Living Tips for a Singaporean in Tokyo/Yokohama Duration: 3 months stay in Tokyo/Yokohama Period: July to September ( Summer/Autumn Season) Age:

Teens/early twenties General - Cost of living in Tokyo/Yokohama is very much higher than Singapore. Tip: Keep yourself from converting Yen to SGD; it only shocks and kills you to know how a SGD$0.20 bottle of mineral water can cost SGD$1.50 here. Your allowance is paid in Yen, so do the calculations in Yen is better than having to keep converting to SGD. - People speak some English here, but dont expect too much. It is always good to check out the internet first before going out. However, Japanese are generally very nice, despite the language barrier, most of the time, they actually bring you to the place you are intending to go - Japanese categorize their rubbish into burnable and non-burnable, most probably a Singaporean will find it very troublesome, nevertheless it has to be followed, or you get your bag of rubbish returned to you. Weather Summer in Tokyo/Yokohama is very hot (probably hotter than Singapore) At the end of September, it gets cooler. Winter clothes are not needed in this case; a jacket should suffice. Living Quarters A microwave is very essential to heat up your bento boxes bought at convenience stores for a hassle-free lunch/dinner. Kitchenware (Pots, pans etc.) can either be bought at Daiso (100yen shop); the Daiso at Harajuku is recommend since its 4-storeys high and has almost everything. Fridge: should be given. Fan/Aircon: should be given. Rice cooker: borrow one? Bring your own bed sheets; Futon is provided with a pillow. Internet Access: check with the HR Dept. It should cost about SGD$50++ per month for the modem and access. (NTT Docomo). You can get internet access either by purchasing prepaid internet like WirelessGate or talk to the apartment tenant (Inoue-san) to get the Service Provider to install internet connection in your room. It will take about 2 weeks for the installation and paperwork to be done. Seeing a doctor in Japan: You should have an insurance card , issued by Hitachi. This allows partial compensation by the company. Consultation fees and medicine fees are separately invoiced in Japan. (ie. you see a doctor, and get your prescribed medicine at a pharmacy, and not at the same clinic.) Check with people who live at the same premises on the nearest hospitals around.

Medical certificates (MC) do not come free with a doctors consultation. An MC costs ~SGD$50 in Japan. If you have some trouble, just make a phone call to HR Dept or Kodama-san. Transport: The best way to get around are trains, thought they are a 10x more complicating than the Singapore MRT system. (JR or Subway). Get a Suica/Pasmo card (equivalent to Singapores EZ link card); deposit of 500yen Generally, transport costs are expensive; equivalent to Singapores cab fare. Taxis in Japan are too expensive for a Singaporean standard- avoid taking unless there are no alternatives. Do plan your routes before you leave. You can use this application to schedule your timings. http://www.jnavi.ne.jp/ (Japanese Only) You can use this website to plan your routes before you leave home. (This website is actually developed by a Hitachi Group company) http://www.hyperdia.com (Available in English) Japanese trains are always on time and punctual so you wouldnt want to miss a train else you will be late. Also, unlike Singapores MRT, it gets pretty crowded at times especially when going to work, so you will need to get used to being squeezed in the train.

Necessities Mobile - Singapore phone lines (ie. Starhub, Singtel) can still be used, but your phone has to be 3G. However, it is expensive to make calls overseas. - An alternative is to get a temporary Japanese mobile phone (keitai) from the Narita Airport; check with counter person at the Airport. You can rent a phone at Narita Airport. - Another option is to buy a Japanese mobile phone (keitai); recommended tele-carrier, Softbank. Phone sets (around SGD$80 -$150) are available, with prepaid cards of 3000yen or 5000yen value, topped up every month. It is recommended to get a Softbank prepaid phone. Docomo does not provide prepaid phones. *Roppongi and Omotesando outlets has English-speaking staff Food - Hassle-free dinners are bentos bought at Konbinis (Convenient Stores). - The next best alternatives are shops where you buy your food coupon through a vending machine; Yoshinoya, Matsuya are some common names. (cost: ~300-800yen) - A 1000yen (ie. ~SGD$16)is considered cheap in Tokyo/Yokohama-Japan standards. Singaporean Food Does not taste 100% authentic, but is fairly okay- at Ebisu and Asakasa; Hainan-Chifan - There is a great chinese food restaurant just beside Nakayama apartment. - There are great dining restaurants just beside Totsuka station which is beside Hitachi. - You can also find your way to Lalaport, a 15 min walk to Nakayama / take a train from Nakayama Station and take the train to Yokohama direction, stop at the station after Nakayama. There is a Lalaport there which is a big shopping mall and some good restaurants for food.

Shopping - Shops close around 8.30pm in Japan, very much different from the ones in Singapore. - Convenience Stores (Konbinis) are 24/7 - Near Yokohama there are 2 Yodobashi (electrical items) stores. Household items/Food: can be bought at Konbinis and your neighborhood supermarket (check with people who live at the same premises) 100yen (Daiso) shop is a good place to buy cheap household items as well. Clothes: - Cheaper street fashion catered to the young are at Takadanobaba, Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji, Shinjuku (not all areas), Harajuku, Shibuya - Local Japanese brand names are generally more expensive, and the best and cheapest alternative will be 1) UNIQLO (cheaper than Singapores outlets) 2)H&M - Summer sale in August! Books & Music (DVDs/CDs): - Kinokuniya is your best bet, but the variety of English books/magazines should be wider at book stores near Tokyo/Shinjuku areas. - Tower Records Others Singapore Embassy in Tokyo; http://www.mfa.gov.sg/tokyo/