Pre-departure Information

What to bring - Handy hints!

Clothing
January is mid-winter in Japan, and you'll definitely feel it in Aizu. There will be heavy snowfalls in the city and even more on the skifields. Thankfully, homes in Aizu are very well heated, but be prepared for the cold when you step outside!
Formal to semi-formal wear is advised for the school visits on January 24th, 25th, 27th, 30th and also for the courtesy visit to the Fukushima Prefectural Government Office on January 31st before your departure from Fukushima. (Most of the school visits will require just tidy clothes as opposed to suits which are likely to become dirty through the extra activities offered throughout the day). As for the farewell party, smart/casual attire would be the most appropriate. For everyday use, you may like to bring warm jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, poly-props etc, an umbrella (although you can buy cheap umbrellas here), and some good sturdy shoes for walking on ice.

Travellers Cheques and Credit Cards
Japanese people use cash for shopping. Credit cards like Visa, Master card and AMEX are used in Japan and most hotels and inns accept it. However most small shops do not accept them. Almost all shops do not accept traveller's cheques. In addition, you cannot get cash advances with your credit cards. However, you can buy Japanese yen with NZ dollar T/C at most banks in Japan. You can also buy yen with NZ cash but the exchange rate is not as good as that of T/C. Check today's exchange rate here.

Gifts, photos and other things to bring
You will meet many volunteer helpers for culture classes. We recommend you bring 20 or so small and inexpensive gifts such as pins, pencils, New Zealand chocolates, erasers, stickers (the children love these sort of things!) and a larger gift for your host family such as a box of cookies or native crafts. (A custom in Japan is to present your host families with a gift when you arrive and to thank them for looking after you... if I remember rightly it is the opposite in New Zealand). See "Gifts for host families" below.
For unexpected situations, you can buy NZ chocolate at a small imported food shop in Fukushima railway station. Photos will help you to introduce your life, family, town, school and New Zealand to your host family and students of the schools that you will visit. Japanese-English and English-Japanese dictionaries may also be useful.
A small carry bag will be very convenient for short trips, visiting the schools or when staying with your host family (your suitcases will be kept at the hotel).

Gifts for your host families
You may be wondering what to do for gifts for your host families. Well, we are happy to give you some pointers. No.1, you shouldn't be worried so much about gifts... Small things from your country with words of thanks for their kindness & hospitality are the greatest gifts you can give. No.2, instead of bringing large expensive gifts, we would like to recommend that you bring photos of your own family, schools & where you live. Please share lots of interesting aspects of Kiwi culture & customs. While spending time together, your host family will be very happy to show you the real Japanese lifestyle and be eager to learn from you in return. No.3, they are not 100% volunteers. The FIA pays them a 5,000 yen allowance to cover your meals. You will homestay with a teacher from a school you visit in Aizu.
Anyway,the best gifts you can give is your smile and words of gratitude. They are not heavy to carry in your suitcases, either...:)

From Narita to Fukushima - your first and second day in Japan
When you arrive at Narita Airport on January 22nd, you will find a staff member of the IRG holding a sign with "Fukushima" written on it. You may like to exchange your money to Japanese yen at the airport, since you will be leaving for Aizu early the next morning. (Please bear in mind that the airport does charge a higher rate than standard banks). From the airport you will take an Express train to Tokyo where you will spend the night at a hotel. There are no specific plans for this night, just have dinner and relax, ready to depart for Aizu at 9:00 the following morning. You will travel to Koriyama on the Shinkansen, before switching to local transport to Aizu-Wakamatsu City, arriving around noon.You must carry all your luggage with you so the weight and type of suitcase/ bag you bring is something to bear in mind. Other staff members will join await you in Aizu, and following lunch there will be a Programme Orientation followed by a brief lecture on the Japanese Education System and a Japanese language warm-up. A Welcome party is planned for the evening.

Accommodation
You will participate in a homestay in Aizu-Wakamatsu City for a total of 2 nights. The rest of the time, apart from one night in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), will be spent in business hotels. You will be staying in single rooms at the hotels and will share rooms at the Japanese inn.

Free time from February 1st - 3rd
We thought that you would like some time to travel by yourself to other areas. This is why we have left the last three days as "free time". We will provide about 10,000 yen in transportation fees for your journey from Fukushima to Narita airport. Other costs during this free time must be paid by you. We will help you arrange your schedule and bookings. Tourist information is available at the FIA.

Coin laundry
A coin laundry service is located in your hotel in Aizu-Wakamatsu and near the FIA in Fukushima City.

Internet Access Free internet access is available in the lobby of your hotel in Aizu-Wakamatsu.. You can also access the internet using computers at the FIA office during your time in Fukushima City.

Travel Insurance
It is your responsibility to pay for your own travel insurance and NZ airport tax. We buy insurance for volunteer helpers and participants; this covers any damage that you or the helpers may cause during volunteer and home stay activities.

Additional costs you must pay
The amount that you have paid covers round trip tickets between NZ and Japan. We pay for your transportation costs between Fukushima City and Narita Airport and most of your basic needs from January 23rd -31st, such as transportation within Fukushima Prefecture, home stay including breakfast and dinner, hotels, the Japanese inn, commuting, the farewell party and culture class materials.
When meals are not provided, we will provide you with cash 500 yen for each meal so that you can dine out wherever you like. Unfortunately this fee does not cover accommodation and other costs that you may incur on your free days in Tokyo from February 1st - 3rd. If you require accommodation for two nights in Tokyo please let us know. We hope this will not inconvenience you much.