters that heats people sitting within 6 feet of it, and just gases everyone else. Keep yourself warm with some termal tights and undershirts.
Suggestions
A nice big towel: Towels here are small and expensive. And believe me, you don’t wanna be searching for towels in 95 degree heat with 80% humidity.
Photo book/postcards of your hometown: These are good icebreakers to use with your fellow teachers and useful to pass around for your introduction. Bringing a map of your home country is probably not a bad idea either.
Omiyage: Despite what the General Info Handbook tells you, you do not need to bring omiyage (small gifts), and really no one expects you, as a foreigner, to even know about o-miyage. I gave out o-miyage after a trip 8 months after I got here, and my JTE was surprised that I knew about the custom. Still, there is no easier way to make a good first impression than to bring o-miyage. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; a big tin of candies or cookies you leave in the staffroom will more than suffice. And consider bringing gifts for the people that go above and beyond for you your first few weeks here.
For the ladies: The selection for feminine product is limited, so if you are particular about a favorite brand of tampon or pad, bring as much as you think you need. It’s also advisable to fill out the tedious paperwork to bring a years supply of birth control over. This is a country that only just legalized the pill in 1999, after all.
For the fellas (and ladies too): The consensus seems to be that condoms are small, and they’re not as easy to find at the store as one would hope.
Take it or leave it
Electronics: Some may hold off on buying a new digital camera until they get here, but just because Japan’s the home of Sony and Nintendo doesn’t mean electronics are cheap here. Japanese electronics are not really as cutting edge and you’ve heard either, so think twice about waiting to buy a laptop in Japan.
Hair Products: If you’re a “buy shampoo at the supermarket” kinda person anyway, you’re set with hair products, so save the room. I personally have very thick and very curly hair so I make as much room as I can for hair products. If your hair needs are specific, bring as much as you can.
Rubber Stamps/Stickers: This was one of my top suggestions last year, but I’m demoting it to this section. Japan is lousy with cute stickers and stamps, and they’re plenty cheap (you can find nice rubber stamps with Disney Character at the dollar store even).
Teaching Materials/Picture Books: When I was first packing and found out I would be teaching at junior high and elementary school, I had visions of bringing board games and picture books and getting to play tons of games with the kids. I simply didn’t have to room to pack anything like this, but I’m glad I didn’t because I probably wouldn’t have used these things anyway. Classes can be very large (sometimes there’s nearly 40 students in one class!) time is limited, and with games usually the most I need is a piece of paper or a deck of cards and the kids will be happy. Ask your predecessor, but otherwise don’t worry about it.
Paperback Books: If you’ve been wanting to read more, now’s the time to do it since you’ll have some downtime at work (especially in the summer) as well as long train rides. However, don’t even think about bringing a hardcover book. Bring paperback, and only bring what you’re willing to leave.
For the love of Genji, don’t bring the following!
Household Items: I would assume this goes without saying but it seems people every year are inclined to bring pots and pans or bed sheets. Don’t; it’s all easily bought here, if you don’t inherit it from your predecessor anyway.
Phrase Books/Japanese Guides: Any store with any kind of English section will have these books, and as with the household items, you’re likely to find some of these things at your desk or in your apartment anyway.
Anything bigger than your suitcase: I suppose if your very serious about your guitar, or you love snowboarding and there’s a slope in the next town, you can justify bringing this stuff. Otherwise it’s just a hassle to bring it, and will be an even bigger hassle to take it back.
Any kind of stationary: Every department store will have planners, notebooks, or note pads in whatever shape and color you can dream of, and if you want something to write in it with just chose from the next two aisles of pens and pencils. The only exception is quality paper for artistic endeavors, which I have actually found hard to come by.
And there were are, your live in two suitcases! Good luck packing!
