My Top 10 Tips

1. Start learning Japanese early

   1. Although it was not required to be able to speak and read Japanese, I think that it is really helpful to at least know basic phrases to get around. Many universities through study abroad programs have global programs that teach classes in English, but when trying to meet people from school or events, it will be a plus if you can speak their native language.

2. Japan is a cash-based society

   1. Many stores, restaurants, vending machines, and other vendors primarily take cash as a payment type. Card is sometimes not accepted at specific places in Japan.

3. Connect your Suica card to your phone

   1. If you have an iPhone, the wallet app allows integration with Japan's Suica IC cards, which was very convenient for daily train commutes around Tokyo. Additionally, you can load yen into your phone and in some stores, such as convenience stores allow tap to pay with Suica, which I thought was very efficient.

4. Consider Google Maps for transportation

   1. Japan's train system is an extensive network, being the main way of transportation for many residents around the country. If it's your first time in Japan, it may take a little bit to get accustomed to the transportation, but Google Maps was a lifesaver for me, as it gave me the exact station, platform, and train line to take.

5. Supermarkets > Convenience Stores

   1. Although this tip is more preference based, I found that shopping at supermarkets were a lot cheaper than convenience stores. Supermarkets are less convenient and may be less common, but the prices of food, water, and premade meals are among the cheapest options in Tokyo.

6. Consider an E Sim or Pocket Wifi

   1. There are free wifi connections in places such as the airport, shinkansen, Starbucks, and internet cafes, but I would recommend getting either an e sim or pocket wifi for on the go travel. Personally, I used Airalo, which is an app that allowed me to purchase e sim to connect straight onto my phone.

7. Pack (really) Light

   1. One of my biggest mistakes was packing way too many clothes, which came back to haunt me when I left Japan. There are many clothing stores, such as UniQlo and GU which have cheap prices. Instead of packing lots of clothes, it can be a good idea to buy your clothes for the semester in Japan.

8. Learn the unspoken rules in Japan

   1. To travel while being respectful to the culture in Japan, there are many unspoken rules to avoid doing. Some of these are: no eating while walking, stay on the left side of the escalator (in Tokyo), try your best to finish your food when dining in, and chopstick etiquette.

9. Book reservations early

   1. Since there is always a high amount of people visiting Japan within the year, it can be hard to get reservations to places such as themed cafes, Shibuya Sky, and trendy restaurants. My tip is to figure out what you want to visit and book reservations early on in the semester so you don't miss out on these experiences. Additionally, sometimes they may have last minute cancellations, so be sure to check periodically when reservations are booked out.

10. Have fun and enjoy yourself

    1. My last and most important tip is to make the most of your study abroad experience. Time went by really fast for me, and before I knew it, 4 months had gone by in the blink of an eye. Don't stress too much and make sure to be in the moment!

Thank you for reading and following along with my blog this past semester. If you have any other questions or want to hear more about my experiences, please feel free to contact me via email at aidenkg@hawaii.edu.