Cargo to Japan (from Puerto Rico)

[Nieves and Co]

Hello;

Due to my curiousity I've ran Google search on cargo from P.R to Japan (no luck yet) in order to pre-plan moving to Kyoto to study Architecture, 4 years after this May (once I finish studying Agronomy in Mayaguez [UPRM]} and I was wondering if maybe any of you might have an idea for cargo transportation that is from -or makes stops in- the Caribbean Sea.

I have already solved the question on airfare from here to there which comes out to around $1,383 from the San Juan Luis Mu~oz Marin International Airport (SJU), a 2-day flight, so that's not a problem.

Thanks in advance!

[Mike Cash]

How much stuff are you planning on bringing? And how large a place do you figure you'll have in Kyoto to stuff it all into?

Unless you're loaded with money, you're going to find space at a premium in Japan. Bring the bare essentials and leave the rest at home.

Agronomy and architecture? You going for a career designing grain silos and dairy barns?

[Nieves and Co]

How much stuff are you planning on bringing? And how large a place do you figure you'll have in Kyoto to stuff it all into?

Well, when it comes to material possessions: A car or pickup (don't know which is better), one of those portable electric stoves, an iron, a Dell PowerEdge T710 Server with monitor + keyboard, and that's pretty much it when it comes to cargo, but the only thing that worries me a bit is the 300 Chinese Juniper (bonsais) I must bring, along with a few other bonsais. I'll probably have to add my works of art with the cargo too.
Carry-on's for the flight: MacBook Pro, iPod Touch, my clothes, the laptop I'm typing this on (to be reverted into a radio broadcasting server), Wi-Fi station for when I get internet again and some dishes. The last two list items may go below with the luggage.

Unless you're loaded with money, you're going to find space at a premium in Japan. Bring the bare essentials and leave the rest at home.

You know it's actually funny and ironic. Believe it or not, two $40,000 loans are pretty easy to get and pay off here in Puerto Rico as things here are very cheap compared to the States, and having a S.S check of $1,100 arrive once a month doesn't hurt either as I'll have $300 left over for whatever every month if I pay $800 for the loan. Proof: I just got $20 today for fixing one laptop issue that, at least to me, was minor (OS-based). As for accommodation, not much space is really needed because about 90% of the items in that list aren't big. Plus, I can easily buy a TV, sofa and Tatami mat in the frontier.

Agronomy and architecture? You going for a career designing grain silos and dairy barns?

Hahaha, well I was thinking of building a multipurpose farm and gardenry to live in once I'm settled.
Agronomy is much, much more than what people think it is. It is, in a sense, studying Agriculture and all 300+ career branches. And taking the "Arbolista" test to get that license doesn't hurt a bit, in fact, it can set you for a while with litteraly around $500 per decision in the US.
As for Architecture, it's in demand much like Agriculture. Combining both forces can create the Eco-House of tomorrow you know. (And no, I'm not a hippie)


Well that pretty much covers your questions, I think.

[undrentide]

If you're going to stay in a major cities like Kyoto, you should not bring your car.
I'm sure it will not be worthwhile if you consider the export/import/registeration procedure, freight cost, plus cost for parking and maintenance.
Public transportation is much cheaper and reliable.

As to household utensils such as stove (not cooking stove but heating?) , iron and dishes, you can find them in Japan, and they are not expensive.
I'd like to suggest listing up all the things you'll need during your stay, and checking item by item whether you really need bring from your home country or you can procure them in Japan.

[Mike Cash]

I think you have no concept whatsoever how cramped and expensive living quarters are going to be.

Sell your car and find another when you get here. It is seldom worth the trouble and expense to bring a vehicle with you.

[Nieves and Co]

After coming to a slight conclusion: I shall definitely have to sell the car before going, I shall slao rethink the list of items (although most of them are official up to now. As for the small housing spaces, I have not much of a concept but I have seen a few videos demonstrating housing and the difference between US Housing and that of Japan. How much -on average- does a car usually cost in Japan (so I can have a better idea)? And also, how much does renting a house come out to per month?

[nekojita]

Living Expenses — Kyoto University

[Mike Cash]

How many square meters of space are you going to need for your 300 bonsai?

(Are you familiar with the expression "coal to Newcastle"?)

[Nieves and Co]

Well I plan to store them on "irrigation shelves" under any shaded areas I can find for the time being so a small yard should still cover it. As for the expression "coal to Newcastle", never heard of it. But by the way things are looking, I'll have to put some money where my (sometimes over confident) mouth is.

By the way, I just read something about the Master's Degree in Architecture not only being just over two years, but the ability for the shortening of the time span. I just want the Master's Degree, and if it's around the same price per year as Agronomy (around 583,000 JPY), it should only reduce the second loan by $20,000 or so, that would meen a bit more money for living expenses... I hope, because I can't seem to find any prices, which kind of frightens me a bit.

Home Research & Study Curriculum
Curriculum
Curriculum of Master's Program

To graduate with the Master degree, students are required to take a minimum of 30 credits and the research guidance for over two years (*). Students must pass the master thesis review and examination performed by the Graduate School of Engineering.
The credit table is shown as below. It is comprised of subjects organized by the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering , other related departments (the Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering), and highly related subjects organized by the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies and the Graduate School of Informatics. Except exercises, seminars and research papers, students are allowed to choose the other subjects.

* It is allowed to shorten the study period under approval. For example, after take Master degree in 1 1/2 years, it is possible to proceed to the Doctoral Program in October.

But of course, I will be seeking employment and more sources of income whilest I'm still studying in P.R, and still when I've moved to Japan.

[Mike Cash]

A "yard" is a luxury here, especially for urban dwellers.

Don't give up just yet, but also don't be surprised if the idea of bringing over and finding space to care for 300 bonsai in a major urban area on a student's budget turns out to be only slightly less impractical than bringing over a collection of 300 anvils.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you're probably going to be in an apartment that will have you wondering if the previous occupants were a family of rabbits. You want a yard, you're probably looking at a house (and even a lot of houses have nothing you would call a yard), and that entirety of your two loans won't cover even the most modest house.

You've still got a few years to look at stuff and work out details and options, but at this point you need to allow for the possibility that you may find yourself not bringing the bonsai with you....at least not all of them.

I know nothing about it, but you also need to check if any sort of plant quarantine applies and any associated costs, if any. Are they hardy enough to handle a couple of weeks in a container on a ship with no sunlight, water, or care? Or are you going to have to airfreight them? Those things can be valuable sometimes. Will you be liable for paying any sort of customs duty on them?

EDIT:

Here is a FAQ

[Nieves and Co]

Hmmm, then how about this: an adequate apartment, 150 or less bonsai (as they haven't even been planted yet), and have them air freighted.

EDIT: Thanks for the FAQ link, it will do my international business very well. Another benefit to studying Agronomy is learning how to make pesticides and prevent harm to the plants and their surroundings.

[Mike Cash]

I'm assuming they need to be kept outdoors. Is that correct? Everything is going to hinge on how much outdoor space you require, how much you're willing to pay for it, how far out of the urban center you're willing to get, diligent searching, and a whole lot of plain old-fashioned luck.

I have no idea what sort of space you require for raising plants in those numbers. You know more about that then I would.

[Nieves and Co]

Well actually, bonsai can be kept indoors (recommended) or outdoors. As for living space, as long as it meets these PRO's, it's good enough for me: Cheap (or at least not TOO expensive), a deascent amount of room for 1-2 people (not too big, but also not too small), and above all, peacefull (but I guess peace can be found anywhere, you just have to make it).

And anyway, most of these bonsai are meant to start selling as soon as possible.
Hmmm, luck may not be my forte, but it can all be done with good skill-set, knowledge and planing (logic).

[undrentide]

Sorry to post of negative information for the 2nd time, but I'm afraid that you cannot bring your bonsai to Japan - "plants attached with soil are prohibited entry" according to Plant Protection Station (Quarantine) of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

PLANT PROTECTION STATION
Plant Protection Station
Articles Prohibited Entry into Japan

Maybe you can start bonsai from the beginning once you are settled down in Kyoto.