Moving US to Japan: Things to bring? Things to leave behind?
Hi, my family is moving to Japan in November, from US Midwest to Noto/Kanazawa area, and I’m wondering if there are things recommended to specifically bring from the US or things to wait to buy in Japan due to quality or price differentials (or straight up availability).
I’m 6’3”, so I’m buying shoes/boots/sandals in US, as well as pants/shirts. My wife is similarly tall. Kids are tall for their age, but still will get clothes in jp.
We are moving solely by plane, so no shipping containers or other moving services— it has to fit in suitcases.
If anyone can speak to online shopping in rural Japan, let me know if that’s as ubiquitous as it is here (it’s something I personally almost never do here, but i assume I’ll have to do more in jp just for sizing when it comes to clothes, though I’m not a big wardrobe guy anyway).
Bonus question: family cargo ebikes in Japan? Is that common yet? I’ve got an Urban Arrow here and it’s probably by favorite object of mine, and would love to get something similar (or long tail passenger rack) in jp.
Thanks!
I think clothing was the right move. For tall people, the selection is highly limited. Make sure you have clothing for a snowy winter.
I also recommend bringing extra sticks of deodorant. Most Japanese stuff is not an antiperspirant. You’ll find options by doing some research (soft stone is my favorite(, but I would stock up to push that issue to the future.
Amazon will be available and have most things you need (except tall clothing). Most houses only have grounding near the washing machine, or if you’re lucky one outlet in the kitchen. So I would advise against bringing appliances (especially with your home’s record of rainfall…)
When I moved here I came with one suitcase, and sold / donated / trashed my other stuff. The one thing I regret is not bringing my quilt. I mean, it’s not like there aren’t blankets here, but some things you just can’t replace. Anything that you have which is really bespoke, think hard about it.
+1 for Soft Stone, and thinking about deodorant in general. I like Sara Sara Cream, from the same company as Soft Stone. Nuud, available globally, used to be amazing until they bastardized their formula (hardly related, just had to vent!)
Take plenty of deodorant. Japanese people don't smell as much as westerners so their versions of deodorant are not very strong.
No suggestions, but I'm really curious to hear about the context of your move!
I haven't seen many cargo bikes in Japan, but mamachari, including models with electric assist, are ubiquitous. They're bikes that have a large rack, sometimes with a child seat, and while it's really not a cargo bike, they can often carry quite a lot. Examples https://jp.mercari.com/en/item/m74418082391 https://jp.mercari.com/en/item/m82659599061
Yeah I've seen these mamacharis but am hopeful about the long tail racks so that it's possible to get two kids back there. But it looks like the second bike you posted at least could be fit with a long seat. Thanks for the examples.
Models with two passenger seats aren't uncommon e.g. https://jp.mercari.com/en/item/m25858544829. For finding a bicycle I recommend checking local jmty.jp listings (Craigslist equivalent—Craigslist exists but is sparsely populated and 99% foreigners) and then Mercari and Yahoo Auctions. Bicycles are shippable but I imagine most big bikes like this will be local pickup. Also generally, take a look at Facebook. Facebook Marketplace is mostly foreigners, and there are foreigner Facebook groups (especially ones called <city-name> sayonara) where departing foreigners are selling their stuff for cheap
I think power tools are pretty cheap in the US but not as available elsewhere? But if you're limited on packing may not be a good fit. But I assume if you're in a rural area having like a Milwaukee cordless impact may be nice, Amazon.jp doesn't seem to stock them or ship them there, but no clue on if hardware stores or anywhere else would have them. I remember not really seeing any in any electronics stores in Japan.
Power tools and the like are plenty available, but it's much more of a hardware store thing than an electronics store thing. Hardware stores themselves are relatively scarce. Of course online shopping is an option e.g. https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BF+%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC/ for new or https://jp.mercari.com/en/search?keyword=%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BF%20%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC for used
Interesting, hadn't thought of that, and actually good to consider since one of our first tasks is going to be doing some home renovation. We aren't doing a classic youtube akiya house, just moving into a house that was totally fine for 25 years until last fall when they got 13 inches of rain in 3 hours and there was a hole in the roof. Our initial living location will be next door to something like a home depot, so hopefully they have power tools, i'll have to check their website.
Emphasis on cordless... if you're bringing a corded power tool over you'll be dealing with three differences between US and JP electrical grid: voltage drop, 50Hz (if you ever move to "eastern" Japan), and grounding issues.
Corded tools which expect 120V will run at 100V but will generate 30% less power/torque, and more heat under load. If you ever live in an area with a 50Hz grid your motors will also move 15% slower.
I think, I mean any of them are fine default/Ryobi/Milwaukee/home Depot brand etc, but Milwaukee has the best of the mini sized ones, the case would be easy enough to throw in a suitcase. I'd get one of those to hedge and then if you need larger tools just buy them in Japan. I helped my brother move/assemble furniture and he had one he'd gotten for work and it was a godsend. It's like the Ikea gun screwdriver on steroids.
I know this is just autocorrect for DeWalt, but it's funny-- that is how some of my friends would characterize their DeWalts.
I've got many power tools already (Ryobi, which I would think would be sold in Japan considering the name). I wonder about charging, though. As noted by @xk3, the voltage will be different going into the charger.
Ryobi is home depot's in-house brand.
Yeah I know. Just a joke, on the Japanese name. Maybe they were banking on the Makita brand recognition.
Edit: well I guess it is actually a Japanese company. Have to investigate further, but they seem to have been making tools a lot longer than any deal with HD.
Edit 2: seems Techtronic Inc (Hong Kong company) produces Ryobi tools in North America under license from Ryobi (Japanese company). And they also produce Milwaukee Tool and most of Ridgid. Those are all sold in HD so i guess that makes sense.
Had no idea, thanks!
Ryobi has basically pulled out of the Japanese market now and are focusing on OS.
FYI, Uniqlo online has sizes up to 4XL online. Bummer you can’t try things out. Shoes are much harder to come by, especially if you need them for a particular purpose (e.g. hiking, soccer etc).
Also, computers and computer parts are just nutso expensive here. Buy it and bring it as parts if you have desktops.
For computer I’m bringing my Mac mini, keyboard, mouse, but planned to leave behind my 32” screen and get a (likely smaller) screen in Japan. Mistake?
I have to consider luggage weight, too, against everything else, so I know there is no silver bullet answer here.
Yeah, leave the screen, take the mini.
Monitors aren't too bad, but with the weak yen, Apple stuff is seriously expensive in local currency, as are things like graphics cards and memory (expensive everywhere, but eye watering in Japan).
Arbitrage opportunity? :D
Come to think of it, while it's a pretty weak opportunity for arbitrage, Japanese smartphones have a special anti-upskirt hardware feature in that the cameras are forced to make a shutter noise upon taking a picture, even in silent mode. So if OP is thinking of upgrading phones soon (and is of pure photographic intentions), it may move the needle to buy one before moving in order to avoid this shutter sound. Though, one must exercise caution about mobile frequency band compatibility when buying cellphones abroad