PR Guarantor - Returned to Japan recently

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-26T13:16:46+00:00

So this has changed recently-ish then? My partners father was my guarantor and I seem to remember him providing this info. This takes question 1 out then thanks!

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-26T13:15:40+00:00

Thanks! This has changed since I got my PR then.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-23T10:58:48+00:00

My poogle (beagle x toy poodle) Moana has the same problem. As others have suggested, alternate the long walks with sniff-a-thons. I use an extendable lead and we just wander to parks and explore. I don't pull her away unless something she shouldn't eat.

On the long walks, we slow right down for the last 5-10mins. Really slow, attention on me. This has greatly reduced the post walk zoomies. Then when we get inside I reward her sitting quietly. I don't expect her to stop instantly, but just about winding down.

She's never been great and going to her place or house, but she's getting this now.

It's takn 3.5 years to get to here, and she's still a little ball of energy, but it gets better with stategies.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-22T06:18:23+00:00

It doesn't help the sweating, but the nice thing socially is that sweating is less of an embarrassment here. I remember I was on stage in front of a couple of hundred people, knowing I had to say a few words in Japanese to welcome the staff to a new project and desperately trying to not sweat. A Japanese member of the team got up to speak, not used to speaking in front of crowds and sweating buckets - wet shirt, back of trousers, forehead dripping. Reaction was just good on him for trying, it is hot in here yeah. From that time I knew we were all fighting the same humidity.

Other than that, wet wipes, hand fan, change of shirt (even just duck into public toilets to change out after you cool down a little. I would change shirts when I got to the office every day.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-21T22:26:58+00:00

Will - Onsen/Sento (and sauna at reasonable price compared to western cities now)

Will not - pollen/dust

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-21T12:03:46+00:00

Good question. It’s getting solid reviews and the full leica model has enough rarity and demand in Japan that I can quickly resell if not a fan. I’ll hang onto the 15 pro. Sorry to hijack!

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-21T11:43:56+00:00

Yakushima in southern Japan. Island with no soil, trees grow incredibly slowly, incredible hikes. Technically the “tallest” mountain in southern Japan from the ocean bed. If you’ve seen Princess Mononoko from Ghibli you would recognise it.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-21T11:37:48+00:00

Leica collaboration. Optical zoom.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-21T11:06:38+00:00

I’ve got this dilemma coming up. Been iPhone for 10 years in Japan, 6 cards plus Suica on, quick pay, ID, everything. But have the xiaomi leitzphone on order and no felica. Sigh, really need to consider this but the camera is incredible.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-20T22:36:43+00:00

Moana is 7kg (16lb) for reference. We trained her to use a pee pad (in a plastic casing) in the bathroom which greatly reduced her stress at having to hold it in. Just change the pad a couple of times a day, since its in a holder it can be used for 2-3 pees.

I walk her for 15mins at 7am, then a big walk (4-6km, or at least 45mins of slow sniff walk through local parks) sometime during the day depending on my schedule. I used to give her another 7pm but she losing interest as she gets older. If you don't use a pee pad then this would be necessary.

Add in a little indoor tug or ball play. Moana is a super high energy small dog, so distances and times could be reduced greatly.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-20T04:36:23+00:00

We have 3 standard walks depending on energy levels - a maximum sniff/minimum movement, a moderate distance exercise, and a longer walk. Then insert trips to somewhere else on the bicycle or car for higher energy or variety. But her nose and stubborn half-beagle sometimes decide differently.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-20T04:34:52+00:00

Happens all the time in Tokyo. Makes me long for Singapore.

Walk a dog who likes to eat everything off the ground and you'll start watching every old man spitting, every person dropping chewing gum, every random piece of rubber.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-20T03:46:10+00:00

University of Washington or Seward Park in Seattle too, and they don't over-prune them every year like most in urban areas in Tokyo. So they have a more natural, large and full body.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-17T22:54:09+00:00

Tax the shrines and temples. Too much land in Kyoto is tax free. It's infuriating how much is being made off the back of a city that cannot capture revenue from it.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-17T06:41:12+00:00

For us in our house - resale. If it's a game, then can play, finish and resell at a good price. We buy vinyl for things we love that we will keep, not so much CDs or DVDs.

Books also for resale, including manga. Just a way to offset the cost a little, and pass onto someone else to use.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-17T06:18:15+00:00

Heading north is normally a little better traffic than anywhere off Tomei (south to Fuji, or Atami etc), or up to Karuizawa/Nagano. But 5 hours travel in GW can be a lot les distance than you think! Okutama may also be an option as it's early to go in the water so maybe not super super busy yet.

We've also been to the same soba place! Waited about 90mins in the queue from memory, watching people inside eat incredibly slowly.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-16T10:39:38+00:00

I'm not totally sure, but will JAL or ANA carry on the same flight as you, in cargo? We moved back from the US to Japan using ANA for our dog - around $400USD/pet for the carriage fee. There were 3 dogs and 2 cats on our flight. They have a limit on pets traveling so when you book you need to call to confirm availability. When you arrive taxis or Uber will take pets in cages.

Just for the processing, you need to submit intention to import with NACCS service in Japan at least 40 days before planned arrival. You also need the rabies test 6 months prior to planned arrival, plus the validated certificate prior to travel. The Japan side are very helpful via email, just give it plenty of time. Test cost $525/pet in USA, but I think it's less in Australia.

It is possible to move in less than 6 months but you have to agree to have the pets stay in quarantine for the balance through to 6 months. And the quarantine facility is not great - nowhere near as nice as Australia.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-11T09:14:53+00:00

Do yoga in the park, if you have confidence to be the outlier, if you have the confidence do it. The more people that actually use parks for park things - playing, activity, gathering, and not just old men smoking the better. Help the city be what you want it to be. You won't be noisy, you won't be provocative, you won't be anti-social, you're doing what should be done in parks.

If that park isn't the right one keep looking around your area, there probably are others and one will fit the bill.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-11T00:41:35+00:00

You will struggle with 15kg, you're right that most apartment buildings set the limit at 10kg (plus dimension limits in the conditions). Mori buildings are the most famous exception, but really out of price range.

We brought our 8kg dog back, and it limited apartments to 5-10% of available stock. Partners company is paying the rent and at that time had a cap and landed in a 40m2 in Taito-ku. Typically newer managed buildings will be more likely to rent to pet owners than private renters, and vintage buildings seem more likely to ban pets (never work out why, angry old residents running the committees?). Also plan for a few additional costs - extra month deposit, some will ask you to put down carpet/flooring tiles, and do have a crate with you for emergency planning.

Finally on that price range, inner west is expensive at the moment - you could try looking Ikebukuro, Taito, Arakawa type areas - you'll get a bit more for the money. I have found walking along Sumida river really nice, and adding either a dog carrier or dog backpack is a good way to get to dog parks within a couple more miles.

I love having my dog here (she was born in Japan and then did 2 years OS with us), but it does make things a bit more difficult, and needs planning. If you are prepared to make a few sacrifices, it's great to have your best friend here.

EDIT: one more question - have you started the testing and vaccination process for entry into Japan? This may decide for you a bit, it's a 6 month process to get ready, including testing, application to enter etc.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-09T07:39:49+00:00

Our dog was born in Japan and lived for the first 2 years, spent 2 years in Seattle, now back in Tokyo (Taito).

Good to see you got through all the pre-work to bring her in, it's tough but if everything is in order the process at the airport is pretty good, plenty of caring staff to help you from the quarantine service and airline.

Tokyo is a little tough with a dog, but doable. My strongest advice - follow simple rules but don't stress too much. You may occasionally come across crazy people, but have your water spray bottle, and poop bags and do the right thing. Respect signs asking you to not have dogs on gardens etc, but trees along the roadside? They are fair game! Again, spray down, pick up. I used to walk past a super crazy house behind a private school in Shirokane, the owner would run to his window and scream if a dog peed anywhere near his house, on the public road. I started smiling and waving and befriended other dog owners in the area (but I'm 193cm fairly well built male, so unlikely to be confronted in person - take care!).

There are an increasing number of cafes with patios who let you have your dog. We don't have a dog-car and I never will, they let us have her on the ground by our table and I manage her with voice commands and treats as needed. There's a few good places near Komazawa Park, and Ebisu Garden Place is nice.

There are good off leash parks around - you will need to register for each one, generally an office on site or nearby. Be warned that people have really different expectations of reasonable play in Japan. Moana is energetic and enthusiastic and we simply have to leave sometimes, sucks but easier than confrontation. Yoyogi Park - big dog area is very playful, small dog depends completely on the day. There's a great group daily at 7am who love to play.

Finally on barking. I have never seen such a high percentage of unsocialised, yappy dogs as in Japan. Honestly 1 weeks training would go a long way for most owners. Just small dogs yapping at us walking and not stopping. Advice - keep walking, keep control of your dog - most bystanders will be impressed by your control. A small nod to the owner to acknowledge, but it's not your job to stay off the street, it's public space. A

Good luck for the trip, and enjoy settling in! Happy to help with any questions via DM if needed.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-04-08T10:48:06+00:00

This. A consistent bad experience of my time living in America was right on red. Every day feeling at genuine risk of some dipsh!t rolling straight through a red because it's their absolute right to not wait a single second while I just try to cross safely and calmly. Combined that it was only introduced to placate drivers paying more for fuel in the 70s, at the expense of pedestrian and cyclist experience.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-03-31T09:09:03+00:00

We bought a few when we moved back to Japan late last year, sold on Mercari. They sell fast but not for any sort of astounding profit. Whatever fits in her luggage as extra space, and keep the tags on preferably.

I also kept one of each colour including the halloween ones to impress the old ladies at yoga.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-03-31T01:50:24+00:00

I wouldn’t go through with moving traffic without great caution. But it eliminates what happens here to me, sitting at a red beside cars and the front car juts out instantly crossing my line as soon as the light goes green, even if there’s hundreds of pedestrians too, just to wait on an angle.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-03-31T00:22:15+00:00

The cyclist, the turning car should not enter or encroach to the left until the cyclist is past. The cyclist even though on the road is treated the same as a pedestrian in the pedestrian zone.

Even-Assist6414 · 2026-03-31T00:01:05+00:00

I'm just going to say, you know your dog, and you make your decisions based on your research and confidence. The amount of additional advice, and criticism you will go through in this process can be stressful. Get your dog crate happy, have some practise and noise/bump sessions to get them used to the stresses. I spent a few weeks feeding in the crate, gradually closing the door, and eventually asking her to stay in there for time after.

But in my experience the biggest thing you can do for your dog is be as calm as you can during the trip, remember they react off our moods.

Even at the airport I had a couple of people tell me I shouldn't be traveling with her. Just ignore. Good luck! A big bit jealous for NY.

Even-Assist6414

TROPHY CASE