Gakusei Travels

Some Advice For Travelers

I’ve been home for almost two months now. I’m fully adjusted back and on my normal routine of going to work and school. It’s not as exciting as being in Tokyo and I do miss it, but it’s definitely nice to be home. There are so many exciting things happening within my personal and family life that I’m happy I’m home to experience. I also keep in contact with my friends in Japan when I can, so I can still practice my Japanese.

I have two friends who are in the process of applying to go to Tsuda in the spring and they’ve been asking me questions for how to prepare. I figured I should make a post about some of the things I wish I knew before going, because there may be some future travelers who have the same questions. Now, things I wish I knew before going to Japan as well as preparing for your trip as an exchange student:

1. Visa Process

If you are a United States citizen, I believe you can stay in Japan visa free up to 90 days. If you’re going to be there longer, you need some kind of visa. I can only speak on my process of getting a student visa, and my school helped a lot with arranging this

For my school, after I got my passport and all my information sent to the university in Japan they overseas helped me get what is called a “Certificate of Eligibility.” The Japanese university handles this part, but basically the university has to let the Japanese government know how many students and from what countries they plan to have come study at their school. The COE gives you permission to stay within the country for an extended period of time. Once the government gives the okay, the Japanese university actually mails me back the COE, which is what I use to go get my visa.

Online, you have to fill out Japan’s visa application form. This is the document here. After you fill out the form and print it, you will send it to the closest Japanese embassy near you in your country or you can go there personally. I mailed mine to Chicago. You also need a photo for what they will use for your visa picture. Now, for Japan specifically, the size is smaller than that of a typical US passport. I found that Walgreens Pharmacy is the only place that takes photos that size! Once you mail off the picture, the visa application form, and your passport, the embassy will mail it back with your visa in your passport.

I advise not waiting until the last minute to do this as it took a couple weeks before my passport was mailed back. The sooner you can get it done the better!

2. Walking

Japan literally is ALL walking. And it is a lot of stairs and escalators with few elevators. Unfortunately, its not the most wheelchair or even stroller friendly. I remember spending a day in Shibuya and Harajuku and walked over 16K steps in one day.

Do yourself a favor and leave all your cute shoes at home. They will just take space in your suitcase. I recommend the Nike New Balance sneakers, just because they tend to have good support and are pretty comfortable. My poor Adidas did the best they could, but they really just hurt my feet after a while. Your toes will thank you.

3. Summer heat

I definitely did not expect for the summer to get as hot as it did. Japan’s summer starts about July. It gets up into the 90s at 9am and the heat persists all day, even as the sun goes down. The problem is, Japan gets really humid. So the heat is just suffocating and hits you the moment you step outside. One day it was 93 degrees with 80% humidity so it felt like 103.

Due to this, many stores will have different supplies to help with the heat. Stores will sell portable hand fans, ice neck rings, UV gloves, sunblock, sun umbrellas and other summer essentials. Don Quiote is a good place to get stuff. And don’t forget to stop at 7/11 and get lots of water to stay hydrated. Be careful, because the risk of heat stroke is high.

4. Streaming Services

This is more so for my anime fans, but Crunchyroll does not work in Japan. I know. It surprised me too. I think it has something to do with all their licensing and copyright laws, because they’re very strict. As long as you’re connected to any internet, you cannot use the app. There are some ways around it. You can use your cellular data on your phone, but that can become expensive though it is an option. You can use a VPN too, such as Nord VPN to connect back the the States. However, if you go that route, I’d recommend paying to make sure your data is protected.

Japan Netflix and Disney+ however has a lot of the same shows as Crunchyroll. Their anime selection is way bigger than American Netflix, so you can also take advantage of what they offer overseas. Sometimes though, not every show has subtitles in English. If you download the chrome extension, Language Reactor Plus, you can continue to watch some of your shows with English subtitles if they aren’t available. This only works for the laptop/pc though!

5. Cell Phone Plan

Of course, you can’t live without your phone. One of the biggest concerns I had was how I was going to use it while abroad. There are a couple different options. You can by a physical SIM card in Japan and swap out your American one. Just be careful not to lose it. I don’t know how this option works so I can’t speak on it. You could also do an eSIM. There are a few options for that, but again, I’m not sure how it works.

I do know one thing and this is the most important. If your phone is not unlocked, you cannot use any other type of SIM card. Usually to unlock your phone, it has to be paid off completely. You can call your cell phone provider to ask if it is unlocked or not. Mine wasn’t.

My provider is AT&T. I used their international plan. Their plan is an extra 10$ a day. After 10 days, it caps for the month. So while I was in Japan for four months, my phone bill was an extra $100 a month. While you’re on the international plan, you put your cell phone in roaming mode to be able to text and take calls as normal. And I used LINE to communicate with my classmates and friends. A big thank you to my mom for paying that phone bill each month!

6. Cash and Banking

Now while I was in Japan, I didn’t sign up for any Japanese bank accounts though that was in option. As I learned while being in Japan, a lot of places do accept international debit and credit cards. It just depends on where you’re at in Tokyo, but the vast majority will accept the standards (Visa, Mastercard, etc). However, with my particular bank, PNC, they charge international fees. It’s only $5 but that adds up every time you use it.

What I did was I would go to 7/11 or Lawson’s convenience stores. Maybe once a week or two, I’d go there and withdraw as much cash as I could at a time. That was usually like 40,000 or 50,000 yen at a time. I’d then just pay cash as much as possible to avoid international fees. I’m sure there are other options and cards without the fees, but this was just what worked with me. I bought a cute wallet and kept a lot of cash on hand. Don’t forget though to let your bank know that you’re traveling so that they don’t flag your card for fraud and shut it off.

I’d recommend when you first come to Japan, wait until you get to the airport to exchange your currency. Don’t exchange it in your home country. You can get a little bit of a better rate in Japan. When I first went I had like $600 I hid in my bra until I got to there lol.

And when you withdraw from the ATM, never click the dollar amount. So usually it’ll show on the screen two buttons. Say you take out 10,000 yen. It’ll show you like $67 and then 10,000 yen. Always click the Japanese amount as usually the dollar is more expensive. You’ll get more yen by selecting the second option.

7. Customs

Customs is long and annoying. Both going and coming home. But I learned a couple ways to make it go by somewhat faster. When you get to Japan, fill out their declaration of customs form online here. You’ll get a QR code that you can scan and get through their customs a bit faster. They even recommend you do it as well, just to make the process more smooth.

Now, coming home, we got through customs in less than 5 minutes. If you are a US citizen, download an app called Mobile Passport Control. Put in your passport information (if you’re traveling as a party you can put in everyone) and select the port of entry you’re coming into the US from. Not where you’re going. The first airport you land at. For us, it was Minneapolis. They give you a code once you land and you get through customs quickly. This is great if you have a connecting flight to catch. Sam and I were the only ones who did this.

8. Trains and Google Maps

I very much got lost a lot using the trains lol. By the end of the summer, I was a pro, but it can be very confusing if it’s your first time. For starters, if you have an iPhone, download either Suica or Pasmo to your apple wallet. There’s no difference between the two, but I used Suica. You can just reload your card with money with ease. You can also use Suica and Pasmo at a lot of vending machines and some convenience stores as a form of payment. I’m not really sure what to do if you aren’t an apple user. I don’t know if you can get it on Samsung devices. You can get a 30 day tourist Suica at the airport, but while I was there, they stopped printing the regular transportation cards due to a microchip shortage. There may be a way to still get it as a tourist, but I honestly can’t say for sure.

Now, the best way to navigate the trains is with Google Maps. I like Google Maps more, because it tells your the platform, delays, and other departure times for all the trains. It will also give you an alternative routes as well.

The best way to navigate the trains is to look for colors. All the lines are color coordinated, so if you don’t know the specific name, look for the color. The Yamanote Line that runs in a circle through Shinjuku is lime green. The Chuo line I often rode was orange. The Nanbu line is yellow. As you start going to places more frequently, you’ll pick up on where to go.

However, do be mindful and watch where trains divert to. The Chuo line for example can divert at two different locations. Sometimes it goes towards Otsuki. Sometimes it goes towards Ome, etc. So just watch your map and pay attention to when you need to get off or switch trains. I made that mistake once while trying to meet up with Sienna and ended up going the wrong direction lol. If you just go on the line going back the opposite way, it’ll take you back the way you came.

9. Akihabara and Kinokuniya trap

This one is another for my anime fans but avoid buying figures from Akihabara. You can sometimes find some cool things there, don’t get me wrong, but a lot of time, they end up being super expensive. Same thing with Kinokuniya if you’re looking to buy manga.

Go to Book Off. Book Off is a thrift store that you can get figures, manga, keychains, video games, clothes, and other cool things from. The stuff there is way cheaper and still good quality even if it’s second hand. Check there first, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, then go to Akihabara and Kinokuniya.

10. Reusable Bags

Grocery shopping and doing a lot of shopping in general in Japan can be difficult without a car. In America, I’m so used to putting everything in my trunk. My biggest advice while grocery shopping in Japan as a student is to bring a reusable bag or backpack.

It is such a pain to carry so many bags on the train. They’re heavy and take up a lot of space. You can buy reusable plastic bags at Daiso or find some cute totes while shopping. I found a fun bag with a Shiba on it in Asakusa that I carried everywhere. When I went grocery shopping I put all my big and heavy items in my backpack. I then put small produce in the tote. You really have to only buy what you need while grocery shopping, because it’s too hard to transport everything. Plastic bags also cost at the grocery store! It’s usually only a few yen, but keep that in mind.

11. Natural Hair Products

This is for anyone who has natural hair! I did not find any products for my hair type in Japan unless it was at Yokota Airbase, because they import that stuff. I would recommend bringing all the products you need for your stay or maybe ship things from Amazon US if you run out. Now, there are places that do natural hair, but you would have to research. Sam did find an African braider in Shibuya, and her braids came out nice. She paid about 30,000 yen I believe. I have dreadlocks, so I just did my own hair, because I didn’t have the extra money to get it done.

12. Safety

Don’t get me wrong, Japan is a very safe country. I often walked around at night alone and wore headphones while shopping. But still, you should keep your head on a swivel and mind your surroundings, especially as a young woman. Often times, if we had any issues, it was usually creepy old men staring or following us around. It happened to Sam a lot, unfortunately. And often times too, the police will be little to no help. You can’t really defend yourself without risk of deportation, so just be careful still while out and about. Especially in touristy areas, because foreign women are often a target.

13. Tattoos

I mentioned this before already, but don’t worry too much if you have a lot of tattoos! I was definitely panicking beforehand, worried for how I’d cover them, but really no one cared or minded. I mean, I would get stared at regardless because I’m a foreigner. I only ever had to cover up at the beach, and most onsens will bar you from entering or ask you to cover them with tape if they’re small enough. Many Japanese people have tattoos too!

14. Google Translate is Your Friend

Unless you’re a native speaker or fluent, you’re not going to know how to say everything in Japanese and that’s okay. It’s a learning process, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Definitely utilize Google Translate if you don’t know a word or two. You can take pictures of signs and menus to help translate things right away.

Another good resource for learning phrases is Tiktok. It’s actually through TikTok that I learned how to ask for take out at a restaurant. And, if you need help with certain words, try using jisho.org. It’s an online Japanese dictionary that’s pretty helpful. If all else fails, a lot of Japanese will understand you if you use basic English. And a lot of times in Tokyo, the train announcements will also be made in English.

15. Respect the Culture

Overall, just respect the place you’re in and follow their customs and rules. When you’re on the escalator, stand on the left side to keep the right clear for those in a hurry. Sort your garbage. You can talk on the train, but just don’t be too loud. Don’t sit on the sidewalks, etc. While I was in Japan, I was really worried about being that annoying tourist, but people were honestly super nice and friendly. A lady once helped me, because I looked confused in the grocery store. Another person once gave me directions, because I was staring at the map looking lost. I also learned a lot of things from the guidance of my friends.

Just watch and copy what the locals do. I don’t think Japan has a problem with tourists. They have a problem with disruptive tourists who cause issues and make things harder for everyone else. If you just respect the culture and make an effort to understand, then you shouldn’t have too many problems!

I hope these help! If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to add on!