Gift tips to Japanese and travel

Hello!

I got a couple of question regarding Japan and Japanese.

First I will explain a little about my trip..
I am going to Japan 12th september for about 5½ month to study Japanese thru EF international School located in Shibuya, besides that I will travel on weekends thru either the school or friends who I meet... Anyway, I am going to live in a host family located in Soka-shi in Saitama prefecture.

And 2 of my questions is as following:
Question 1:
How much does a commuter pass cost between Shinden station(is closest) to Shibuya where school is located (for the whole 5½ month period)? I tried to find, but most is on japanese, and I can't read it (yet) :/ and I would appreciate the help with this info.

Question 2:
As I am going to live in a host family, I want to buy a gift, and I wanna know what do Japanese people like? I want to mention that I am from sweden and would love to buy something from my country. I was considering swedish local cheese and swedish crisp bread along with some local marmalade.

But the problem is, I don't know if I can buy this, because I am arriving in Japan (Narita) at 13th september morning and going to travel for 2 days until I will go to my host family the 15th september. And I am worried the cheese and stuff won't hold until that even if it's vacuum packed. So I am looking to buy something else, and this is why I need tips on what I could buy instead.


Question 3 ( more of travel tips )
So, as I explained above, I am flying 12th september but arriving 13th september morning in Narita, And i'd love to have some tips on what I can do during the 2 days until I visit my host family. Preferbly closer to saitama prefecture, but it doesn't really matter..

First I was planning to take a random train and see where it takes me haha, but I'd also like some tips on places I could visit / do during the 2 days I am alone,
I might take a half day or a full day in Tokyo too, but any tips are welcome and I appreciate it!


Hope this gives a little info, but question 1&2 is more important then 3 right now.
Thanks in advance for the tips etc!

//Regards
Kristian

Question 1&2 is more important then 3. But

1) transport ticket : this depends on your visa and your school. If you have a student visa and you complete certain documents at school (they will explain) you can buy a student commuter pass. If not, you need to buy a normal one. The price then depends on the exact route you decide to take:


https://www.navitime.co.jp/transfer/pass/result?orvStationCode=0000432...

Approximately 20,000 Yen/month. It gets a bit cheaper if you buy a 3 or 6 months ticket.

2) bringing something typical from your homecoumtry that can be eaten is a good idea. Swedish crispy bread will obviously survive transport for quite some time if you treat it well. (Maybe get one in a metallic box which by itself would then also make for a nice souvenir). For the cheese ask in you local cheese shop , but many cheese can survive outside a fridge for quite some time.
What you canNOT bring is anything with meat inside, because of import regulations.

3) what to do: well this is a hard question as we have not the slightest idea what it is that interests you. Party? Then get a hostel in Tokyo downtown and party for 2 days. Hiking &culture: go to Nikko , culture: go to Kamakura...... have a look at any travel guide to get some inspiration. And decide what�fs your budget.
If you aren�ft super tight on your budget I would ship the large suitcase already to your host family from the airport (agree that with them before) and just travel with a small carryon/backpack for these 2 days.

Enjoy studying Japanese!

Hyperdia has the prices of commuter passes. Assuming you meant Shibuya station, it is 113,510 yen for 6 months.

Q1. Use hyperdia.com it shows 3 and 6 month commuter pass costs.

1.
For train fares and stuff, use hyperdia http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
simply input your From-To station name and it will show your roughly the normal fare and also commuting fare(1,3,6 months). You may eligible for student discount if applicable.
Below example of fare for one of the route Shinden-Shibuya :

Total:\ 550(TicketFare:\ 550 Seat Fee:\ 0) Commuting ticket(1mon:\ 21,020 3mon:\ 59,910 6mon:\ 113,510)

2.
If you can make contact with your host family, you could ask them their preference or allergy, to give you some ideas. Don't have to be expensive. maybe something that you enjoy/like yourself and share it with them. Also checckout the import regulation restriction.
swedish local cheese and swedish crisp bread along with some local marmalade.
As you've said you not sure whether it will last for few days while you're travelling about, so better not then.

3.
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1103.html

Why not Yokohama/Kamakura area since its far from Saitama and you maybe won't have chance much to go about there?

Hi. Thanks for the info and tips.

1) damn, I was hoping for the commuter pass to be cheaper. The school said we will get info and all the first day. I was also told we will get different discounts but dunno what specificly, hooefully we will get some train discount, I am not the only one who has to travel so far afterall.

2) ye, I am worried I can't take cheese at all. Maybe some chocolate? Will try go to a souvenir shop before I go.

3) Well, I wanna learn about japans culture and all, and just see things when I travel. The school will have different activities, such as trips to Hiroshima, osaka, kyoto, Mt. Fuji and other places / events

Regarding the cheese, ask in your local cheese shop. But I am sure that many cheese can be left at room temperature for extended periods of time. Get one in vacuum so it is well sealed.

Not sure if oost is a Swedish thing or only Norwegian but it might make a good present TOGETHER with the appropriate cutting tool.

I am looking around for a cool bag, but I do not know if it will be enought, so I probably have to think of something else... The family has 4 people, mom, dad, son and uncle.

So I do not know if I should just get some swedish chocolate and stuff?

It could still be quite warm in a couple of weeks. I'd suggest even chocolate might be tricky to keep looking nice, and wouldn't think cheese would be good at all. A couple of hours too hot is one thing, two days is something else. But if you have a hotel with a fridge in the room cheese could could go in there, and chocolate should be okay in the airconditioning.

I'd add a word in favour of Yokohama/Kamakura/Enoshima for a couple of days of travel and culture before you go to Saitama.

Enjoy your time in Japan!

Thanks for the tips. I googled the ares you guys mentioned and they are pretty far way, atleast from narita, and I forgot to mention I arrive at Narita, but is there any other places you guys recommend? Also, does the hotel in japan usually have fridges I can put the cheese if I decide to go for that.

I forgot to ask, can you buy power adapters at the airport, I tried find adapters here in sweden, but I don't know which to buy, earthed or un-earthed adapter, which is more common? And they are the same as U. S right?

Regards
Kristian

I would appreciate any answer regarding my very last question.

Thanks in advance!

What sort of electrical equipment do you plan to use ?

Most Japanese household power plug/socket are mostly unearthed except for heavy duty appliances.
Type A unearthed. Type B earthed.
Also check you electrical equipment whether it is of universal voltage 100-240V.
https://whatplug.info/from/sweden/to/japan

Airport convenience store/newstand/bookstore may sell those power adaptor but depend on types.Also expensive?
You could try Narita Aeon, to grab something before you proceed to other places.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6405.html

As for Narita surrounding, just use forum search function or google. Tonnes of info to suite your taste.
We are not familiar your taste/liking/schedule..whatever.

End.

Thanks for the info!

Well, I like doing basiclly anything, and I am going to a new country for about 5½ month, so I just wanna explore stuff and see/try new thing no matter what it is basiclly.

Anyway, I got worried now, I just read that you have to declare your belongings at arrival.. For example, if you have more then 60ml parfume it won't be duty free.

Right now I have 2 small bottles that are half full, they both are about 1,25 oz left so together maybe 75ml, and then 1x 75ml bottle that are new and full. won't I be able to take those with me? Also, I see now that Books, drawings, carvings are prohibited articles.. I have some japanese language books that I wanna take with me, it is hiragana/katakana and Kanji books.

Thanks again in advance!

Nothing is more annoying than people saying "I read that..." without saying where they have read it. Most of the time, they completely misunderstood what they read, but there's no way to tell without seeing the original.

Kristian-read this, from April this year: http://www.customs.go.jp/zeikan/pamphlet/tsukan_e.pdf

It doesn't actually matter what you pick for your first few days, you've got such an adventure and so many new experiences ahead of you. There are (almost) no bad choices.

You're going to have a great trip.

Sry...

But here is where I found the info...

http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/passenger.htm

You need to read the entire sentences:

�gBooks, drawings, carvings, and any other article which may harm public safety or morals (obscene or immoral materials, e.g., pornography);�h

Your kanji books aren�ft pornographic enough to be prohibited.

Sry, Miss understood it then, but can someone clarfiy the parfume?

once the bottle is opened (unsealed), it is counted as zero.

Ok, sry again, but I just wanna clarfiy, the bottle that is new that I bought the other day. I unpacked it from package it was in, but do I need to open the seal also? and as soon as I do it, it doesn't count as anything at all..

thanks again, thats the last I have question about. Flying to Tokyo on Thursday arriving friday

//Regards
Kristian