Advice about Just in Case
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Go to a "dagashiya" to buy some souvenirs!
Other than donating the change to a local or national charity, I recommend going to a dagashiya and buying candies and other sweets for your friends and family back home. Japanese sweets are incomparable to those of other countries due to its creativity and variety. Perhaps you should avoid stickin…(101 words)
RieS
Keep your attire dark
Some women may wear a dark colored kimono but recently I've noticed that most women wear a black formal dress. Men wear a dark suit with a white shirt and a black tie.(33 words)
Kenji
Tullys or Starbucks
Some Tullys or Starbucks coffee shops provide AC power. They do have WiFi also but normally you have to subsribe to Japanese telecom subscribers to use.(26 words)
Asiantiger
JP (Japan Post) or Citibank ATM normally accept foreign cards
JP (Japan Post) or Citibank ATM normally accept debit and credit cards issued overseas. JP ATM can be found even in rural Japan.(23 words)
Asiantiger
Mochi-tsuki events
The rice cake making is carried out in a shrine,temple and a martial arts school, local community from about Decenber20 through around January 15.However, it is not often performed on December 29. This is because there is the jinx that a Japanese avoids a day to arrive of 4 and 9.Most of th…(121 words)
FRITZ
Use it in spurts
You can use English as a tourist in Japan. Just speak clearly and smoothly without running your words together.(19 words)
Kenji
They are there to help
Sometimes there is no officer in the police box because they are out on patrol. If you need to talk to someone just pick up the phone on the desk. You don't have to dial. An officer will answer on the other end.(43 words)
Kenji
Use your 100yen at McDonalds or 100yen shop
You may think what could be in your 100yen burger.There is so much you could choose from at a 100 yen shop.Food, gardening utilities, clothes, cups, you name it.If you wish to get most out of your change.100yen shop or Mc Donald's(45 words)
Yuuki I
Telepathy or just lost in translation?
Any major city in Japan you'll notice how crowed it can get.People don't yell or fuss.When you want to get through the people in the train.You simply put your hand out in front of the person you want to get by and people will know you want to go through.Amazing!!(54 words)
Yuuki I
Call TELL!
If you want an immediate counseling in English, it would be best to call the Tokyo English LIfe Line (TELL) for a free and anonymous phone call for any types of issues or information needed. They are open to calls from 9am to 11pm daily. Their telephone number is 03-5774-0992. If you want to me…(83 words)
RieS
Church services in English
St. Paul International Lutheran Church near Iidabashi station in Tokyo has English services and Sunday School for children too. Friendly people and services just like back home, you will find many nationalities and Japanese who attend regularly. Communion is held every Sunday. You can find infor…(52 words)
Kevin
Where are ATMs that accept my foreign issued bank card in Tokyo?
Japanese post offices in most major Japanese cities accept foreign-issued bank cards and credit cards.(15 words)
mark
Church in Tokyo
Franciscan Chapel Center (address: 4-2-37 Roppongi, Minato-Ku, phone: 03-3401-2141/2142) is the English-speaking Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Tokyo.(22 words)
Mayu
"Hajimemashite"
When you meet Japanese people, you can say "Hajimemashite", meaning "Nice to meet you."Even though you cannot speak Japanese well, that words will give Japanese people a sense of familiarity.(31 words)
elicok
Credit Cards
If you lose your wallet while traveling in Tokyo, I would recommend searching thoroughly, and waiting a few days for a report before cancelling your cards. One time, I lost my bag with my wallet and cancelled all my cards for fear of fraudulent use. However, after making a report to the local polic…(132 words)
KurtisW
Bring the prescription to the nearest pharmacy
You should have received the prescription from your doctor/hospital. You can just bring it to any pharmacy that has a sign of "処方せん" or "処方箋" that means "prescription".(27 words)
juninada
Slowly and directly
The first thing you can try when you communicate to non native English speaker is just speaking slowly. Another thing is try speaking directly. For example using active sentence instead of passive or try not using too much polite expressions.(40 words)
juninada
Tokyo Counseling Services
I would recommend the Tokyo Counseling Services which offer counseling in both English and Japanese. You can listen to an interview on Tokyo Podcast with Dr. Andrew Grimes who is the director of the clinic. http://www.tokyo-podcast.com/suicide-in-japan/(40 words)
anthonyjoh
When accidents happen
When you are in an accident.Things to know are...Was anyone hurt?Did you damage someone else property?Know your insurance before hand. The police in Japan will not help you, they will only do their job. Which is take record of the accident, they won't tell you who's fault is was. That's n…(137 words)
Yuuki I
Catholic Mass
St. Ignatius Church in Yotsuya/Kojimachi, adjacent to Sophia University (the Jesuit university), has Mass in English(17 words)
Mike's
Many stores catering to mountain climbers
Many stores that cater to mountain climbers and hikers usually have items useful in responding to disasters (water purifier bottles for example); the Ogawamachi area of Tokyo, near Ochanomizu/Meiji University/Nikolai-do (Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral), is full of such stores, but ICI Ishii S…(91 words)
Mike's
Arigato, demo Gomennasai
Say thanks but no thanks - "Arigato, demo Gomennasai"... or better yet for English-speakers, "Thank you, demo Gomennasai" and if the "inviter" is persistent, just say "No, no, Gomennasai"(29 words)
Mike's
Don't hesitate!
Do not hesitate to ask around! There are so many services around you that are willing to help you get to your destination. I recommend either 1) Go to the information desk at the nearby mall or department store, 2) go to the police station or 3) ask a foreigner (or local) on the street (they may be…(76 words)
RieS
Go to a nearby cellphone store!
When I run out of battery on my cellphones and if I am not carrying along a charger, I often go to a nearby cellphone store and ask them if I can charge my phone. The cellphone store you go to, however, depends on your mobile phone operator (the biggest ones being Docomo, AU and SoftBank). You shou…(83 words)
RieS
Usually on New Year's Day, people hold mochi-tsuki events near the shrines or governmental facilities.
You can participate in this event. Entry fee money is 500 yen. It is 10 minutes' walk from Shibuya Station.①KODOMONOSHIROhttp://www.kodomono-shiro.jpMAPhttp://map.livedoor.com/map/?lat=35.6590833333333&lng=139.710611111111&name=&zoom=(33 words)
Spaceman
Don't worry!
If you are at a department store or mall, I recommend you to go to the information desk to give the lost item that you have found. If you are on the street, it would be best to give the lost item to the police station. Although they may ask you to fill in a form, do not hesitate. You will have …(111 words)
RieS
Men In Black
When going to a funeral in Japan.Wear a black suit and a black tie.Also bring along a Jyuzu it is believed that the round stones keep away spirits that you don't wish to take home.(37 words)
Yuuki I
harsh or soft?
In an informal occasion, for example if asked to enter a restaurant or bar by an employee or if a waiter is asking whether you would want another drink or dessert, the most simple and straightforward way would be to say, "kekkoudesu" (meaning "no, it's okay") would be okay. This does not sound as h…(103 words)
RieS
In the case of a small car accident
If a small car accident, such as bumping into another car, you should both go to the side of the road and discuss the situation. Let's say that person A's car bumped into person B's car. They should both take down the other car's license plate and ther other person's name, phone number and address.…(109 words)
RieS
Kinokuniya Bookstore in Shinjuku
I strongly recommend you should go to the two Kinokuniya book stores in Shinjuku. One is at the south exit and the other at the east exit of Shinjuku JR station. You can see lots of variety of English books there.(41 words)
yumin
Kansha shimasu
This pharse "kansya-shimasu" is to appreciate what you have done for me. This is one of the polite expressions to say thank you very much.(25 words)
yumin
Koban system
This is the unique sytem in Japan. Whenever or wherever you lose your way. why don't you stop by the police box, where the policemen kindly give you a helping hand where to go. You can make fully use of these police boxes.(43 words)
yumin
Always check your sound
Personally, when I use headphones in a crowded train, I triple check that the sound is not audible outside the headphones. Noise leakage from people's headphones can be a real pain in the morning on a crowded train, and for some reason, people are just oblivious to their own noise (and no one will …(97 words)
KurtisW
Leaving it alone may be best
Finding a lost item is an intersting situation. It all depends on where you "found" it. Seeing a phone, bag, laptop, or other valuable item placed ina train station with the owner clearly absent does not necessarily constitute a lost item in Japan. Although it may be difficult to leave alone, the …(131 words)
KurtisW
Gestures are just as important as phrases
If you forget the word for your gratitude, you can briefly look at the face of the person you are grateful for, and then tilt your head down forward. This should always work in any occasion. Depending on your relationship with the person, the angle of the tilt would be different. If your rela…(220 words)
KazuoN
Career Counselling
I support and help Japanese & non-Japanese with career coaching support. Feel free to contact me at bconkle@gettbac.com to schedule an appointment and let me help you develop your career in Japan.(33 words)
Career Coach Brent
Use simple English and write things down.
If you should encounter any difficulty when trying to communicate in English just use very simple slow English and if that doesn't work write it down. Most Japanese have a lot of passive English knowledge from their Jr. high school days but just have not had the chance to use it so may be a little…(76 words)
Career Coach Brent
Donate it!!!
In almost every convenience store there are boxes near the cash register for various causes and often you can see NPO groups at major train stations collecting donations for example seeing eye dogs so take that spare change and make a change with it. :-)(45 words)
Career Coach Brent