What to bring...

[hanafubuki]

I noticed on the list it said bug cream for mosquito bites...I have to say that I had brought some to Japan during study abroad and was forced to switch to the Japanese liquid roll-on kind that my host family had. That stuff was amazing, and worked almost instantly! So I wouldn't bother bringing any. Just wander into a pharmacy and ask the person working there where you can find it.

To the bug cream using people: have you tried Muhi EX? I've seen commercials for it, but I was wondering if it actually worked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ybxwIOVPF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZljXtE5Xl7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nixxeCpsmsI

I don't know what brand it was I used...don't think it was that one, but the second two types in those CMs were exactly what I used. (The kind that worked well.)

[Kirari]

I noticed on the list it said bug cream for mosquito bites...I have to say that I had brought some to Japan during study abroad and was forced to switch to the Japanese liquid roll-on kind that my host family had. That stuff was amazing, and worked almost instantly! So I wouldn't bother bringing any. Just wander into a pharmacy and ask the person working there where you can find it.

To the bug cream using people: have you tried Muhi EX? I've seen commercials for it, but I was wondering if it actually worked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ybxwIOVPF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZljXtE5Xl7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nixxeCpsmsI

I don't know what brand it was I used...don't think it was that one, but the second two types in those CMs were exactly what I used. (The kind that worked well.)

Awesome, thank you! Supposedly it works for all types of bites, including the dreaded mukade *dun dun duunnnn*

[teabot]

As for omiyage. I think bringing omiyage when you arrive is kind of silly, and no one expects it. If you bring anything specific to home, bring some interesting stuff for the classroom: flags, artifacts from home, pictures, etc. Omiyage is best when you already know your coworkers. When you go on a trip somewhere over the weekend, bring them something back. Every place in Japan has a "speciality" and thus every place has an omiyage shop so you can buy stuff to share with your coworkers. Every few weeks or so a teacher will come around with a handful of boxes filled with individually wrapped cookies from some place or other. This is especially important if you take nenkyu to go someplace. It's kind of like saying, "thanks for working while I was on vacation, and to make it up to you, I brought you treats." My staffroom has 80 teachers - a big school - so omiyage is difficult to manage. I usually just get omiyage for teachers I work closely with or that sit near me in the office.

THIS.

seriously, new people don't stress about omiyage. it's a good idea/borderline expected* (*expected of Japanese coworkers, you as a foreigner may or may not be expected to know to bring some) for trips after you've been working there for a while. i don't really know why embassies/consulates states-side seem emphasize it so much. it's completely different over here. and i was also told by my pred that schools don't expect first-day, home country omiyage.

i brought some candies partially for myself (my favorite brands) but that could also be used as omiyage if i felt it was necessary, but i was one of those JETs who spent the first month in a BOE office with a bunch of other ALTs (and would be kinda awkward to give omiyage to other foreigners. ) so when i actually got to my school i brought omiyage i had bought during trips to Kyoto and Tokyo in August. (i ended up eating most of the candy myself, lol, but i used them as rewards in my farewell game at that same school a few weeks later.)

if you really feel you must bring omiyage, wait until you know more logistics about your school situation. (how many you will have, how many teachers, etc.) but be aware you may not be able to know even that beforehand, depending on your situation. also be aware that omiyage in Japan is essentially individually wrapped cookies/biscuits/crackers. giving something nicer than that might make the recipients feel awkward/pressured towards you, so try not to get extravagant or expensive. (i'm in the states right now, and the omiyage i've bought for my current school is basically local tea in individually wrapped tea bags.)

[mattclough]

also be aware that omiyage in Japan is essentially individually wrapped cookies/biscuits/crackers.

End of story. This is all you need to know about omiyage. Individually wrapped food. Anything else is weird.

Having said that, the teacher that sits next to me collects Hello Kitty charm pens from different places around Japan/the world, so in cases like this, I would obviously bring her a pen.

Miami JET coordinator told me at my interview that it actually was a good idea to bring omiyage with you to Japan to give to your fellow teachers and especially to your principal and vice principal. It is just a nice gesture and she and the other people on the panel made it seem like they are expecting it. They were all very surprised that it even comes up on the forums about whether or not to bring presents when you arrive.

Yeah. They told me this too. They tell it to everyone every year, and I did bring stuff, but in retrospect I wouldn't have bothered. I mean, go for it if you feel like it. Maybe they'll be way into it, but when I gave my omiyage out to the importants, they seemed really surprised, and almost a little bit ambushed.

[nicole.ai]

also be aware that omiyage in Japan is essentially individually wrapped cookies/biscuits/crackers.

End of story. This is all you need to know about omiyage. Individually wrapped food. Anything else is weird.

Having said that, the teacher that sits next to me collects Hello Kitty charm pens from different places around Japan/the world, so in cases like this, I would obviously bring her a pen.

Miami JET coordinator told me at my interview that it actually was a good idea to bring omiyage with you to Japan to give to your fellow teachers and especially to your principal and vice principal. It is just a nice gesture and she and the other people on the panel made it seem like they are expecting it. They were all very surprised that it even comes up on the forums about whether or not to bring presents when you arrive.

Yeah. They told me this too. They tell it to everyone every year, and I did bring stuff, but in retrospect I wouldn't have bothered. I mean, go for it if you feel like it. Maybe they'll be way into it, but when I gave my omiyage out to the importants, they seemed really surprised, and almost a little bit ambushed.

I think Japanese people always act surprised when they get omiyage, even when technically they might be expecting it. They're not going to react like it was expected and give a non-chalant "oh, thanks...." Their surprised reaction to omiyage is similar to when you give a Japanese person a compliment and they're all humble, saying "no, no, that's not true." My relatives in Japan always act suprised when I bring them gifts, they're all "Really? Wow, you shouldn't have," but when in reality they probably would have wondered why I didn't bring them a trinket.

Also, I asked my mom (a Japanese native) about omiyage, and she says you are wrong. While individually wrapped food is acceptable omiyage, that's not all it is "end of story" as you say. Omiyage literally means souvenir, it doesn't mean "individually wrapped treat", so you can bring anything you feel is a nice souvenir. And while they probably don't feel entitled to omiyage, it is a nice gesture that is expected amongst the Japanese. To say we shouldn't bring omiyage because we're foreigners and it's not something expected of foreigners is silly, because we're not just tourists visiting briefly, we are going to be living amongst them for at least a year. We are new people coming into their territory, and bringing omiyage when we first meet these people shows that we want to be a part of their community and culture, while displaying that we are already aware of some of their cultural practices. Omiyage is just a good ice breaker when meeting new coworkers that may feel wary of your presence. Essentially, depending on your situation, bringing omiyage when it's not expected is better than not bringing omiyage when the people at your school always got omiyage from their ALT. That's just my 2 cents.

[firefly06]

I think Japanese people always act surprised when they get omiyage, even when technically they might be expecting it. They're not going to react like it was expected and give a non-chalant "oh, thanks...." Their surprised reaction to omiyage is similar to when you give a Japanese person a compliment and they're all humble, saying "no, no, that's not true." My relatives in Japan always act suprised when I bring them gifts, they're all "Really? Wow, you shouldn't have," but when in reality they probably would have wondered why I didn't bring them a trinket.

Also, I asked my mom (a Japanese native) about omiyage, and she says you are wrong. While individually wrapped food is acceptable omiyage, that's not all it is "end of story" as you say. Omiyage literally means souvenir, it doesn't mean "individually wrapped treat", so you can bring anything you feel is a nice souvenir. And while they probably don't feel entitled to omiyage, it is a nice gesture that is expected amongst the Japanese. To say we shouldn't bring omiyage because we're foreigners and it's not something expected of foreigners is silly, because we're not just tourists visiting briefly, we are going to be living amongst them for at least a year. We are new people coming into their territory, and bringing omiyage when we first meet these people shows that we want to be a part of their community and culture, while displaying that we are already aware of some of their cultural practices. Omiyage is just a good ice breaker when meeting new coworkers that may feel wary of your presence. Essentially, depending on your situation, bringing omiyage when it's not expected is better than not bringing omiyage when the people at your school always got omiyage from their ALT. That's just my 2 cents.

+1000

[teabot]

i think the last two posts are pretty well worded.

a point that perhaps has not been stated as clear as it should be, though: Japanese people don't typically bring omiyage-like gifts when starting new jobs like incoming JETs will be.

i don't think the gesture will be refused or unappreciated, but the point still stands is that it's not something that is expected of new workers in the Japanese workplace, and so JETs similarly should feel under no pressure to bring gifts for their future coworkers. (but it's fine to do if you so wish.)

and yes you're right that of course "omiyage" is not literally defined as an individually wrapped treat, but individually wrapped treats are pretty much the de facto standard for workplaces. different situations and relationships call for different levels--which explains why you probably will bring nicer things for your relatives or something else with whom you have a deeper or otherwise important relationship--but coworkers with whom you have no prior relationship warrant small gifts (if any). it's a nice token of good will, but i think that getting anything beyond small individually wrapped snack or sweet may cause some awkward situation if you give something that is considered "too nice" or is otherwise impractical.

i do think that omiyage is a good ice breaker, and depending on your school and dispersal method it can be how you begin getting to know the non-JTE teachers at your school, but the point that mattclough and i are making is that they are not required or expected of us, so new JETs shouldn't feel pressured about finding ~*the perfect omiyage*~ or for sacrificing otherwise precious luggage space/weight. if you can swing it/fit it, go for it, but otherwise, don't worry.

[mattclough]

i think the last two posts are pretty well worded.

a point that perhaps has not been stated as clear as it should be, though: Japanese people don't typically bring omiyage-like gifts when starting new jobs like incoming JETs will be.

i don't think the gesture will be refused or unappreciated, but the point still stands is that it's not something that is expected of new workers in the Japanese workplace, and so JETs similarly should feel under no pressure to bring gifts for their future coworkers. (but it's fine to do if you so wish.)

and yes you're right that of course "omiyage" is not literally defined as an individually wrapped treat, but individually wrapped treats are pretty much the de facto standard for workplaces. different situations and relationships call for different levels--which explains why you probably will bring nicer things for your relatives or something else with whom you have a deeper or otherwise important relationship--but coworkers with whom you have no prior relationship warrant small gifts (if any). it's a nice token of good will, but i think that getting anything beyond small individually wrapped snack or sweet may cause some awkward situation if you give something that is considered "too nice" or is otherwise impractical.

i do think that omiyage is a good ice breaker, and depending on your school and dispersal method it can be how you begin getting to know the non-JTE teachers at your school, but the point that mattclough and i are making is that they are not required or expected of us, so new JETs shouldn't feel pressured about finding ~*the perfect omiyage*~ or for sacrificing otherwise precious luggage space/weight. if you can swing it/fit it, go for it, but otherwise, don't worry.

Yes. I'm not trying to discourage you from bringing anything, I'm just saying it's not nearly as big of a deal is it seems. As for my own experience, I did get a surprised reaction when I gave out my omiyage, but it was a genuine surprise and almost confusion rather than the polite, "Oh! Really? Thank you!" Obviously it can only be good if you bring omiyage, but all I'm saying is, its definitely not going to hurt you if you don't.

[Gizmotech]

Ahh the Omiyage Lie. I love every minute of it. A unique thing for JETs exclusively, as no one else brings "Hi, I'm new here and I brought you all X country stuff".

I swear it must've started by a bunch of overly genki ALTs 20 years ago and the tradition continues. Don't bother, it's not expected, and isn't gonna do anything for ya. Heck, when Japanese people go on Vacation they barely bring back enough omiyage for their department, let alone the school, and noone cares. That being said, do bring a thank you gift for your supervisor (and homestay if you have one of these for a few days) as these people will be going out of their way for you for the first little bit and a polite thank you is a good thing.

I'm actually pretty happy with the list, but I will mention a few things:
3 prong adapters are not required. Grab a pair of pliers and break off the round grounding plug. Problem solved.
bug related stuff. You can get it here.
sunscreen? Because Japan doesn't have sun... ever. It just doesn't happen in the land of the rising SUN.
External Hard drive (Full o Stuff only, no point in bringing an empty one)
Thermal gear. POINTLESS. The thermal gear here in Japan is fantastic, cheap, and readily available. Buy it when you decide you need it.
Chocolate chips? Seriously? www.amazon.co.jp/www.rakuten.jp and the problem is solved.]


Your list for "omiyage" isn't omiyage, it's classroom materials.

To add to the list:
Do not bring your ps3 console, do bring your ps3 games. You can buy cheap used ps3's here for very little.
Do bring your Xbox/wii if you need to play english games, but know they won't play j-games.
Do bring your blu-rays if you own them, but only if you really care about quality (you won't have a big TV here... unless you buy it yourself)
Stuffed Animals. Personal things. Knickknacks. Look around your room and find those things you've grown up with and bring them along. You just might need them one day.

Computers:
Do not bring your desktop/monitor here. If you're comfortable with it, bring your parts, leave your case behind and buy a new one in country.
If you are going to be biking/walking a lot and will be bringing a computer with you to work (some ALTs do this) consider buying a light laptop that isn't very powerful for work (ie disposable in case crap happens), and a good/powerful one for home.

[mattclough]

Thermal gear. POINTLESS. The thermal gear here in Japan is fantastic, cheap, and readily available. Buy it when you decide you need it.

I did have some of my favorite winter clothes sent over. Mostly a heavy coat that I already owned, long underwear, and some super thermals for snowboarding (I was fortunate enough to be placed a short drive from Nagano, so I had plenty of opportunities to go snowboarding.)

This does raise an interesting point about clothes though: I've found that the majority of my J clothes air-dry about 10 times faster than my clothes from America. I'm guessing Japan makes it's clothes this way because so few people have dryers, but it is really nice. In some cases, my clothes will only feel a little bit damp when they come out of the wash. It's actually pretty incredible.

[Anigi]

I'm actually pretty happy with the list, but I will mention a few things:
3 prong adapters are not required. Grab a pair of pliers and break off the round grounding plug. Problem solved.
bug related stuff. You can get it here.
sunscreen? Because Japan doesn't have sun... ever. It just doesn't happen in the land of the rising SUN.
External Hard drive (Full o Stuff only, no point in bringing an empty one)
Thermal gear. POINTLESS. The thermal gear here in Japan is fantastic, cheap, and readily available. Buy it when you decide you need it.

Changed up a few things as per your recommendations.

My two cents on thermal gear, I bought thermal gear in Japan last time I was there because I didn't bring any and I was freezing. They work very well and yes they were very affordable, the only problem I had was that is was too short in the arms and in the torso so they felt a little weird under my clothing. I can handle it for the most part but if you are a big person it is not going to be comfortable because they will ride up and are difficult to tuck in to your pants and such. I think anything to do with clothes really should be based on the persons height/size because that is where the problems will be. Someone who is say a size 14 will have to bring more clothes than someone who is a size 8 and can buy many of their clothes in Japan. (Same as someone who wears tall vs regular or petite)

Sunscreen, yes you can get in Japan, no problem. Do we have time to run out and get some sunscreen or bug stuff during TO? Would we need it do you think? I was under the impression that we have no time. I burn super easy so I planned to bring some with me in my TO bag, but if we have time to get some then I will leave it at home. I also heard some people argue that sunscreen is more expensive and not as good. (I thought it was ok, but ya it was expensive )



I am wondering if we should consider a list for what to bring in your TO bag. Some of the stuff in the strongly recommended to bring (like bug stuff/sunscreen) were for holding you over until you get a chance to go shopping or for use during your first few days in Tokyo. Any thoughts on this.

[lalie]

3 prong adapters are not required. Grab a pair of pliers and break off the round grounding plug. Problem solved.

Bad, bad idea. The third prong is there for a reason. Removing it can open you up to shocks or electrocution. Bring the adaptor with you. It's light and doesn't take up a lot of room.

Once you're settled, the larger electronics giants (Yodobashi Camera, BIC Camera, Yamada Denki) carry cords that will connect from the brick of your laptop to the outlet and have two prongs. I bought one about a year ago and replaced the three-prong plug with a two-prong plug and never had an issue with it.

[Sooyong]

I would definitely re-word the "Strongly recommended" title or move some of the items to a different list, because some of these really don't sound absolutely dire to have.

Contrary to popular belief, toothpaste with fluoride in it is really not that hard to find. I was actually just shopping for a new toothpaste the other day, and after doing some research I learned that "fluoride" in Japanese is フッ素 (read 'fusso'). Look for this in the ingredients. Most of the cheap discounted toothpastes won't have it, but a lot of the other brands do. You also don't have to worry about mouthwash, but if you regularly use a fluoride rinse like ACT, I highly recommend you bring some with you, because they don't seem to have an equivalent here.

I would also say that you should move sunscreen to the "strongly recommended" list. Most sunscreen bottles in Japan are very small! And to answer your concern about having time during orientation, I would say two things based on my own experience:

1. You'll be indoors most of the time, and by the time you get out it'll be getting dark or already dark.
2. You'd probably be happier spending evenings enjoying dinner with other JETs, instead of running around and buying essentials like sunscreen.

For some other things like gaming consoles, if you have reliable family or friends that can send them to you, do that. I've heard that Japanese 360s will play most US games (especially fighting games), but the specific games that I wanted to play required a US 360, so I ordered one and had my parents send it to me. As for the PS3, buy one here if you can afford to, since it's region free, and if you care, you can also get a Japan-exclusive color too. My friends awed at my white PS3

And yeah...don't bring omiyage. They won't be expecting it, and they certainly won't hate you for not bringing it. Also, some people don't find out what their teaching situation is until they get there, and then they end up having too much or not enough. I save the omiyage moments for when I've gone traveling during vacation.

[Anigi]

I need to figure out how to work this because some of the items there have been moved a few times around because is some disagreement over where it should be.. for example sunscreen... just last night I moved it from the "strongly recommended list" and now It is recommended to but put back. (after looking at the OP I noticed I didn't move it, I deleted it! Did not mean to do that! hehe)

It is not a perfect list. I don't think it will ever be simply because what is super important to one person may not be to another. Personally most of the what's recommended list I won't take, because I don't personally need it. Toothpaste for example, I am fine with what Japan has, toothbrush on the other hand, I'm bringing my own (even though I know there are other people out there that think it is unnecessary I just don't like the tiny toothbrushes and prefer the ones back home.) I would strongly recommend bringing toothbrushes but that is me. It is still a strong recommendation and anyone is free to take it or leave it.

I agree Sooyong, some of those items don't seem absolutely necessary to have or bring but to someone else it is. On the same note I would hate for someone take those lists that we all compiled, treat it like it is set in stone, and pack everything on it.
I think I need to figure out a way to show the gray areas.

[Gizmotech]

My two cents on thermal gear, I bought thermal gear in Japan last time I was there because I didn't bring any and I was freezing. They work very well and yes they were very affordable, the only problem I had was that is was too short in the arms and in the torso so they felt a little weird under my clothing. I can handle it for the most part but if you are a big person it is not going to be comfortable because they will ride up and are difficult to tuck in to your pants and such. I think anything to do with clothes really should be based on the persons height/size because that is where the problems will be. Someone who is say a size 14 will have to bring more clothes than someone who is a size 8 and can buy many of their clothes in Japan. (Same as someone who wears tall vs regular or petite)

Sunscreen, yes you can get in Japan, no problem. Do we have time to run out and get some sunscreen or bug stuff during TO? Would we need it do you think? I was under the impression that we have no time. I burn super easy so I planned to bring some with me in my TO bag, but if we have time to get some then I will leave it at home. I also heard some people argue that sunscreen is more expensive and not as good. (I thought it was ok, but ya it was expensive )

You're right, the larger you are the more difficult it is, but that is a general statement for ANYONE coming to Japan. I find the thermal gear to be larger than nescessary for the torso (in both length and width) with short in the arms, but then that's what a good jacket is meant to deal wit.

As for TO... you won't see sun. You will wake up, go to orientation all day, then get drunk at night. If you have a need for sunscreen at TO, then you're doing orientation wrong (or possibly right... quite possibly right )

Bad, bad idea. The third prong is there for a reason. Removing it can open you up to shocks or electrocution. Bring the adaptor with you. It's light and doesn't take up a lot of room. Once you're settled, the larger electronics giants (Yodobashi Camera, BIC Camera, Yamada Denki) carry cords that will connect from the brick of your laptop to the outlet and have two prongs. I bought one about a year ago and replaced the three-prong plug with a two-prong plug and never had an issue with it.

Do you know what an adapter does? It cradles that plug and does NOTHING WITH IT. Two prongs cannot ground, a replacement cable just skips the ground wire all together... So just breaking off the ground rail is completely okay.


[General Stuff]
Keep in mind you WILL have some time when you get out to where you are in Japan to explore. Unless you are about to live somewhere SUPER AMAZINGLY RURAL you will be able to find most things quite easily, and frankly that's part of the fun of moving to a new country. The more non-essential stuff you bring with you, the more you will regret it later. Finally, a recommendation for the list. BRING A CREDIT CARD OR TWO. You can order most things online in Japan, use a CC for them, and have it delivered the next day pretty much.