Kyoto Guide | Practical

Practical living in Japan

People living in a foreign country are bound to come across unfamiliar or difficult situations. With a fairly large language barrier and a very different culture to the west, Japan can be quite stressful. Other idiosyncrasies, such as Japan's love of bureaucracy, can make simple things like connecting to the internet a very confusing experience.

This section deals with the practicalities of living here; anything from opening a bank account to seeing a doctor. The information may not cover all the problems faced by foreigners in Japan, so if you feel there are any relevant issues that have not been addressed please don't hesitate to contact us.

Accommodation A guide to the various kinds of accommodation available and different ways of finding a place to live.	Basic services How the mobile phone companies differ, dealing with the sometimes infuriating postal service, and advice on banking.
Supermarkets, food Information on cooking in Japan, from recipes to ingredients. This section also addresses the convenience of convenience stores and where to buy foreign food in the city.	Transportation A breakdown of the various forms of public transport in Kyoto. And furthermore, driving, cycling and ... scootering.
HealthcareVisiting the doctor or dentist is not very appealing, especially if you can't understand what they're saying. However, there are plenty of ways to get around any language difficulties.	Computers, the internet How to get a computer with an English keyboard and OS.In addition, some tips for getting online.
Jobs The vast majority of foreigners will be working in some kind of educational capacity. There are however, other options for working.	Japanese C.V.s Getting a job with a Japanese company will, among other things, involve wrting a C.V. the Japanese way. Find out more inside...