Some questions; Coming to Hiroshima

[phenyl]

Hi,

I'm a longtime lurker on these forums and am reading with great interest what will expect me come september. I am in the process of finishing up my PhD here in Switzerland and will go to Hiroshima for a post-doc.

One question that has already been touched in the forums is about the presents to bring to one's boss and collaborators, but I have a new angle to it:-).
In my case, I guess a selection of swiss chocolates would be a good bet... But how about some swiss knives for my future boss and coworkers? Someone once told me that a 'gift with a blade' could be perceived as offensive?
The only problem with the chocolates is weight/bulk as one is only allowed to take 20 kg in the checked luggage.
Which leads to my next problem, I am about 1.83m (6ft) normal build and my shoesize is European 45 (which corresponds to an american 11or thereabouts, I guess). Will I find clothes and shoes my size or should I start checking into how much my airline's cargo subsidiary would like to get for shipping a second suitcase to NRT?


Thank you very much for your help and the interesting discussions.



I'm sure I'll have lots more questions lateron :-)

[mikem]

The only problem with the chocolates is weight/bulk as one is only allowed to take 20 kg in the checked luggage.

Call your airline and get detailed information about their baggage policy. I was allowed 5 check bags of 70lbs/30kg each and two carry-ons of 45lbs/20kg. The additional cost for all that baggage was around $350US and is much much cheaper than shipping it. Also, if you go that route be sure and arrive 3-4 hours early so that all of your stuff makes it on your flight.


Which leads to my next problem, I am about 1.83m (6ft) normal build and my shoesize is European 45 (which corresponds to an american 11or thereabouts, I guess). Will I find clothes and shoes my size or should I start checking into how much my airline's cargo subsidiary would like to get for shipping a second suitcase to NRT?


If you live in Tokyo you might be able to find some basic clothes in a pinch. There are also specialty stores here that carry really large sizes. Most likely you'll want to plan on importing most of your clothes.

I think next time I go shopping I'll start collecting a list of the biggest sizes various stores carry. This topic comes up a lot.

[羽之助]

I personally do not think knives, as famous as they may be, would be a good idea. Food is ALWAYS a good idea, along with alcohol. I live in a relatively small city in the north and can still find clothes that fit even though I'm pretty much exactly your size (except for shoes - is that 45 centimetres?), so just hit the Uniqlo stores if you need anything.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Food and booze are king for gifts.

Ship your winter clothes via the cheapest method possible. It'll take a month or two, but it'll still be hotter than balls when it gets there, and will cost far less than trying to get it on the plane.

Size 11 will be on the large size, but available in most places. It's probably around a size 28 Japanese which isn't so large that stores won't carry it. I'm 1.87m tall, and have no problem finding clothes that fit me, though most pants don't quite fit right (because I have thunder thighs).

Worry less, it will all work out.

[phenyl]

Hi,

thank you very much for your advice. I will check into the shipping options.
Thanks also for the advice for the gifts, I'll take some local spirits and chocolate. Better than to run into trouble when offering a swiss knife:-)
I also found how much can be taken: http://www.narita-airport-customs.go.jp/e/index_e.html

Thank you very much

[Destiny]

Hiroshima is a really nice city :clap: I went there only on vacation, but it was really good, once we got out of the museum area, which was quite gloomy and depressing :box: The shopping area was cool and the had trams, much to my delight, cause I was missing the trammies from home. We boarded one and went around for sightseeing, it was great, I loved it, congratulations :clap:

[japanat]

Chocolates and cakes, especially good chocolates like the Swiss or Belgian, are always good. French cigarettes for smokers are an interesting novelty, too.

Clothes - your height is not an issue, but what size jacket do you wear? I'm 6ft exactly, but big in the chest, and finding clothes is damn near impossible. If you are up to an American XL (but not tight!) then clothes are OK. If you fill an XL or bigger, it'll be very hard. I have a 47in chest, which would be 6L in Japanese sizes, and you can't even find that in the Big Guy's section (and the waist would then be a frigging tent). Long inseams can sometimes be difficult to find, depending on where you live (thankfully, I have short legs), and pants here are generally long-waisted with short inseams.

I do my shopping at department stores, can't find anything at all at the boutique-type places.