Job Discussion Forums

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

I ran a search to see if I could read old threads on what to bring, and lo and behold, I just got the regular forum again. So I'm asking flat out: What should I bring? I know I should bring as many as my shoes and clothes as I can, but until a post about Osaka, I assumed I could buy toothpaste and deodorant in Japan. Considering how wrong I was, I'd like to know, what do I need to bring to Japan. Don't hold back, I need a complete list. Tampons, contact solution, batteries, socks, if you can think of anything other than clothes or that one would expect to find in another country, please don't shy away from saying it now.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject: Try

Try putting in "Japan what to bring," and hit "search all terms."

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Same results. This is getting annoying.

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Hi:

I have also been working in Osaka and I can honestly say that there was nothing I "needed" to bring. I heard the toothpaste and deodorant concern and so did stock up on those. Deodorant is true - I find the Japanese versions to be lacking and I wish some of my coworkers would figure that out (if you get my point). Toothpaste can be found here with little problems. They do place sugar in some of them, but not all of them. Bring 2 or 3 tubes with you and that will take care of you until you find the brands closer to standards back home.

I'm a male, so I can't speak for female products, but other than clothes and shoes, there was nothing else I have said, "I wish I would have brought....". Considering you'll be in Osaka, rest assured that you are not heading to the developing world.

WWA

mixmag · Joined: 07 Jan 2005 Posts: 4 Location: JAPAN

MOD EDIT

If the answer is yes, pack the same essentials you needed at that time. I personally brought way to much junk with me, I ended up giving a lot of clothing away due to limited space in my closet.

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I regularly have folks back home send me toothpaste, deodorant, and tampons (not because I can't find them here, but because there are certain kinds that I prefer). I also get cold/allergy pills, eye drops, and other pharmacy-type stuff from home. Again, I'm sure I could find them here, but I'd rather stick with what I know. I have a wacky diet (vegan), so my dear mom & ex also send treats that I absolutely cannot find here.

Basically, I'd recommend bringing along any/all of those things that you have particular taste in--certain brands, etc. Bring enough for a couple of months, and before you go find someone kind enough to send you care packages once you get here.

And for male encounters, condoms and a (just in case!) pregnancy test. I had to take a couple in Prague, and the stress of having them all in Czech was not fun. (Yeah, yeah, I know they are fairly self-explanatory, but when you're already stressed out about potentially being pregnant, who wants the added hassle of getting the results back in a foreign language?!?)

d

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

Bring: tampons (haven't found anything like ob brand), hair dye (if you use), shampoo and conditioner (until you figure out what works here), makeup like cover sticks and foundation (especially if you're very pale), your favorite PILLOWS if you like down... pillows are nonsense here...

Some food products that are unavailable/super expensive here: Spike seasoning, marmite, picallily, Tetley Earl Grey tea, pickled herring (it's here, but usually has lots of sugar), black bean sauce, cheezits... Patak's pickled lime chutney... Think about what you love to cook/eat and run a list by the board! Some things are surprisingly cheap and available here. Italian stuff, for example. Some Mexican stuff. Oh, bring chipotle chiles and mole sauce, though. You can only get them on base, as far as I've found. I recently imported a 2 year supply of Tuong ot toi Vietnam chili garlic sauce; have only found ONE bottle here over the years. The sweetened chicken sauce they have...

However many shoes you have, buy a few more. Ditto for white shirts. Those things disintegrate pretty quickly, I've found. I've heard complaints about bras... Apparantly it's hard to find even large sizes with no padding.

You should be OK with contact solution, nylons are great here (as long as you're not really big/tall), toothpaste is OK, although they don't have Mentadent... and that's about it, I think. Regular cold pills we can buy over the counter in our home countries are mostly illegal here, or else I'd advise you to tuck some Neo Citron and Sudafed in your boxes. But I'd never advise anyone to do anything remotely dodgy.

Anyways, you can buy lots of stuff here, and it's often not too expensive. People survive just fine on what the Japanese markets sell... Some stuff depends on how long you're planning to stay, too. It took me a year to build up a fierce longing for lime chutney and vindaloo....

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

thanx ladies. i didn't even think of nylons! i'm tall; i'd never find those in japan.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Things I import:

*sunscreen(ridiculously expensive here)

*neosporin ointment(can't find, probably have)

*dental floss(variety)

*toothpaste(better, price)

*maple syrup(pricey, skimpy)

*shoes(size)

*clothes(size, price)

*chewing gum(like)

*cortizone(stops itching!)

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:32 am Post subject: Re: 'Search,' what a waste.

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

You know how it looks when you enter the page normally? Well I just got that page again less a couple of entries. And when I looked through them, they were about computers or nothing to do with bringing things to Japan at all. As far as what I was looking for, I guess personal products would qualify. I usually pick those things up when I arrive wherever I am, but I'm not really sure if that's such a good idea this time around.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Bring the things you absolutely need and cannot get here. What are those things? Well, it helps for us to know a little about you.

1. What are your clothing & shoe sizes?
2. Where will you plan to live?
3. Do you need contact lens solution? If so, what type?

Otherwise, the obvious "musts" are prescription medication (to last you a while, until you can get them prescribed here), some cosmetics and toiletries for a month or so (as someone mentioned, just to tide you over until you know what's here that works for you), and clothing for the first 2 seasons (not years).

Everything else depends on you, and many posters have already covered many of the possibilities, although I frown on bringing food, and so may immigration. Why pack your bag with weighty things when you need so much more of the "basics" like clothing & toiletries? Let's face it, too -- women will bring more clothing than men most of the time.

Have you looked at www.being-a-broad.com for tips for women FROM a woman? You might want to buy the book, too.

Have you looked at the FAQ (point 15)?

Have you seen this FAQ? http://www.eltnews.com/guides/living/index.shtml
Ignore the comment about fluoride toothpaste being hard to find. It isn't.

Have you read this? http://thejapanfaq.cjb.net

The following threads were found with Search settings "bring Japan" and selecting that the search use all words. Perhaps this should be collected into a sticky?
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=18022&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=17068&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=11627&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12361&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12154&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12498&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12701&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=11211&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=9770&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=8401&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=7998&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=3406&start=0
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=2236&highlight=bring+japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=2227&start=0

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

thanks glenski. i probably have read some of those things. i've been reading as much as i can for the last couple of months, and i'm on the brink of overload. now i'm just trying to retain what goes in my suitcase. Smile

ah, to be a girl. i'll check out the provided links, and thanks again to everyone.