Working In Japan

Many people had asked me about my short stay in Japan for work - and wonder how one does it - since it’s so expensive living in Japan.   Are there many jobs in Japan?  What kind of cultural shock do one have to prepare for?  what kind of benefits?  Is there insurance provided by the company you work for?  What kind of life insurance quotes online do one have to look for back home - in order to go to Japan to work?  Is there health insurance or health benefits?  Can I bring my family with me?  So many questions - that one always have when they are going to Japan to work and who can blame them right?

I don’t know about those who are from different countries - as for me - I needed to get some form of insurance before I can work in Japan and I also needed to get a health check up to be presented to immigration before the company I was working for accepted my temporary position.  A work visa is also required before leaving for Japan - like all other countries - one cannot work if you are on a tourist visa.  There are more than a dozen types of work visa in Japan - and you can only work within that confine - when you apply for it.  The work market in Japan is very competitive - besides a few types of professions that I know is in great demand - like teaching and IT position - the rest are not in so high demand and even though there may be a vacancy - they are usually given to their fellowmen first.

Working in Japan will means you need some sort of health insurance - and usually the company you are working for - are usually pretty good at it - the cover you - totally.  But you have to make sure you have one - because visiting a doctor in Japan is not cheap and if you are in need to be admitted to a hospital - it could cost you an arm and a leg.   So once again - i cannot stress enough how much a insurance is a must.

As for cultural shock?  I don’t really think so - because even though not all Japanese speaks English fluently - they are generally nice people - and they do understand English because it is a subject they take in school.  And if you work in Japan - make sure you are not the first to leave the office - because it is frown upon by the bosses.

War Heroes Of Japan

Some people are offended with the Yasukuni Shrine - in Tokyo - but the Ysaukuni Shrine is where the remains of the soldiers and more than 1000 convicted war criminal from WWII are now.  I can really understand why some Koreans and Chinese are upset with the shrine - because my own grandparents were one that wouldn’t buy anything Japanese as long as they lived.  My grandfather used to say that the Japanese not only invaded our country but they violated our womenfolks and killed our children.

The Shrine was a very beautiful place - very serene - love the building - as you can see here.

We had lunch in the nearby cafe and watched the world go by and many who came to see the shrine were tourist but I see lots of Japanese too.

Road Trip - Temples In Nara City

Nara Prefecture is where the capital of Japan once was - located less than an hour away from Osaka and Kyoto - one can take a road trip to view historical temples of Japan.  So off we went after buying our auto insurance and renting a car -  you see we were renting it from a co-worker and in Japan - you have to get individual insurance. I don’t know if you know this - but one can check on international auto insurance when you are on vacation - but when you rent from a car rental - I think they take care of all insurance for you.

There were many old statues as you can see in the pictures that follow - but one thing i missed about visiting temples from Japan and in Hong Kong is - when in Hong Kong - you can opt to have a vegetarian meal at the temples there.  Here in Japan - they don’t offer this kind of service.

Nevertheless, it was a pretty good trip - a lot to see and a lot to take in - and if only they have all the description in English too - that would be perfect.

Outside of one temple - outta the 7 we visited - i like the Kofukuji Temple best.

Nagoya Pokemon Center

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I had almost forgotten about the Nagoya’s Pokemon Center because there is another one in Tokyo - that looks a lot nicer than this one.  But if you are in the Nagoya’s vicinity - and a Pokemon crazy fan - you can check it out.  If I remembered correctly it’s located in the Oasis.   Do check out the internet/manga cafe while you are there - pretty interesting - hopefully they are still there though.

Fashion Stores

While some people must shop in Harajuku - i found some interesting fashion stores away from Harajuku in Yoyogi area.  Relatively cheaper and it’s a great place for watering holes and cafes.  It’s a charming little area - where you can find locally owned store instead of big chained stores in the city.

The Japanese are very creative and everything has to be really pretty - even the front shutter of its back door to a restaurant.

Bamboo Water & Ladle

Don’t be surprised when you visit Japan and they asked you to drink from a bamboo scoop - when you visit a temple.  You would also noticed that a lot of people are drinking from the same scoop - and it’s a kinda culture in Japan.  Do i ever drink from the wooden bamboo ladle?  no i usually just scooped them and put some in my hand and wash my face.  So yes! you don’t have to - drink it - it’s only polite not to gawk if you see them do it though.

Wisteria Flowers In Season

Sometime in May every year - there is the Wisteria Flower Festival in Japan that I remembered when i was in Japan for work.  Held in a shrine - there are these kind of purple flowers all over for folks to enjoy - very much like lavendar but not. They are definitely fragrant though - i loved the festival a lot because during the evening the place get lit up right up to late at night.

HRC & Tony Romas

I wonder why i never talked about the Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas In Roppongi - Tokyo - afterall, I used to be fascinated with HRC and collected teddy bears from all the HRC that i go to - i have like 28 bears from different countries from HRC.   But it was the buddy in tokyo who bought some Kwikset locks in Roppongi that got me thinking of Tony Romas as well - because they looked exactly like the door locks i saw at Tony Romas.  How do i know?  well, silly me one day went to get something to eat on my own but the restaurant wasn’t really opened for dinner yet - and i yanked and yanked on the locks and it just wouldn’t budged - and i thought it was stuck.  Hhaaha!  until a waiter came out and unlocked the door and told me that they weren’t opened yet.  How embarrassing right?  That was how i recognized it when the buddy from Japan showed me a picture of it.   And i had exclaimed !!! oh!! from Tony Romas!!!!  next to Hard Rock Cafe right?

Anyhow - there is a Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas in Tokyo - if you are missing Western food a lot - and if you are anything like me - you would wanna get your western food there only - because other “western” restaurant in Japan - just cannot be compared to good ole Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas for the baby ribs. But Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi wasn’t called that when i was in HRC Japan in the 1991 - it was the only Hard Rock Cafe there - and unlike the above picture given by the buddy in Tokyo - it had a gorilla hanging on the window and not the huge guitar.

Like any Hard Rock Cafe - it will be another Hard Rock Cafe - so you will pretty much get the same menu all over the world but try their vegie burger that is new i heard - but don’t quote me the next time you are there - and yes they still have the metal rock music there.   There are also more than one Hard Rock Cafes in Japan now - in fact there are 8 I heard.  So if you are in Japan - don’t worry about missing out on Western food - just head to the nearest HRC.  Good luck !

Yokohama Festival

Yokohama Festival was last month and I’ve only been there once - many years ago.  They celebrated their 151 years since opening its port in July 2010. Going to Yokohma from Tokyo wasn’t really too difficult if you car didn’t break down like ours did - hahha!! but luckily we had a local with us - a co-worker and he had gotten roadside assistance - so we were quickly on our way.  Yamashita Park is located in Yamashita-cho, Yokohama and is close to Yokohama Chinatown.

Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan about 3.6 million people in this place - full of history and very clean too - but Japan in most part is clean. This archway leads to a park -  and the first picture is Yokohama Chinatown - there are 7 or 8 chinese restaurants that you can choose from to eat.  Don’t forget to visit the famous Ferris Wheel and the Cosmo Clock while you are there - it’s just next to the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel - you can’t missed it.

Food in Chinatown.

check out some of the activities i found on u tube on the festival.

LaQua

it is free to enter the La Qua at Tokyo Dome city - but you have to pay for the rides and the attractions. Opens from 11am - 9pm daily- the LaQua has many good food places to eat and the largest natural hot spring spa in Tokyo.   You have to check out their specialty stores and many games and rides to go on.  Move aside Disney Land - move aside Sanrio Land - this place is great for both adults and kids.