Helpful Links
While the lists below are not definitive they form the basis of a check-list of things to consider including in your shipment to Japan
General Household Items
Most "Western Style" household goods are available throughout Japan (NB Japan uses 100v).
Goods and transformers, while available, are bulky and expensive. Japan has a good range of household cleaning and washing products and the international supermarkets and Costco stock international (US predom.) brands as well.
Linens for king and king-single beds are not readily available. Linen in general is expensive unless you locate the outlets or have a Costco or Ikea nearby. Furniture in Japan is generally not made for tall or larger sized people. However, there are shops that sell imported furniture as well as second-hand stores. English language magazines are good sources of leaving (sayonara) sales.
Medical and Dental
Bring with you a few months' supply of children's medicines, adult medication and other general supplies as required. Locate and if time, register at your local doctors, dentists' or medical centre soon after arrival to avoid the "panic search" in an emergency. There is a wide variety of chemist supplies but most labeling is in Japanese. Dosage strength in Japan is weaker than in Western countries.
Clothing and Shoes
Western sized clothing is expensive and difficult to find; larger sizes (greater than US 12!) are not readily available for women and few stores stock larger or taller men's wear. Isetan has fashionable larger sized clothes as well as Zara and GAP. Shoe stores abound, however, women’s shoes longer than 26 cm (US 8) and men's larger than 29 cm (US 11.5) are also expensive and hard to locate. Children's clothing is easier to obtain but can be expensive, however, a good range of lower cost stores are now emerging e.g. Zara, GAP and Uniglo.
Reading
English and other major language books, magazines, periodicals and newspapers are available and with Amazon Japan in operation reading matter is even cheaper.
|
|
|
|
|