Every situation is different. However, there are a few common threads that run through the various lists of recommended items to bring with you when you first come on the JET Programme. Please review our list but also check with your predecessor and other ALTs already in your area to make sure these recommendations fit.

These are our recommendations for things to bring with you when you come to Nagasaki.

For information on what clothes to bring, please see the page on Work Attire.

Cash

When you arrive in late July or early August, you’ll have at least three weeks or so before you get your first paycheck from your contracting organization. In those few weeks you will have various expenses that need to be covered possibly including but not limited to: apartment costs, appliances, cell phone contracts, welcome parties, groceries, UFO catchers, and all sorts of other neat and unforeseen stuff.

If possible, we recommend bringing at least 300,000 yen. This amount should be more than enough to keep you afloat until that first fat JET paycheck arrives. Please keep in mind that  your personal situation may vary. Please refer to the information you receive from your individual contracting organizations.

Laptop computer

Unless you speak and read Japanese really well and are interested in a Japanese keyboard, we recommend that you buy your computer in your home country before coming to Japan. A laptop will be your lifeline to your surrounding JET community as well as your family and friends back home. It may also prove to be an asset in the classroom, depending on how inclined you are to make materials for your lessons on it.

Mac and PC are both fine, but Japanese offices tend to run on Microsoft Office for their word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. So, picking up a copy of office is a good move no matter your laptop brand of choice.

Chances are you won’t have internet at your apartment for the first little while so loading up your harddrive with some tv shows and movies might not be a bad idea either.

Self-introduction materials

Introducing yourself to classes will take up a lot of your class time in your first month of actual classes. In order to better engage the students, we recommend bringing any kind of props or articles you like that can be passed around during these lessons. Popular things to bring include money, flags, sports team jerseys, post cards of famous things from your country or hometown. If you like to play guitar, that would be a good thing to bring as well. If you can learn to play a song that elementary school kids will recognize you’ll blow their minds.

Bringing items that are emblematic of your country will help solidify your image in your student’s minds. Common examples of emblematic items would be ukuleles for Hawaiians, football jerseys for UK people, and small stuffed koalas for Australians. This seems like feeding stereotypes, and perhaps it is, but bringing items that reinforce positive images of your home country will help your students in the long run to respond positively to foreign things (I think).

Omiyage

Omiyage (お土産) means “present” or “souvenir”. It is customary to bring omiyage to a new workplace in Japan. Bringing an omiyage for each of the employees of the places that you work will be a great way to start on the right foot. If possible, get an estimate of the number of people you would need to buy for from your predecessor.

Good things for omiyage generally:

  • are edible
  • are small
  • are individually wrapped
  • can survive the trip to Japan in your suitcase

Less ideal things for omiyage:

  • are bulky
  • must be shared
  • are expensive
  • won’t fare well in international travel

Although omiyage is important, that doesn’t mean you have to bring an amazing gift for everyone in your office. A small sweet from your home country that won’t get mushed on the trip over will perfectly suffice. It’s important to keep in mind when shopping for the right omiyage that most of the candy brands in your home country are not available in Japan. So while you think a certain candy might be boring, it may be very exciting to a Japanese person that has never seen it.

Here are a couple of suggestions for omiyage:

  • fun-sized Starburst pack candies (USA)
  • Fejoa lollies, Cookie Time Cookies or mini Whittakers chocolates (NZ)
  • Bushells Tea (AU)
  • Rooibos tea, Champion toffees, Fizz pops, Cadbury eclairs, mini fizzers (SA)

International Drivers Permit

You may not be required (or allowed) to drive a vehicle to school or work functions. However, rental cars are affordable and very convenient for weekend trips. Having an IDP will open up a world of travel beyond the routes of planes, trains, and buses.

An IDP is valid for one year and only costs around 30 USD. If you stay a second year, be aware that you’ll need to convert your home country’s license to a Japanese one.

Personal Products

There are certain things that are either unavailable or difficult to find in Japan. Amazon is an amazing resource to get most things but the most common thing for people to stock up on and bring with them are the following:

  • Toothpaste – this is because it is difficult to get toothpaste which contains flouride in Japan.
  • Antiperspirant – as it is difficult to find it is best to bring your favourite one to get you through the first few months you are here. Since you will more than likely be arriving in summer I would consider this an absolute essential.
  • Tampons – if you use them it is a good idea to bring a small stash. They are available in Japan at combinis but the range is small and they are not of the same quality as is available in other countries.
  • Wax – unless you are going to a large city then waxing will be either difficult to find or unavailable. A personal wax kit may be an acceptable option for some people.

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