At present, you are probably trying to organize what you can pack given the limited baggage allowance. In most cases, some excess weight is tolerated for the flight over. The average being up to 10kg extra, but this is not absolute, so check before you overpack. You can also pay to bring extra luggage with you, it is about $96US and $100Cdn for an additional suitcase - again call the airlines.

As you have already been told, it is best to post winter clothes, books, etc., via sea mail to your school or office before you come. This will add some excitement at the office, and most likely someone will drive it home for you! If it is sent to your house, a postal worker will leave a notice in your mailbox. You will only have 5 days to pick it up before it is sent back.

Here is some advice on things to pack/bring with you. Keep in mind this is by no means inclusive. As well, you can always have things sent from home later if you forgot something.

CLOTHES:

Good clothing is available here, though sizes tend to be smaller. For men, clothing is designed for slim bodies, so if you are of average build, you may have to go on a shopping tour in Hong Kong! Women's off the rack clothes only goes up to about a 10/12, or US size 8. If you are above 160cm (5ft. 2in), many pants will be too short. As a rule, larger clothes are tough to find and tend to be more expensive. For people who are willing to make visits to Nagoya, there is The Gap, Eddie Bauer, and LL Bean - but you will definitely pay significantly more than you would at home (up to 3 times as much). Catalogs also are always an option.

*Do not go on a buying spree for formalwear, as you most likely won't need it. Business casual is definitely okay. Work dress varies between jobs, but generally you will be expected to dress (semi-) professionally, ex.) pants, shirt, and tie for men; dresses, skirts, and pants for women. Those in town or village positions tend to dress more casually. Find out if you have to wear formal clothes (most of us don’t), and then leave all your suits, etc. at home.

*Bring one or two dark suits for formal work occasions and conferences. Black is best and think about versatile fabric you can wear year round. AETs may be required to wear black (for women an over the knee skirt or dress may also be required) for school graduation ceremonies in March.

*For winter, think warm, wool clothes and layers! Send ahead thermals, a warm versatile jacket, gloves, and a scarf. (Note: If you plan to join AJET for the Mt. Fuji climb in August you will want to bring a warm jacket now (instead of mailing it) because when you reach the top it is absolutely freezing!)

*For women, long skirts are great for the summer and they eliminate the need for pantyhose. Light cotton clothes and short sleeve dress shirts are good for everybody, as many schools and offices aren't air-conditioned. Plenty of shorts and T-shirts are good for your own time.

*Most JETs bike to work. When wearing skirts or dresses, some recommend bike shorts or leggings so there is less worry about flashing school children who will biking along side you!

*For outdoor school events like sports day, you may be expected to wear a tracksuit, and maybe a polo shirt. Work-out gear and cotton sports socks are expensive here, so bring it from home.

*Do not forget your swimsuit (also very expensive here).

*We suggest you bring a stock of underwear from home. Though available here, it is best to stick with what you know. Bras are hard to get unpadded, and sizes are small.

CLEANING NOTES:

*Most places will have a washer machine that only uses cold water. The machines here can be very hard on clothes, so choose sturdy fabrics. Also make sure to purchase net bags to protect your clothes - especially things like bras and underwear. You can buy them here for about 100 yen.

*Most places will not have a clothes dryer, so be mentally prepared to hang dry your clothes.

*Dry-cleaning is reasonable in Japan, but it may be difficult to get things home uncreased.

SHOES:

*You will need shoes specifically for indoors at school. Try rubber-soled shoes or slippers. You can also bring some dress-up indoor-only shoes. Also, if you go to the gym, you will need a pair of good indoor sport shoes, and these again should not be worn outside.

*Also bring dress shoes, some outdoor cross trainers, comfortable casual shoes that can withstand constant drenching in the wet season, hiking boots (waterproof and suitable for the snow and climbing Mt. Fuji this August - bring them with you vs. ship them if you want to go!), and slip-on sandals for the summer. You can, of course, buy shoes in Japan. Women's sizes are up to 25cm (about US size 8, you can sometimes squeeze into a few pairs of shoes here if you are size 8 1/2), and men's are 27cm. Quality shoes are imported and expensive, but you can get man-made indoor shoes really cheap here.

PERSONAL AND TOILETRIES:

If you plan to bring a lot of extra supplies, have some sent over with your winter clothes to make your luggage lighter. Most everything is available here, but if you habitually use a product, or just cannot live without your special brand of organic soap, we recommend that you bring it. The following are specific suggestions...

*Hard to find or expensive items are good deodorants, toothpaste with fluoride, toothbrushes, dental floss, Q-tips, body sprays, after-shave, make-up, and skin-care products. There is a Body Shop in Gifu City and in Nagoya, but they charge three times the price of back home.

*Tampons are not of especially high quality, it is highly recommended that you bring your own.

*Bring your own hair color if you dye your hair, it will be much easier to follow the directions!

*The contraceptive pill is not yet available in Japan. So if you need it, make sure you bring enough to last you until your next visit home. It is said that some JETs get it sent to them, but this is not recommended of course. Also, bring quality condoms from home.

*Spare contact lenses and lots of solutions.
 

MEDICINES - VERY IMPORTANT:

*A stock of medicines: headache tablets, Pepto-Bismol, sunscreen, insect bite lotion, and cold and flu tablets. Although such things are available here, it is nice to have products you are familiar with and can read the directions to. In the CLAIR publications, there is a list of illegal medicines/supplies as well as quotas on how much not to bring into the country, such as ibuprofen, anti-histamines, etc. Many JETs have successfully brought such items and a year's supply over with them (hint, hint), but AJET does not encourage such actions.

DOCUMENTS:

*Credit cards (for travel and emergencies, and the phone numbers of who to call if you lose them)

*International Drivers License (who knows, you may end up driving a car one day or all 365)

*Spare passport photos…about 4 (for you’re alien registration card, visas to other countries, etc…they are quite handy)

*Records of your banking details, bills, and loans

*Immunization record from your doctor. (this is just in case you decide to travel outside of Japan and need to get several immunizations…it is good to know what you have already received)

FOOD:

*While you will have limited access to foreign foods, there are some good foreign restaurants, and a couple of international food stores in the Gifu City/Nagoya area. You can always have food parcels sent from home. There is also a mail order service (called the Foreign Buyers` Club) that stocks a good selection of foreign foods.

OTHER:

*A box of Christmas cards (expensive here).

*Book and magazine subscriptions (join the mag at home and then switch the address…they will ship overseas for no extra charge).

*Favorite taped TV shows (check compatibility of video format first; US and Canada are okay)

*Your favorite tapes and CDs.

*Tour/travel books of Japan and Asia (try the Lonely Planet, Lets Go, or Rough Guide series)

*A big backpack for travelling.

*Sports gear like tennis rackets, balls, goggles, workout videos...

*Sleeping bag or tent if you plan to go camping, or crashing on other JETs’ tatami floor.

*If you have done regular teaching or TEFL, bring some of your books to use as an alternative resource to the Japanese textbook.

*Japanese language texts...they are a little pricey but a wide selection is available here.