Moon Living Abroad in Japan [Paperback]

Ruth Kanagy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Living Abroad | Publication Date: August 26, 2008

Born and raised in Tokyo, Ruthy Kanagy is an expert on Japanese culture and currently works as a travel systems consultant, leading cycling tours of Japan. Ruthy provides insight and first-hand advice on navigating the language and culture of Japan, outlining all the information needed in a smart, organized, and straightforward manner. Moon Living Abroad in Japan makes the moving and transition process easy for businesspeople, students, teachers, retirees, and professionals.

Moon Living Abroad in Japan is packed with essential information and must-have details on setting up daily life including obtaining visas, arranging finances, gaining employment, choosing schools, and finding health care. This relocation guide also includes practical advice on how to rent or buy a home for a variety of needs and budgets, whether it’s an apartment in Tokyo or a mountain retreat in Nagano. All Moon Living Abroad Guides include color photos, black and white photos, black and white illustrations, and maps.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you are thinking about relocating to Japan, planning on studying in Japan, are already there but struggling a bit, or even a long time resident―this is the book for you. Author Ruthy Kanagy was born and raised in Tokyo. She knows Japan from the inside out. She has worked in travel and now has written a wonderful book full of gems. --JapanVisitor.com, November 7, 2008

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2nd edition (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598800914
• ISBN-13: 978-1598800913
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, interesting and useful guidebook for Japan, October 4, 2009

By 

Julia N. Shozen (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moon Living Abroad in Japan (Paperback)

Although I have lived in Japan in my youth and I can speak the language and have recently traveled to Japan more frequently to visit my Japanese friends, I found much new and helpful informatation that was helpful for making my plans to live in Japan again. Ruth Kanagy illustrates her guidebook with beautiful original photographs and makes accurate descriptions and background explanations of social customs and the lifestyle you can enjoy in Japan. This book is comprehensive in scope. It can serve as a useful guide for planning a quality short holiday trip including important money saving traveling details you need to make before you leave that a travel agency won't tell you, as well as serving as an excellent reference guide for anyone making plans to live and work there and even to permanently make their home in Japan. I recommend this to anyone planning any type of trip to Japan, even to veteran travelers who can speak the language.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and well-organized book, October 8, 2009

By 

Rachel B. Derstine (Schwenksville, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moon Living Abroad in Japan (Paperback)

I had so much fun reading this book! Having grown up in Japan, Ruth Kanagy has all kinds of tips and interesting comments about the quirks of living in Japan. I especially loved the page in the introduction titled: What I Love About Japan. It's full of bullet points that just capture all the pleasures of everyday life in Japan that one can take for granted if you don't stop and notice them.

This book is well organized with all the topics one would expect and has a very thorough resource guide at the end packed full of more interesting info to explore. A definite must for someone considering moving to Japan.

7 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Medicine section - inaccurate!, June 16, 2009

By 

Britt "Britt" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Living Abroad in Japan (Paperback)

I was flipping through this book at the bookstore the other day. Although it does have some very useful information, the medicine section is shockingly inaccurate. The book says to bring a six-month supply of whatever medicine you need with you. I am in the process of moving to Japan, and in reality, it's nowhere near that simple. You are only legally allowed to bring a one-month supply of prescription meds and a two-month supply of over-the-counter meds, unless you apply for an import certificate called a Yakkan Shoumei. Even so, there are certain medicines that are never allowed into the country, like anything with a stimulant (methamphetamine, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine).

If you have ADD, you're SOL--you can literally be arrested on the spot without a warrant for bringing Adderall into Japan.

The book makes no mention of allowable quantities, the Yakkan Shoumei, and what is illegal. For this glaring oversight, I cannot give it more than two stars.