Life Abroad

Healthcare systems vary throughout the world. Visit this section to learn about Japan’s social healthcare system, find out what kind of doctor you should go to, and even print bilingual intake forms to take with you to your first doctor visit.

These forms come directly from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Even if your clinic insists on you using their proprietary form, you can still print out a form from the list and use it as a reference guide.

It’s important that you know how to address an emergency situation while living abroad. Look through this section to learn about Japan’s emergency response system.

It can be difficult and intimidating to buy medicine in Japan, especially if you can’t read the box. Look through our comprehensive lists of the most common medicines you can buy in Japan, with all the information about them in English to help you purchase medicine confidently.

Prescription medication looks different in every country, and Japan is no different. Click here to learn about how prescriptions work, how to get refills, and why you get so many medicines when you go to the doctor.

Sex happens, and language barriers shouldn’t prevent you from taking care of yourself. Here you can find the information you need on men’s and women’s contraception (including non-contraception uses for female contraception methods), STD testing, and when to bring your contraception from home.

Whether you’re trying for a baby or trying not to have a baby, ovulation tests can be very useful. Click here to check out the most popular ovulation tests in Japan.

Click here to find out about the dental system in Japan, what products are in general use, and what you can expect to pay for various treatments.

Whether you need pads, tampons, or any number of the alternative products that are popular in recent years, you can find what you need complete with pictures, and descriptions in English.

When you don’t know what a product is for or even what the package says, what do you do? Have someone send what you need from home? Sure, you could do that. You could also look through our comprehensive list of skin care products, complete with product pictures, descriptions, and use all in English.

The selection of products for various hair types is much lower in Japan than other countries, but armed with our complete list of the most popular and widely available hair products in Japan, you can try to find a domestic product for your hair care needs.

Though toothpaste is pretty straightforward, it is helpful to know what each product is for and what it tastes like. Take a look through our list or select a category from the menu to see the most popular and widely available dental hygiene products in Japan.

What do people in Japan use to clean a cut? Treat a burn? Look through our list or select a category from the menu to see the most popular and widely available wound care products in Japan.
Use our website at the store to help you locate what you’re looking for, or show a shop clerk the picture so they can find it for you. Most of these products can even be bought on Amazon Japan to make it even easier for you.

This section will help you in the job changing process, starting with the most important part: writing the perfect resume.

Need to mail something? Click here to see what the Japan Postal service offers!

In Japan, you can never just throw something away. Click to learn about how to sort your trash, and what items go in which category.

While there may not be much in the way of representation, there are churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples throughout Japan. Click here to see the full list of religious facilities and their web addresses.

Trying to figure out what laundry detergent is for and what’s in it in Japan is quite a task. We’ve taken that task for you. Take a look through our list of the most popular and widely available laundry products in Japan.
Use our website at the store to help you locate what you’re looking for, or show a shop clerk the picture so they can find it for you. Most of these products can even be bought on Amazon Japan to make it even easier for you.

Need to know how to use your washer or how to operate the machines at a laundromat? Scroll down or select from the menu to learn how!

Everyone has to clean at some point, and we help you do that by telling you what everything is for and what it’s called. Take a look through our list of the most popular and widely available cleaning products in Japan.
Use our website at the store to help you locate what you’re looking for, or show a shop clerk the picture so they can find it for you. Most of these products can even be bought on Amazon Japan to make it even easier for you.

Shopping can be intimidating when you don’t know where to buy what you need. We have a list of the most popular shops and what they sell, from furniture to stationery and variety goods to used books. We have information on the following types of stores.

・ Home Goods
・ Drug stores
・ Second hand stores

The most common complaints from foreign residents in Japan is summer is too hot and winter is too cold. In the land of thin walls and individual-room heating, dealing with temperature swings can be tough.
Take a look through the most common products natives use to help them get through temperature extremes. Use our website at the store to help you locate what you’re looking for, or show a shop clerk the picture so they can find it for you. Most of these products can even be bought on Amazon Japan to make it even easier for you (except kerosene!).

Public transportation in Japan is extremely convenient, so much so that many people do not even have a driver's license, let alone a car.
You can go almost anywhere in the country using public transport, so don't let your lack of a car or friend with a license keep you from exploring.
Check out this section to learn more about Japan's railways, the train lines and schedules in your area, how to buy a train ticket, and how to use the bus.

Living in Japan throughout spring and summer means a battle with bugs. It seems there are constantly mosquitoes everywhere, waiting to get a sip of you. At home, you may have dastardly cockroaches hiding in the shadows. And then on top of it all, you have to deal with itchy bug bites.

But fret not, we have detailed descriptions, pictures, and explanations of the most popular insect repellents, roach traps/poisons, and itch relief products in Japan.
Select a category from the left or scroll through to see the whole list.

Staying connected is important in the modern world. Visit this section to learn about internet in Japan, what types of internet service exist, how much they cost, and how fast they are.

Symbols are an important part of life, and understanding them is crucial to not only minor things like washing clothes correctly, but also being safe on the road, whether you're walking, biking, or driving.

Whether you want to try your hand at Japanese cooking to help you assimilate, learn new skills, or just to save some money, you can learn everything from basics to advanced techniques here. More to come very soon!