Moving to Japan help!

Ok am moving to Tokyo in August with my by then new wife (any help on that would be useful too) what do I need to know?
Am trying to learn Japanese. Why is there no SG Japan group?
Aaaaaaaargggh scary! Can't Wait though!

There is a SGJapan group.

I have thought about moving there myself. What are you planing on doing for money if you don't speak Japanese? Teaching English?

I lived in Tokyo for 4 months, and am going back for a year.

#1 - You're not alone, there are plenty of English speaking people.

#2 - If you do any business with them, either they know english or they have interpreters

#3 - It's one the best places on earth, have a blast.

Put your money in that little tray.

I can't wait to get there its so different to here (UK).
I am basically going over there as a dependant of my by then wife. We are going to be based near Shibuya (excuse any spelling). I am looking at maybe learning the language well enough to get a degree when we do come back in a year or two.
Although while I hopefully wont need a job at first and am going to work as PA for my girlfriend to make sure we settle in, eventually I will try to get a job either as a translator or teacher as there seems to be plenty of jobs over there in that area and the pay is ok. If you fancy it Gaijin Pot has a jobs section come join us over there help us through the culture shock.
I thought I had looked for the SG Japan group so thanks for putting it under my nose I appreciate it.

Well, first of all, everyone in Japan is either a ninja, related to a ninja, or not a ninja but really secretly a ninja. Anyone who isn't one of those things is probably a pirate trying to spy on the ninjas, but the ninjas already know about him because they are ninjas.

You should do three things to avoid being attacked by ninjas.

1. Buy some really cool sunglasses.

2. Get an awesome haircut.

3. Don't hang out with pirates in public places, or anywhere else, because if you can't see your shadow their is most likely a ninja hiding in it and watching you.

But, as to actual advice I have none. Though I suppose learning what is and is not considered polite and then smiling a bunch and being nice to people couldn't hurt.

Ooh, and find a list of snack foods that are available where you are now but very difficult to get ahold of in Japan. I bet you a nickle you could get some currency out of them with other expats.

My prefecture is actually the birthplace of ninja.

Very good advice. You need to be sure you're not alone with any ninjas either, heh. Badddd things there. I'll point you here to see why. Note the Inverse Ninja Law.

No.

I completely disagree with this whole thread.

Screw Japan, nothing good can come from venturing deep into the heart of ninja-territoty... Unless ye be a ninja, scalliwag...

Be ye a ninja?

Be ye?

Cash is king.

This is some of the best advice I've heard you should send it to the rough guide. I can't remember the last time I saw my shadow. Its too dull over here in the UK. Maybe some geezer has nicked it or it moved out to Japan before I did. If all else fails, we have a ninja friend she should set us on the right track.

Sweet i've always wanted to go there. So many wonderful toys. Have fun and be safe dude.

Ok, Ninjas I think would win though I have pirate tendancies, I think Im Pirate-curious?

Anyway thats no what I'm on about, how come theres no Cash or credit cards in Japan? What the hell is there no ATM's? Does everyone queue up in the bank everytime theres a sale on/ need money? WHY!? How does this ever work in real life? Internet shopping?????????

There are credit cards in Japan, most of the places take Visa or whatever card their banks give them (which in order to do that ya need to know a little nihongo). I dunno, maybe it's different up there, in Okinawa it's like this. Oh, and no ninjas down here hehe...

[Edited on Mar 08, 2006 by S14Dragon]

You would say that, wouldn't you...Pirate?!

Damnit, didn't read the ninjavspirate thing until you said something hehe....I'm Samurai sucka! Hehe....

There is cash. Everyone pays with cash. Some places take credit cards, but usually just for hotels and things like that. There are ATMs also, although they aren't 24 hours (mine close around 7:00), and if you use them on the weekends there's usually a fee, even at your own bank.

Japanese booze is good stuff. Amazing what can be done with humble rice.

Ok now I'm confused, my guide books (which are always right) says that people dont have cards and everything is done with cash exclusively so. I guess this is an exaggeration then. Am used to the Uk with everything well 99% being card based.

The only place I ever used a credit card in Japan was at a hotel in Nara when my mom came to visit me three years ago. I've never even seen anyone use a credit card at the grocery store. People use cash 99.9% of the time.

I live near Shibuya.

I live near Shibuya. What would you like to know?

She's right on the cash bit. You won't use card very often, BUT Citibank has 24 hour atms, conveniently located in Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Don't eat, drink, or talk in the cellphone on the train. It's considered very rude. Actually, don't eat or drink unless you are sitting down in public, cause doing that while walking is also considered rude. Don't blow your nose in a restaurant, it's considered disgusting.

Ok, I'm making Japan sound really uptight, but its not...these are just mistakes I have made, and wish someone had told me before I did.

Send me a message if you would like to know anything specific.

Learning Japanese, you'll be Learning Japanese, I really think so.

eat everything. EVERYTHING!