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I want to go to Japan during 2010 through YFU (I’m in highschool.) How would this effect my education? And if I do choose to go through with the program, would it be likely I would be kept down for a year once I return home?

If you are set on studying in Japan as an exchange student, and are prepared to go along with all the work that is involved, you should be fine once you return home.
By being prepared ahead of time, the chances of things going badly are minimal. I myself have been on numerous study tours to Japan, and it is indeed a very, very educational experience. I did take some of my own textbooks over there, so I could study when I wasn’t in Japanese classes over there. This kept my education at a high standard so I was fine coming back.

It does depend on how long you are planning to study over there for. I went for half a year, and I managed fine. But good luck if you go ahead with the program, I wish you all the best!

I’m planning on going to Japan through the Rotary Exchange system, but I’m a little bit confused as to what to bring. I’m planning on going in the year 2009, as it takes 9-12 months to pre-register. I’m going for a full school year as well.

Any advice as well would be great! And plus, I have black dyed hair. Do you think that if I keep it ONE color that they won’t mind?

There are exact four seasons in one year in Japan so that you need to wear at least 3 kinds of daily clothes such as Summer, Winter and Spring/Autumn. I mean all tops, bottoms and underwears.

If you are not petite size like Japanese, you’d better prepare those at your home town with shoes/heels. boots are very helpful to go out in hard Winter.

Your House medicines are also very helpful if you have some problem. Kotex made in Japan is also usually not evaluated by nervous foreigners.

If you are good sleep lover, don’t forget your favorite pillow and stuffed toys. Note book PC, i-Pod, Game machines, digital camera and CD player would be useful. Cellphone too, you may take rental and/or prepaid one though.

Regarding hair color dying, it depends individual school policy but you’d better ask house master who is rules.

There are so many strict rules and totally fifferent system from USA but also good opportunity to promote your knowledge enlargement during you stay and study in Japan.

Enjoy and love people so that they will love and enjoy you.

My family and I were planning to go to the Philippines this December. We were wondering what the cheapest possible route was from Japan to the Philippines.

We are planning to leave Japan on December 10 2007 and we will return to Japan within the first week of January 2008. We do not mind having to transit at a different airport or using multiple airlines.

Hi,

You can get very useful info related to air tickets from http://www.bestdealsononline.com . Check it out! Happy Journey!!

My husband is in the United States Navy and we have orders to relocate to Yokosuka (Yokohama/Tokyo area), Japan in January. Since he is going to be on a ship and I will be left alone for long stretches of time I’m just wondering what I should expect or be prepared for? He is planning on purchasing a house off base. I was wondering how strong the language barrier is in the Yokohama and Tokyo area, do most Japanese know fluent English? How hard is it to pick up the Japanese lanuage? Is it easy to meet and make friends in Japan or do the cultural/language differences make it difficult? How bad are the earthquakes and tsunamis in this area? What do they do to prepare for them, do they have a warning system, like a weather alert? How easy is it to get a good job when you don’t know Japanese (I am a Graphic Designer)? I have done a good deal of research on the country and the language I am just looking for some personal experience to help prepare. Any advice/info would be great!
I actually dated a Japanese Foreign exchange student when I was in high school. We lost touch when I went to college due to technology issues, time difference, and his crazy school schedule. So I know a good deal of the basics. I would love to get more information from someone who is Japanese, but what I really am seeking is what is it like to be an Non Japanese speaking American living in Japan for a prolonged period of time by yourself. Thanks so much for your advise and information! Please keep it coming ; )
I don’t have kids but I do have two small papillon dogs.
TWIKFAT if you read this post again, what is your email?

you can’t buy a home off base, you must be a Japanese citizen. There is a ceiling for OHA, based on pay grade. whatever your rent is, up to that ceiling, is what you will get, you may NOT pocket the difference like you can BAH. homes on the economy are vastly different than what we have in the States. most are MUCH smaller( a ‘mansion’ is a western style home that runs under 900 sq ft usually. )

Since he is going to sea duty, I stroingly recommend you consider base housing. Ikego and Negishi are off the base proper. ikego about 20 minutes away, and Negishi closer to Yokohama and about 45-60 minutes away. Both can be reached via train. Yokosuka proper is of course the most desirable, but the wait list is longer. they do stick to the rules with regard to children sharing rooms. (under 10 same sex, under 6 opposite sex). What you rate depends on pay grade and BR entitlement. Towers do not allow dogs, but do allow cats.

If you have kids, Ikego runs an excellent year round soccer program. Boy scouts and Girl scouts are very active on and off base. elementary schools on all three areas, but the middle school and HS are on Yoko. Mark Hamill(Luke Skywalker) Graduated from Kinnick HS. Many choose to send their preschoolers off base.

Most of Yokohama and Tokyo is bilingiual WRT signs, esp. in the train stations. Nearly everyone speaks at least some english. Restaurants have plastic replicas in their front windows, so in case the menu is ilegible, you can always point!

Working is hard. On base, many of the jobs are limited to Japanese nationals as part of the SOFA agreement. Spouses are generally limited to MWR, Commissary and NEX positions, although Nurses and teachers can usually get jobs easily. you can however,make a butt ton of money teaching conversational English, either privately, or through the local school systems. tehre is a dental college right off the back gate that is always hiring. Volunteer opportunties abound, on and off base. YOSC(the Officer’s spouses club) runs two shops in a buiding across from the lodge( or did when I was there)..Second Hand Rose, the thrift shop, and Takusan Treasures, the gift shop. Anyone may volunteer there, no need to be an O spouse.

I sucked at learning the language, but there are ample opportunties to take lessons, either through FFSC or privately.

As for making friends.. the key is to get off base and just get out. there are several things to do in Yokosuka city , no train necessary. Mikasa Park is a ten minute walk from the main gate and has turned the Mikasa into a floating museum. I highly recommend shopping on the ‘blue road" -you’ll see what that means when you get there, with lunch at KoKo Curry or the Yakitori stand. the stationary store is amazing, and the 100 yen store at the Prince Hotel is to die for, although not NEARLY as nice as the 5 story one in Michida. there are two main shipping centers within a ten minute walk of the front gate, plus the blue road.

take the AOB/ICR class. it was mandatory for SM, but only suggested for family members when I was there. its a wealth of information, they even teach you how to use the trains!.

When you get there, ask someone how to get to Garlic Jo’s in Yokohama’s Queen’s Landing. KILLER restaurant.

Now I am all missing Japan….we lived there from 2000-2003. DH was on shore duty but went TAD to MCCAIN a lot.

I am studying Japanese and want to travel around Japan for a couple of months visiting Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, and various other places. However, travelling in japan always seems to be very expensive when I google it. I am a student (in the UK) and therefore on a tight budget. Where are the cheapest places to stay/eat? Cheapest flights and domestic travel?

The cheapest way to travel, is the "shoe leather sedan"

I’m planning a second trip to Japan soon- I’ve only been there before in November, and so I’m curious what the weather’s like throughout the rest of the year, month for month? I know roughly what it’s like in each season, but what should I be expecting in each different month?
Month to month info would be great, thanks! I already know what it’s like generally in the seasons (: My travel will be mainly between Kyoto and Nara, but around parts of the rest of the south of Japan too.

New Year is one of Japan’s three major travel seasons with intensive domestic and international travel activity. Most businesses and companies shut down from January 1 to 3. Read more about visiting Japan during New Year.

The remainder of January is a great time for visiting Japan, as the weather is usually sunny and dry, airfares are low and sightseeing spots are not crowded. Only in northern Japan and along the Sea of Japan coast, there is lots of snowfall, and conditions are good for winter sports.

The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 5pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation’s barren state.

Like January, February is a great time for visiting Japan, as the weather is usually sunny and dry, airfares are low and sightseeing spots are not crowded. Only in northern Japan and along the Sea of Japan coast, there is lots of snowfall, and conditions are very good for winters sports.

The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 5:30pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation’s barren state.
Early flowering flowers and trees, such as plum trees, deliver the first signs of spring, while the weather is getting noticeably milder. Towards the end of March, the cherry blossom season starts in certain regions, while in northern Japan, conditions are still perfect for winter sports.

Domestic travel activity is increasing towards the end of March due to spring school holidays.

Besides November, April is considered the best time to visit Japan, because in most regions of the country, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the weather is pleasantly mild. Domestic travel activity is increasing due to spring school holidays and the cherry blossom season.

The Golden Week, one of Japan’s busiest travel seasons, takes place in the end of April and beginning of May. It is best avoided. Read more about the Golden Week.

The Golden Week, one of Japan’s busiest travel seasons, takes place in the end of April and beginning of May. It is best avoided. Read more about the Golden Week.

The remainder of May is quite a good time for visiting Japan, as vegetation is lush and the weather is mild, but not yet hot and humid as in the summer months. Airfares are relatively low and many tourist spots are pleasantly uncrowded right after the Golden Week.

In Okinawa, the rainy season (tsuyu) typically starts in the beginning of May and lasts until the end of June.

From the beginning of June, the rainy season (tsuyu) visits most parts of Japan, except Hokkaido. While it does not rain every day, the weather tends to be overcast and dreary. The duration and intensity of the rainy season can vary quite strongly from year to year.

Hot spring resorts like Hakone and the wooded temple mountain Koyasan are some of the places which can be quite attractive in rainy weather. Least affected by the rainy season, Hokkaido is an attractive destination in June.

The rainy season (tsuyu) typically ends in the first half of July. It is hot and humid in most of Japan, and just standing outdoors can make you sweat. The conditions are more comfortable in higher elevations and in Hokkaido, a highly popular destination among outdoor lovers during the summer months.

Many local festivals are celebrated in July. Summer school holidays last from the end of July until the end of August. With them, domestic travel activity and the room rates of many hotels are increasing.

August is hot and humid in most of Japan. The conditions are more comfortable in higher elevations and in Hokkaido, a highly popular destination among outdoor lovers during the summer months. Many local festivals are held in August.

The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan’s three busiest travel seasons and room rates go up at many hotels. Travel activity is generally high during the whole month due to summer school holidays, which last from the end of July to the end of August.

The typhoon season reaches its peak in September. Typhoons usually hit the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku and make for strong rain and wind in most or all of Japan on about two days. Luckily, typhoons are often followed by perfectly clear weather.

The weather in September can still be quite hot and humid, but the crowds of August have mostly disappeared and hotel rates return to low season levels.
Still warm, but not hot and humid anymore, the weather in October is very comfortable for traveling. In northern regions and higher elevations, trees are turning colors.

November is one of the best times to visit Japan, as the weather is dry and mild, airfares are low and the colored autumn leaves are spectacular.

The driest month in many parts of the country, December is a good month for traveling. Airfares and domestic travel activity remain low during the first half of December. The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 4:30pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation’s barr

I would settle for a cellphone which would catch Japanese phrases and spew out a PERFECT translation in English (or Yoruba or Chinese or whatever) at the same time.
I bet this would attract tons of tourists to Japan, especially if the government would rent out these phones for free at Narita.
Revenue up for Japan. Awesome experience for the tourists.

A video camera that could be attached inside the car and with a special sensor zoom onto all the waves I am surfing, if possible from different directions.
A robot that would do all my driving, housework and cooking.
Everything without cables.
A bathtub that would mix different essential oils automatically.
A sort of laser looking like heating/AC device that would keep my body hot or cool following my movements/position in the house.
Internet connection in my car navigator.
A sensor that would detect all my pains and heal them.

@rYokucHa: But…since I am a shy person…I am not sure how to ask them to do all those things when starting to date them…they will all run away…Hire them? Then I have to pay them…that would make me feel like having slaves and I couldn’t possibly live like that. Any advice would be most appreciated:))

I’m an Indian from India planning to go to Japan for three months from work. Any advice on things I should know?

Hello!
Learn rudimentary Japanese.
Do not expect too much, especially for Japanese girls.
Do not complain if you can not get what you want.
Be open and above-board which makes you attractive.

Welcome to Japan:D

Im not sure they even had da role, if they did, could you please explain why they took part in it and what they wanted to achieve from it. Also and ties from Japan with the Paris peace treaty?

The Japanese did not have any role in the Spanish American war the only role they had came after when they kicked the Americans out of Philippines in World War 2 and tried to destroy all Spanish culture and architecture in the Philippines.

I’m planning to go to Japan for my 10th grade but everybody says that it’s really hard to get into Japan and that I have to get like A’s only and like no B’s at all. It isn’t really this hard, is it?

It’s not a matter of A or B. Japanese kids finish learning 2,000 kanjis before 10th grade. You have to learn as much as they have done or you cannot follow classes in Japanese.

You at least must be able to read Yahoo! Japan page without any problem, for example.

http://www.yahoo.co.jp/index.html

We have some international schools in Tokyo or Osaka. You can join them even if you don’t speak Japanese. But they are expensive like $10,000 for 1 year.