Predeparture

Packing & General Advice
It is really easy to overpack. If you are planning on staying in Japan for 1-2 years, try to limit yourself to 2 checked bags and 1 carry-on bag. Additional baggage is expensive to ship to your placement, not to mention a hassle to wrangle in transit. Remember that when you decide to return to your country, your possessions will have probably doubled! So try to be as minimal as you can.

Things that might come in handy

 * laptops, cameras, watches, USBs, external hard drives, and other electronics
 * converter cables for apple products
 * Costco card for those who are already members (can be used worldwide!)
 * deodorant (a year's worth!)
 * make-up for darker skin tones
 * photos of friends & family for show and tell
 * some of your favorite snacks for the first few weeks
 * Gifts for schools & supervisors
 * Individually-packaged snacks (great because they can be easily shared by the office!)
 * Famous products from your state/hometown
 * Chocolates/candies, sweet wines, mixed nuts
 * Calendars or postcards of your state/hometown
 * Pens or typical souvenir-type things from your hometown
 * Souvenirs (t-shirts, caps, etc.) from sports teams or your university
 * Games (e.g., Jenga, Uno, Yahtzee, etc.; these are popular with club classes)
 * Nice coffee grounds, filters, and/or a French press (be aware that most people typically drink instant coffee and may not have a coffee maker or coffee grinder)

For gifts, please keep in mind that wrapping and presentation is also important. You can purchase wrapping paper or gift bags in Japan (ex, in 100 yen shops like Daiso, Seria, etc), and give the gifts during your first week at your placement. It is not necessary to give the gifts the moment you arrive - you can wait for a few days until you find the right moment.)

Some final tips on packing

 * Do you actually wear the items that you are considering bringing? If you don't wear those shoes in your home country, chances are you'll probably not wear them abroad!
 * Practice bowing in the clothing you intend to bring. Can you do a 90-degree bow and not flash anyone (blouses/skirts)?
 * For toiletries, you can probably find those here!
 * Don't overpack on things like cardigans since they will fit most body types.
 * You don't need to bring stationery supplies. They are abundant here!
 * Ask your supervisor before coming if you'll be taken to Daiso or a grocery when you arrive. That will determine the amount of toiletries and snacks you should bring.

Clothes
When considering what clothing to bring for school, it is best to ask your predecessor. The degree of formality varies from school to school, but it's better to be on the dressy side if you are unsure, especially for your first few weeks of teaching. Pantyhose are also generally worn with skirts and dresses. Avoid overly tattered clothing and socks with holes. Keep in mind that Japanese culture will require you to slip your shoes on and off several times throughout the day, as shoes are not worn in homes and many restaurants. For this reason, shoes that are easy to put on and take off are ideal in all situations.

Remember that Japan is more conservative about showing skin on your upper body (shoulders, arms, collarbone, etc). Exposed shoulders, cleavage, collarbones, midriffs, and backs are rare. If you have low cut shirts but do not want to buy an entirely new wardrobe, invest in high-necked camisoles to make your outfit more modest.

Even when exercising, wide-strapped sleeveless tops that cover most, if not all, of the top of your shoulders are still viewed negatively. Note that indoor-only shoes are used in workout facilities, so pack a pair of clean tennis shoes if you plan to utilize the gym. Pools often have a strict dress code of conservative one-piece swimsuits, longer swim trunks, and swim caps.

Winter Clothing
While most clothes that you pack will be perfectly fine, the following winter clothes will be necessary for the below freezing weather. Additionally, you do not have to bring the clothes in this list, but they are highly recommended. If you find that it is too much to bring (as many do), you can buy them here for good prices when the weather gets colder. You can also have people back home ship them to you later.
 * Down jacket
 * Muffler/scarf
 * Waterproof snow gloves
 * Waterproof boots (the practical kind)
 * HeatTech (from Uniqlo)

A rough packing list for clothes
This is a suggested packing list provided by a community member. Of course, use your own judgement. Note that sandals and open-toe shoes are worn with pantyhose or socks (to cover your feet). You will need to pack for both hot and cold weather.
 * Everyday, casual clothing
 * 1-2 pairs of shorts
 * a few t-shirts
 * 1-2 pairs of jeans
 * a couple shirts/blouses
 * 1-2 sweaters/warm cardigans
 * tennis shoes, sandals, and winter boots
 * 3-4 camisoles, undershirts, and leggings (for layering)


 * Business Professional and Business Casual Outfits
 * 1-2 nice blouses/collared shirts
 * 1-2 pairs of slacks or skirts
 * 1-2 pairs of closed-toed, comfortable dress shoes
 * 1-2 business professional outfits, including 1 black suit jacket (for graduation)
 * shoes for school (indoor)


 * Enough bras, underwear, hosiery, and socks to last a little over a week.
 * Consider: a rain jacket, the winter gear listed above, tops and bottoms that can be dressed up or dressed down when needed, any extra pairs of shoes.

If you are taller, curvier, have bigger feet, or are just in general larger than the average Japanese person, please stock up on clothing and shoes in your home country. Even if you are somewhat average (e.g., size 12 for women in the United States) it may be a struggle to find anything that fits. Bring a lot of pants at least, especially people with larger hips or thighs. It won't be impossible to find clothing that fits (jeans and work pants are the exception) but most shops won't cater to your size. You can always rely on online shopping if you are in a pinch. Bigger stores like Uniqlo and H&M will carry larger sizes online. When buying clothes in Japan, assume the sizes are one-size smaller than in your home country (that is to say, still try on the clothes)

Documents
Copy your passport, credit cards (front and back), and debit cards (front and back) twice each. Leave one copy in your country of origin with people you trust or in a secure place, and take one copy with you. Store them in a safe place in your apartment once you're settled. In case of a natural disaster or unforeseen circumstances, you will have back up copies.

Once you arrive in Japan, you will be given an identification card (residence card, 在留カード   Zairyuu Card). Never lose this card as it is your official ID as a resident of Japan. If you do happen to lose it, you will have to report its loss to the police station immediately and get a new one in Sendai. You must keep this card with you at all times in Japan. You do not need to keep your passport with you if you have the card. However, if you are traveling outside of Japan, you will need your passport again. If you are confronted by police without your identification card, you most likely be asked to pay a fine of 20,000 yen.

Medication
Plan far ahead as to how to receive necessary medication. Medication containing steroids are banned in Japan, and being found with them in possession can lead to harsh consequences. Inhalers, several kinds of allergy medication, Actifed, Sudafed, Codeine, etc. are not allowed in the country. However, a 2-month supply of over-the-counter medication is allowed.

Unfortunately, many prescription medications are prohibited in Japan, even if they are obtained legally outside of Japan. This includes medication such as Adderall. This is due to stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamines and amphetamines, being components in the medication. Prescription medication is allowed in only one-month supplies and must be accompanied by customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. It must also come with a letter stating the purpose of the drug (from your prescribing doctor). IF YOU DO BRING MORE THAN ONE-MONTH'S WORTH OF MEDICATION: You must obtain a "Yakkan Shoumei" Certification.

For more information, please refer to the your embassy's website. For Americans please go to the U.S. Embassy Website.

Money
Most people will tell you to bring around ￥250,000 ($2500 USD) but try to bring at least ￥300,000 ($3000 USD). It is especially important to bring a lot of money if your apartment predecessor is not going to leave you with anything. If your predecessor is willing to sell or give you furniture and/or house hold items it can save you a lot of startup costs. Contact your predecessor about any items they can offer you before departure. If you do not have a predecessor it is more likely that you will have to pay key money and/or purchase new furniture. The amount your school supplies you with will depend on your contracting organization. When purchasing items from your predecessor, it is a good idea to request photographs and the age of each particular item that they are trying to pass on to you.

Teaching Materials
If you can try to purchase flash cards with simple words and pictures, childrens books in English, stickers, flags, or anything tools that could spice up your classroom activities. Remember, though, that a lot of schools already have textbook-related flashcards and materials made. You can also make materials like sight word cards easily. So focus on finding things that you can't find here in Japan, like English storybooks you personally like, postcards from your hometown, photos of your hometown, or even video tours of the area you grew up in.