Things I Wish I Knew about Living Abroad in Japan the First Time

Back when I was still applying to this abroad program, as if my phone heard my thoughts, my algorithm was flooded with content about Japan (I’m sure yours is doing the same if you’re here reading this?). Things from the traveler’s perspective of the top 10 places to visit in Tokyo, to local street interviews in Japanese constructed my idyllic image of Japan – how it was a clean, beautiful place full of nice and accepting people.

In May, I was lucky enough to get into a separate program in Kyoto, where I stayed with a host family for two months. During this time, while that image of Japan was certainly held true, I can’t say my time abroad was without its hiccups.

As visiting students from other countries, it’s just as important to take care of yourself as it is the people around you, and that includes some habits that we might not have had back in our home countries.

Whether you’re going to Japan for a week or a whole semester, here are some simple things you can think of doing as you might be preparing to go to Japan (knowing these before going abroad definitely would’ve helped me adjust better):

1. Sorting your trash is going to be strict!

I know this is a strange thing to put first, but remember how I said people’s main image of Japan is its cleanliness? It’s because people really put in the effort to take care of their trash. This is not just a public, social responsibility, but also necessary in the privacy of your dorms/homes. With my host family, I was lucky to have people to teach me how to sort my trash, which you will probably have to do: separate bins for plastics, PET bottles, and burnable waste (sometimes a separate bin for papers and other recyclables.)

2. One man’s trash… is also another man’s trash

Again, more on trash – something I was definitely not used to was carrying around my own trash with me because of how few trash cans there are when you’re out in public areas in Japan. I certainly was annoyed with carrying my trash around at times. I had never realized how much trash or materials I went through in one outing. But once I realized how much of a norm it is to carry trash on your person before you find a bin, I felt like I was helping contribute to the cleanliness that everyone else could enjoy.

TLDR: Don’t litter!

3. Public transport etiquette

It’s considered public transport etiquette to not really talk when you’re on the train or bus. I heard of this rule prior to coming to Japan, but to experience it in person was different, because once I took a look at my surroundings, it was very obvious that everyone is trying to preserve the silence. While it’s something important to be mindful of, I wouldn’t let it stop you from talking (*at a softer volume) with your friends.

4. Mask culture

Outside of America, because people in America didn’t really wear masks prior to COVID, wearing masks is extremely common, especially for people in Asia. In Japan, whether it's because the pollen count is high, you woke up with a cough, or maybe you want to cover up your face since you didn’t put makeup on one day, the go-to is to wear a mask. The biggest benefit is if someone is suspecting they might be sick, to prevent anything from possibly spreading to someone else, the easiest solution is to wear a mask to prevent any spread.

Since attendance is important for everyone coming to IES Abroad, taking advantage of the availability of masks in Japan at any sign of sickness will go miles to help those around you.

5. Take care of yourself!

To that point, whether it’s your physical or mental health, make sure to take care of yourself! You’re your best advocate for your wellbeing. Similarly, those around you might be going through more similar things than you would think, so reach out to whoever you are comfortable with! I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I wanted to do if I hadn’t made sure to take care of myself.

P.S. The Vitamin C and Fiber Mini drinks from any convenience store in Japan will be your friends…

Making mistakes is a natural part of living in and adjusting to a different country. I’m certainly going to still be learning and adjusting while I’m in Tokyo in just a few weeks. If you’re coming to Japan as well, I hope these will serve as useful tips!