Pre-Arrival Checklist and Tips
Welcome to Tokushima, land of sudachi, mountains, and whirlpools! We hope you are looking forward to your time here. To help ease your transition, we have curated a few helpful tips from local JETs for you! It can be a stressful time preparing your suitcases, boxes, and documents, so hopefully these checklists can help alleviate some of that stress.
Tokushima's JET Community and AJET
Tokushima’s JET size hovers around 100 JETs yearly. We boast a very active AJET that hosts a ton of exciting events throughout the year. (You can preview some here on our AJET calendar.) Some of our biggest events include the Welcome BBQ for incoming JETs, AJET musical, Burns Night, Beard Auction, the Sayonara Party, and various trips around Tokushima and Japan! We also host monthly hobby huddles, where fellow JETs teach each other their skills, a monthly book club, monthly movie nights, Sudachi Sports which is a weekly sports group, and more! There is almost always something to attend at least twice a month, so if you are looking to meet new people or do fun activities, AJET events are a great way to do so!
AJET also hosts a semi-updated Sudachi blog with helpful tips for living in Tokushima, recaps on events, and recipes from local JETs! If you still have some questions about the nitty gritty of life here, check out the info there.
We hope the forthcoming information will be helpful in anticipation of your stay in Tokushima! Even though this information will get quite technical we mostly want you to feel prepared and have a decent idea of what to expect. Tokushima is a nice and relaxing place to live where many JETs end up staying multiple years or full term. It’s a great way to experience a part of Japan that not many people do and enjoy a more laid-back style of Japan.
Before we get into it, we hope you are excited to move and experience life in Japan, but just as a precursor, moving across countries can be tough! Don’t feel bad if you feel a little down or stressed in the beginning. The first few days after your arrival in Tokushima will be filled with important activities, information, conferences, and meetings, which can be overwhelming when you’re simultaneously trying to move into your new home and getting ready to immediately start going to work. If it ever feels like too much, whether big or small, please reach out to others in our community, a friend, our PAs, or even our AJET members! Many of us have gone through similar experiences and will be able to offer you words of advice. You are never alone!
Incoming JET checklist
Along with recommendations from the recent JET intake, AJET as complied a list of absolute, recommended, and not recommended things to prepare before coming to Tokushima!
Absolute Items
- Phone that has been unlocked
- Minimum of 300,000 yen
- Sometimes your initial pay may not be until a month after arrival so please take into consideration move-in expenses, bills, everyday purchases, etc.
- You may want to bring more if you are planning on purchasing a car.
- We are paid monthly.
- Originals/Photocopy of important documents
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of social security
- Copy of previous tax documents
- If you are planning to exchange your license, please refer to this page for additional documents to prepare (there is also a list of countries exempt from the practical exam)
- International Driver’s License
- Lasts one year from issue or one year from the date you left the country, whichever is first.
- One suit set
- Tokushima teachers tend only to use their suits for official ceremonies and often just change into them at school. Even for business trips, many opt for a white button-down shirt and black trousers.
- Few business casual shirts and bottoms
- Most schools beneath a high school level, teachers usually wear tracksuits or casual outfits appropriate for school. But these are good for slightly formal events such as business trips or if you want to present more formally
- Personal Electronics
It is highly recommended to pack your smaller suitcase or bag with items you will immediately need that you won’t be sending through the mail service from the Keio Plaza Hotel. This will likely be your toiletries, a suit, a change of clothes, your money, your cellphone, and anything else you find important. It’s rare, but possible that your luggage may be delayed on your journey to Tokushima.
Recommended Items
- Medicine if you require specific types
- Some medicine is harder to get in Japan, not to mention the language barrier and difference in care compared to back home. It may take a second before you can get recommended to a specialist for a condition. It’s a good idea to fill out the necessary forms and bring a starting supply to Japan as you adjust to your life here, then slowly seek out the care you need in Tokushima.
- Deodorant/Antiperspirant
- Deodorant in Japan has been reported to be weaker than ones you may get back home.
- Tampons/pads
- Tampons are becoming more common here but it has been noted that they differ greatly from other countries.
- Toothpaste
- Preferred hygiene products
- Small amount of omiyage
- For your supervisor, principals/vice principals, and if you are meeting them, the mayor of your town is enough. Teachers do not expect omiyage from you when you travel to Japan.
- Comfort snacks or small foods
- Materials for your self-introduction lesson
- If you aren’t setting up a phone number to activate upon arrival to Keio Plaza, international roaming for your SIM card
- VPN
- Not a requirement, but it has been noted that some sites are blocked/inaccessible in Japan.
Japan is known to be on the smaller side of sizing, so if you are especially tall, have long legs or arms, bigger feet, or a bigger stature, it is recommended to bring:
- Indoor/Outdoor shoes
- Undergarments
- Work clothes for all seasons
- Small amount of personal clothes
- UNIQLO and Muji often have larger sizes available most of the time.
Not Recommended Items
- Excess of hoodies and long pants
- Excess of shoes
- Game consoles
- Too much omiyage
- Heavy items such as books
- If you plan to read a lot, many people switch to e-readers.
Phone
It is imperative for your bank account that you have a Japanese phone number as soon as possible. Beyond that, your Japanese phone number is important for setting up accounts, opening almost any account where you can purchase things online such as concert tickets, lottery tickets for events, second-hand items, or necessary for times where you purchase an item and need it delivered. Many JETs emphasize that it is important to make sure your phone is not region-locked, or unlocked, before coming to Japan, as the process to unlock your phone (if it isn’t already) can take a month or so. You could also just purchase a Japanese cell phone from your choice of carrier in Japan as well.
For those looking to set up a phone plan prior to arrival, there are few companies recommended by JETs for the rural area. These companies will have booths at Keio Plaza to help set up your phone on arrival.
- Sakura Mobile
- Mobal
Post-arrival to Tokushima many people do switch from these services since Sakura and Mobal are on the more expensive side. Many have recommended:
- Rakuten Saikou
- Yahoo Mobile
- Linemo
Additionally, for those wanting to keep their number back home, you of course can keep your home plan. Or before coming to Japan, you can port your original number to Google Voice and then you are free to cancel your phone plan. Apparently, it’s not possible to do so after coming to Japan, at least not easily.
Daily Life
Many JETs living here would like to emphasize that Tokushima is very rural. Despite that, there are still plenty of food places and destinations that Tokushima JETs would like to recommend. Tokushima is also a great place to commute from to other locations due to it’s convenient access to the Naruto Bridge, taking you to Honshu. Furthermore, like many places in Japan, Tokushima has a range of festivals throughout the year: jazz, umeshu, sake, seasonal, fireworks, and dance festivals, to name a few. The largest festival of the year is Awa Odori, Tokushima’s famous traditional dance festival. Many people from all around Japan (and the world!) come to Tokushima every summer to experience Awa Odori.
But this does mean that public transport infrastructure is very limited, especially from more rural places like Sanagochi, Naka, Tsurugi, Kamikatsu, etc. Most train lines and buses run once to twice an hour and end between 21:55 to 22:55 depending on the line (for more detail check here). If you have a driver’s license, most JETs recommend leasing or purchasing a car during your stay here. It is more convenient for travel and, if your town allows you to, for work. For more information on car shopping and public transportation in Tokushima, refer to our car page here! For those who will eventually need to convert their licenses or take the conversion test, refer to our page here!
Additionally, the process for the conversion test can be rather long so it’s important to tell your Board of Education (BOE) if you plan to take the test or not early so they can schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Most of the time, your first appointment won’t be until at least three to four months after arrival, even if you schedule it the day that you get here. (For more details click here).
It was also recommended to confirm with your BOE, predecessor, or supervisor prior to arrival:
- What comes with your apartment
- What you may need to purchase
- What the BOE will purchase for you
- How much money you should prepare for rent, bills, and key/deposit money
- If you are allowed to drive to work or not
- Expected attire
- Many JETs around Tokushima only use suits for the more formal events such as opening and closing ceremonies, graduation, and business trips. For the most part, teachers usually wear casual clothes (except for jeans) or keep a suit at school to change into, especially during days where classes are not in session.
Not all BOEs, but some, have a budget to purchase appliances and basic home goods for ALTs or repair them when they break. Sometimes it can be helpful to know exactly what you can expect to take on yourself so you know how much money to allocate for that.
Tokushima gets VERY hot and humid in the summer. We are quite deep in the south and often it gets above 35 Celsius during the peak of summer. Japan has a lot of great cooling products, but please make sure to take this into account for your wardrobe and your own personal comfort.
School Life
Japanese schools typically begin their year with the Spring semester in April, meaning if you are a summer arrival, you will be starting school with them three months into the semester. Depending on the grade level you are placed in, there will then be a summer break for about a month, then eventually the semester will end with a short fall break in October. The fall semester will start up again rather quickly and go until the end of March with a short two week break before the next school year.
Classes
Your school life will typically be filled with creating materials for English class based on the textbooks used. Most of the time when you first arrive or when you change schools, teachers usually request you to do an introduction lesson about yourself and your home country. Beyond that, you may be asked to prepare worksheets, games, and maybe additional cultural presentations for class. How involved you are with your classes greatly depends on your school(s). For helpful teaching and material resources, click here for a list recommended by fellow JETs.
When it comes to English classes, you will either be teaching with the homeroom teacher (HRT), a support teacher, or a JTE (Japanese Teacher of English). If you are at an elementary level, you will likely teach with a homeroom teacher. Usually, only middle and high schools have JTEs, although this depends on the school.
When you arrive and settle into your schools, it’s best to discuss with your teachers your role in the classroom. As JETs, we are not obligated to T1 (be the main teacher) but how involved in teaching you are depends greatly on your school. Some people T1 with the support of the homeroom teacher, some team teach in tandem, and some are essentially tape recorders. You should be expecting to make and prepare materials for class at the very least, including cultural study or expansion on things in the textbooks. Some towns do have a pre-planned course of study that the teachers follow exactly, so there is that chance as well.
Make sure to be regularly meeting with your teachers before class! Oftentimes, especially if you are teaching with a homeroom teacher, they can get very busy. But try to find 5-10 minutes during the day when you are able to chat with them about the next class. It’s especially important so you can have enough time to think about things to suggest or prepare for the next class.
Many JETs report having downtime, but it’s important to note that downtime does not mean doing whatever. This is still a job and it’s important to be professional. Suggested downtime activities include studying Japanese, as well as writing, working on personal work, prepping materials, etc. If you are provided a work laptop or tablet that is connected to your school’s network, please be aware that your schools are able to access your activity on that device. There have been instances of JETs being spoken to by their BOE about planning vacations during school hours, playing games, etc. So generally try to look busy or ask how you can help around school. Many JETs help with cleaning, join other classes, or help do lunch for the kids.
But classes are often very fun! It’s our job to make the material a little more engaging and realistic using our native skills, which the students often respond to very well. Like many JETs, you will form your own little bond with your classes and soon know how to work best with them and your teachers!
Over time, Duties outside of classes
There are a few instances where you may have duties outside of work. This is specifically in relation to standard expectations for elementary and middle school ALTs. High school ALTs duties heavily differ from school to school since you are hired directly by that school and you should discuss this with your predecessor and supervisor primarily. For many ALTs, schools hold events around the year that occur on the weekends or after work. Furthermore, your BOE may have in your contract specific duties they want you to complete outside your working hours or during the weekend. These requests usually allow you to receive some paid time off in return for working overtime, but how you can use that paid leave (代休) greatly depends on your BOE procedures. (For more information on using paid leave [click here]!)
Types of events you may be asked to work or encouraged to attend:
- Sports Day (運動会 undoukai)
- Speech/Debate practice and competitions
- Parent Observation Days (参観日 sankanbi)
- Research meeting directly related to English class improvement
- School trips
- School festivals
These are just a few examples of the most common events. Some schools have their own unique events, so it’s hard to cover the entire scope of types of events to expect. A lot of the time, sports day, speech competition, parent observation days, and school festivals are on the weekends. Whether or not you are required to go depends on your BOE. Speech practice and research meetings typically will be towards the end of your day or just a little after.
As for BOE specific duties, these can range from running an English conversation class in your town, doing additional tutoring for students taking Eiken, or doing library readings for younger students. What additional duties you will be taking on greatly depends on your contracting organization (CO), if you would like to know make sure to ask.
What overtime leave you receive depends on your BOE, but typically if you work an hour of overtime (on weekends/after work hours), you will receive an hour to use as paid leave.
Beyond this information, most things really depend on your CO! It’s important to ask them when you have questions if you need the clarity, but these are the things most Tokushima JETs would like you to know! We hope this information has been helpful and please jump around the site to find out some more!
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