Category: Japan

Week One: Exploring

Published on by Katie SandovalLeave a comment

Quite a lot happened during my first week in Kyoto, Japan. When we landed in Osaka, my friends and I took a bus together to Kyoto. After about 3 hours we had to navigate the subway station which was a bit overwhelming—there were so many people, and it was confusing trying to figure out where to go. Being all together helped, as we had each other’s backs when someone got confused about where we were supposed to be or what we were supposed to do.

Eventually, though, we had to split up since I was staying in a different dorm than they were. I got off at a different station and had to figure out how to get to my dorm on my own from there. Walking through the streets with my luggage felt a bit awkward and I was nervous trying to find the building. It was about a 10-minute walk, and once I finally got there, I started getting anxious having to speak with the dorm managers. It felt like 3 years of learning Japanese went out the window, just leaving my mind blank when I actually needed to speak Japanese.

The woman that was showing me around was really kind, though, it felt like I had no reason to worry. She mostly spoke Japanese but would sometimes switch to English for a few words I didn’t understand. She explained things slower if I needed, and I was proud of myself for actually being able to understand most of what she was saying. Later that day, I met up with my friends to shop for some basic necessities—towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face cleanser, food, along with other things. We didn’t really get everything we needed, but since we’re staying in Kyoto for about 5 months, we figured we’ll pick some things up over time.

Besides that, classes haven’t started yet, and they won’t for about another 2 weeks. However, I have already picked up my student ID and attended an information session to get ready for the semester. I’m in a different program from my friends—the GEM program—so I’ve also been reviewing the courses I want to register for. I am also getting ready for my speaking interview for my Japanese placement and making sure I am understanding things I need to do, like getting health insurance.

One thing I had to figure out this week was how to pay the rent for my dorm. That turned out to be really confusing. For a while I went to a few places that didn’t have what I needed, but eventually my friends and I figured it out together—after a bit of trial and error. On the topic of dorms, for a while I did not see any of my dormmates until our dorm orientation. They were all really nice, and even though I’m a shy person, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and ended up making some new friends.

Aside from all that, I had been exploring on my own sometimes, like what is around my dorm and places further away. I have already gotten lost a couple of times, which can be frustrating not knowing where I’m going, but when that happens, I just take a break, look around the places I am near, and then decide whether to try again or to continue exploring where I am around. Because of that I feel more comfortable using the subway station as I have already gone in a cart going the wrong way, figured out how to change subway stations, seeing which exits are closer to a place I need to go to. It is not bad to get a little lost, actually, as some places I have seen have been really interesting to just walk around.

I have also visited places with my friends like Nanzen-ji Temple and Heian Jingu Shrine, which were both beautiful places—especially during golden hour. We’ve also tried a bunch of new foods, and honestly, everything has tasted amazing so far. We have been planning things day my day, but so far, we have been having a lot of fun just exploring what is around Kyoto.

Besides that, some difficulties I have experienced so far is how hard it is for me to speak Japanese. People speak Japanese quickly, which I am slowly adjusting to, and there are many words that I still do not know. So, it has been quite difficult trying to explain or understand things. However, I am hoping that the more I use it during my 5 months here, the better I will get at speaking Japanese.

Something else I’ve noticed is how tough it is adjusting to the time difference, and I don’t mean this because of my sleep schedule. It’s been hard not being able to text or call friends and family back home whenever I want to, like I normally do. It feels lonely, in a way, having to wait hours for a response back. But now that I’ve made a few new friends at my dorm and I’m hanging out with my friend from DU, I think the feeling of being alone will start to fade as I’m looking forward to exploring more with them too.



THE Ultimate Guide to Packing for Japan 

Published on by Hannah AdamsLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

As you are reading this, I will have been in Japan for a few weeks now. And, as I am sure you could guess, packing was not an easy feat. Deciding what to bring with you as you move your whole life to move across the world for a few months was definitely very difficult. I found myself scouring TikTok and Instagram for inspiration, and I still ended up very confused. 

Lucky for you all, though, I am here to provide a list of everything you need, do not need, and recommendations to make your packing struggles that much easier. 

Of course, this is based on my experience, so take my list with a grain of salt and do what you think is right for you! We all have different needs, so do with this what you will. 

NEEDS: 

  • A Versatile Warm Jacket
    • People in Japan wear lots of trenches, puffers, and leather jackets. The weather is very similar to Denver where it is very unpredictable, so even if you are going in the spring, I would suggest bringing a jacket just in case. It snowed this morning and so many of my dorm mates were unprepared because they had no jackets or winter clothes. 
    • You should bring a jacket that is easy to dress both up and down. As I mentioned, the weather is unpredictable, so it will come in handy having a jacket you can both wear with nicer and more casual clothes. Whether you’re going out to an izakaya, walking around your town, going to a party, or going to the convenience store across the street, make sure you have a jacket or coat that can be used for all situations. 
  • Shoes/Slippers.
    • If you are a big shoe size girl like me, you unfortunately have to bring shoes. It is incredibly difficult to find shoes over the size of a USA 7, unless you want to buy exclusively mens shoes. 
    • Bring!! Comfortable!! Walking!! Shoes!! I cannot stress this enough. You will be doing a lot of walking while here, so make sure the shoes you take are not painful when you walk because you will hate yourself pretty quick. 
    • Also, slippers are crucial! You will not be allowed to wear shoes inside and will be required to change into slippers, so you can save yourself some trouble and cold feet by bringing yourself slippers. Same reasons apply as above. 
  • Portable Charger/Adapter/Extension Cord
    • A portable charger will save your life. As aforementioned, you will do a lot of walking and travelling, so it will be incredibly helpful to keep a charger with you at all times, especially if you’re someone like me who likes to take a lot of pictures. It can also help you charge your devices out in public as well, especially if you do not have an adapter (more on next bullet).
    • Additionally, an adapter or outlet converter is crucial if you are using American devices. The U.S.A and Japan have different types of outlets and voltage, so make sure you bring an adapter that works in Japanese outlets and has a lot for your devices too. 
    • Further on that point, an extension cord or power bank would also be helpful. At least in my dorm, we only have one outlet in our entire room. If you want to charge multiple devices all at once, make sure you bring an extension cord so that, not only can you charge multiple things, but also so that you can actually reach your outlet.
  • Online Wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc)
    • While not necessarily an item to pack, you should definitely have it prepared before you leave. If you plan on using public transit in Japan at all, utilize your online wallets! My friends and I have our passes on our Apple Wallet, and it makes travel so much easier because you can reload immediately, and you never have to worry about losing it. 
  • Goodies From Home
    • I have been here for less than a week and yet I am craving some of my favorite snacks that you cannot find in Japan. I brought girl scout cookies, but if you have any snacks that you constantly crave or eat daily, bring them. You will crave them and wish you had some with you (totally not speaking from experience here…).
    • I also brought myself a few books and a stuffed animal from home to provide some normalcy and comfort in a new place. Being surrounded by people you don’t know in a language you aren’t completely fluent in is scary, so having some stuff that reminds you of home will help lighten the blow of new experiences, even just a bit. 
  • Reusable Bags
    • Canvas and polyester and foldable, oh my! They are very serious about recycling and trash, so having some bag that is reusable and also easy to carry around will be a huge need. Depending on what things you buy and where, most places will not offer bags or will charge a fee for them, so it helps save money. It is also incredibly hard to find public trash cans, so you will thank yourself later when you have a bag to carry your trash in later instead of carrying it in your hands. 
  • Deodorant
    • I know this sounds silly, but do not forget to bring deodorant! East Asians have a gene where they do not excrete odor when they sweat, so it is incredibly rare to find a deodorant that works. In all of the stores I have been to, I did not see a single deodorant on the shelves. Luckily, I stocked up before I left, but I would have been screwed if I forgot.
  • Medications
    • Last but not least, bring ALL the medications you could think of. Of course, you need your prescriptions but also bring over the counter stuff such as Tylenol or Benadryl. Not only is it harder to find, but their dosages are also much lighter, so if you are used to the American dosage size then the Japanese medications will be of no help, so you are both still sick and wasted however many yen. 
    • *** HOWEVER! Make sure to research what medications are allowed in Japan before coming just to make sure there are no issues at customs. 

LEAVE BEHIND

  • Towels/Shower Supplies
    • Don’t worry about taking up space in your suitcase with towels, washcloths, or loofahs. There are plenty readily available at many stores, so you can buy some towards the beginning of your stay and you will be all set. 
  • Hair Dryers, Straighteners, etc
    • Like I just mentioned, there are many places where you will be able to find these things in Japan. Heated hair products and other hair styling products are pretty easy to find in Japan, especially in drug or cosmetic stores. My dorm also has shared hair dryers for the residents, so you may get lucky and not even have to buy any!
  • Room Decor
    • This is, again, dependent on the dorm, but you will only be there for a short amount of time (not counting year-long students). Bringing room decor will end up taking up space in your suitcase and will only be a very temporary thing. And, like my dorm, you might not be allowed to even have anything on your way, which would make bringing anything of the sort a waste of luggage space.
  • Stationery
    • It’s fine to bring maybe a few items (you will need to fill out immigration forms and such), but I would recommend not taking a bunch of things. Japan is known for its stationery, and there are lots of shops where they have cute and functional stationery for your schoolwork or everyday needs! And they would be much cheaper than what you would buy at home. 

RECOMMENDED, BUT WILL BE FINE WITHOUT

  • Hygiene Products
    • There are so many different types of hygiene shops around, so you can find things such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash—as well as other skin care things—quite easily. However, if you have a specific type of product for anything, like shampoo or prescribed face washes, then I would bring them since there is no guarantee you can find them. 
  • Shower Shoes
    • This is definitely not required, but is nice to have if you have to share a shower with others like at my dorm. Definitely do not wear your everyday slippers to the shower though! I bought myself some men’s size shoes and they work fine, so you will be okay if you forget some. 
  • Hangers
    • Depending on the dorm, you may be provided hangers when you move in. But, even if you don’t, hangers are quite cheap. I bought a pack of 15 for roughly ￥190, which is barely a dollar in U.S. currency. 
  • Pillow or Stuffed Animal
    • The futons/beds provided are pretty hard and the basic pillows are thin. I would recommend bringing something to lay on or use as a back support when sitting up in bed. However, Japan has plenty of stores with stuffed animals so you will be completely fine without one if you decide to keep it at home to save space. 
  • A Camera
    • Having a camera other than your phone that you can carry along with you on trips comes in handy! I have a vintage film camera, but anything will do. It adds some fun to your trips and allows you to feel like a tourist for a bit. 

In the end, this list is not exhaustive and can be catered to your original experience. However, at least for me, this is stuff that I wish I would have had known before packing. Change or utilize this list however you like, and I will see you all next week with a new post!

And don’t forget to follow my instagram for more timely updates!