Welcome to Japan. Here is your apartment. See you later!

Upon arrival it can sometimes seem like this is the case, but fret not! The JET community in Oita is always available to lend a helping hand or give some advice. Collected here are some ‘Top Tips’ to let you know what to expect.

Baths

Japanese people wash before they take a bath. They’re probably right about this and don’t understand why foreigners like to sit in a lukewarm puddle of their own dirt. When taking an onsen, or a public bath, get clean using the small stools and shower area first and then loosen your bones into the steaming water baths. Ahhhhhh….

Directions

Beware when asking directions from the natives. In direct contrast to many foreign countries, where people who know the way will usually brush you off with a “no idea, mate”, Japanese people who don’t know the way will happily spend 5 minutes making up directions rather than admit they don’t know.

Driving

One of the most infuriating aspects of life in Japan is driving here, from the cost to the way Japanese drivers seem unaware of any other care on the road. Whereas Italian and French drivers are deliberately offensive on the road, Japanese drivers are merely oblivious, not seeing the need for indicating their intentions and parking anywhere they want. You will see people watch DVDs, reading books/manga, and talking on cell phones (illegal in Japan).

If you are American, you have the benefit of being required to take the driving test to get a real license after your International Permit runs out. See the “How To” section for more information.

Earthquakes

Quiet tremors imperceptible to human perception are very common, but the memory of ’95 Kobe quake that killed over 5,000 people is still fresh in many people’s minds. You should acquaint yourself with the emergency procedures of your apartment and school, which should be made available in English by your office or town hall. Kyushu has a lot of volcanic activity, so you will probably feel some small ones. But don’t worry, they are actually kind of fun!

Futons

Beds are not as common as you may think in Japan because of space issues. Often, families will put out futons at night and then fold them up and put them away during the day in order to make more room in their homes. It’s generally a good idea not to leave a futon on a tatami permanently since humidity can make them go moldy. You might see housewives airing out futons and bedding on their balconies during the sunny hours of the day and this is a good habit to pick up as a futon can begin to smell quite musty after a few months.

Mobile Phones

When choosing a mobile phone email address, don’t keep it too simple, (like just a name, or a name and a number); this leads to LOTS of junk mail at all times, night or day. However, also make sure the address doesn’t end in anything but a letter or number, otherwise you won’t be able to send photos to computers, for some reason. Also, whether you know it or not, you are accumulating points every month from your mobile phone bill. Go to your local branch and ask how to convert them to free chargers, batteries, cases, etc, or upgrade to a better phone.

Money

Cash is king in Japan, and people think nothing of wandering around with the equivalent of a small country’s GDP in their pockets. Unfortunately, for reasons which have never been explained to anyone (ever), cash machines have working hours just like a regular Japanese salaryman, only considerably shorter and without ubiquitous post-work “business meetings”. Always make sure you withdraw enough yen to last you a few days as most machines stop dishing out notes around 6 P.M., and often earlier on weekends. Who needs money on a Saturday night, right?

Mukade

Not to scare you, but yes, mukade are poisonous centipedes that are often found in rural areas of Oita and most of Japan. Their bite will hurt a lot and is potentially deadly, but they are generally not lethal to humans. There has only been one reported lethal case ever. Keep an eye out for them in your home, but don’t let the folklore go to your head- it’s just a bug.

The NHK Man

This is the guy from the national TV company and is sent out to collect license money. License money refers to anyone who owns a television in his or her house whether it’s new, used, or even broken. Rumor has it that you don’t have to pay him and it’s sort of true; he’s not allowed inside your house so it’s up to your conscience whether you want to cough up the money or not. Watch out if you have a satellite dish as it’s a bit of a giveaway.

Omiyage

These souvenirs (omiyage) can be as mundane as bath soap and are just a friendly way of meeting your neighbors and colleagues. They are very common in Japan. For neighbors, give them a knock when you first move in with a token of your country and humbly say, “Tsumaranai mono desu ga.” This literally means, “This is a boring thing, but…”. Don’t be too scared when strange people show up at your front door with sponge dishes as they are just curious to meet you. Omiyage for your colleagues should be a little more substantial and is recommended to give a good first impression.

Passports

Due to the complications involved in getting a new passport and getting your working visa transferred to it, we recommend making sure you get a new one issued if your passport will expire within the six months after you are planning on staying. For example, if you are planning on staying two years, but only have 28 months left on your passport, get a new one.

Tatami

This is probably the first time that you will have lived with tatami and the first thing to realize is that it is not the same as a carpet. Tatami are tightly woven reed mats and for that reason they deteriorate over time. They shouldn’t be walked upon with shoes, don’t keep well in the heat, and quickly collect every particle of dust in your apartment. General tatami tips include vacuuming up the dust regularly and checking for mites that might be living between the reeds. If you do see the bugs, you can buy a pesticide at any supermarket. When you arrive, you should have new tatami in your place, although this is not always the case. If you have new tatami it will be green and might stain things a little. Just wipe them down with a damp cloth.

Toilets

From modesty to porn and tropical summers to Siberian winters, Japan is a land of infinite contradictions. The epitome of this national schizophrenia is undoubtedly the squat toilet. If you are shocked by the “Who stole the toilet?” hole in the ground (and no one has told you that you’re meant to use it facing the back wall), try the last door in public toilets; this is often where they hide the “Buck Rogers toilet”.

TV

On most TVs, and all new sets, there is a button that enables you to watch certain programs (like movies and NHK news programs) in English. Ask a friend or co-worker to write the kanji for bilingual.

Typhoons

Every year typhoons come, but generally only during the months of September and October. An average of 3 to 12 make landfall in Japan every year. You might experience the strong winds and rains from the tail of one that passes by, in which case your town will basically shut down. All transportation will stop running and schools usually close, which puts you in a position to stay home for the day. Ask your supervisor about your school’s typhoon procedures and be sure to stock up on necessary items (like anime DVDs). You can track them here.

Walking Targets

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In the eyes of Japanese children, from pre-school to post-pubescent, you are a walking target. Breasts will be grabbed, dicks will be slapped and perhaps, most bizarrely, children have a martial arts move involving joining their forefingers together and ramming them up your bum when you least expect it (the kancho). Always be alert and retaliation is frowned upon. In addition, you be subjected to continuous staring and the recipient of every broken English word the speaker knows. Yay.

Washing Machines

Cold water is used here so sometimes washing machines will leave clothes not as clean as you’d like. They also can wear clothes out quite fast, which makes it a good plan to wash delicate clothing in a net. Nets can be bought at the 100 Yen Shop along with familiar detergent brands: Tide, Aerial and Downy. Find a local laundry mat to do hot washes.

Partly written by Doron Klemer