What are /r/JETProgramme's favorite Products & Services?

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A small amount of baking soda mixed in with some water works incredibly well for heartburn/gas, but it has a bad rebound effect where it will be worse next time. It's good in small doses or really bad moments where you just want relief. I don't think that was terrible advice tbh.

However, there are really good relief medicines that are better than tums in my opinion, such as this:
https://www.amazon.com/Ohta-Isan-Antiacid-S-Can/dp/B01M9ILSE1

they also have it in tablet form.

As others have said, Netflix is shared, but you will get the Japanese library, which is pretty sad. Less and less VPNs seem to work with Netflix. Torguard with a dedicated IP seems to still be solid.

Torrenting is a criminal offence here, ie, possible jail time, not just a fine. Do with that what you will. AFAIK, the only arrests so far have been more on the distribution side and/or using really shitty easily tracked Japanese platforms.

I second ExpressVPN. Even beyond streaming, there are a number of times I've found it useful for accessing various services that either redirect to the local version you don't want or throw up red flags for accessing it from a foreign country. Plus it also makes your internet activity more private and secure overall.

I did a little bit of research on this a few weeks ago. I found out that some phones won't work on Japanese cellular networks. For example, I bought a iPhone 5S here in Australia, but this won't work over in Japan even with a Japanese sim card. It's something to do with different companies LTE Band support across the world (I'm not too sure on the technical specifics). However, the iPhone 6 probably will work in Japan with a Japanese sim card. I know that Apple have a page that let's you review the compatibility based on your iPhone. https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

Of course, that's just iPhone. I'm not too sure about other phones models. It might be worth looking at googling the phone you want to get and seeing if certain models won't or will work on Japanese networks.

I found that the major cellular companies offer 2 year contracts with a new phone, but there are a number of smaller companies popping up that allow you to pay month by month with a BYOD (bring your own device) at a considerably cheaper price. However, there are some reports that these smaller companies have slower data speeds because they are renting bandwidth (I think that's correct) off the major networks.

I think I decided to just get a new contract in Japan if I get into JET because it seems the easiest option, and a current JET recommended I do that.

I did a little blog on it if you're interested: http://www.sittingherethinking.com/2015/02/japanese-cellular-networks/

No problem! This wiki has a lot of really detailed information about it and this video was made by some friends of a friend (hitching from my pref) showing you a little of how easily it can be done!

Wise is great (formerly known as transferwise). Fees are minimal, exchange rates are good, and it’s relatively easy.

I’ll admit I’ve only used it to transfer money OUT of Japan but I expect it’d be just as good for transferring money in.

If you’ve never used it before I have a referral link that will give you a free first transfer I think (no fees). Full disclosure, if enough people use my link I get a small kickback too. https://wise.com/invite/i/kirstyb25

In my experience companies that use docomo's towers are the most reliable (could be different depending on region tho. You can play around with this coverage map to see for yourself). I have Sakura (which uses docomo), and the only problem with it is that it is overpriced for what you get, but it's honestly not that much more than plans I've had in the past in the USA. The high price is due to their completely English customer support. You can always get them to have that peace of mind to start with, and as you get more comfortable with navigating stuff over here, you can always switch to something cheaper too

Licence conversion depends on your country, and with the USA, your state. Eg, Australians just provide paperwork, go in, photos, short interview etc, done. Maybe half a day. Several USA states are also now included in the list.

Australia drives on the left, right hand drive, so almost zero difference. Traffic signs are different. Eg, there is no "no right turn" sign. There are signs that say which directions you CAN go. I recommend picking up the road rules in English PDF off Amazon.co.jp. It's maybe $10 digital, $15 printed.

>While I couldn't live without Amazon, I know that they do not have any of the regulations that a pharmacy does and people receive counterfeit products all the time. We don't know the storage conditions or even how old the product his.

The best way to avoid this is to look at who the seller is, if it's a reputable company just using amazon to sell product I would imagine its safe. For example, amazon themselves launched their own pharmacy page, Acetaminophen is one of the purchasable items.

Are pharmacies more regulated than say Amazon; yes of course. But that doesn't stop them from using counterfeit products, or even being the victim of counterfeit products unknowingly. How is a day-to-day customer going to know the difference if it does what its supposed to?

Amazon 300 yen

https://www.amazon.co.jp/CHOLULA-%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9-12-350-%E3%83%9B%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B8%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AB-150ml/dp/B003QWN62S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491368320&amp...

Green chillis most larger supermarkets

No I haven't heard of any companies that only require one. Are you in the US? I used Inquiries and paid the 70 dollars to get them checked within 4 days and mailed to my address. If you need another card Amazon sells them, I bought these and if you have prime it gets there in 2 days: https://www.amazon.com/FD-258-Applicant-Card-Kit-pack/dp/B00G3KBB9K/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1492122811&sr=8-4-fkmr0&keywords=finger+printing+cards+FD+258

OCN is good for me at the moment, it is run by and uses NTT Docomo's network so you get good coverage. The only concern is that they have been campaigning heavily to get new customers so hopefully this does not lead to a decline in speeds.

Oh, I forgot to mention many MVNOs have an "activation fee" when you sign up. The cost is usually negligible (1-3000 yen) but the networks with the most generous cancellation terms often have the highest activation fees (see: Sakura Mobile), which sucks if it turns out their service is terrible. If you look on Amazon you can often find MVNO activation kits for a fraction of the price. For example, I paid about 1,800 yen to sign up for OCN in a store, but you can buy the kit on Amazon for like 200 yen. The only problem here is you have to buy the kit, have it shipped to you (1-2 days) and then sign up using it. Then you have to wait for a few days for them to send you the SIM, while a store can do it then and there. Whichever way you do it, the cost of signing up is nothing to be concerned about.

Examples:

OCN

Line Mobile

I highly recommend the book "Japan Story - In Search of a Nation" by cultural historian Christopher Harding.

The chapters are short, easy to read and full of interesting anecdotes. Besides providing an overview of Japanese cultural history that covers the Meiji period to the present, it also gives you a real insight into why aspects of Japanese culture are the way that they are.

I use Private Internet Access. What restricted websites are you wanting to use? Netflix usually doesn't work with VPNs. I don't know about other streaming websites though since I usually just torrent stuff instead. Torrenting is illegal here in the same sense that it is everywhere. I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble over it but just careful to use a VPN, especially if you are downloading Japanese media.

Be careful with using something like Hola. I don't know the full details but I think it works where your traffic is directed through other users networks, so other users traffic can be directed through your network. Which will leave you vulnerable if another user is doing something illegal and that is directed through your network.

All of the Charlie Brown Specials (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) are on Apple TV+, so if you've got an iPhone/iPad/Mac...

Otherwise, you can buy new DVDs on Amazon and used ones on Bookoff.

A book in Japanese about truths America is hiding about Japanese history. Some crazy Japanese far right conservative revisionist bullshit book given to me by a weirdo history teacher at a special needs school who never ever spoke to me. Just plopped it on my desk and said “present for you”. said book

Per gravy, Just add water :)

https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF-%E3%83%A6%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AD-MC-%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-240g/dp/B001FOQZSQ...

From what i see in the japanese amazon, its low availability, options, and often $20-$30 per stick. Beyond that and a week's worth of clothes, i plan on buying everything else there

I had a heated lap blanket and it was a lifesaver, I recommend it so much!!. Drank tea and coffee all day long, and always wore a uniqlo heat tech top underneath my sweater.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/LifeJoy-JPN121CC-Electric-Washable-Blanket/dp/B08BF9P8BS/ref=pd\_sbs\_1/356-2361206-0136924?pd\_rd\_w=MsK6R&pf\_rd\_p=133595aa-365a-4ded-92cd-226dcfd5ea4f&pf\_rd\_r=JPK0TP8RT4B8YR21ZJB3&pd\_rd\_r=5891f1dc-...

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Hitachi-N40WX-W-8-8-Clothes-Dryer/dp/B01ACVXXE6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hitachi%E8%A1%A3%E9%A1%9E%E4%B9%BE%E7%87%A5%E6%A9%9F&qid=1636860664&sr=8-1

Buy one of these, works on standard hundred volt. Nothing quite like having jeans dry in an hour and a half, compared to 3 days on the hanger during the middle of winter.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B08QHC9WLL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_dl_A5EYSTZEZX5DK2M43SHS

Get yourself one of these bad boys and hangers and hang your laundry from it in your apartment. It’ll dry overnight especially during this time of the year when the air is so dry.

Learn to read. It's both easy and important and doesn't require much of a commitment. Once you find you've gotten in, you'll have a head start, and if you don't get in, you won't have spent a ton of time learning the language for nothing. I highly suggest the Tofugu guide and their kanji site, Wanikani.

As a JET/ALT in Japan - you're likely to have two things which make hiking accessible:

1. Lots and lots of mountains within easy reach
2. Time
   

So yes - plenty of opportunities for mountain hikes, big and small, pretty much wherever you end up in the country.

As another poster mentioned - the book 'For Fukui's Sake: Two Years in Rural Japan' (https://www.amazon.com/Fukuis-Sake-years-rural-Japan-ebook/dp/B005M9TF78/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8) was written by a JET and has many accounts of hiking and back-country snowboarding during his tenure.

I’ve been using a textbook called “Japanese from Zero” and it’s a dream. It’s so, so easy to learn from and it teaches you how to read, write, and speak in a natural way.

Japanese from Zero! 1: Proven Methods to Learn Japanese with Integrated Workbook and Online Support https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0976998122/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xbk7Cb5AD6WWV

Recommend getting TunnelBear.

Fortunately, nothing was ever blocked at my BOE/school, but a lot of planning between teachers was done over email and there was no way I'd use my 7,000-character-long BOE address.

No, it's this REALLY stupid zipper piece of fabric, I assume most people laughed at my paranoia. I kept my passport and my cash in there. From what I understand, they're pretty common. Similar

I think most study tips have been covered really well already, but if you have an Android phone I really want to recommend Akebi. I'm a major of Japanese and Chinese, both of which have different stroke orders which has led to me adopting a "the destination is more important than the journey" approach. Akebi has been a lifesaver on that front, as you only need the correct amount of strokes for the handwriting system to pick it up.

Google translate is also awesome for the handwriting recognition if you need to write kanji but can't figure out how many strokes you're meant to be putting in.