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A Handbook for Study Abroad in Japan

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Introduction
Japan Basics: A Handbook for Study Abroad in Japan

It is the adventure of a lifetime to leave your own country and study abroad,particularly if the country you are going to has a different language and uniqueculture. Japan is one of those countries for international students.
Japan Basics was written for any and all international students but especiallywith students from Oman in mind. As Japanese anime and other pop culture
have become widely popular around the world, the number of international
students has increased. As a result, more Japanese universities have become
exposed to students from Islamic cultures and their needs. So they began
improving campus environments for them. Each university provides various
services to international students, so you should read materials from youruniversities very carefully.
Japan Basics is written to supplement your schoolt information in order to help
you adjust to and settle in life in Japan as soon and smoothly as possible. It is
not a comprehensive information booklet by any means, so we welcome yourinput and comments, both positive and negative, to further improve the content

for future readers. Please send your comments to japan.oman.club@gmail.com.

\7e received input and support from many people. \7e thank Omani students
currently studying in Japan, ]apan GCC Association of Sudents, the Japan
Middle East Student Conference, \Taseda University, Yokohama YMCA andmembers of the Japan Oman CIub for their valuable input and contribution inwriting this booklet. N7e also thank the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman for
their support.
Japan'Basics is made possible by support from the Kozasa-Kai Joganji tmple's
Foundation for Research Grants and Scholarships, the Mitsubishi Corporationand isquared, 1nc.
I{yoho T. Jones

Executive Director
Japan Oman Club

IY

ThsrE or CoNTENTS
Introduction

I.

PreparingforDeparture.................

II. Arrival in Japan.....

l. Arrival at Narita/Haneda/Chubu/Kansai Airports ..........7........................7
2. tansportation out of Airport................................9
Accommodations
Hotels/Temporary3.
.................9
4. Sales Tax & Tips........

III. Starting Life in Japan.....

10

1. Reporting to School....
................11
2. Residence Card...........
.........12
3. National Health Insurance PIan............
..............12
4. Housing.....
...............15
5. Business/School Hours
6. Transportation - Travel within Japan ............................... l6.......................20
7. Student Discount - Gakuwari.............20
8. Crowdedness..................
..............21
9. Banking.....
......22
10. Grocery Shopping and Halal Food..........
..........23
11. \Tashing - Coin-operated Laundry......
12. Trash and Recycling................ ......................24................10

I3. Paying Bills and "Konbini" (convenience stores) ...............24...........25
14. Computers, Cell phones, and Internet
15. Telephones and Other Methods of Communication .........26..........-.........27
16. Electricity in Japan..
.......28
PrayerRooms
atUniversities................
17. Mosques and...........28
18. Safety, Security and Natural Disasters

V. Advice from Omani Students in Japan\7hat to Consider in Studying Abroad.................34
Study Abroad is More than Just Studying Abroad........ ............35..........36
Life in Japan.........
..................36
I Didn't Imagine Being in Japan.........

Appendix..
Embassy of Sultanate of Oman inJapan Fact
Useful Telephone

Sheet...........
Numbers
Useful Japanese'Words...................39

Japan......

.........39......................39...............39......................40

Useful Kanji (Chinese characters) for Visual Recognition ......4A......42
Japanese Calendar........... j............
.................42
Books on Japan: A Partial List.............
.........43
Useful 'Websites......
........................45&
AnswersonJapan.....
QuestionsI. Preparing for Departure
1. Passport and Visa
As soon as you receive admission to a university in Japan, you should
immediately apply for a passport, if you have not gotten one already. You
will need a student visa to come into Japan. You can get one by applying
to the Visa section of the Japanese Embassy in Muscat. You should callthem and find out what you need to apply for a student visa and how
long it will take to receive one.
Embassy ofJapan in Oman Visa Section:
Office hours : 08:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 I Tel: 24601028

Location: Villa No. 750,Yay No. 3011, Jamiat Al-Duwal Al-Arabiya
Street, Shati A1-Qurum

if you submit a "Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence"
together with other required documents, it will take a much shorter timeto get a student visa than not submitting it. However, the application
for it must be made within Japan. So, as soon as your admission to auniversity is confirmed and has become official, you should ask theinternational office of your university if they can apply for it on yourbehalf and mail it to you. Other than your school, you, your blood
relatives (with a proof of relationship) or a Japanese notary public are theonly people eligible to apply.
Once you get your visa, you should make a photocopy of the inside coverof your passport (the page with your photo and passPort number) andthe visa. These will help shouid you lose your passport. It is also a goodidea to bring some passport-size photos of yourself, proof of your identity(government-issued photo ID), and proof of your citizenship when you
travel. Photos may prove useful for other Purposes at your university orcity hall.

Spouse and Children's Visas
You must have the status of "residence of foreign students studying inJapan" for your spouse and children to be eligible to apply for a visa tolive with you in Japan.

There are two ways of acquiring the visa: one way is to apply for it
directly at the Japanese Embassy in your home country, the other isfor you to make an application for a Certificate of Eligibility at animmigration office in Japan on their behalC Depending on the type ofschool you attend, application documents differ, so you should always
check with an international student advisor at your school before you
submit an application. For necessary documents and other details, go to:http : //www.studyjapan.g o1p I en I to1 I toj04e.html#no10
Once the Certificate of Eligibiliry is granted, you can send it to yourfamily, who then take it to the Japanese Embassy to apply for a visa.

If your family includes school-age children (ages 6 to 15), they may
enroll in a public elementary or a junior high school tuition free,although the language of instruction in public schools is Japanese only.
For details of enrollment procedures, go to:http : i /www. mext. go.jp /component/english/--icsFilesafie\dfile I 2011 I 03 I 17 I I 3037 6 40l.p df/-0

2. Money and Credit Cards
Japan is very much a cash economy. While major credit cards (VISA,
Master Card, American Express, and Diners Club) are accepted inlarge stores, it is safe to assume that credit cards will be of much lessuse outside major cities. Personal checks are not used at all in Japan.
Therefore, you will need to obtain cash and travelers' cheques before

your arrival in Japan.
LJnfortunately there is no Japanese bank in Oman, nor is it possible toconvert Omani currency into Yen in Japan. However, you can purchase
Japanese Yen at a reasonable rate at currency exchange companies such
as Global Money Exchange Company, LLC at Abraj al Sahwa, or acompany at City-Center Almawaleh in Muscat. If you want to use abank or a currency exchange company, it is strongly recommended thatyou make an advance arrangement by notifying them that you intend
to buy some Yen. Japanese residing in Oman often stop over in Dubaior Abu Dhabi where they make currency exchanges from Omani Rial
to Yen and vice versa. Another way to carry funds is to buy U.S. dollars.
U.S. dollars can be readily converted into Yen in Japan. Exchange rates ofso be sure to
yen to U.S. dollars fuctuate daily with the money market'.h.ck with your bank, local newspaPer or on the Internet for the current
rate in planning your budget'bills and coins denominated in Yen' The

Japanese currency includes
l*o-irrrrions are distinguished by different sizes, colors and designs.

There are

The bills in standard ,r.-"r. for 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.
10' 50'1'2,000 yen bills but they are seldom used' Coins are worth 5'
middle'
the
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100 and 500 yen. 5 and 50 yen coins have##wffiw'.i'I+';..i,.m,:.:$.i:.i*

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For setting up a bank account in ]apan, see the Banking
21).

section (Page3. Restaurants and FoodJapanese cuisine has become increasingly internationalized but Halal
foods are not well understood outside a limited number of restaurants

in larger cities. Most menus are naturally written in Japanese, bur
restaurants commonly display samples of dishes rhey serve, so it ispossible to identify what they are offering. Once you are settled in adormitory or an apartment, you will be able to choose the types of food
you can cook and/or eat. The process ofgrocery shopping is described on
page 22.

4. Medicines, Prescriptions, Health Concerns
Bring sufficient amounts of any medication you are taking, along withcopies of your prescription written in English if not in Japanese. Carry all
medications in their original containers. Over-the-counter remedies areavailable in Japan, but pharmacies often keep limited hours. You may nothave time to search for an open pharmacy and the particular medicine
you seek may not be available. So a supply of aspirin, decongestants,
antihistamines, vitamins, cold, antidiarrheal and upset stomach
medication for immediate needs is recommended. If you have asthma,
make sure to bring your inhalers, since the chemical compositions ofJapanese inhalers may be different from what you use in your country. A
second pair ofeyeglasses is also advisable. Ifyou wear contact lenses, besure to bring along your glasses as well in case of emergency.
Tap water is safe to drink in Japan, although the taste in some areas may
be different from what you are used to drinking. In urban areas, rhewater may contain a high concentrarion of chlorine. Japanese in theseareas often filter their water before drinking. This can be done with afilter put on the tap or with a special filter jug. Rural areas may have lesschlorine in their water. The water in Japan does nor conrain fuoride.
Mineral water including major imported brands can be easily obtained

from supermarkets and convenience stores.

Awareness of the negative

effects of smoking has
spread widely in Japan.

Offices and other enclosed
places generally ban

smoking. Still you willencounter situations
where people are allowed
to smoke, such as inpublic spaces and special
sections of restaurants.
However, some public areas
prohibit smoking except in

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designated smoking areas.
In such places, there should
be readily visible signs suchas these.

5. W'eather and Clothing
There are distinct seasons in Japan: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Spring tends to be mild in temperature with many fowers in bloom.
June brings a rainy season to Japan. After 4-5 weeks of wet and humid
weather comes summer which gets quite warm. Temperature can goup as high as 35C. Fall brings cool air which brings foliage changes.
Depending on where you are in Japan, it can get quite cold and you may
encounter snow in winter, particularly on the Japan Sea side and in themountains.
You should be prepared to purchase appropriate clothing particularly forcold weather if you do not already have warm coats and sweaters. It isalso advisable to get a pair oflined or insulated gloves, a hat and a scarfif
your school is located in northern and/or mountainous regions of Japan.
Insulated coats, warm shirts and underwear for cold weather such as
those made of "heat-tech" materials are available at a reasonable price atstores such as UNIQLO or Seiyu throughout Japan.

It is generally acceptable for students to wear casual clothes such as jeans
and T-shirts on campus. However, Japanese schools have some formaloccasions such as entrance ceremonies. At those times, you are expected
to be in more formal clothes such as suits. It is quite appropriate for you
to wear your traditional formal clothes for these events. The same is true
for the graduation ceremony.

6. Japanese Language
Many of the Omani students in Japan strongly recommend studying
Japanese before you arrive in Japan. The ability to read and speak someJapanese will definitely make your life a little easier.
The Oman Japan Friendship Association in Muscat offers some Japanese
language courses at differing levels. Each course is for 3 months andoffered twice a week in evening hours. All inquiries about the courses
should be directed to the Cultural Section of the Japanese Embassy inMuscat. Sultan Qaboos University also offers Japanese language courses
as electives.

If you do not want to enroll in a course or do not live in Muscat, you
may wish to study on your own with basic Japanese language books. ln
addition to books there are some websites and YouTube videos that teachJapanese online. One site is: hmp //www.freejapaneselessons.com/:

Japan has a unique writing system that combines Chinese characters"kanji" and two types of Japanese phonetic characters "katakana" mainly
for foreign words and "hiragana" for japanese words. It is helpful if

you are aware of the examples on the list in the Appendix. It becomes
important in traveling and shopping because even though many station
names and store signs are written in the English alphabet, many signs insmaller and rural places and on streets are still written only in Japanese.
Some sample characters in hiragana, katakana, and kanji (Chinesecharacters) are shown below:

Hiragana fdt*t)(o-ha-yo: Good morning)

Katakana iV->

(Oman)Kanji

EA (ni-hon: Japan)
HH (Tokyo)

II. Arrival in Japan
1. Arrival at Narita/Haneda/ChubulKansai Airports
You will probably land in one of the four international airports, Narita'
Haneda, Chubu or Kansai. After you deplane, you will pass throughQuarantine, unless you have some illness to declare there. You will go
onto the Immigration section, where there are separate windows for
Foreign Visitors and for Japanese. You will line up as a Foreign Visitor.
You should be ready to submit:
1.

The admission approval from the Japanese educational institution
you have been accepted into (Japanese language institution, juniorcollege, university or others)

A valid passport
3. Visa from Japanese Embassy or Consulate from your home country
4. Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (if already issued)
2.

Your passport will be returned to you with a stamp "Landing
Permission." In addition, a "Residence Card" will be issued to you if
your stay is for more than 3 months.

If you land at an airport other than the above-mentioned ones' yourresidence card will not be issued at the time of entry to Japan but will
be mailed after you notify your local city office of your address. Your
passport will be stamped with the "Landing Permission" stamp and anote indicating the later delivery of a residence card.
After the Immigration, you will collect your luggage and go to theCustoms. It is illegal to bring any unprocessed food items, plants/seeds,
pornography or non-medicinal drugs into Japan. If you are carrying
over Y1,000,000 yen with you in cash or cheques, you are required todeclare it.

2. Transportation out of AirPort
For specific information on how to get to your school, you should
contact the international student office.

There are various methods of public transportation in Japan; trains,subways, buses and taxis. Taxis are most convenient but most expensive
as well. The fares are fixed by law, but vary between regions. For
example, from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station, taxi fare would beapproximately Y20,000, while train fare is about Y2,600 yen; from
Kansai International Airport to Osaka Suita area where Osaka University
is located, it would be approximatelyY22,000 by taxi, while it is about
Yl,200 by train.
To check train fares and routes (train lines) from one place to another,
the following site is very convenient and useful if you know exact namesof stations : http : //www. hyperdia.com/en/

Narita & Haneda International Airports (Tokyo)
Two train lines and various buses are available out of Narita and Haneda.
'Airport Limousine buses" have set rates for each destination. They havean information desk and ticket counter outside the Customs area in
the airport building. The buses go to almost all major hotels and train
stations in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas, so you should check if alimousine bus goes to your hotel. A great deal of information including
bus fares is available at the following Airport Limousine Bus company
website : https : //www.limousinebus. co.jp /en/

If you prefer to take trains, NEX (Narita Express) and Keisei lines startfrom the basement floor of the airport building.

Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya)Meitetsu Railways run "pSky" (express) to Nagoya Station, where it
connects to other railways and subways. The following website hasvarious information on the area including the trains' timetable andtravelling time.
http ://www.meitetsu.co.j p I engl airport-access/express.html

In addition, there are bus services available at the airport. Buses and taxis
are available only at the 'Access Plaza" where you can reach by way of
concourse from the arrival area. Some suggest that Centrair Limousine
may be most convenient if you are going to the central part of Nagoya
city. http //www.centrair.jplen/to-and-from/access/bus.html:

Kansai International Airport (Osaka/Kobe)
JR (Japan Railways) and Nankai railways are connected to the airport.
Limousine buses to various directions are also available. If you want touse a taxi, go to the First Terminal where you will find more available
taxis. The taxi stand at the Second Terminal somewhat specializes inpassengers in groups. http:i/www.okkbus.co.jplen/

The KM Shuttle Bus (skygate shuttle) may be very convenient to andfrom Kansai International Airport (KIX). The fare as of this writing is
Y3,600 per person with one carry on and one regular piece of luggage
and Y1,000 per item for extra luggage, and it will take you to the address
you provide. However, you need to book at least two days in advance attheir website. And also be sure to check the fares and luggage regulations,since they are subject to change. http:/lwww.mktaxi-japan.com

3. HotelslTemporary Accommodations
There are many hotels near airports and in cities. Unless you have alreadyarranged an accommodation in Japan, you should make a reservation
online. It may be more convenient if your hotel is near your school. Some
hotels around airports operate free shuttle buses from terminals to thehotel.
Hotels usually have restaurants and shops' As is anywhere in the world,
prices at hotels are rather expensive.

4. Sales Tax & Tips
The sales tax in Japan is currently 8olo, which means whatever item(s)or service(s) you purchase, you need to add 8o/o to its cost when you pay
unless the price says the tax is included. For example, if the price of abook is listed as Y500, you have to payY540. The Japanese Covernment
has a plan to increase the tax to 10olo, so you should be aware of this.
\While the addition of taxes may be somewhat bothersome, you do notneed to worry about tips anywhere in Japan, at restaurants, hotels, taxis,
etc. If you try to leave a tip, most places will return it to you.

10

III. Starting Life in Japan
1. Reporting to School
You need to follow the instructions you receive from your school. Most
universities have a "foreign student center" or "international center." In
those offices, you will find international student advisors who can answer
your questions and help you with various aspects of your upcoming
school life. The school may tell you to report to the international section
or to your advisor's office. Even if they do not, it is a good idea to visit
those offices to notify them of your arrival. It also helps to walk aroundthe campus and get to know where things are located and what students
look like, what classrooms look like, and where the school bookstore,
convenience store and cafeterias are located. You may also find theuniversity operate free shuttle buses between different campuses or tonear-by stations.
You will learn all the necessary information, e.g. who you can consult
which courses to take, how to register for them, how your grades will bereported, etc. at orientations your school schedules. There may be morethan one orietation to attend, such as a departmental orientation and
one for international students. It is very important to attend all of theorientations you are required. Some universities may provide orientations
for international students in English, some others may not, so it is a goodidea to find out in advance at the school's international center.

\7e found following information on orientations in English and whether
their cafeterias offer halal food. However, it may change, so you should
ask at the international center. (see following page)Orientation for
lnt'l students

Halal food at
Cafeteria

Hitotsubashi University

Yes

Yes

Keio University

Yes

No

Kyoto University

Yes

Yes

Kyushu University

Yes

Yes

Osaka University

Yes

Yes

Tohoku University

Yes

Yes

Tokai University

Yes

No

Tokyo lnstitute of Technology

Yes

Yes

Tokyo Univ. of Foreign Studies

Yes

No

Tsukuba University

Yes

Yes

University of Tokyo

Yes

Yes

Waseda University

Yes

Yes

Yokohama City Univ.

No

No

Course registrations are usually made electronically. If you know whichcourses you are taking, you should register as soon as the registration
begins. If you wait, the courses you intend to take may become full
capacity and you may not be able to register.

If you do not have a computer or smart phone with you, you shouldfind out in advance where you could access computers on campus.
International advisor should be able to tell you locations of thosefacilities.
Once you determine which courses you will take, you should find out
which textbooks you need to purchase at the university bookstore.

2. Residence Card
As described earlier, a residence card will be issued to you at the
Immigration at the airport. It is very important to remember that you
are required to carry it with you at all times and present it to authorized
personnel such as immigratiol or police officers when requested. It isyour lD card while in Japan. Once you determine your address, it isyour responsibility to report your address to a local city office within
14 days. You should take your residence card and passport with you.

You will be unable to open a bank account and/or purchase a telephone
until you notify the city hall ofyour address. Ifthere is any later change
in your address or school, you must report it to the local city office or
Immigration Bureau.

In addition to the city office, it is very important for you to register thefollowing with the Omani Embassy in Tokyo:

1. Your name and a copy of your passport (the page with photo andpassport number) and residence card

2. Address, phone number and email address
3. Names of your university and program
4. Date of arrival in Japan
5. Name and contact details of next to kin in Oman

3. National Health Insurance Plan
All residents are required by law to be covered by the national healthinsurance plan. Even if your school may have a clinic for students, you
are still required to enroll in the national health insurance plan if vour
stay is for a year or longer. The premium you may pay varies dependingon the municipality you reside, but it will be around 20,000 yen a year
according to JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization). Should r.ou
get sick or injured, the insurance will cover 70o/o o{ the medical expenses
so that you will pay 30o/o. You can arrange for your own supplemental
insurance to cover the balance if you wish. It is a good idea to apply foryour national health insurance when you go to the city office with yourresidence card to notify your address. See the following website for moredetails:
http : //www. g-studyinjapan.jasso. go.jp /en/modules /pico /index.
php?content-id=21

4. Housing
Some universities provide dormitories for their students but many donot, so it is most likely that you will need to rent an apartment. There
are unfurnished and furnished apartments. Unfurnished ones are much

more common and less expensive than furnished ones. However, if yout3choose an unfurnished one, you will need to furnish it with everything

you need for daily life, including bedding, eating utensils, pots and pansfor cooking, light bulbs, refrigerator, etc. Depending on the age of anapartment building, it may or may not be equipped with a gas burner forcooking.
Rental costs vary greatly depending on the distance from a train station
or a bus stop, the age of the building, the direction the room faces(east and south are considered desirable), the size of the room, etc.
So, it is recommended that you find a real estate agent who has rented
apartments to students. The international center of your school may havea listing ofreliable real estate agents. Even ifthey do not, they should be
able to help you find one.

\Thether you rent a furnished or unfurnished apartment, you will haveto be prepared to pay 5-6 months' worth of rent at the time of signinga rental contract. These fees include the first month's rent plus a "shikikin" (refundable deposit) and "rei-kin" (non-refundable deposit). The
amounts of the deposits are regulated by law but vary between regions.
They will also require payment for fire insurnace. \7hen you vacate yourapartment, the landlord will deduct cleaning fees and/or fees for any
damage you might have caused during your stay from the refundable
deposit.
Be sure to read and understand all the details ofany contract before you

iign it. If you cannot read Japanese, take it to an international smdent
advisor and ask him/her to explain it in English. Most Japanese housing
contracts include a provision that nobody other than the tenant isallowed to stay in the apartment. If you have a visitor from your home
who wants to stay with you for a few days, you should be sure to contact
the landlord and get his/her permission.

Ail renters in Japan are required to have "guarantors" to rent anapartment. The guarantor assumes financial responsibility should
the renter become unable to pay the rent. Check with your school's
international student advisor if your school could become yourguarantor. If they do not, you may want to check with your embassy. If
you cannot provide a guarantor, the real estate agency may recommend a"guarantor company" to use instead. A guarantor company serves as yourt4

"guarantor", and charges the amount of a month's rent for the service.
See the following website for more information about housing:http : //www. g-studyinjapan.jasso. go.jp /en/modules/pico /index.
php?content-id=29An average size of an apartment for a student in Tokyo is about 2Am2,
one room with a small kitchen area and possibly a bath or shower room.
Most reasonably priced apartments are in the Japanese style. They
typically have tatami mats for foors. "Tatami" are a tightly woven straw
mats that fit into the fooring. You are not supposed to walk on themwith shoes or slippers. So it is cusromary that you remove your shoes ata small entry way area called a "genkan" as soon as you enter a house oran apartment. Some recent apartments may have wooden foors, but it isstill the custom to remove your shoes.
The following shows a typical student apartment. The rent for thisapartment is approximately 60,000 yen a month.

Japanese rooms are traditionally multi-purpose, which means a room canbe used as a living/dining room or a study with a low table with folding
legs during the day, while at night the table is folded and it will become abedroom with "futon" bedding laid out on the foor. The futon is foldedand put away into a closet in the morning.

Baths, Showers, and Toilets
Japanese houses always have a bath tub and/or shower separate fromtoilet, although recent apartments may have them together to save space.

It is quite common in Japan that"western" style toilets have a heated'toilet seat. You will find some buttons
with various functions either on theside of the toilet or on the wall. These::EF€slii:Sx&tf.l-.::i.:t.
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n'lai'ifunctions have pictures on buttons,
so you should be able to figure out
what each button is for. However, if
you want to press them to see what
they do, make sure to do so while
you are sitting on the seat. Otherwise
you may end up spraying the wholeroom.
You may also encounter traditional
style toilets in old homes and publicbuildings. It is a squat style where you
face towards a round porcelain part of

the toilet. There is no shower in theroom like Omani toilets, so the floor

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Furniture, Electric Appliances, and Other Household Items
A number of stores sell reasonably priced furniture and household
goods. Seiyu and Nitori are two examples of those types of stores locatedthroughout Japan. You may also find "recycle shops" near your school.
They tend to sell all kinds of used items including electric appliancessuch as refrigerators and vacuum cleaners as well as furniture and otherhousehold goods. They usually sell items that are clean, reasonable inprice, and in good condition.

5. Susiness/School Hours
You should check the hours ofyour school operations at the international
student office. The offices may be open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, whileclasses may start at Sam or B:30am and extend later in the day. Generally
speaking, business hours of public offices and companies are 9am to
5pm, while banks open at 9am and close at 3pm. Local shops anddepartment stores may open at 10am or 11am. Closing hours also vary

r6gready. There is no custom of closing offices and stores in the middle ofthe day and reopening in the evening.

6. Transportation - Travel within Japan
There are very extensive public transportation networks in Japan. Buses,
trains, and subways are the most common mode of transportation andthey are relatively inexpensive. They are operated by municipalities
as well as private companies. There are typically web sites available
describing the local services that you can learn about by asking theinternational student offi ce.

SUICA, PASMO, ICOCA
It is not easy to find out how much a train or subway fare may be if you
cannot read Japanese. The easiest method of resolving this difficulty is topurchase a SUICA, PASMO or ICOCA card. These are electronic debit
cards that can be used for almost all trains, subways and buses. You can
buy them at stations.

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f,Lll*il*l,fi.?.,*uLr i: *\7hen you go through the wicket at stations, all you have to do is to"touch" the card at the console to enter. It automatically records in thecard which station you boarded at, and when you touch it again at theexit wicket, your fare is deducted from the card.

You can charge the card balance (add funds) in Y1000, Y2,000, Y3,000,
Y5,000, or Y10,000 increments at dcket machines at stations. You
can also use the card to purchase regular tickets by inserting it to thedesignated slot of a ticket machine if you like. Should you find that you
do not have enough balance remaining in the card to exit, there arecharging machines nearby to adjust the balanace. If you have a problem
in charging your card, there is always a station staff member near exit,
who can help. Kiosks (station shops) and regular vending machinesinside and around stations and convenience stores will often accept
payments made with these cards, but they do not recharge them.

Buses
Buses are generally operated by drivers alone without conductors. There
are two doors, one next to the driver, the other on a side of the bus.
Passengers getting on the bus enter by one door and exit from the other.

in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the fare is fixed on most buses andpayment is required on boarding, so passengers enter near the driver. In
some other areas, the payment varies with the distance traveled. So theirpassengers enter from the center and take a ticket from a machine andhand in the payment and ticket as they exit from the front of the bus. So
you should watch what people ahead of you are doing as they board.
There is a fare machine next to thebus driver where you make yourpayment and if needed put in yourticket. Ifthe bus charges 220yenandyou insert a 500 yen coin into themachine, it automatically returns 280
yen in change for you to pick up. If
you use a bus line regularly you may
wish to purchase a prepaid pass ora debit card such as the PASMO or

SUICA card.
Buses have automatic sysaems for announcing the name of the next bus\X/hen you
stop that also display it on a screen above the front window.

want to get off, you signal the driver by pressing a button (red and yellow
button on a bar and the side of the seat in the photos) which you will

find in various locations in the bus. The buttons will remain lit until thebus stops at the next bus-stop.

There are special front seats on buses designated for elderly, thehandicapped and/or passengers with small children. They are identified
with a sticker on the window next to them. Some of these seats areequipped with belts to restrain baby strollers or wheel chairs.

Trains and Subways
Rail service is widespread and generally very convenient. It is divided intotrains that are usually above ground and are either local or long distanceand subways that are underground and usually local. Train and subway
fares vary with the distance you travel. So it is important to loca:e theroute map in the ticket area to determine what you will have to pay. The
station names and fares are listed on the maps. Once you determine theamount of the train fare, you specify that amount on the ticket machine.
It will issue a ticket once you have put in sufficient money and will
provide change if you put in more than the fare.

l9
You will put your ticket into the slot at the wicket in order to proceed tothe boarding platform. You will need to retrieve the ticket and retain it inorder to exit at your destination. \7hen you exit the station, you put the
ticket into the slot at the wicket, otherwise a set of blocking bars appear
so that you will not be able to go through the wicket. Make sure to retain
tickets until you exit the station. If you lose the ticket before exiting,you should go to the window next to the wicket and tell the staff person
there. Please be aware that you may have to pay a full fare again.

Elevators, Escalators and Transferring to Other Lines
If you are travelling with heavy luggage, it is difficult for you to go
up and down the stairs at stations. At such times, you should look forelevator or escalator signs at station entries, inside the wicket and on theplatforms. Elevators may be located at platform ends. Most above groundtrain stations have one, unless they are o1d or in countryside.
Just like buses in earlier section, trains automatically announce the next
station and to which train line(s) you can transfer. You can often findwhich station the train is approaching on a screen above the doors. The
names of next stations and lines that are connected there are displayed
both in Japanese and English in large cities.

If you are transfering to another line, there are signs showing which way
to go to get to the desired line on station pillars and/or guide boards
at the platform. If the train line you are transfering to is operated by asame company, you can simply go to another platform. If it is operated
by a different train company, you will have to go through an exit wicketfrom the first line, and then go through an entry wicket to the station of
the line you wish to use, even though both may be in the same building
or connected with a corridor or concourse. Some large stations suchas Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station have several companies' lines
connecting in them.

Women Only Cars
A word of caution for male students.
Depending on the train line, they may Havea "women only" car during rush hours in themorning (typically between 7:00-9:30am)

20

in cities. It means one of the carsof a train is designated for women
only to avoid sexual harassment bymen. \While they are clearly marked
usually in pink, should you happen
to get in on one of them, don't worry,
they should be understanding, but
you should change cars at the next

station.

7.

Student Discount - Gakuwari
If you commute to school by trains and/or buses, you are eligible forstudent discount for their passes. Passes are sold at stations or bus depotsof the line(s) you use. They are sold for terms of 1 month, 3 months,
or 5 months. You will need to get a ceftificate of commute from yourschool and present it with your student lD when purchasing them. Someschools issue student IDs with embedded commute certificate in them.
You may be able to get other student discounts at some movie theatres,
art galleries, museums, and long distance trains by presenting yourstudent ID.

8. Crowdedness
One difficulty for anyone who is used to a spacious physical environment
may be adjusting to Japant crowdedness.
Japant land area is slightly larger than that of Oman (see Japan
Fact Sheet in Appendix). Yet the population today is approximately
122000,000, with over 13,000,000 people living in the Tokyo area.
Although Tokyo has one of the largest urban areas in the world, the great
population density is obvious. There are lots and lots of people on streets,in trains and buses, in cars and stores, almost everywhere you mightgo. If you go to a school in a small city outside the metropolitan area
the situation is less extreme; but if your school is in a large city such as
Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, etc., you may need to be mentally prepared forthe crowdedness in Japan.

9. Banking
Yrcu must have a registered address in order to open a bank account(see page 11, Residence Card). Many schools will take their new
international students to a nearby bank to help them open an account, so
you should check with your schoolt international office first.

There is no specific procedure for an international student to open abank account. Each bank has its own rules and procedures, but all banks
require your residence card, passport and some money to deposit. It may
prove helpful to take your school ID with you. You should also knowthat they may tell you that your account is for a non-resident, despite
your Residence Card. In that case, you should confirm that you canreceive remittances from home. If you receive a Japanese government
related scholarship such as Monbusho Scholarship, you must open
an account at Yucho Bank (postal bank) at post offices. Some othergovernment-related scholarships may require a "resident" account. If thatis the case, you may need to tell the bank that you must oPen a resident
account due to the scholarship.

When you open an account, you will receive a bank book and a cashcard. Your bank book enables you to record all your transactions andyour balance. The cash card allows you to make witdrawals and deposits
at the bank's ATMs (automatic teller machine), and withdrawals fromtWhen you receive aones in other locations but there is usually a fee.
bank card, you will be asked to set a 4 digir pin number. Banks do
not want you to use your birthday for it, since it is relatively easy forcriminals to guess the number should your card be lost or stolen.
Bank offices in Japan are open from 9am to 3pm. However, there aremany ATMs throughout Japan: at banks, post offices, rail stations,convenience stores, shopping centers, etc. You can generally deposit/
withdraw cash using your bank card at your bank's ATMs at any timeof the day or night, though there are limits on withdrawals from bankATMs. Generally you can only withdraw cash, not deposit, from ATMs
that do not belong to your bank. However, you should be aware that
there is a charge of 108 yen ifyou use an ATM other than that ofyour
own bank. Even at your bank's ATM, there may be a charge after acertain hour of the day. The terms governing those charges vary from bank to bank, so you should check before you use the ATM.

22

Added information from Omani students in Japan: one person was able
to use her Omani ATM card (Visa card) in Japan to withdraw somecash, although there was a fee for each rransacrion. The card was issued

by Bank Muscat. Another person u,ith rhis card found it rvas nor very
reliable, that sometimes it worked and sometimes it did nor.

[0. Grocery Shopping and Halal Food
You can purchase groceries at variou. .hop. -:-r-1: f : : jt.::r-.ir:---r:.
convenience stores rvhich are callcd -kor-l--::-. -.---r: !: ii:.- :: :--.-.i..

"mom & pop" shops. There art .urtrr::=rL:=:. ::'.=:.- -: :.-:- .. r:r:
you can purchase grocerie.. Som: oi .-::.= -;--:-,, : :r :_.i:.. iji-,:-:
call them) carry nor onlr tbod iterns hur;"-s,r :.-i.:::.:':" :::::r::,::.
stationeries, and somerimes simpie clotnirs" tr:: "':a: J-:r.r iL:--, ;; I:,r :and Osaka, the station buildings otren lea-.t S:o{-r--. :rJr:1 .: :----,:= l:,:'are very convenient but tend to be a little e rp'tr:.=i',tYou may find a shopping street in vour area. rvhere lou .an J-- ::---rr.,-..
at small grocery stores, such as "vao-ya"(r'egetable shopt or -sa1;;ra.:.--,'a'(fish store), or "niku-ya"(meat shop), etc.

Halal food restaurants and markets in Japan can be searched online.
although it may not be easy to find outside large cities. The following aresome URLs of Halal restaurants and related sites for your reference:
In Tokyohttp : l/www.halalfoodshopj apan. com
http : //www.baticrom.com/
http : //www.onlinehalalfood.com/
http : //e-food.jp /cgi-bin/restfi nd/view.cgi ?kind= 25

In Kyoto
http //kyoto-halal.com/index*e.html
http : //www.kyoto.travel/muslim/:

23'Washirg
11.

- Coin-operated Laundry

Have you ever done your own
laundry? If not, it will be a goodidea to practice using a washingmachine and/or a dryer and iron athome before coming to Japan. Someapartment buildings provide laundryrooms in the building, so you should
check with your landlord to see if one
is available. It would be a good idea
to include clothes basket and hangers
on your list of initial shopping.
For washing laundry, "koin randori"(coin-operated laundry) will be
convenient.
You will find a few large washers and dryers in a room or an area. Thesemachines are coin operated, like a vending machine. So you can only
wash or dry your clothes and other items by inserting the specified
amount of money into the machine before using it.

You need to provide your own detergent, which you can buy at asupermarket, a convenience store or a drug store (pharmacy). The
amount of time it takes to wash or dry a load of laundry varies on its
size. So when you use the washer you need to specify the size of the load
you want to wash before turning on the washer. Once your laundry is
washed, you can dry it in the dryer, which again requires payment andthe setting of the size. You may opt to dry your laundry by hanging it inyour apartment, of course, although it may take a long time to dry since
Japan is relatively humid.
Since anyone can go in and out of koin randori, it is recommended thatyou remain there to keep an eye on your laundry. It is also advisable togo during the day time, with a friend if possible, particularly if you area woman, in order to avoid possible negatiye encounters or harassment

from strangers.

12. Trash and Recycling]apanese have become very conscious of our environment and limited
rescources. So there is a nation-wide effort to reduce trash by recycling as
much as possible. This effort is reflected in each municipality's rules on"trash sorting by type."\When you rent an apartment, you should learn which type of trash
is collected on which day of the week, and how it should be placed in
the designated space. For example, burnables (including kitchen waste,
tissue papers) might be collected on Mondays and Fridays, paper items(newspapers, magazines, books, cartons, paper boxes, etc.) might becollected on Tiresdays, non-burnables (cans, metals, etc.) might becollected on \Tednesdays, plastics and styrofoams on Thursdays, etc.
Each type of trash may need to be put in certain types of bags, so makesure to check these details with your landloard. You can also get the

information at the city hall. If you fail to do so, you might create ill
feelings without intending to by throwing trash out on the wrong day
or in the wrong way. This can become a source of unnecessary disputes
with your neighbors. If you conform to the rules, your neighbours willappreciate your efforts and feel good about you and your country.

13. Paying Bills and "Konbini" (convenience stores)
You will receive regular monthly or bimonthly bills for electricity, gas,
telephone, and water unless they are included in your rent. The mostconvenient way of paying those bills is by automatic deduction from yourbank account. \When you receive each bill by mail for the first time, they

25

usually include information on automatic deduction from your bankaccount. If you wish to arrange for it, you need to submit a specific form
they provide with your account information. This method is the mostconvenient, although you need to be conscious ofyour bank balance. If
your bank balance is short of the amount of a charge, they will send you
a bill by mail with a payment deadline. In addition, you must remember
to make the payment for your final month in Japan before you close yourbank account.

Ifyou prefer to pay bills in person, good places to do so are "konbini"(convenience stores). The major chains include 7-11 (Seven Eleven),
Lawson, Family Mart, Mini Stop, Circle K, and Sunkus. Konbinis tend
to be open early in the morning until late at night 365 days ayear' if you
bring your bills to the cashiers with your payments, they will stamp themon several places and return stamped receipts to you. Make sure to keep

the receipts as proofs of payment.

Ifyou live near a post office, you can pay bills there too, however, youwill be asked to fiI1 out a form, so it is a little more complex. You can also
pay for your health insurance at a post office or a konbini in the same
way you pay your utility bills. Post office staff tends to encourage people
to use konbini for paying any bills.
Konbinis are really convenient. Their functions have evolved anddeveloped over time. Many of them are equipped with an ATM anda copier, and sell small amounts of anything you may need, e.g. food,drinks, postage stamps, stationary, newpapers, books and magazines,
shoe repair kit, etc. Some of them also sell theater tickets and offer
courier service if you want to send something within Japan.

14. Computers, Cell phones' and Internet
You can purchase cell phones and subscribe to the internet only after you
have a registered address.

26

15. Telephones and Other Methods of Communication
Once you have your address determined and registered at the local city
office, you can buy cell phones at various phone shops and electronic
stores. Before you purchase a cell phone, you should studywhat eachtype ofphone can and cannot do. For example, there are various
applications (such as WhatsApp) you can download free for regular cell
phones or specificallv for smartphones, through which you can send
voice or short text messages to/from Oman. Before you download those
applications, make sure to check what their usage cost in Japan may be.

Howeveq if you need to contact your family before
you obtain a cell phone, you can use a public
phone. Since the spread ofcell phones, public
telephones have disappeared drastically. However,you can still find them at and near train stations
and on some streets. (see photos, left)

International calls can be made using gray public
phones. A local call is Y10 for almost one minutefor a close area, but instead of preparing so manycoins to make a phone call, "phone cards" areconvenient. They are Y1000 yen and sold atconvenience stores, kiosks and at train stations.
Some public phones are equipped with a "red"button. It is an emergency call button. Press the
red button, then dial 110 (police) or 119 (fire andambulance) to get help. If the public phone does
not have a red button, just lift the receiver and dial
110 or 119 for help without inserting any money.
There are "hot spots" (free wi-fi) in some areasin Japan. You may be able to find them at coffee
shops, etc. or inside subway stations. Go to
http://www.ntt-bp.netijcfwlen.html and see various free wi-fi signs (godown to a list of Partner Companies for a scrolling image).

)'7

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You can also rent or purchase pocket wi-fi service for a set amount oftime. There are many service providers, so you should study the terms
carefully.

16. Electricity in JapanThe voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. However,the 50 Hertz zone in eastern Japan
there are two frequencies zones
and 50 Hertzzone in western Japan (Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka). Go to
http : //www.sharp.co.jplsupport/info/info-hz-1.html for the dividing
line. Japan only uses fat 2 pin plugs (see photo below). Therefore, it isadvisable to bring the necessary adapters if your computer and otherelectric equipment do not have Japanese style plugs.

28

17. Mosques and Prayer Rooms at Universities
Some universities provide prayer rooms for \luslim students on theircampus, so check with your international student adr-isor. \bu can alsofind a list of mosques in Japan at http://u'u-ri'.masiid..io lisr.htn-rl

18. Safeqr, Security and Natural Disasters
Japan is known as a very safe country, but it is not crir:-international students should take normal precaurions '.
at home or anywhere else in the world. Following is a iist
Precautions:

Always lock and chain the door of your apartment s'hen r'..u
inside .

Make sure to lock the door and all windows at night, not to menlwhen you leave the apartment, even if you live on a uPPer floor oltall building.

If your door bell rings, make sure to know who it is before you oPen
the door. Remember, you have the right NOT to open it. If it is adelivery that you were not anticipating, make sure to ask who it isfrom, and keep the door chain on when you oPen the door.
Do not walk alone late at night on an unlit street. If you have to,keep your ears open for any sound around you.
If you are a man, do not keep your wallet in your back pocket. It is
too readily accessible to pickpockets.
and on a
Hold your bag in front of you on a crowded bus,
street.

.
.

Do not leave your bags unattended even in school.
Should you ever get attacked, scream "Kaji-dal" (fire!) It attracts
attention quickly and will confuse the attacker.

Natural Disaster\What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase "natural disaster" ?

Most Japanese would think of earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunami. \(/ecertainly hope there will be no such disasters while you are in Japan, butiust in case one occurs you have some knowledge of what to do.

29Japan has frequent earthquakes although people often do not feelthem because most are quite small. Still you should be prepared forthe possibility of a large one. You should also be prepared for the otherdisasters as well, .iust in case one occurs. You should be sure to havea supply of food and water on hand. Keep a flash light handy to beprepared for blackout due to typhoons and/or earthquakes. Ifyou areon trains or subways, follow the instructions of the crew. Be aware that

it is extremely dangerous to walk on subway tracks since they have highvoltage wires along tracks.

The following are some of common things you should do for earthquake
saFety:.

If you are using gas, turn it off immediately to avoid fire. Fire often
kills more people than the collapsing of houses and buildings.

.
.
.
.

Open doors or windows to secure exitway to outside.
Get under a desk or table to avoid being hit by falling objects.
Never use an elevator at the time of earthquake or fire.
Tsunamis are rare after earthquakes, but if you are residing area
where there is a tsunami warning, you should immediately evacuate

to higher ground.

Iyphoon Preparation\Teather tracking is generally good in Japan, so typhoon warnings areusually issued days in advance. You should make sure that your windows
are shuttered and that you have not left loose objects outside, such as
an unsecured bicycle or trash can or eYen a plant. You should also be
prepared for power outage or phone outage.

Disaster Emergency Message Diil l7l
Following the earthquake and rsunami experience of 2011, the Disaster
Emergency Message Dial, a special voice message board, was established.
\When a disaster such as an earthquake hits an area, communication
traffic to the area will drastically increase. As a result it becomes
impossible to get through to a desired number. Through the voicemessage board, you can leave a message for a recipient who can also leaveand hear a message by accessing 171'

30

Please read more detail and how it works at:http : //www. ntt-east.co.jp /en/saigai/voicel7 \ I

Omani Embassy Disaster Alert
The Omani Embassy in Tokyo has an Arabic twitter alert service thatcovers earthquakes, typhoons (cyclones), etc @OmanEmb-Alerts.
The Embassy encourages all students and visitors to follow this twitter
account.

3r

IV. Japanese Customs and Society
Both Oman and Japan are old countries therefore there are various
traditions and customs that may not make sense to someone who is new
to rhe country. However, as an old saying goes, "When in Rome, do as
the Romans do," it is a good idea to know Japanese social customs andfollow its rules.

In comparative terms, Omani culture developed out of nomadic tribal
traditions, which strongly emphasize personal hospitalility while Japaneseculture developed from the traditions of settled agricultural villages
in which people emphasize the differences between public and private
spaces and public and private faces. Parr of the public face is an emphasison group cooperation and harmony. This tradition of cooperation andrespect for "\7a" (often translated as harmony) is one of the core values
which has shaped today's Japanese society.
1.

Greetings
japanese bow to each other for greetings. If you see some person bowing

while on a telephone, you can assume the person is greeting the otherparty. Shaking hands is very common as well even between a man and awoman. A firm hand-shake communicates confidence although it should
not cause pain, but a limp one gives a poor impression. So if you shakehands, give a firm shake but if you feel uncomfortable shaking handswith a person of the opposite sex, a Japanese style bow will do very well.
taditionally, Japanese never hug nor rub noses. Also if two men holdeach othert hands, it looks too affectionate and may be misinterpreted,
although it is acceptable for two women to hold hands.

2. Punctuality
One of the most noticeable difference in life in Japan and that of Oman
may be peoplet sense of time. In Oman, time fows naturally while
japanese "live by the clock" and expect everything to be scheduled andon time.

It may be difficult for an Omani to switch gears but it is considered
bad manners and even rude to be late for an appointment, since it32

automatically makes the person wait for unknown period of dme. If you
are late for an appointment or a meeting, you should always call andapologize and let him/her know when you can be expected.

3. Japanese Diet
Japanese main diet includes rice and other grains (wheat products),
meats (beef pork, poultry), seafood (fish, shellfish, and seaweeds), dairy

products, and vegetables. Minors (age 19 or younger) are not allowed todrink alcoholic beverages. Richard Hosking's A Dictionary ofJapanese
Foodwill help you find out ingredients of Japanese dishes in English withpictures.

Other than sushi, breads, and snack foods which are eaten by hands,
chopsticks (o-hashi) are traditionally used for eating. 'When "\(/estern
foods" are served, utensils (knives, forks and spoons) are used.
Restaurants will sometimes ask if you prefer to use a fork rather thanohashi. It is considered polite to lift bowls (rice, soup, salad, etc.) withyour left hand, particularly since Japanese soups are usually drunk
directly from the bowl without spoons.

4. Religion
It may seem very strange for someone in an Islamic country that Japanese
seem very disinterested in religion. If asked, the majority of Japanese
would respond they are not religious. Still Shintoism and Buddhism are
the basis ofJapanese society and culture.

Shinto is Japan's ancient tranditional religion which is based on
Shamanism. \(hen Buddhism spread to Japan in 6fth century from
China, the Japanese accepted it without replacing Shitoism. So, thetwo religions have co-existed harmoniously and shaped and developed
Japanese society to date. The following story is probably very confusing
to a non-]apanese but illustrates the current religious status ofJapan: it isquite common when a baby is born, he/she will be presented and blessed
at a Shinto shrine; when the person grows up, he/she may choose to getmarried at a Christian church, and when he/she dies, he/she may have a
Buddhist funeral.

\7hen people speak of "shrines", they always mean Shinto buildingsthat have a "Torii" gate. When they say "temple" it indicates a Buddhist
structure, while "church" indicates a Christian one. People are lessfamiliar with Islam, but they are aware of mosques, which are called
Islam ji-in.
Buddhism traditionally prohibited eating any animal food including fish,
therefore Buddhists were vegetarians. The average Buddhist no longer
practices the prohibition. In Shintoism, sake (an alcoholic beverage madefrom rice) was considered a sacred gift from God, so there is a tradition
oftoasting and "breaking a keg ofsake" at auspicious occasions such as
New Year, weddings, and the opening of businesses.

'J

34

V. Advice from Omani Students in Japan
What to Consider in Studying Abroad
Eman Al-Naamani

Ph.D. Program in Chemical Engineering
Osaka University
The true feeling of success comes after failure, sacrifices, and hardworking. Studying abroad is a lifetime experience and a chance that mostprobably won't repeat.
A very common question people ask to a foreign student is the reason forstudying in a particular country. The right selection for where to study
should be based on two important factors; first is your ma.ior and second
is the country condition. For the first factor, you have to be sure that you
are going to study the right thing at the right place. Second, the country
condition will have a direct impact on you to stay comfortable and safe.
In addition, being abroad will let you not only to learn at the university
but also from the people surrounding you.
Japan is among the most culturally rich countries where every day you
will have something new to learn about. Language, food, Japanesetraditions, and the inspiring nature ofJapan all rogether make our lives
here wonderful. Along with focusing on your university classes you areencouraged to study Japanese language as well. It's a big advantage tostudy a new language especially ifit is beautiful like ]apanese language.
Japanese people like Omani people we both believe that our culture
is valuable and consider it our identity. However, there are a lot ofdifferences between Oman and Japan in many aspects. It is importantto accept and understand these differences in order to live smoothly andh"ppy.
To study abroad means to be away of your parents, your family and y<.rurfriends. This challenge is the most difficult and the most lasring for ycru
and your family as well. However, difficulties we go through shall always
be doses for strengthening us. These challenges and many others will
make you understand the true meaning of success. Always be optimistic
and enthusiastic to make your dreams come true.

35

Study Abroad is More than Just Studying Abroad
Harnza Mohammed Al Kindi
Master's Program in Chemistry, Science
Tohoku University
Before I came to Japan as I was surfing the internet I came across a
picture of a welcome poster hung in one ofJapan's airports. \7hat I
found astounding was not the fact that "welcome to Japan" was written
in ten different languages, but what caught my attention was that theyalso wrote "Japan E,ndless Discovery." After living in Japan I cameto realize that the word "discovery" is not iust limited to science andtechnology, almost every day there is a chance to explore and discoversomething new lt's little wonder when one is in a country where
breathtaking natural scenery, rich culture, and inspiring people are allgathered.
Japan is a country of diversity and tradition, it can offer the singularexperience of visiting the same place in different seasons and make itseem as if each time it's a new destination. Along with its beautiful
landscapes cultural evidence, such as castles, shrines, and temples, allow
anyone to dive deep into rich history, something which all Japanese areproud of. Even with the rapid advance of technology, Japanese strongly
preserve their traditions and customs, but they are also very open andwilling to learn more about other cultures, especially the qualities thatmake them so different to their own. This is a trait that foreign students
can benefit from when living in Japan.

The main objective of all students is to succeed in their sudies while inJapan. But that does not mean that one should limit oneself to study andmiss the opportunity to learn more about a culture that is completely
different to our Omani culture. Life for foreigners in any country is nevereasy in the beginning, but by patiently understanding your surroundings
and those around you, things start to become easier and with time
become enioyable. Even language barriers can be overcome with time,
one very important piece of advice to make life in Japan smoother: makefriends and as many as possible.

36

Remember a good plan, willing heart and some hard work and supporr,
will make your dreams come true. I wish you all have successful studies
and take back great memories ofJapan.
c./tLife inJapan
Khadija TahirAlKindi
Master's Program in Environmental Science
Tsukuba University
Congratulations on choosing Japan as your destination for graduate
and post-graduate studies. Japan is very rich in culture and advanced inso many great aspects from technology, policy and law, and hence it isimportant to take every advantage and opportunity you have to learn
and experience the rich culture. People are so friendly, kind, and humble;
never hesitate to ask and seek for help whenever you want.

Life in Japan is not as hard as it seems, it gets easier once you understandthe traditions and culture and everything will make sense. It is very
important to respect the Japanese lifesryle and habits and imply themin the daily life routine. I hope you excel in your studies and make yourcountry and parent proud, wish you all the best in your new journey inJapan.

c./,

I Didn't Imagine Being in Japan
Nait bam Su le iman Am bu- S aidi
Bachelor's Program in Applied Chemistry
Tokai University

I can't imagine 4 years have already passed since I took my first step on
the land of Japan. I wasn't looking to come to Japan since my childhood
as many other Omanis do. Also I didn't even have enough knowledge
about Japan as a country and its culture. Before I came to Japan, all I had
was a kind of ambition to discover a new world especially Japan, which is
not popular for Omani students for studying abroad compared ro orher
countries such as the United States or Australia.

37

These were my thoughts in those days. However, in talking about thepresent time, honestly i might think sometimes it was maybe better tochoose another place but what I am sure about is that I won't be able toget all the good moments and chances that I had in Japan until today.

Comparing to other countries, Japan as a country has many facilities
which make life easier especially for overseas students. Consideringfeatures in the field of transportations, safety, and the education system,
Japan is one of the best around the world.

There are many things I wished i had got the chance to do before I firstcame to Japan. Firstly, let's talk about Japanese language. The reason
why I'm making it first is the importance of language in order to makelife easier and interesting. I'm not saying that you can't live without it at
all but there are really many places and interactions where Japanese isneeded. Most of the difficulties I had during my first period of staying inJapan were all around the language, so I wished I had acquired enoughknowledge of the language before I came here. Secondly, l would liketo mention the importance of Japanese culture and the psychology of
the Japanese people themselves. From my point of view, knowing about
these two things will give people coming to Japan the key of the gate ofknowing Japanese people closer and make many new friendships.
As most of the beginnings, my beginning here in Japan wasn't easy as thelife I'm living nowadays. One of the most surprising things about Japanis the 20 years old ru1e. The 20 years old rule is a ]apanese rule that does
not allow people who are under 20 years old from doing most of thelife requirements from simple things as getting a cellphone card to big
things like renting an apartment. This was the biggest difficulty I had
at the beginning since I came here at only 17 years old. I got help froma friend in finding a shop that allowed me to get the SlM card in thosedays. I also needed a guarantor for renting an apartment, the Embassy of
Sultanate of Oman in Tokyo does now guarantee Omani students since
the law required a guarantor in this case.

The system of education here has many things to consider. For Omani
students coming here to study for the Bachelor degree Japanese language
is needed because most of the Japanese universities don't use English inmajor lectures. However, for students coming here to take the Master
degree, Japanese language is not needed but students are always advised

38

to take a short Japanese language course for 6 months as maximum inorder to get the benefits oflanguage in daily life. For undergraduate
students, students will have to take the EJU exam which is required
to enter most of the universities. After doing the exam, you will findthe university journey will begin by doing some exams and interviews
depending on the University requirements.
Since my first step on the land ofJapan until now, each day here hassomething special and something new to learn and every moment on thiscountry has its own feature. Many things are different than Oman andthe culture itself has such a wide area to sail on it. Each day here gave me
and will give me more in the future and I will gain new knowledge about
the country that has been to me my beloved destiny.

Appendix
Embassy of Sultanate of Oman in Japan
Address:

4-2-17 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan

Phone:
Fax

03-5468-1088 (from outside Japan +81-3-5468-1088)
03-5468-1068 (from outside Japan +81-3-5468-1068)

Email:

info@omanembassy.jp, tokyo@mofa. gov.om

Facebook:www.facebook.com/omanembassy

Twitter:@OmanEm

Japan Fact Sheet
http://web-japan. o rg/other/i ndex_a r. htm I
Land Area:

377,796 square kilometers (As of 1 October, 2012)

Population:

128,057,352 (As of 1 October 2010)

Capital:Tokyo

GDP per capita;

4A,A7 (nominal, 2012)

Useful Telephone Numbers
Police (urgent)

110

Fire/Ambulance:

119

Disaster Emergency Dial:

171

JR East lnfoline:(050) 2016-1603

The Japan Help-Line:(Emergency help

(0570) 000-911

asslsfance service 24

hr/day,Tdaysaweek)40

Useful Japanese'Words
Hello/Good aflernoon

Konnichiwa (kon-nichi-wa)

Good morning

Ohayo gozaimasu

Good evening

Konbanwa (kon-ban-wa)

Good nightOyasumi nasai (oya-sumi na-sa-i)

I am XX (My name is XX)

Watashiwa (watashi-wa) XX desu (des)Thank you

Domo arigato

We shall meet again (said in parting)Mata aimasho

Excuse me for disturbing you(said when leaving a room or at theend of a phone call.)Shitsurei shimasu (shi-tsu-rei-shi-mas)Thank you forthe food I am about 1oeat (words to say before eating)Itadakimasu

Thank you for the food I ate(words to say after eating)

Gochiso-sama

Delicious

Oishii (oi-shii)

Excuse me

Sumimasen (sumi-ma-sen)

Yes

Hai(ha-i)Nolie (ee-eh)

Useful Kanji (Chinese characters) for Visual Recognition
Common Building and Street Signs

trentrance

Htr

exit

+Fq

push

3t<

pull

.L.

up

T

down

E

left

E

righl

fn:

open

FE

close

EE

)a

male

*

femalet6z=prohibited

uv4, ),

recycleU HI

No Entry

41

lD card related,.6

police box

xlLFfi filq.Ffi

city office&gr-r.r

residence card

YEU

student discount,Y,t=E
-f,---J-pL

student lD

Health related

trR,fXFftnational health insurance

)E<
7lS

medicine/drugHEpharmacy\r+ rrislnvT

hospital,E XL

illness

Tra nsportation related

11=
,D\IJ

express*D&z transfer
YB

weekday/\7'.{+

bus stop*,Eft,FH

local

iEtr

delay

tE,ft

Saturday-Sunday-Holiday

Food related

6l

meat

M(t^

pork

+rt

beef

xEtt

chicken;Eisake I genericalcoholic beverage!*Sffi or

mirin (seasoning
containing alcohol)

7)l,a-)1,

alcohol

7.1(

water

)I

rce

F}'fE

sugar

b.D lv-'E

tD

warm or hot water,sometimes public bath

}m

salt

42

Japanese Calendar
There are many national holidays in Japan, days on which schools and public
offices are closed, and public transportation may run on a different schedule.
Some of them are based on Buddhist traditions, some are historically based,some others are recent additions.
January 1st New Year's Day]anuary 15th (or second Monday before the 15th) Coming of the Age Day
February 11th Nation Foundation Day
March 21st Vernal Equinox
April29th Showat Day
May 3rdConstitution Memorial Day
May 4rh
Green Day
May 5thChildrent Day(or
21st
Monday ofJuly) Ocean Day
third
July
Sept. 15th Respect the Aged Day

23rd Autumnal Equinox
October 10th (or second Monday of October) Physical Exercise Day
Sept.

Nov. 3rd
Nov. 23rd

Cultural Day
Labour ThanksgivingD^y
Dec.23rd Emperor'sBirthday

Books on Japan: A Partial List
Eigo de Nibon Shoukai handobokhu (Nandbooh for introduction ofJapan inEnglish) by Yoshie Matsumoto, ALC, Tokyo, 2014
Shin-Eigo de bataru Nihon Jijyou (Neu English book on Japaa) by Hiroyuki

Eguchi & Daniel Dumos, Japan Times, Tokyo, 2011
Eigo de Nihon wo bataru tameno Jiten (A Dictionary to explain Japan inEnglish) by Nobuyuki Honna & Bates Hoffer, Asuku Publishing Co.,Tokyo, 2010
Ni.ppon-sono sugata to hohoro (Nippon-The Land and its People) by Nittetsu

Human Develpoment, Gakuseish a, Tokyo, 2002)

43

Oman andJapan by Haruo Endo, Muscat Printing Press, Muscat, 2011
Japan's New Middle Class andJapan as Number Oneby Ezra Vogel,Harpercollins, 7979
(Sociological study of the emerging Japanese middle class and Japanesetechnological achievements)
With Respect to the Japanese by John Condon, Intercultural Press,(Various cultural features of the Japanese and Japanese society)
The Japanese by Edwin O. Reischauer, Belknap Press, 1978

(An authoritative book. Reischauer authored numerous books on Japanand served as Ambassdor to Japan in the early 1960s)
Japan Is NotAllRaw Fish and Son of Raw Fisbby Don Maloney,JapanTimes,
1975(Collection of essays on a business man and his family's experiences inJapan)
Japanese Lessons by Gail Benjamin, NYU Press, 1997

(Overview ofJapanese school system compared to that of U.S. by an
American woman whose children attended Japanese primary school)
The Mabing of Modern Japanby Marius Jansen, Harvard U Press, 2002.

Useful Websites
GeneralA rch itecture

http : //www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/japanlarchitecture.

htm

Currency Calculator
http : //www.xe.com/ucc/

Time in Japan
http : /i swissinfo. net/cgilworldtime/clock.pl ?TokyoJapan

44\Teather in Japan
http : //www. )ma.go.jp I jmalindexe.html
Guides to Japan (travel)
http : /iwww. jnto. go.)p I engl
hmp : //www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations /north_east_asia/japan/
http : //www.japan-guide.com/

Japanese MediaThe Japan Times (largest English newspaper in Japan)
http : //www.j apantimes.co.jpl

Yomiuri (major newspaper)http : //the-japan-news.com/

Mainichi Shimbun (major newspaper)http //mainichi.jplEnglish:

Asahi Shimbun (major newspaper)http : i/www. asahi.com/english

Nikkei (major financial daily)
http : //asia.nikkei.coml ?n-cid= NARANl0 I

NHK (national TV station)
http : //www. nhk.or.jplenglishi index.html

Japanese Culture
Tea Ceremony

http : I I japanese-tea-ceremony.net/
Flower Arrangement

http : //www.ikebanahq.org/profi le.php
Judo

http:/{udolnfo.com/
Aikidohttp : //www.aikiweb.com/

Kabukihttp : //www2.ntj.jac. go.jplunesco/kabuki/en/

http://www.kabuki2l.com
Origamihttp : //www.paperfolding.com/