TOKYO LIVING

Living in Tokyo Town

Gaijin – slang and short for Gaikoku-jin. Modern meaning: Foreigner, alien, non-Japanese. Historical meaning: outsider, different people, barbarian. Yep, that’s you.

When I came to live and work in Japan, I didn’t know anyone or how to speak the language. Although, I didn’t learn the language (yeah, shameful, but I managed to survive. more on this in a separate article), I made many quality friends and learned so much about Japanese history and their way of life.

So, if you’re an Atarashii Gaijin (new foreigner) in the land of Nippon, you will need some essentials to help you enjoy your stay and survive Tokyo Town.

How to SURVIVE in Tokyo:

1.   Learn some of the culture, its people and ways. This will help ease the shock factor upon arrival and make it easy to accept their strange yet adorable nature. More so,

2.   Don’t be like me and learn the language! Best to expose yourself to it even before coming over. Learn the Hiragana and Katakana – these will make communicating easier for you, somewhat. Until you have to learn Kanji, that is. 

Funny story: my first word in Japanese? Taskete Chikan! (Help, Pervert!) Well, I heard about what happens in the crowded trains so, I had to. And yeah, I was able to use it once.

*The above two are best done prior to coming over.

3.   Get yourself a Subway Map and learn it (insert link or photo). They’re free and available at all train stations. Memorize it if you can! Especially your train route and train line. This can save your life or at least from getting lost.

Tokyo Metro Subway MAP

4.   Experience the different areas of Tokyo. Not just the popular ones. There’re always new things to discover and soon you’ll find your special little nook you can hide at, recommend to your friends or blog about.

Personal experience:    It is only in Tokyo, I feel safe at all times. More so, only here I don’t get stared at disrespectfully.

Friend’s experience: She lost her phone and wallet on a night out. They were both returned to her.

5.    Join communities, groups, or organizations and make friends both locals and foreign. This will make your life in Japan more enjoyable and less lonely. More so, learning a new hobby or sport is always fun.

Example: Learn about the Japanese tea ceremony, Ikebana, kendo, how to play football/ futsal, or dress cosplay (big in Japan). 

6.  An important thing to note and I tirelessly reiterate is to respect the people and their ways. Gaijins always complain about the Japanese for various reasons. But hey, it’s their turf and you live in it so, deal. They’re very different and often bordering on the extreme, but they’re also modest, kind, and honest.

Well, this should really go for any place you live in really.