Your New House
Garbage
If you are someone who cannot stand to have garbage lying around for a week before it gets put out, then you will praise the burnable garbage (moeru gomi) system in Japan. Burnable garbage is collected three times a week in most areas. Collection days vary from area to area. Just take your garbage out to the neighborhood rubbish depository on the mornings of the collection days. It is a cultural faux pas to take your garbage out the night before. Non-burnable garbage (moenai gomi) such as aluminum foil, tin bottle caps, plastics, etc., is another story. Non-burnable garbage is collected less frequently in most areas. Collection days will vary depending on your area.
Lastly, recycling systems do exist in many areas of Niigata Prefecture and they are quite complicated. Recyclable material is to be carefully sorted and disposed of once or twice a month depending on the recycled item (glass one day, cardboard another, etc.). Batteries might also be collected in your area four times a year. Recycled items may be collected at a location other than your regular garbage collection point. More information may be obtained (including a collection poster possibly in English) through the office of your Town or City Hall. Also most grocery chains have drop-off places for some recyclable materials, mainly PET bottles, styrofoam and aluminum cans.
Mildew and Mold
Since it's so humid in Japan, you may find traces of mildew and mold growing in certain areas of your apartment. The best way to combat this unwelcome growth is to have a few "dry pets" (small plastic receptacles containing a desiccant) to absorb the moisture in the air. A dehumidifier may also be a worthwhile investment, especially for the rainy season. You should keep a "dry pet" underneath your sink; inside your closets, drawers, shoe cupboards and anywhere else that is particularly dark and damp.
Cockroaches and Mosquitoes
In Japan's warm climate, cockroaches can be a real problem. One thing you should not do, no matter how tempting it may be, is to smack at them when they scurry across your floor. Female cockroaches carry eggs. By crushing them you solve the immediate problem, but their eggs will survive and be scattered about your apartment floor, thereby increasing your dilemma. Hence, invest in a few "cockroach hotels" (small boxes containing a poisonous substance that attracts cockroaches) and place them in your cupboards. Cockroaches tend to dwell in areas where the air is moist and stale, so by keeping your cupboard doors open you will decrease the chances of finding cockroaches. Most importantly, take care in keeping your tables and floors crumb-free.
Mosquitoes can be another source of grief during the summer months. To ward off those pests in your home, you can purchase an electric mosquito repellent, which emits an invisible vapor that keeps the buggers away. Green and fragrant incense coils can also be used to the same effect; however, the odors of these coils often leave something to be desired.
Transportation
Trains
For more information about JR transportation including scheduling assistance, contact the JR East Info-line. JR's English-language telephone service provides information not only about JR trains, but also about nationwide transportation, including private train lines and buses. It is available Mon - Sun, 10 AM to 6 PM. NO SERVICE AVAILABLE DURING NEW YEARS HOLIDAYS, tel. 03-3423-0111. WEBSITE (available in English) www.jreast.co.jp. Types of trains
JR trains are classified by the number of stops and travel speed. All trains require a basic fare ticket (josha-ken). Faster trains will require a second ticket that covers the express charge.
Shinkansen - Bullet Train - The fastest train in Japan.
Tokkyu - Limited Express Train. Stops only at a few stations.
Kyuko - Express Train - Stops at some stations.
Kaisoku - Rapid Train - Skips some stations, but costs the same as a local train.
Futsu - Regular or Local Train - Stops at all stations.
Types of tickets
There are many kinds of discounted train fares. Please ask your supervisor and other JETs for details.
One such heavily discounted ticket is called the Seishun 18 (Juu-hachi) Kippu which is offered three times a year and gives you five days of unlimited, nationwide travel on local and rapid JR (Japan Railways) trains for only 11,500 Yen, or 2,300 Yen per day!
Highway Bus
This is a great way to get around Japan. It is far more comfortable and cheaper than the trains. For trips within Niigata Prefecture, buses stop along the expressway in just about every town. The trick is getting to the expressway. Buses originate from Joetsu (Takada and Naoetsu train stations), Kashiwazaki, Nagaoka, Sanjo-Tsubame (Shinkansen Station), Niigata City, and Shibata. Go to a bus terminal (near the train station in any of these cities) and get a map for the buses that depart from that area. Fare cards can be purchased at bus terminals that give you a ten to 16 percent discount on travel depending on how expensive of a card you buy. (On Japanese buses you don't have to carry change, attached to the money collection machine is a change dispenser that changes everything from 100 yen to 1,000 yen notes).
Buses for longer distances such as Tokyo and Osaka are truly luxurious with TV's, toilets and wide chairs that lay back almost into a bed. Reservations are required for these buses and can be made up to 1 month in advance. There is a round-trip ticket discount, which is valid for 10 days from the date of departure. Buses travel to the following cities: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Yamagata, Sendai, Yokohama, Nagano, Kyoto and Osaka. To make a reservation call Niigata Kotsu Bus Reservation Center at 025-241-9000. For more information about any highway bus contact the Niigata Kotsu Co. Bus Center at 025-246-6333. If you can read Japanese, Rakuten Travel is a site that offers better than market prices on reserved charter buses. No matter who you travel with, night buses are almost always cheaper (Just have a plan for when you arrive in Shinjuku at 6am).
City Bus
Outside of major cities, public transit is not as accessible as you would expect it to be in Japan. City buses are available, but they are expensive and not as convenient as you would want. Ask someone to help you figure out the bus schedule (you can buy a local schedule at the local bus terminal). Get on the bus at the back, take a numbered ticket from the machine, when you are ready to get off, look at the price under the number matching your ticket number and that is what you pay. Like the highway bus, change machines are available.
You can also buy bus cards and pre-paid tickets that save you from looking for money.
Driving in Japan
***Before you think about getting behind the wheel, make sure you have either an International Driving Permit (good from 1 year of purchase) or a Japanese Drivers License. More info on licenses here.
Many ALTs find owning a car a big convenience. Buying one can be tricky - a lot of paperwork - but well worth the trouble. If you buy a yellow plate (k-car), insurance and tolls are cheaper. Shakken is inspection insurance and it's expensive. But every car has to have it. When you buy a car, make sure to find out when the shakken expires. If you have questions about buying a car, please ask you supervisor and/or other JETs. Cars with four-wheel drive (most yellow plates come with it) are recommended for the harsh winters here and snow tires are a must.
Leasing a car from a dealer is an alternative to buying that can save you both money and paperwork. This option is more sensible for those who aren’t sure about staying more than one or two years, and even for those who stay, there is always the option of buying your leased car for a discount. Make sure you understand all the conditions of your lease before agreeing to them; an honest dealer should include all the necessary insurance, shakken, basic maintenance and things like snow tires to get you through the winter. For most (automatic) k-cars, you shouldn’t pay more than 25,000-30,000 yen a month, depending on features and spaciousness, and it should be a new car. One dealer many JETs recommend is Fujita Autos in Sanjo City (TEL: 025-632-2861); Mr. Fujita speaks very good English, explains all the paperwork, and is aware of the rules and procedures many Contracting Organizations ask their JETs to follow when acquiring a vehicle.
Once you have an insured car and a license, you can go anywhere. (There are some stipulations in your contract about driving during school hours, so check with your school about this.) If you want to get there fast, go by expressway (kosoku-doro). This is usually the most convenient way to get anywhere outside your city, but also the most expensive, as there are tolls. If you plan to drive on the expressway often, look into getting an ETC card, for which there are various discounts and the convenience of not stopping at toll booths.
In Niigata-ken there are three main expressways: The Hokuriku, which links Niigata City and Joetsu (running North-East/Southwest); The Kan-etsu, linking Niigata and Tokyo (starting in Nagaoka running North/South), and the Ban-etsu, which runs East/West to Fukushima. If you want to go North on an expressway from Niigata, then you have to go east to Sendai and then up. For more information, clickhere.
Route 8 is the main route between Itoigawa and Niigata. It comes up along the coast, bends inland through Nagaoka before it ends up in Niigata. From the south you can take Route 116 or 402 (the coastal road) to reach Niigata. Both start at Kashiwazaki. All three routes (8, 116, 402) take time. Buying an English Road Map at Kinokuniya is a good idea unless, of course, you can read kanji.
Renting a Car
Car rentals are available at most major train stations and airports. Renting a car is a very easy (but expensive proposition (sometimes 10,000 yen or more a day). Sometimes the company will not rent to you if you don't have a Japanese license. This policy is unpredictable. It is best to have a Japanese speaker or a travel agent make the arrangements for you.
Driving a moped
As you will probably be informed at various orientations, operating a moped without a driver's license for two-wheeled vehicles is not permitted. Most international drivers' licenses are for four-wheeled vehicles. Check your license to see which boxes are checked.
Shopping
Shopping on the Internet
Books, videos, CDs and DVDs can be ordered through the Internet by visiting the following web site: www.amazon.co.jp. Although the site is in Japanese, once you navigate it and create an account, you are only a few clicks away from fast delivery.
Video Rental
There should be at least one video store in your town. There is usually a small sign-up fee to become a member. Be warned, late fees are very high so make sure you can return the video on time. Before renting a video, have the clerk show you the kanji for English with Japanese subtitles (Nihongo jimaku) and dubbed video (Nihongo fukikae). You do not want a dubbed video unless you want to practice your Japanese listening comprehension.
Mail Ordering
If you are looking for clothes and shoes that fit, food that looks familiar or personal items like those back home, you may want to go the mail order route. Here are two popular services:
FBC - Foreign Buyers' Club - Japan-based company that is supplied through the US. There are three different stores here, with three different catalogues; the General Store, the Bookstore and the Deli. There are over 10,000 items available but only 2000 of them are listed in the catalogue. They speak English. There is an annual membership fee, an automatic shipping charge regardless of the size of the order and you must pay Japanese consumption tax (5%). Things from the General Store come in cases so you may want to order with a friend. Individual items can be purchased through the Deli. Delivery time for the General Store is one month. The other stores vary. All operators are English speakers. Telephone - 078-857-9001; Fax - 078-857-9005; web - www.fbcusa.com; East Court Two, Suite 203, 1-14 Koyochonaka, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658.
Tengu Natural Foods is an imported natural foods mail order service. Tengu sells many organic items and foods that can be eaten on a low-fat, vegetarian, or vegan diet. They also sell 100% recycled paper materials, organic personal care items, and cookbooks, including Moosewood and Laurel's Kitchen. The best parts are -- you can order anything in individual amounts and they deliver your order in only a couple of days (plus the people who work there are super friendly!) You can order by mail, fax, phone or e-mail in English or Japanese. The shipping charge is 900 yen and payment for the entire order is made through the Post Office after delivery. Telephone: 0429-85-8751; Fax: 0429-85-8752; web - http://www.alishan-organic-center.com/; Umehara 50-2, Hidaka-shi, Saitama-ken 350-12.
Community Centers There is one, no matter how small your town is. Find it. This may be the key to your making a home in Japan. The local community center might offer classes in Japanese, traditional cultural arts and martial arts. Many special interest clubs may be housed here, as well, like aerobics, photography and sports clubs. You can find out about all the local events here to start to feel like you are a part of the community. This is the place to go to make mochi (rice cakes) in winter and carry the mikoshi (portable shrine) in summer. If your Japanese is not at a "conversational level" you may need to bring a Japanese-speaking friend or a good dictionary and lots of patience with you. The International Affairs Division of the local city office will probably have an English speaker who can help you if all else fails.
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