Local Living and People in Japan

Meeting the local people in Japan is pretty easy, especially when you are in Tokyo. You constantly bump into people at places like Starbucks and McDonald’s. It is really hard to initiate a conversation with the local people. This is partially due to the language barrier and the shy nature of the local people. Generally, I have found that Japanese people are very hesitant to talk to strangers not because they are mean, but because they are busy and reserved. People are constantly on the move in Tokyo. This becomes apparent during the rush hours because there is literally no room on the streets or the subway. The best way that I have found to meet the local people is finding something you like to do and making friends with the people who are enjoying it with you. The best way that I personally met the local people was by going to the bookstore. Going to the bookstore and seeing the same people again really helped me start conversations with them. It started out as a simple hello, but in my later visits I was able to start conversations about the books that I like. It’s important to initiate the conversation as the local Japanese are not afraid to continue the conversation.

The most interesting thing that I have bought here in Japan is a charm from one of the shrines. This charm is really interesting because it is supposed to help me pass a test. I am definitely going to be using this for finals. There are so many interesting souvenirs here in Japan ranging from animation and manga to prayer beads and charms. It is pretty easy to go over your budget. That is why it is very important to be mindful of the conversion and the transaction charges. I found that the best way to convert US dollars to Japanese Yen was by the Bank of Japan. They give you the best conversion rate with one of the lowest transaction fees. The problem I had was my local bank in America had a very high transaction fee for my purchases using my card. If you have a hard time keeping a budget, it may be a better idea to use card though because it would be easier to track. However, keep in mind that most places in Japan do not accept card, so it will mean a lot of trips to the atm. I personally wrote down how much money I had converted and partitioned the money for food, souvenirs, transportation, and emergencies. Keeping a record of it really helps you stick to your budget. Overall, I have adjusted really well to the Japanese yen because the conversion is very similar, about 120 yen to 1 USD, and the price of goods is very similar to the US. Don’t forget to check the conversion because the value of the Yen is constantly changing.