Physical
Health
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If a JET participant is injured or becomes ill during (not before) the period of coverage, the JET Accident Insurance Policy allows them to claim back medical costs incurred.
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You should first use your National Health Insurance and then claim remaining costs with the JET Accident Insurance.
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It provides coverage for death caused by accident or illness, disability, and treatment for injuries and illnesses that occur during travel or visits to the JET's home country as well.
Resources: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/,
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Because of the change in temperature and climate, you may see changes in your hair. Some people lose hair. Facebook groups are usually a good place to look for tips, although they are sometimes overwhelming.
Reasons Why & Tips
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A sudden change of diet and stress could be the cause of your hair loss.
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The shampoo formula: some people have bad reactions to some Japanese shampoos containing silicone in it to make your hair straighter. Even if you use the same brand that you used back home, the formula they sell in Japan is different. You can import the shampoo that you used back home or find another one without silicone.
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The water hardness could be behind it if you're used to soft water. Some people recommend a filter for shower heads, though some haven't noticed any changes using one. It's up to you to try it if you want to.
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It could be a medical condition like alopecia and in that case, you might want to see a dermatologist.
Facebook pages
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JET: Help Me!
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JET LAdies +
References: https://savvytokyo.com/hair-loss-in-japan-the-causes-and-solutions/
Soap & Shampoo
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Japan has a great variety of soap, cosmetics and other personal hygiene products. If you are looking for a specific product, you could try websites such as iherb or amazon.
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However, some products are simply sold under a different name, like H&S (Head & Shoulders).
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Because of the change in temperature and climate, you may see changes in your skin or hair. Some people lose hair. Facebook groups are usually a good place to look for tips, although they are sometimes overwhelming.
Antiperspirant
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It is hard to find (sometimes impossible), whereas deodorant can be found almost everywhere (at the convenience store, drugstore, etc.).
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⚠ However, the types of deodorant found in Japan are different.
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Roll‐on alcohol‐based deodorant and spray deodorant are the most common, and you can also find cream deodorant.
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Facebook pages
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JET: Help Me!
Sleep Requirements
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They may vary slightly for each individual, but most adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep per night to be fully functional during daytime.
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⚠ The quality of your sleep is what you really need to pay attention to. Even with eight or nine hours of sleep, you might not feel well rested when you wake up if the quality of your sleep is poor.
Tips
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Some tip for a good sleep is to stop doing any stimulating activity such as playing on your phone or watching TV 30 minutes before going to bed.
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⚠ Also watch out for extreme temperature in the summer and winter. You may want to invest in heating blankets and electric fans.
How?
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Find clubs or ways to stay active in your community.
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Gyms: they are fewer in Japan and they tend to be expensive, so ask your ALT senpai for some advice.
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There are a few Curves locations across Shiga (for women).
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If you don't want to spend money on a gym membership, there are a few free alternatives for you:
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Youtube videos
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Exercises at home
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Many outdoor activities (hiking, swimming, etc.). Japan is very walkable and bikeable, so why not explore a bit! Shiga has a bike path that goes around Lake Biwa, called Biwa Ichi.
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Facebook pages
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JET Kansai Outdoor and Fitness
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JETFit
ALLERGIES
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See the "Allergies" page for more information.
Cooking
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Having a balanced diet is key. Japanese food can be healthy, but isn’t as healthy as you might expect it to be (high‐calorie and high in sugar).
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Cooking for yourself is a healthier and more economical way to eat.
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⚠ However, watch out for spoiling in the hot and humid weather; things often won’t last as long, even in the fridge and freezer.
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An excellent website for recipes is Cookpad!
Vegetarism & Veganism
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Soy‐based vegan food can be found at the grocery store and some convenience stores (soy ice cream, soy croquettes, etc.).
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Some soy-based food such as ice cream can still contain dairy products, so please read the labels.
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Most of the popular food in Japan is not vegan.
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⚠ Be careful about “vegetarian” options at the restaurant since they might still be prepared with a fish or meat broth (dashi), or lard (noodle and rice dishes).
Tips
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"See this page for tips on being a vegetarian or vegan in Japan. (Note, if you can relax your restrictions to allow yourself to have dashi, your life will be a lot more easier in Japan in practical terms.)"
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You can print out useful cards for communicating dietary restrictions (e.g. alcohol, allergies, intolerances) in Japan from https://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards.
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The "I don't eat meat" card:
"I cannot eat any meat. Poultry and fish are ok. Thank you for your understanding."
申し訳ありませんが、私は肉類が食べられません。鶏肉、魚は大丈夫です。
Moushiwake arimasen ga, watashi wa nikurui ga taberaremasen. Toriniku, sakana wa daijoubu desu.-
Download PDF:
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The "I don't eat meat or poultry but fish is ok" card for pescatarians:
"I cannot eat any meat including chicken. Fish is ok. Thank you for your understanding."
申し訳ありませんが、私は鶏肉を含めて肉類が一切食べられません。魚は大丈夫です。
Moushiwake arimasen ga, watashi wa toriniku wo fukumete nikurui ga issai taberaremasen. Sakana wa daijoubu desu.-
Download PDF:
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The Vegetarian card (lacto-ovo):
"I'm vegetarian. I can't eat meat, poultry or fish including dashi. Eggs and dairy are ok. Thank you for your understanding."
申し訳ありませんが、私はベジタリアンです。肉、鶏肉、魚（出汁を含めて）が食べられません。卵、乳製品は大丈夫です。
Moushiwake arimasen ga, watashi wa bejitarian desu. Niku, toriniku, sakana (dashi wo fukumete) ga taberaremasen. Tamago, nyuuseihin wa daijoubu desu.-
Download PDF:
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The Vegan card (no lacto-ovo):
"I'm vegan. I can't eat meat, poultry or fish including dashi, eggs or dairy. Thank you for your understanding."
申し訳ありませんが、私はビーガンです。肉、鶏肉、魚（出汁を含めて）、卵、乳製品が食べられません。
Moushiwake arimasen ga, watashi wa biigan desu. Niku, toriniku, sakana (dashi wo fukumete), tamago, nyuuseihin ga taberaremasen.-
Download PDF:
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Appetite & Hydration
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Many people lose weight when they come to Japan, but that is not always the case.
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With the summer heat comes a phenomenon called “natsu‐bate” (literally “be worn out by summer”); this may alter your appetite.
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Make sure to stay hydrated and eat as balanced a diet as possible. Japan has a number of “diet” food that contain supplements ad that are easier to eat during those times.
References: https://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards