Things you forget to pack

[Sr Pasta]

I'm going to Kyoto for three months at the end of March. It'll be my first time in Japan. Right now I'm going through things that I'll need to fix, buy and pack. I'll rent a rather empty room in a regular apartement, owned by a japanese.

So, does anyone have any fond memories of things they forgot to pack when going to Japan? What are the things you don't realize you wanted until you've been away for a months? What are the things you realize right when you step out from the plane getting there that you are unbelievably stupid to have forgotten?

[GaijinPunch]

Didn't happen to me, but a friend of mine. Underwear... and lots of it.
I'll tell you now as well. Stock up on toiletries that you like, b/c things like deodorant in Japan are REALLY bad. Japanese shaving cream is also pretty weak. I like Edge Gel... it is like paradise on my cheeks!


EDIT: Condoms

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

The end of March is a season of a cherry tree.
Kyoto will be very beautiful. :cool:
Please watch a cherry tree of Yoshino by all means.

I recommend that you take household medicine with you.
When I traveled in Europe, I caught cold in Belgium. :relief:
I had a very painful time then because I forgot only a cold medicine.
There is uneasiness in buying medicine in a foreign country.
I understand neither quantity nor an effect.
I suggest that I take the medicine which you usually use.

[epigene]

Yes, excellent time to be in Kyoto! I envy you! I just hope the cherry blossoms aren't early this year!!

Nagashima-san's right. It's the other way around in my case, but my daughter brings all conceivable medicine and prescriptions to the US. It may be something about dosage...

Underwear is important, too, since it appears that they are sewn to fit the average person in the country.

Toiletries including shampoo are very different. For someone who's used to Japanese stuff, Western products are too strong-smelling, and shampoo doesn't seem to work as it should.

GaijinPunch and Nagashima-san's suggestions are very good! :cool:

[Mike Cash]

I ran out of cigars at work today. Does that count?

[Sr Pasta]

Thanks everyone! I'll probably show up at Kyoto at April 1st, which should be just about when the cherry blossom begins. Should have gone just a bit earlier though :)

I was thinking about anther thing: I want to buy some 10-20 books while in Japan, and it might be cumbersome to get them home. Does anyone know if it's be very expensive to mail them or use a delivery company?

[GaijinPunch]

I ran out of cigars at work today. Does that count?

Not even close. You can buy Cubans in Japan.

Sr Pasta: Yes, it'll be very costly/cumbersome to get them home, either way you slice it. Here's the Japanese Post Website (http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html). It is the cheapest solution around. You're looking for boat, or SAL, FYI.

[Mike Cash]

Not even close. You can buy Cubans in Japan.


Maybe you can. I can't.

I had one of those days where one workday runs seamlessly into the next one, without having a chance to go home. When I figured out this was going to happen, I left a couple for the next day. The second one, unfortunately, turned out to be tighter than a bullfighter's britches and I was in danger of collapsing my eardrums trying to draw on the thing. It got chucked out the window. Hence, I ran out.

There are a very (VERY) few online cigar merchants who deliver to Japan, and bargains can be had. Most of them only want to ship via FexEx, though, which is murderous.

[DoctorP]

Maybe you can. I can't.

I had one of those days where one workday runs seamlessly into the next one, without having a chance to go home. When I figured out this was going to happen, I left a couple for the next day. The second one, unfortunately, turned out to be tighter than a bullfighter's britches and I was in danger of collapsing my eardrums trying to draw on the thing. It got chucked out the window. Hence, I ran out.

There are a very (VERY) few online cigar merchants who deliver to Japan, and bargains can be had. Most of them only want to ship via FexEx, though, which is murderous.

Mike, let me know if there is something specific that you want...I may be able to get it and ship it to ya!

[akeenan]

Japanese shaving cream is also pretty weak. I like Edge Gel... it is like paradise on my cheeks!
you can buy many kinds of shaving cream in japan

[Mike Cash]

Mike, let me know if there is something specific that you want...I may be able to get it and ship it to ya!

I've found a place now with a good selection, low prices, and which does shipping via the post office.....which is MUCH cheaper than FedEx. I might take you up on that kind offer sometime. But since I order about once a month it would be too much of an imposition to ask you to do it on a regular basis. Anyway, most online merchants would recoil in horror at an overseas order where the billing and shipping addresses didn't match!

[GaijinPunch]

Mike, are you nowhere near Tokyo? There's tons of cigar bars... I don't think they do mail order, but I'm sure SOMEWHERE does if you just look. I'm not too much of a turd guy, but the guys I work with are... all of which lived Tokyo... I gotta assume one of them would know.

[Mike Cash]

Mike, are you nowhere near Tokyo? There's tons of cigar bars... I don't think they do mail order, but I'm sure SOMEWHERE does if you just look. I'm not too much of a turd guy, but the guys I work with are... all of which lived Tokyo... I gotta assume one of them would know.

I am well north of Tokyo. Although I am down there practically every day for work, I only very very rarely spend any leisure time there.

The chief point, though, is I have no intention of paying the prices that the Japanese government sets for cigar sales. I can get a much wider selection, much cheaper, and delivered to my door by ordering online.

[thearchpoet]

Yes, excellent time to be in Kyoto! I envy you! I just hope the cherry blossoms aren't early this year!!

Nagashima-san's right. It's the other way around in my case, but my daughter brings all conceivable medicine and prescriptions to the US. It may be something about dosage...

Underwear is important, too, since it appears that they are sewn to fit the average person in the country.

Toiletries including shampoo are very different. For someone who's used to Japanese stuff, Western products are too strong-smelling, and shampoo doesn't seem to work as it should.

GaijinPunch and Nagashima-san's suggestions are very good! :cool:
Question about Shampoo: I'm asian but I live in the USA (have for most of my life). Is it really a big difference between the two? B/C what I find with American bath products is that my hair poofffs like crazy after I wash it... Americans apparently need volumizing stuff....

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Thanks everyone! I'll probably show up at Kyoto at April 1st, which should be just about when the cherry blossom begins. Should have gone just a bit earlier though :)

I was thinking about anther thing: I want to buy some 10-20 books while in Japan, and it might be cumbersome to get them home. Does anyone know if it's be very expensive to mail them or use a delivery company?

It is a homepage of a Japanese post office. :bluush:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html

An international's house express letter is considerably high.
EMS of a post office is considerably cheap.

[Dekamaster]

When I went to Tokyo, I ate seafood for dinner. I had an allergy attack. Good thing my friend bought with her some medicines. I bought my walkman also, hoping to hear some Jpop, but alas, the frequencies were different. All I could hear was static. I dunno about shaving creams, my hotel had one in their bathroom kits and it was better than Gillette.

[epigene]

Question about Shampoo: I'm asian but I live in the USA (have for most of my life). Is it really a big difference between the two? B/C what I find with American bath products is that my hair poofffs like crazy after I wash it... Americans apparently need volumizing stuff....
I can't speak for every Asian person, but I think American shampoos in general are developed for Caucasian (i.e., finer) hair. Japanese hair is thicker (not in density--I mean the thickness of each hair :relief: ). Probably you'll fare better with Japanese shampoo, but I don't recommend you going too far to get one. It's not worth the hassle and expense. Maybe you can experiment when you visit Japan!

[GaijinPunch]

The chief point, though, is I have no intention of paying the prices that the Japanese government sets for cigar sales. I can get a much wider selection, much cheaper, and delivered to my door by ordering online.

Pricey, yes, but since Cubans are not kosher in the states, they're still like half the price... unless you have a good connection on contraband things that is. :)

[BlackenedEyes]

Question about Shampoo: I'm asian but I live in the USA (have for most of my life). Is it really a big difference between the two? B/C what I find with American bath products is that my hair poofffs like crazy after I wash it... Americans apparently need volumizing stuff....

Ya think you got it bad... my hair reminded my mom of a dish sponge. After 20 years I still don't know what the heck to do with it. I mean, when I was 6 my brother got a "bowl cut"... my dad literaly took a bowl and put it on his head... and even that looked better than my hair.

For some reason though, when ever I look at a japanese person's hair, it looks like it's realy thin. I wish mine would lay down like that.

[Mike Cash]

Pricey, yes, but since Cubans are not kosher in the states, they're still like half the price... unless you have a good connection on contraband things that is. :)

Even at half the price (or less), I'm not interested in Cubans. My money goes to purchase stuff for everyday use, and very little for a once-in-a-while treat. I primarily buy Honduran and Nicaraguan.

[mad pierrot]

I'd also bring some condoms.

[Xkavar]

In the words of Douglas Adams, "Don't forget the towel."

Seriously.

You don't want to be borrowing anyone elses', particularly a towel from a male roommate. Just a little too close there.