Seems I'm heading over soon....

SSJup81 · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hey everyone. Seems I will be heading over to Japan soon, and glad I won't be in a place like Tokyo, but don't mind being near there. I'll be coming over by March 29, unless something comes up preventing me from doing so, god forbid.

Anywho, the place I will be assigned to, is Kawauchi-mura, Futaba-gun, Fukushima-ken, Tohoku, Japan. I'm thorough, eh? I know it's near the border of Iwaki-shi, if I'm not mistaken and not too far away from Ibaraki-ken.

I also know that I'll have to drive, due to the fact that Kawauchi is pretty much a mountain village, and that I'll probably be headed to Iwaki for shopping purposes, mostly.

So, does anyone have any experiences with Kawauchi or know what it's like? I got a brief idea based on the actual interview and stuff, but I wouldn't mind some more feed back on Futaba-gun in general.

Something else, I take prescription medications. I currently take three: Metformin [500mg] (Diabetes), Lisinopril [2.5mg] (It's a blood pressure med, but it's for the diabetes, apparently, since I don't have high blood pressure), and Warfurin [10mg] (I am only supposed to be on this for a year, and the year won't be up until December). I was just wondering what the rules are for bringing medications into the country. I'm looking it up too, but wanted to hear of some people's personal experiences with bringing medications into the country.

I know some people get a year-long prescription and stuff like that, but of course, not very knowledgeable on this.

Thanks.

ModusOperandi · (#2 (**permalink**))

I don't have any answers to your questions since I've never been to Japan but I just want to say Congratulations on making it there. I know you've been trying hard to get there and its good to see you finally made it.

SSJup81 · (#3 (**permalink**))

Thanks. It has taken a while, eh? I just hope all goes well since so much is going into my heading over there.

sarasi · (#4 (**permalink**))

Wow, now that is a rural posting- whenever you see something-mura something-gun in an address you know that you are going to be right out in the sticks. Lucky you didn't want to be in Tokyo because that is going to be a very different experience- you may well be the only non-Japanese in the area- if your Japanese isn't already good, you are going to have to improve quickly!

I'm afraid you are unlikely to find many people who have even heard of Kawauchi, let alone been there, and that includes most Japanese people! I have been to the "Hawaiians" hot spring resort near Iwaki city which was fun- maybe good for a day trip once you have been there for a while. Fukushima is a nice area if you like hiking for example. I live in Tokyo and like big cities, so Kawauchi-mura would not be for me, but I wish you luck. Let us know how it goes.

atheistwithfaith · (#5 (**permalink**))

Out of curiousity, what are you doing in Japan?

Tsuwabuki · (#6 (**permalink**))

Get a note from your doctor for customs for the medicine. Get it translated into Japanese. I believe the consulate can do this for a small fee. When my mother brought in hardcore American pain medicine that would otherwise be completely illegal in Japan, this is what she did.