PREPARE BEFORE LEAVING HOME

The hardest part of any venture is the push-off from the starting line. Moving to Japan is not a difficult or complicated process. It simply requires time, planning and preparation. This section offers points to consider before booking that plane ticket.

1. Passport / Applying for a Visa
2. Funds to Bring
3. What to Pack
4. Pre-booking Accommodation
5. Japanese Power Supply
6. Document Advice / Power of Attorney
7. Food Allergies / Dietary Planning
8. The Japanese Alphabets - Katakana and Hiragana
9. Embrace Japan
10. Immigration Procedures
11. Best Guide to Living in Japan

Starting to feel overwhelmed? Rest assured that your feelings are normal and that you can take comfort in knowing that you will be richly rewarded for your preparatory efforts. However, it is up to you to take those first steps to reap the benefits of moving abroad. Keep going!

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1. PASSPORT / APPLYING FOR A VISA

If you do not have a passport, you will need to get one before applying for a visa and travelling to Japan. Where to apply, the application process and the processing time varies with each country. Passport information is usually available online. Just Google your country's name and the words, "passport office". Be advised that passport processing can take 2-3 months so apply well in advance. Additionally, visit your own government's webpages on Japan's embassies/consulates. It may be loaded with useful information for travellers to Japan. Also visit the websites of other embassies to read the assistance they offer their citizens who are travelling to Japan. The Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website has all its foreign Embassies and consulates listed alphabetically for easy access.

There are a myriad of visas available for Japan. Tokyo? No Problem provides an overview of each visa type while Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) gives additional visa-related news, including visa FAQs. After you review these two sources, prepare your own list of visa-related questions. Then contact your nearest Japanese embassy/consulate to get answers and request a visa application - (or download it if avaialble online)

Once Japan receives your completed visa application, it will take about five working days to issue you a visa - if there are no problems with your application. If there are problems, it can take more than one month. Also, if you do not have a Certificate of Eligibility, (and not everyone does or even needs one), it can take 1-3 months, even if there is no problem with your application so plan well in advance. (Visit MOFA online for an explanation of Certificate of Eligibility.)

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 1 not only provides an overview of visa types, it also explains how to change one's visa status while in Japan - valuable knowledge to have.

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2. FUNDS TO BRING / MONEY EXCHANGE

The Japanese currency is the yen, symbolized ¥. If moving to Japan to look for work, you should have access to at least 300,000 yen, which excludes the price of your plane ticket. If you budget responsibly, this amount should enable you to pay for accommodation and living expenses for roughly 2-3 months. Even when you secure a job, you still must budget responsibly because you may not receive your first paycheck for thirty days from your first day of work since most Japanese companies only pay monthly.

In your home country, you will have to order your yen through a local bank. Be sure to comparison shop because some banks offer better exchange rates than others. Allow the bank sufficient time to acquire the yen before your planned departure date. It may take them several weeks, depending on the bank, where you reside and whether you are an account holder there.

You do not need to change all your money into yen at once. Better exchange rates may be, and probably are, available in Japan . To be safe, bring enough yen to cover the cost of transportation from the airport (see Tokyo? No Problem Chapter 1), your pre-booked accommodation (see Chapter 2), local transport (see Chapter 6) and food (see Chapter 10) for about a week. Bringing about 100,000 yen should suffice at the beginning.

When getting money exchanged in Japan, try to avoid the foreign exchange bureaus, especially ones at airports, for they usually give the least favourable rates. Japanese post offices usually offer the most attractive rates but check with major Japanese banks as well (see Tokyo ? No Problem Chapter 3). Bringing travellers cheques is also an option, which give a slightly higher exchange rate than cash, but not all establishments accept them.

If you do not bring all of your money with you to Japan, make sure you can access it. Ask your bank at home if their ATM card is recognized in Japan. Most ATMs in Japan and Japan Post usually accept ATM cards and major credit cards that carry the PLUS, Cirrus or Maestro stamps. Also, ask your bank about fees and commissions associated with using their ATM card overseas. Such add-ons can take a bite out of your savings. If possible, and as a back up, open a Citibank account before departing. Citibank customers can use over 26,000 fee-free ATMs throughout the world, including Japan, but there may be a commission on transactions.

For your convenience, you can find both Citibank and Japan Post cash machines that accept international ATM/credit cards outside Customs on the Arrivals Floor of Terminals 1 and 2 in Narita Airport. However, be aware that each establishment has its own operating hours and may be closed on weekends and holidays.

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3. WHAT TO PACK

Urban Japan is a shoppers paradise where everything can be found at a reasonable/cheap price, if you know where to go. So do not go overboard when packing and keep in mind airline baggage restrictions. With that said, you may want to pack a few comfort foods until you know where to shop for them in Japan. (Visit Japan Customs online to learn about allowable imports).

If moving to Japan to find a job, it is wise to bring a new briefcase or backpack, a few notebooks, pens and tape. Be sure to invest in a few nice suits and dress shoes before leaving home for larger-sized clothing and shoes are more difficult to find in Japan. When clothes shopping, take into account the season in which you will be arriving for you do not want to be caught looking ridiculousin a wool suit during the rainy season or hot months. Also, get a good haircut for the Japanese value a clean, professional, organized appearance.

There are four seasons in Japan's Kanto region. Spring is mild (14C/57F) with scattered showers. Summer is hot and muggy (25C/77F) with the rainy season from mid-June to mid-July. Autumn is very comfortable with clear skies (17C/63F) but with a typhoon or two in September/October. Winter is somewhat cold, sunny and dry (5C/41F) with an occasional light snowfall.

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 14 (Shopping) informs where to get what in Tokyo and provides a Clothing Size Conversion Table. It also explains how to handle laundromat, dry-cleaning and hair-cutting matters so you can maintain that clean, crisp appearance - especially when job-hunting. Additionally, Chapter 17 provides a list of English language publications that regularly run job advertisements that target foreigners.

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4. PRE-BOOKING ACCOMMODATION

It is advisable to arrange temporary accommodation before arriving in Japan. Doing so will save you a lot of headache at the airport in terms of answering questions from Immigration and knowing which transit routes to take from the airport. Since you will be booking accommodation without seeing it or knowing where you will be working, it is a good idea to commit to a 1-2 month stay only, which you will likely have the option of extending, if you so desire.

When booking your accommodation, minimize your exposure to fraud. Do not forward money to a potential landlord - even if they agree to send you a lease agreement and the keys. Wait until you have reached the accommodation before paying any money.

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 1 presents various travel choices in getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo, with the prices, advantages and disadvantages of each. Chapter 2 shows how to find suitable accommodation (both short-term and long-term), lists vital questions to ask any potential landlord and gives numerous accommodation rental companies that cater to foreigners.

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5. JAPANESE POWER SUPPLY

If you are considering bringing electronic devices with you to Japan (computer, digital camera, cell phone, etc.), it is important to know about the electrical voltage and plugs/outlets there. Although many portable devices come with power supplies that can be used almost anywhere, it is best to check the manufacturer's label to see the type of input each device can manage. One website that addresses this topic is world-electric-guide.com, where you will find information on adaptors, converters, power suppressors, etc. in non-technical language.

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 2 provides advice on what devices to invest in while in Japan while Chapter 14 informs where to shop in Tokyo for discount electronic goods and gives useful shopping tips.

6. DOCUMENT ADVICE / POWER OF ATTORNEY

Bring your country's embassy/consulate address and contact information with you to Japan, in case you run into the unexpected. Moreover, after arriving in Japan, register with your embassy/consulate (online or in-person) so you can be eligible to receive the latest information on matters pertinent to you - (travel advisories, security matters, emergency assistance, etc.)

Make a copy of your passport (or record relevant information) and leave it in a secure accessible place in your home country, in case you lose yours. Doing so may speed up the replacement process. If you happen to lose your passport, which will have your Japanese visa inside, you will need to contact the specific Japanese office that issued you the visa. You may even have to reapply for the visa.

Before leaving home, consider visiting with a lawyer to give "limited power of attorney" to someone you trust and who can act on your behalf while you are away when it comes to dealing with financial, governmental and legal matters, etc. that require your personal signature.

7. FOOD ALLERGIES / DIETARY PLANNING

If you have special dietary needs, consider ordering dietary translation cards that display picture(s) of the offending food and state that you must avoid this food. Some sites providing this service are selectwisely.com, allergytranslation.com and dietarycard.com. And of course, bring your personal medication/epipens with you.

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapters 10 and 12 shows how to identify grocery items, understand food labels,read menus, order in restaurants and deal with special dietary needs.

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8. THE JAPANESE ALPHABETS

Taking on a new language is no easy undertaking. So before attempting to speak Japanese, you will need to learn how to properly pronounce the characters of the two Japanese alphabets - KATAKANA and HIRAGANA. Proper pronunciation will greatly improve your ability to communicate effectively with the Japanese. This is vital because receiving positive feedback provides you with the encouragement to keep using those Functional Phrases and deciphering techniques abundantly listed throughout Tokyo? No Problem.

Start the learning process before leaving home (both pronouncing and writing). Studying a little each day will go a long way (~10 minutes). If you stick to this mantra, you will have these two alphabets down in no time. When learning to write Katakana and Hiragana, it is of the utmost importance to learn proper stroke order. Using the correct stroke order will make the learning process much easier, not to mention proper. You can learn stroke order from several online sources.

Note: Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 19 presents the two Japanese alphabets, discusses their differences and provides an effective technique for learning them.

9. EMBRACE JAPAN

Before moving to Japan, it is important to mentally understand that soon you will be immersed into a brand new culture. How well you enjoy yourself in Japan and succeed in Japan is highly correlated to how well you adjust to these changes. The Japanese have their own ways of doing things, and hence, many newcomers start to adopt an "Our Way" versus "Your Way" attitude. If the newcomer maintains this way of thinking, they often become bitter, resentful and highly stressed. As a result, a host of opportunities pass them by.

To minimize the chances of this happening to you and to maximize your time abroad, get mentally prepared to embrace life abroad. Seek out to learn about the customs, culture, people, the language and leave the "That's not how we do it" attitude where it belongs - at home. Embracing Japan and showing respect to your host country will enhance your quality of life immeasurably.

Note: This is the best advice that you will ever receive about moving to Japan and Tokyo? No Problem is there to help guide you along the process.

10. IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES

For security purposes, Japanese Immigration requires personal identification information from most foreigners over the age of sixteen at their port of entry into Japan. Upon arrival, Immigration Control will ask you to voluntarily present the following to them:

1. Your Passport
2. Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (handed out in-flight)
3. Your fingerprints
4. A facial photo

After this, an immigration officer will question you about the purpose of your visit. If everthing is in order, you will be allowed to enter the country. If everything is not in order, you will be asked to step into a private room for more questioning. If you refuse to give any of the required items listed above, you will be refused entry into Japan, then and there.

For a video demonstration on Immigration Procedures, visit Japan's Ministry of Justice website.

11. BEST GUIDE TO LIVING IN JAPAN

Tokyo? No Problem is the ultimate guide for newcomers to Japan. Click here to find out what makes this guide different from and superior to other guides and why getting Toko? No Problem is probably the best investment you can make for your move to Japan.

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