surprisingly, it’s only now – when i can put a name and gender to the newcomers in osaka – that i realise how soon it is before the 2009 JETs arrive in Japan. everyone must be in the midst of preparations, and it’s with that consideration that i jot down some thoughts on moving to and living in japan:
1. toothpaste – everyone blogging about moving to japan always mentions this. i’ve never actually verified whether japanese toothpaste has fluoride or not, simply because i’ve been using colgate toothpaste brought from home all this while. no doubt, my family replenished my supply the last time they visited me in march, but this should be easily accomplished for JETs whose family plan to visit (or make use of friends!). toothpaste also lasts a long time when you’re living alone! besides, tokyu hands sells colgate – at least that’s what i’ve heard about the one in osaka. you can get Aquafresh toothpaste in japan too, although while the singapore version has fluroride (i think?) i’m not sure whether the japan one contains it too. but at least it provides the fresh, minty sensation which i do require in my toothpaste.
2. shoes – japan sells A LOT of dangerously high-heeled shoes and there are a lot less flats and pumps available in shops. the same goes for shoes with low heels to average-height heels, i.e. those less than 6cm. most of them are made of hard material and likely to make your feet hurt really badly, as i’ve painfully discovered. unless you’re lucky AND find a pair of shoes on sale, it’s near impossible to find comfortable shoes between 2000-3000yen. most of the time, shoes worth looking at will start from 6000yen – which is why when i found a pair of soft ballet flats in a nice design for 6865yen the other day, i snapped them up immediately.
to be completely honest, i think that the design of shoes in japan are rather ugly. it’s either that, or they look cheap, or that they are just plain and very normal, or that they’re uncomfortable. or a combination of some or all of the above. in addition, i have trouble finding shoes in japan as the cutting is slightly smaller than those in singapore – usually the length is just nice but the front is too tight. shoes in the next size would be just nice at the front but too big at the back, which makes things difficult as well. so if you have broad feet, like flats or have large-ish feet, do bring enough shoes from home!
3. indoor shoes – not all schools require students and staff to change into indoor shoes when they enter – both my junior high schools do not have this policy. it’s best to check with your school first, but if that’s not possible, shoes whose soles have been wiped clean would do just as well. also, indoor shoes can be slip-ons, crocs and the like; they dont have to be formal-looking, so it shouldnt be difficult to look for indoor shoes after arriving either.
4. accessories – forget about buying cheap earrings the way you can in singapore, as they’re REALLY EXPENSIVE. the cheaper ones would be far east/bugis street type of 3 for $10 earrings (i.e. they look cheap), just that they’ll be quite a bit more expensive than those in singapore. earrings that i’d consider buying due the design usually begin from 1350yen, which is a lot. necklaces are cheaper in comparison, although prices also start from 1350yen too. so far, most of those that i’ve bought are about 2300yen. there are a few shops around that sell accessories for 350yen, although they can be a bit limited in terms of design and choice.
5. food – anyone familiar with chinese cooking should face no problem in japan, as the sauces and raw materials available arent too different from those you’d see back home in singapore. rice is the cheapest staple, although it’s still quite expensive. the lazy ones like me can also choose from instant udon, instant soba and pasta – you can easily get instant sauces for all of these in any supermarket. there are also foreign food stores scattered around the city where you can get things like campbell soup and american/western products, but for a high price of course. japan also sells a huge variety of heat-only things like gyoza, croquettes, nuggets and other yummy side dishes that make things very convenient.
fruits and vegetables can be a bit pricey, but considering they’re staples there’s nothing really much that can be done about it :( note also that smaller fruit and vegetable shops might not have lower prices than supermarkets, although they’re always worth checking out.
ahh.. if you cant live without your milo, brand’s essence of chicken, chinese herbs and liang teh, chinese dried goods (e.g. tao kee and black fungus), do consider bringing a decent supply from home, as they are EXPENSIVE when purchased from Chinatowns in japan. also, things like pre-mixes for curries are expensive too. milo is available in the big supermarket near my house – japan has it – but it’s pricey.
6. household and bath products – once again, singaporeans and others from southeast asia and perhaps east asia should have no problem buying things in japan, as brands will be familiar ones like biore, kao, etc. so even if you dont understand much japanese, based on the packaging and visuals, it’s possible to figure out whether you’re buying facial wash or shampoo. note though, that such products are usually cheaper at drugstores – you usually find them in pedestrianised shopping alleys or along the main roads – than in supermarkets. things are cheap enough that you dont really have to bring any from home if you use japanese products to begin with (duh).
of course, foreign products like body shop and clinique are a bit more expensive than in singapore. i think body shop’s body butter is about 2300yen, which makes it about 1.5 times more expensive? similarly, clinique facial products are also numerically similar to what i paid for in singapore (although i bought them from one of those cheap cosmetics shops in chinatown).
7. clothes – i’m actually blogging this for guys! japanese guys tend to be more [fashionable/flamboyant/ adventurous/ gender neutral (and i’m saying this in the nicest possible way)/ stylish] than singaporean men – pick one or some from the above choices – and this is reflected in the design, cut and colour of the clothes available. so if you’re an average singaporean guy who just likes to wear normal clothes, you’re pretty much limited to foreign brands like GAP and zara, or uniqlo. note however, that uniqlo is still, ultimately, a japanese brand, and can sell some somewhat questionable clothes. it does lots of basics, however, and is good if you’re ok with simple stuff. the foreign brands are probably more expensive here than in singapore too.
note also that japanese men tend towards tshirts with sleeves that end about mid-arm or slightly lowever, so it might not be that easy to find tshirts if you like your sleeves to end just above the elbow, as many guys i know prefer. japanese men are a bit slimmer in built too – either that or they prefer their clothes to be a bit more fitting – than singaporean men too.
(someone i know, a japanese girl, recently commented that singapore lacks hot men. i wont argue whether this is true or not here, but what i will say is that japan isnt anywhere near having a good supply of hot men. its not that i’m trying to be defensive, but honestly, once you’ve been here long enough you’ll know what i mean. fashion and style arent everything – sometimes you just want a man to look like a man and behave like one, never mind if i’m heading towards dangerous territory like stereotyping what is or should be ‘male’ and what is ‘female’ behaviour. moreover, for every not-too-bad guy here is a nerd far nerdier than any you’d find in singapore!)
9. makeup – concealer is hard to find in japan; i encountered the same problem when i was in london 3 years ago, and wonder if it’s just singaporeans who use a fair bit of it.. besides the “branded” cosmetics in department stores (that i didnt check out cos i’m not that rich), only maybelline and another japanese brand sell concealer. for loreal, only their coverstick (this magic tip wand thingy) which isnt very good is available.
also, although Elizabeth Arden beauty counters are present in all department stores in singapore, there arent any here as far as i’m aware of, so buying anything from that brand (i used their Green Tea eau de toilette before i was forced to change brand) might be difficult.
8. others
- blutack doesnt exist in japan, so bring your own.
- 100yen (or 105yen) shops sell almost everything you can imagine, so be sure to check them out first if you’re looking for anything
- swimsuits and bikinis are insanely expensive (they’ll usually be more than 8000yen – you have to hunt around and be in the right place at the right time before you can find something for about 4000yen), so bring them with you!
- in relation to the above point, things in japan are usually branded in some way – there’s no way you can find normal swimsuits for example, nor normal dance wear. so you tend to either do without, find a substitute or pay crazy amounts for a branded something. be warned.
- for electronics like cameras, i’ve noticed that stores usually only stock the very latest models. this means that once a newer model is released, the older ones are taken off the shelf, rather than continue to be sold but at a markedly reduced price. also, goods might not be cheaper in japan even though the brand is japanese, and apparently cameras dont come with all the freebies like memory cards, tripods, etc like what we’re used to.
- i commented on a previous post to bring traditional costume (my punjab suit) – i’ve yet to use it!! nor have i ever come close to have reason or occasion to wear it..
i cant think of anymore i have to say off the top of my head, but do tag or comment if there’s anything in particular you’d like to know more about!
