Expat Survival in Japan - HiFX Blog

I was recently asked to help contribute an article to the HiFX Project dedicated to helping the next generation of expats understand the issues people encounter in their first six months living abroad. As an expat Aussie living in Japan and having more than 12 years experience living and working in Japan, I jumped at the challenge to put pen to paper and share some tips on how I survived my first six months in Japan.

Here is a little excert from the article;

What were your first thoughts and feelings on arrival to your new country? 

I arrived to Japan via Osaka and was immediately blown away by the sheer size of the city and dazzled by all the neon lights and electric atmosphere. I remember feeling like I was on a completely different planet. I also remember feeling that my Japanese ability was inadequate as well because what I had learned at school was completely different.

If you are interested in reading more of the article, please head over to the HiFX Blog.

10 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Japan

Japan is an amazing country to live in with polite, friendly people, fast modern & convenient transportation, fantastic service, and a high standard of living. It is also a mysterious ancient land that can bewilder many first time visitors to the country. There is a lot you should know before moving to Japan and after contributing to an expat tip campaign, run by HiFX (see here), I thought I would pass on some handy tips from my 10 years’ worth of experience of living in this land of the rising sun.

Here are some insider tips to help you quickly settle into Japan.

1. No Tipping 

Japan doesn’t follow the custom of tipping, so it is not necessary here and will actually cause problems. It is considered to be rude and insulting, and would embarrass the person receiving the tip. The price you pay here in Japan already includes any service charges. I’ve heard stories of people leaving tips behind at restaurants and being chased down the street by the staff member trying to return the tip.

2. Addressing People with Respect 

Japan is very much a country of respect and it is important to follow these rules and traditions. Bowing is a key method of greeting, apologizing and showing respect in Japan. Learning how to correctly bow will assist you in adjusting and fitting in. Bowing is an art form in Japan and there are different bows used depending on the person you are addressing. Use a 30 degree bow for friends or people on the same social status as you, and a 70 degree bow for superiors and senior people to show respect. Polite language is also important and I would recommend picking up some keigo (respectful language) and using honorifics to show respect.

3. Learn how to use Chopsticks 

Try and figure out how to correctly use chopsticks before arriving in Japan. They are common place when eating out at Japanese restaurants. In many cases you will be required to use them, so it pays to learn the correct way. It is not hard to learn and I actually prefer them now when eating most of my meals in Japan.

4. Slip on Shoes (Leave the Laces at Home) 

It is customary to remove your shoes when entering a house, Japanese style accommodation, some restaurants and even companies for work. Most places will have a shoe rack or special place to store your shoes at the entrance with slippers to wear while you are there. I would recommend bringing some slip on shoes with you as this will make your life a lot easier. Tip: Make sure to wear matching socks and that they don’t have holes in the toes. Additional Note: There are also special slippers for wearing in the toilet. Just remember to save embarrassment and don’t wear them outside the toilet.

5. Cash is King 

Japan is still a largely cash based society where cash is the most widely used method of payment. Credit Cards are becoming more common, but you will still need to carry a sufficient amount of cash with you at all times as most regular business will not accept a credit card. The places that do are still very few and far between.

6. Table Manners 

Never pass food with your chopsticks and definitely don’t stick the chopsticks into your rice, which represents an act performed at funerals in Japan. It is also customary not to pour your own drink at restaurants but to have it poured by someone else. Slurping your noodles is fine in Japan and is actually a sign to show the chef that you are enjoying the meal. Remember to politely say “Itadakimasu” (I will receive) before digging in to your meal.

7. Don’t Rock the Boat 

Japan is very different from most western countries whose culture promote and foster individualism. Japanese culture and society values and places emphasis on group harmony and working for the good of the group. Never talk on your mobile phone on the train or bus, or eat food outside on the street unless you are at a festival. As a foreigner in Japan it is hard not to stick out like a sore thumb, but try and conform to the way things are done here and follow the rules and you will not stand out as much.

8. Bathing in Japan 

It is common practice in Japan to skip the morning shower for a good old soak in the bath before going to bed at night. You need to wash yourself before enjoying that soak in the bath. In a Japanese household the whole family will share the same bath water, so it is of utmost importance to ensure that the water stays as clean as possible. I recommend enjoying the many onsen (hot springs) and sento (public bath houses) located around Japan. Just one thing, don’t be shy about being naked with others which is the way it’s done here in Japan.

9. Learn as Much Japanese as you Can

Learn as much Japanese as you can before arriving in Japan. This will make your life and experience in Japan a lot more enjoyable and easy. It will also have an amazing effect in building rapport and strong bonds with the locals. Your Japanese ability will help you make friends and adjust to your daily life more comfortably. Most Japanese are still of the belief that foreigners cannot master Japanese, so any of the native lingo that you can speak will surprise them and make them appreciate your efforts.

10. Free WiFi is Rare 

While the number of places offering free WiFi in Japan is increasing, access is not something that you can count on all the time. Places like Starbucks offer the service free of charge, but you need to create an account in advance in order to be able to use it. A lot of hotels, stations and convenience stores in Japan also offer the service, which is great while travelling. You can also find it available at some restaurants and coffee shops as well.

Gaijin in Tokyo, Unite!

Tokyo is an endlessly fascinating city for tourists from all over the world. Now that Japan is steadily recovering from 2011’s devastating natural disaster, the number of visitors to the country has been on the rise again. The vast majority of travelers pay the bustling capital at least a brief visit. However, what seems fascinating and exciting to the casual visitor can quickly become confusing for those who decide to settle in Tokyo.

In 2010, over 420,000 foreign residents lived in the vast metropolitan area of Tokyo. Most new arrivals must have asked themselves the same questions over and over again: In which part of the city should I start looking for an apartment? Where can I send my kids to school? Do doctors in Japan speak English? Or just, how can I meet other gaijin? Here’s where communities such as InterNations come in – to help foreigners in Tokyo find answers to their enquiries.

The Munich-based start-up company was established in autumn 2007 as a virtual platform for expats and all kinds of “global minds” from around the world. Since its humble beginnings, it has changed into the largest social network for expatriates worldwide. The local InterNations communities in 350 international cities are now housing nearly 650,000 member’s altogether – around 3,250 among them live in the Tokyo area. Originally, InterNations was supposed to provide website content (like their short guide to Tokyo) and to connect its member base only online. However, they turned out to show a great demand for face-to-face meet-ups away from the computer screen and the smartphone display. Most communities therefore have their own “Ambassador” team – between one or three volunteers from local expat circles, who host get-togethers on a regular basis.

The current InterNations Ambassadors in Tokyo are three expatriates from the capital’s US American community, who have lived in Japan for up to 17 years. Their professional and practical experience can help newly arrived overseas residents to get their bearings. But even if you have been living in Japan for a while, InterNations can get you in touch with new, interesting folks from all over the globe.

There are monthly expat events in favourite gaijin hangouts, such as Biervana in Akasaka, Hobgoblin in Roppongi, and What the Dickens in Shibuya. But if a nice chat over a glass of beer isn’t quite your idea of a good time, the recently introduced InterNations Activities Groups offer alternative meetings on a smaller scale. They focus on more specialized topics, like professional networking to make business contacts in Japan, dining out in Tokyo’s many restaurants, or attending photography and arts exhibitions. If you are an expatriate living in the Tokyo metropolitan area and want to meet more people to share your hobby with, why not launch a new InterNations group yourself?

The community is also looking for committed expats who’d like to get the members in the Kansai area (Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka) together to launch local events there as well.