This post is a special post about repairs but I will list a few tools, places, etc. that have helped me as a foreigner. I hope those tips may be useful to the newcomers to Japan.
– If you are in Japan you will probably want to write in Japanese with your PC. To enable Japanese language go to “Control Panel” — “Language” and add the Japanese keyboard to your existing keyboard. ?You may also need to choose the option to install files for Asian languages. To?switch?between Japanese and?whatever?other languages you have installed you can click on the language bar on your desktop or the method I prefer press Alt+Shift. Even if you choose Japanese roman input is selected by default, to switch to hiragana you can go again to the language bar or do it faster pressing Ctrl+Caps Lock.
– If you use Google Chrome Rikaikun is a must, Rikaichan is the Firefox version. When you pass the basic stages of Japanese learning you may be able to understand many emails and information on websites but the problem is usually the difficult kanji. With Rikaikun and Rikaichan addons you can just hover the mouse over the words as you read to get the reading and translations for an almost real time Japanese reading. Of course you can also use traditional translation tools like google translate but I prefer to read the original as I may miss things because of a bad translation and it also helps on your learning.
– www.jisho.org?is the other tool I use often. It is not only a dictionary but it marks common words, so that you can choose the right word if you don’t know which to choose from the provided translations. May words also come with example sentences that help to see the context where it is used and make sure it is the right meaning. Other interesting features are that you can get translations from japanese words in romanji, if you don’t know how to write it in kanji and also searching kanjis by radicals (useful if you don’t know how to read the kanji).
– I use www.hyperdia.com/en/ every day to plan my trips by train. They have a mobile phone version (paid) but you can also use the website version from free from your mobile browser.
– For banking most foreigners use Shinsei Bank, they don’t charge commissions for most operations and you can receive foreign bank transfers for free (other banks charge 4,000Yen or more). They also have English customer support and English online banking.
– Softbank is the best carriers for foreigners, as they provide most of their information in English and they have english speaking staff in some shops in Tokyo. They also have prepaid phones that is useful for short stays. BMobile is the option if you want to use your own phone as you can buy only the sim with a prepaid or contract plan. Most of the info is in Japanese but they have limited information about one of their SIMs for visitors. BMobile ?rents Docomo network so most 3G foreign phones will work fine.
– If you want to learn Japanese without spending money you can check the website of your city council, they usually have free Japanese classes that are run by volunteers. I tried once when I was beginning to learn Japanese but I did not like that they did not have any teaching method it was just conversation, as I did not know much Japanese then it was useless for me, but it may be good if your level is higher and you need some conversation partners. This may not be the purpose of this classes but one of the teachers also invited me for dinner and some private lessons… If you want to spend some money I had a good experience at Human Academy, the classrooms where a bit cramped and the tables where small for my legs but the teaching method was reasonably good and I am quite happy with the knowledge I gained, it was money well spent.
– If you have a place in Japan and want to let family or friends watch Japanese TV, the best way is to check?www.dokodemoterebi.com?and install a TV transmitter. They will be able to watch TV as if they where in Japan, with many unique options such as recording, ?dual streaming, free mobile player and also a receiver. (Disclaimer dokodemoterebi.com is a LoreaTec group service)
– Last but not least at LoreaTec we offer the best computer repair service in Japan, mobile phone repair in Japan service and outsourcing services. You can get the lowest price if you send or bring your PC/smatphone to our office but we also provide on site support with English support in selected areas standard Japanese support?throughout?Japan. We are also the only specialist repairing not only iPhones but also Japanese smartphones, older Keitai and imported phones.