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| japan [2025/03/18 04:47] – [Topics for foreign residents of Japan] particles | japan [2025/04/17 17:11] (current) – [Can I get a bank account as a visitor?] particles |
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| * Use [[https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp|Visit Japan Web]] to fill out immigration and customs forms and get a QR to pass through customs/immigration quickly. **Screenshot the QR code and information so that when you land, it's available even if your phone has trouble connecting to cell service.** | * Use [[https://www.vjw.digital.go.jp|Visit Japan Web]] to fill out immigration and customs forms and get a QR to pass through customs/immigration quickly. **Screenshot the QR code and information so that when you land, it's available even if your phone has trouble connecting to cell service.** |
| * For an introduction to Japanese language that’s practical and relevant to complete beginners traveling to Japan for the first time, watch [[https://youtu.be/CCGO6kbtfM4|Japanese for Zero Level]], which includes basic Japanese phrases that are practical and useful. | * **For an introduction to Japanese language that’s practical and relevant to complete beginners traveling to Japan for the first time, watch [[https://youtu.be/CCGO6kbtfM4|Japanese for Zero Level]], which includes basic Japanese phrases that are practical and useful.** |
| | * **For restaurants specifically, there is a complementary video to the above video called [[https://youtu.be/ltgeVWxaV0c|Zero Level Japanese at the Restaurant]] which is specifically geared towards ordering food and eating in Japan, which is like, a cornerstone activity.** |
| * Install [[https://nerv.app/en|NERV Disaster Prevention]] and configure it to send notifications. Tap and hold the “Map” button to show the Strong Motion Monitor, which shows the realtime ground sensor data in Japan, and enable notifications. NERV provides English disaster preparedness information, which is critical in Japan. If you’re from an earthquake prone area and you’re used to them, this is not as important. Earthquake Early Warnings issued by the government are sent to mobile phones without any app installed—but NERV will provide information on less severe earthquakes, tsunami, and other severe weather. | * Install [[https://nerv.app/en|NERV Disaster Prevention]] and configure it to send notifications. Tap and hold the “Map” button to show the Strong Motion Monitor, which shows the realtime ground sensor data in Japan, and enable notifications. NERV provides English disaster preparedness information, which is critical in Japan. If you’re from an earthquake prone area and you’re used to them, this is not as important. Earthquake Early Warnings issued by the government are sent to mobile phones without any app installed—but NERV will provide information on less severe earthquakes, tsunami, and other severe weather. |
| * Carry a minimum of ¥10,000 in cash at all times. The odds of you running into a shop that takes only cash are relatively low, but if your cards aren’t accepted for some reason, you want to have cash for a taxi or similar uses. | * Carry a minimum of ¥10,000 in cash at all times. The odds of you running into a shop that takes only cash are relatively low, but if your cards aren’t accepted for some reason, you want to have cash for a taxi or similar uses. |
| * If you see an area map near your hotel, take a picture of it, especially if it includes evacuation location or emergency information. In Tokyo and areas close to the ocean or Sea of Japan, you should have a general idea of where you're staying relative to the water, in case of disaster. | * If you see an area map near your hotel, take a picture of it, especially if it includes evacuation location or emergency information. In Tokyo and areas close to the ocean or Sea of Japan, you should have a general idea of where you're staying relative to the water, in case of disaster. |
| * Eat food that you buy at the place you bought it from, or outside of a convenience store. Do not walk while eating food. | * Eat food that you buy at the place you bought it from, or outside of a convenience store. Do not walk while eating food. |
| * As one of my friends put it, it is "not the meta" to carry a reusable water bottle. You can use [[https://www.mymizu.co/home-en#app-en|my mizu]] to find places to refill your water bottle, but most people buy and recycle water from vending machines or convenience stores. | * You can use [[https://www.mymizu.co/home-en#app-en|my mizu]] to find places to refill your water bottle, but most people buy and recycle water from vending machines or convenience stores. |
| * Ignore the signs that say not to walk on escalators. The left side in Kanto/Tokyo is for standing, the right is for walking. **If every Japanese person is ignoring a rule**, you should ignore the rule. In Osaka, people usually walk on the right instead of the left and stand on the right on escalators. | * Ignore the signs that say not to walk on escalators. The left side in Kanto/Tokyo is for standing, the right is for walking. **If every Japanese person is ignoring a rule**, you should ignore the rule. In Osaka, people usually walk on the right instead of the left and stand on the right on escalators. |
| * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking|Jaywalking]] is a notable contra to this, and similarly, seeing just a couple Japanese breaking the rules doesn't give you the right to. No country is perfect -- not even Japan. Even if 1-2 people jaywalk, you should not. //Break the rules only if it would be beneficial to everyone to do so. If it would be selfish to do so, do not break the rules.// | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking|Jaywalking]] is a notable contra to this, and similarly, seeing just a couple Japanese breaking the rules doesn't give you the right to. No country is perfect -- not even Japan. Even if 1-2 people jaywalk, you should not. //Break the rules only if it would be beneficial to everyone to do so. If it would be selfish to do so, do not break the rules.// |
| ==== Can I get a bank account as a visitor? ==== | ==== Can I get a bank account as a visitor? ==== |
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| No. | No((It is a crime to sell or buy bank accounts in Japan. Only long-term residents can have real bank accounts, which means that they can accept and transfer money and do a lot of other things. You absolutely need a Residence Card for this. You cannot get a Residence Card if you have "temporary visitor" status, or the digital nomad visa. If you have a Residence Card, it must have at least 3 months remaining, for you to get a bank account.)). |
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| ==== Can I get a Japanese Visa/iD payment method as a visitor? ==== | ==== Can I get a Japanese Visa/iD payment method as a visitor? ==== |
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| See also: [[https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/useful/guide_eng/disease/01.html|TIPS for Tokyo Life: Seeking Medical Attention]]. This is a really useful resource that describes the available medical systems in Japan and tips for using them. This site is geared towards foreign residents, but this particular page is also extremely useful for visitors experiencing medical emergencies. Also useful: [[https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/useful/guide_eng/disease/02.html|TIPS for Tokyo Life: Buying Medicine]]. | See also: [[https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/useful/guide_eng/disease/01.html|TIPS for Tokyo Life: Seeking Medical Attention]]. This is a really useful resource that describes the available medical systems in Japan and tips for using them. This site is geared towards foreign residents, but this particular page is also extremely useful for visitors experiencing medical emergencies. Also useful: [[https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/useful/guide_eng/disease/02.html|TIPS for Tokyo Life: Buying Medicine]]. |
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| | The [[https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/iryo/iryo_hoken/medical_info_eng|Tokyo Metropolitan Government guide to medical care for tourists and foreign residents]] is also worth a read. |
| ===== Topics for foreign residents of Japan ===== | ===== Topics for foreign residents of Japan ===== |
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