Western food shops available in Tokyo?
 

I plan to move to Japan eventually. I have no problem adjusting to Japanese culture and cuisine, however this transition isn't going to instantaneous. I'm wondering if there are "specialty shops" in Tokyo that sell western foods. I would love to learn how to cook Japanese cuisine and learn about Japanese culture, but seeing how I'm not Japanese, it's going to take time for me to adjust.

Don't worry!
Even in small towns a lot of the restaurants cater for western tastes. Japanese like italian & french & indian etc.
& there are all the burger restaurants.
You can also but a lot of food you will be used to from your local supermarket.

People really do think that Japanese people eat nothing but sushi don't they.

If you love Japan so much do a bit of research ;)

Yes, there are such shops - even outside of Tokyo. However, in most cases, shops that sell western foods tend to put a hurtin' on your wallet. I learned this quickly while I lived in Nagoya... Best get accustomed to octopus and seaweed as soon as you can :D

Why not just go to the grocery store and buy ingredients then cook your own?

If you`re interested in learning to cook Japanese food, then it shouldn`t be much of a leap to learn to cook the types of foods you enjoy eating in your own country.
I have yet to buy any prepackaged "western" type foods here just because the prices are high enough to make me choke - but I can eat any type of meal I want, anytime I want, by buying the ingredients and cooking them.
(I`m talking raw ingredients, not box mixes.)

Are you being forced to move to Japan? =__=
If I went to Japan the last thing on my mind would be 'where can I find some western food'.

You know it was very rude of you to make that assumption. I never said I'm unwilling to try Japanese cuisine and learn to cook that way. However I've lived in the United States my entire life; regarding cooking there are things I learned here that I love and I'm not just going to give up (baking for example). Also do you think the transition is going to be instantaneous for me? No, it's going to take time for me to adjust since it's a different culture. Thanks for your sarcasm, it's amusing. No I'm not being forced to Japan. However there are some foods here that quite literally are comfort foods and again I don't want to give those up. You're assuming I've done no research whatsoever on Japanese cuisine and how to prepare it; you're assuming I've done no research on the types of specialty stores available (ones that sell western foods). Again, you're wrong. I can't say just one person did this, because many people who posted on this thread just assumed stuff about me; I want your advice not your assumptions. There is more to eat in Japan then just seafood. They also eat pork and chicken; some people don't care for seafood and I'm one of them. The reason I asked for advice regarding this is because I had such a difficult time finding information about western food stores in Japan. Also depending on where you live, the coast of China is right next to Japan. If I wanted to, I could go to China and buy some of the western foods I desire there. Did you ever think of that? Yes I realize I have to convert Japanese yen to Chinese yuan but there is a people's bank of China in the city of Shanghai (which is the city where I would shop). Basically what I intend to do is tie western cuisine in with Japanese cuisine. Reasons regarding this are simple; I grew up with western cuisine and I'm going to have to eat Japanese cuisine since I'm going to live in Japan (or be dependent of fast food which I refuse to do) You really should learn to read and think about what's being told to you before you make assumptions about people.

I hear that some gaijin go down to Guam to get American cereals and other favorite foods; some get it shipped to them in cases from the states. If it were me, I'd try to adjust to the local cuisine.

Aren't there any McDonalds in Japan? just wondering:rolleyes:

Whoa whoa whoa, your assumption of me is very rude :D
You got me all wrong, mate.
I was just saying what timo said, if you go to Japan eat their food. I eat food, food good, doesn't matter where food come from, food good, me not gunna say "Oh my, my tummy hurts coz I ate something unfirmiliar that doesn't belong to my home land~ OH MY~!"

I could easily just go from my normal diet into one thats different, no problem.

If you want western food order it online, though IMO it's pretty silly. If you want to learn how to cook japanese dishes buy a cook book to tie your "cuisines" together.

Stop confusing "then" and "than".

And I'd just stop being a puff and eat their friggin food.

Sorry for the harshness but, eye for an eye and all that.

You don`t have to snap at anyone. You can get western foods in Japan, but they`re ungodly expensive. However, if you have the type of money to just hop on over to China to pick up whatever you want, whenever you want, then it probably doesn`t matter to you.

I didn`t assume anything about you - and offered constructive advice (Learn to cook your comfort foods from scratch, and make them from readily available ingredients.) but you have gone off on a tirade against everyone.

You expressed openness to learning to cook Japanese foods - you shouldn`t have any problems with learning to make your "comfort foods". You can get practically any ingredients used in "western" foods easily here - just not *prepackaged* foods or mixes.

If you love Japan so much do a bit of research

Best get accustomed to octopus and seaweed as soon as you can

Those were two assumptions made right there

And I'd just stop being a puff and eat their friggin food.

The first implies I've done no research about the culture of Japan, the food they eat, and that western foods aren't available in grocery stores (wrong, I have)

The second statement implies I'm reluctant to even eat Japanese food because I'm not going to like it since it's different from western cuisine (wrong, I just don't care for fish/seafood)

The third implies I'm a softie and will not eat their food because I think it's disgusting and/or I've become so accustomed to western food I'll refuse to eat food from any other culture if I become immersed in said culture (in this case Japanese culture) (WRONG). Also that I'm too particular and refuse to adjust to their culture and their food. Also wrong when I said with the initial post I'm perfectly willing to do that; however the transition is going to take time.

The assumption was made that I choose to get to the coast of China via an expensive method and I'll do so all the time because Japanese food won't appeal to my palate. Wrong; I know that going to Shanghai I'll only do sporadically because it will be expensive and kind of a hassle to transfer yen to yuan. I'm not going to take a plane to get to the coast of China, when I could just as easily take a boat to get there. That is perfectly feasible seeing how Japan is on the sea (it being an island) and Shanghai is on the coast of China, which means Japan and the coast of China are in close proximity with one another.

Actually, you have just caused me literally laugh out loud. Western foods aren`t available in the grocery stores here. Wow! That is a new one to me, being as my dumpy little neighborhood grocery store carries most western foods that I can think of. You have shown that you really HAVEN`T done any research, or if you did that it was very poorly done.
I can`t think of anything, really, that I couldn`t either a) buy in a local store or b) make from ingredients in my local store.

You know, we barely eat seafood. You know what I had to eat for dinner last night? An omelet, a salad, and chicken soup. Oh so seafoody! Seriously, you need to calm down. If you think Japan is nothing but seafood, or that things other than the "traditional Japanese diet" aren`t available, you are very disconnected from reality.

Really, I don`t care why you do or don`t want to eat Japanese food. It looks like you`re going to have a lot more problems than that.

Okay, seriously, you need to find a way to get in touch with reality.
You cannot just hop back and forth between Japan and China. In fact, it might do you some good to look at a map. Japan is NOT off the coast of China. Check the map. Japan is close to Korea, and even then ferries between the two are expensive. To go from the main part of Japan to China via ferry would be a long and expensive trip. Not to mention visa worries, etc. It may be easy to get a short term visa as a Japanese citizen, but last time I checked US citizens had to apply more than a month in advance. But I`m sure you`ve "researched" all of that.

I`m very sorry, but I think you have some other anger issues that you need to work through (along with basic geography for a start) before you actually make a trip to Japan.

I really couldn`t care less about your reasons for wanting to eat the foods you want to eat. What I do care about is that you`re freaking out for no good reason, even when you were given realistic advice.

Mate, you even said you didn't want to eat their food because you're too used to eating you "food" at home. I'm not assuming, I read your above posts.

I never said you did no research, you're assuming that I'm assuming about something only you've assumed.

Your post clearly says "However there are some foods here that quite literally are comfort foods and again I don't want to give those up." Give them up, what are you, fat? And you're obssessed with assumptions, or am I just assuming again? :rolleyes:

Anyway~ I'll apologise, dunno why I should but you somehow got offended so, sorry.

someone asked about McDonald's in Japan; pretty sure they have lots of them, also wendy's, KFC, starbucks, and they just got krispy kreme, as well! I'd have preferred Dunkin Donuts, heh.:rolleyes:

lol I knew it Thanx ^__^

Fyi I have a lot of crap going on in my life which none of you have no clue
about; so kindly stop verbally attacking me (yes that's what you're doing). I know that there is more then seafood available (in fact I said in one of responses that chicken and pork are available, as well as plenty of fresh vegetables). Seeing how I've never actually been to Japan, now I don't know for sure what food is and isn't available. I never once said that "in your local grocery store western foods are available". Maybe not in your grocery store, but I requested information from somebody living in Japan. Where she lives they do carry a number of western foods. No I'm not fat! That was extremely rude of you to assume which you did when you said "what are you fat"? I'm willing to sample and eat Japanese cuisine; let's see somebody said the meal they ate was salad and an omelet (let's see salad is western seeing how the word for "salad" in romaji is katakana); you tell me I need to adjust to western food and yet the meal you ate was western, that's kind of hypocritical in my opinion. You have to get a visa when you're working or living in a country short term. If you're just a tourist, i seriously doubt you would need a visa. I went to Brazil short term and all I had to acquire was a passport. When i visited a specific part of Brazil, they stamped the passport with the seal of Brazil. You're assuming I've done research on every aspect of Japan; no I've only done research on their cuisine and what western food is available. I don't like it when people make assumptions when they know nothing about me or my life. For your information I've been doing research regarding their language, studying it for the past 10 months. I'm not respectful of Japanese culture at all, except I'm trying to become fluent in Japanese since it would the respectful thing to do in their culture to speak their language (or at least attempt communication in their language). I really don't think it's sin to crave foods from your native culture. If a Japanese person moved to Japan, I'm sure they would adjust to western cuisine; however you're saying they would NEVER desire Japanese food since they grew up with it? I seriously doubt that. That is the case for me, which is what I've been trying to explain. People keep making assumptions about me, and that's my pet peeve. Since you're going to be rude and a jerk to me, well I can dish it out to you too. Naturally I'm not so stupid that I'm like oh the native food that's going to be available in Japan is going to be western food. No! I know that the primary food that is going to be available in Japan is Japanese food (that's simple logic). However I'm sure the transition you had with going from Western to Japanese wasn't immediate. Any kind of transition will take time; I've tried to tell you over and over again I'm willing to adjust to Japanese food, but that the transition will take time (apparently you're so dense you keep missing that point, which I've said numerous times). I also didn't say Japan was off the coast of China. I said it was close to the coast of China. There is also Tokyo, which has basically become westernized; so I'm sure if you're looking for western restaurants and/or shops that sell western food, Tokyo is the place to go. Who said I was going to take a ferry? That's not the only option; there's this amazing thing called a boat. I don't even know if I'm going to Shanghai but I probably will because I've always wanted to visit China anyway. No I'm not "naive to reality". Fyi you may know all these customs and procedures because you live in Japan. Well for your information I said quite clearly I plan to MOVE to Japan, meaning I'm not there yet. You assume everybody who plans to move to Japan, knows every aspect of their culture and all the procedures you go through while you're in the process of moving there. Western people who live in Japan do...other people who desire to do this but haven't yet don't. It's not "naive to reality" it's not having the experience you do with it; there's a different. As for what you read, that's not what I said; that's what you assumed I was thinking (that's the message that was implied). Again you're making the assumption that I think the only thing available in Japan is Japanese food. No, I know Japan has become westernized, and so American culture has definitely influenced the culture of Japan. They have vending machines and western food available; western restaurants have a franchise in Japan, so I know Japanese culture is currently a blend of western and Japanese cultures. I don't know WHY anybody wants to associate with you; you're an arrogant, condescending jerk who thinks they know everything, I can't stand people like you, so go screw yourself.

I made a mistake regarding the visa. Let me see according to the dictionary definition of "visa" it's what is stamped into your passport by an official of the country to grant you access into the country. I already have a passport, and based on what I just said, a passport and visa correlate with each other. If I have a passport getting a visa shouldn't be that big of an issue.

I can`t help but reply to this tirade. As this was so incredibly long, it is split into two halves.

I think I personally have been a lot less combative in my responses than you have been...
Either way - I really don`t care at all about what is going on in your life. I have nothing to do with it. It seems that you do have a sort of anger management problem, however. These bad things in your life have nothing to do with anyone on this board, and yet you are letting the anger spill over into your interactions here.
That is the sign of a serious problem, and is one of the red flags that you should look into therapy or counseling.

You have also said that you don`t like seafood, and that is one of the reasons you would like to eat "western" foods.

Obviously so, but why should I be accused of (gasp) assuming something about you when I DO tell you what is available.

No, you never did say that.
Either way, in my local grocery store, it is not a matter of "where she lives". It is that way all around Japan.
It sounds very much to me like YOU are assuming that Japanese food *excludes* western foods.

There aren`t pre-packaged "western" foods available - at least not in the packages you are familiar with. But there is nothing stopping you from picking up the ingredients and making it yourself... Which is what I have been suggesting all along.

It would be really nice if you would split up your remarks and actually direct them to specific individuals. There is more than one person replying to you.

It would be hypocritical if the SAME PERSON had made those remarks. That is not the case. I am the one who detailed my meal - and I have yet to tell you that you need to adjust to Japanese food. (Is it safe to ASSUME you meant "adjust to Japanese food" up there?)
On the contrary, I have told you that all the ingredients are available to make whatever comfort food you desire.

Wrong. You always need a visa.

However, China is not Brazil. That means they have different laws. You DO require a visa prior to entry.
In the case of Brazil, you STILL needed a visa - they just granted you one upon landing there. China does NOT do that.

No, actually I`m assuming the opposite. Not even really assuming - more deducing from the information you`ve presented.

Asking here, and then blowing up when people offer answers doesn`t count as "research".

And yet you`ve managed to learn nothing else about Japan? I think that in itself is an amazing feat.

Let me get this straight... You`re not at all respectful of Japanese culture... And yet you`re trying to learn the language because... it`s respectful?

You`ve totally lost me... But have piqued my curiosity.
If you have no respect for Japanese culture at all, what exactly is compelling you to want to live here? Really, why do you even want to visit?

And I agree. It isn`t a sin, or even strange at all to crave foods you are accustomed to, or foods from your childhood.
I`m not sure though what would happen if a "Japanese person moved to Japan"... As most Japanese people already live in Japan.
Normally I would assume you meant "move out of Japan"... But you REALLY don`t like anyone assuming anything about you or what you meant.

(continued)

Part two:

Actually, I think you have more of a problem with making assumptions about others. For example, assuming the are making assumptions about you.

I really wish you would specify who you are saying these things to.

Here is some more simple logic.
In Japan, it is most common to cook your own food. As in from raw ingredients, pretty much from scratch. This means that prepackaged meals and mixes are not as common as in the US, and that frozen entrees/microwave meals are pretty much non-existent.
Most of the ingredients used in Japanese foods are also used in non-Japanese foods.

What exactly defines when an ingredient is "Japanese" or "western"? Is a carrot not a carrot when sold in Japan? Is that run-of-the-mill pork going to jump up and run away if I were to try to prepare it in a "non-Japanese" way?
What is stopping you from buying the ingredients and cooking them into the "western" foods you want to eat?

I suggest this because it is WHAT I DO if I crave anything from my childhood.

Actually, it was.

In the case of food, this "transition" you speak of generally happens in reverse. In the beginning, the new flavors and foods you aren`t accustomed to are fascinating enough to suppress any desire for more familiar fare. It is only when you become more used to the "new" foods, and their novelty wears off, that you crave something you liked in the past.
For some people this comes very quickly, for others it can take years.

This is food - not medication. You don`t have to wean yourself off of one to have the other.

You said something very similar to that - that they were very close. (Which isn`t really the case.)

Tokyo isn`t "westernized". It may have the largest number of non-Japanese residents, and may be the largest city, but it is fundamentally not all that different than anywhere else in Japan. There are no little villages with no contact with the modern world. Japan is pretty much the same everywhere when it comes to the level of "westernization".

You did?

Please. Use a dictionary. A ferry IS a boat.
Unless.... Wait..... Please tell me you`re not so naive as to think you can just hop in a little row boat and row your way over to Shanghai...

Right now, my opinion of your naivety is largely related to boats and ferries.

Actually, I think I`ve assumed pretty accurately that you know little or nothing about Japan or life in Japan.
Normally, I would HOPE that someone who plans to move to Japan would learn something about it before making those plans.

Please, again, pull out the dictionary and look up what naive means. You`ll find that it`s not "different" from what you wrote, but in facts means *just that*. Lacking experience and knowledge. You are, without a doubt, naive. You have just confirmed that.

Either way, you don`t need to have experience to look at a map or to measure the distance between Japan and China.

Really? Well, that could certainly cause problems, being as we only communicate in text here. Are you saying something totally different aloud as you type? It would really help if you would input what you actually want to say to me.

I have taken great efforts in this message to avoid assuming anything about what you have written, and to take it at face value... Even when that flies in the face of reason and common sense.

Personally, I think that you are doing an awful lot more assuming than I. For example, making the assumption that I am assuming things about you.

I had no idea that this was an assumption, being as you have pretty much said that multiple times. Is deriving meaning from the words you have written also considered "assuming"?

Then why are you so concerned with the availability of "western" foods?
More importantly, why are you asking? You say you KNOW all these things already...

Is this directed at me? Or one of the others who replied to you? It would really be nice to know who these insults were directed toward.

If they are directed toward me personally, it is really a mystery, as I have tried my best to offer you actual constructive advice. Apparently you ask questions without ever wanting to hear the answer? Would you prefer I just ignore your fallacies and misconceptions? I was sort of under the impression that you wanted people to reply to you. Guess that was an incorrect assumption.

As I said in the other message - visa laws vary from country to country.

It isn`t just a "stamp", it`s official permission to be in that country for a specified amount of time. You can`t just walk into any country and expect them just to stamp you in. Some countries require you to apply ahead of time, and only grant so many visas (even for very short term tourists.)

The world is not one big country - laws vary from region to region.

I don't think the visa method would be the best route for me to go anyway. I plan to live in Japan permanently. Did research regarding this, and according to that, if you plan to move Japan permanently is to apply as an "alien". I know this means you're not a native of the country because you weren't born there, but essentially, you have temporary citizenship (I know to be eligible to apply for Japanese citizenship as a foreigner you have to live in Japan five years minimum). If you're a tourist, and you have a passport, all they have to do is stamp your passport and you can vacation/visit there for up to 3 months.

There IS no other method. If you want to live in Japan, you need a visa, and to get a visa, you either need to:

A) Be a student wanting to study in Japan
B) Hold a 4-year bachelor's degree and be able to secure a job in Japan
C) Be married to a Japanese national

You can't just go there and apply for permanent residency - what do you think the visas are for?? If you can't fulfill any of the above requirements, you can't live in Japan.

You're confusing what alien registration is. After 90 days of being in Japan, you need to apply for your "gaijin card", as it's colloquially called. This is just a requirement for foreign residents in Japan - they need it for important things like opening bank accounts or getting an apartment. You STILL need a visa to stay in Japan longer than 90 days (3 months).

Apparently you didn't do your research.

Kawaiineko:
I don't think anyone has ASSUMED anything about you, you're just ASSUMING that people ASSUMED something about you, in other words, you're the agressive one.
Everything I've said that you claim is ASSUMING something about you, is just information I've read from your previous posts.

Tokyo and Japan are not "westernised" as much as you think, if it is Westernised then why are you going in the first place? Also I don't think you can say it's westernised since you haven't been yet.

"No I'm not fat! That was extremely rude of you to assume which you did when you said "what are you fat"?

I never said you was fat, I never ASSUMED you were fat or anything, if you look back at my post and even to what is pasted above, I asked if you were fat, see the '?' at the end of the sentence...'?'

One last thing, your life is no concern to us, I'm going to ASSUME you want attention or sypathy? Yes - No?
Everyone has life problems, don't take it out on us bunch of words on a computer screen~ Kay?

That little stamp is called a TOURIST VISA.

But that`s beside the point. What you`re saying is really a mystery. You`re saying you plan to live in Japan permanently... But that you don`t need a visa because you`ll be a tourist.

Unless you`re talking about your visits to China.

You know that granted-upon-entry VISA they give tourists? It only happens among countries that are part of a specific agreement. There are only 27 countries currently taking part. The ONLY countries that are part of that agreement are those on this list:

Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
the Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Do you see China on that list? I know I certainly don`t. That means that they do not grant visas upon entry. You HAVE to apply for a visa prior to your trip. Also, as a side note, not all the countries IN THIS PROGRAM grant 90 day visas. Some only grant 30 days, some grant up to 6 months. It varies based on the country you`re from and the country you`re visiting.

PLEASE actually do your research if you`re going to say you have.

OK Kawaiineko , don't burst your bubble here. The people answering your question are anything but rude, it may sound rude to you but that's the reality of it so try to deal with it.

Anyways, back to your question. Western foods. YES they are widely available. Do you know "CosCo" ? you can shop at your hearts contents for all the western food and product there. McDonalds, Starbucks, Krispy Cream, Shakeys, Pizza Hut, Bagel Store, HardRock are everywhere, even Windys.
If money is not a problem and you want more expensive item, look for a store like Daimaru or head to Midtown in Roppongi Hills.

You want more exotic product? Thai, Vietnam, Indian restuarant are also widely available.

So hopefully no violent reaction to this post of mine :D

About visa, Japan is one of the countries with the strictiest policy concerning visa application. So it is not easy. It never was, are and will be :D

No I'm not looking for sympathy with the crap that's going on in my life from people I don't know. If I wanted sympathy I could have gone into great detail with my problems, yet I was extremely vague about it. If you read my previous post, it implied that getting a visa is tied in with alien registration. I said quite clearly that if I have a passport, which is one part of the process of applying for a visa, it would make said process easier. If you don't have a passport it's twice as much work with acquiring a visa, because you have to apply for a visa and for a passport. Also, I never said "Oh, I'm not aware that western culture has influenced Japanese culture" because I'm well aware of this. Essentially what I was trying to say (imply rather) was that Japanese culture is currently a blend of two cultures. Western culture (primarily American culture) has influenced Japanese culture, so the blending
of the Japanese and western culture is the end result. Yes I know Japanese have their own philosophies and way of thinking; they have their own traditions because these were developed through the country's history. However, if you're going to deny that Japan isn't a blend of western and Japanese culture, you're wrong. Even the Japanese will acknowledge that western culture has influenced their culture. When you compare Japanese culture sixty years-seventy years ago to what Japanese refer to as "modern" Japan (current Japan) there are tremendous differences in the culture (because at that point and time Japanese culture was for the most part closed off to Western culture). I never said applying for a visa and an alien registration to Japan would be easy. What I said was, that if you have passport already, that will be less work regarding the process of acquiring a visa in general. Japan is probably as bias as the United States is with allowing foreigners to enter their country, since it is a homogeneous country (one language, primarily one nationality). Even today, the United States is a melting pot; it has been since the 1920's and people immigrated from all over the globe. One more thing regarding the visa, I corrected myself regarding what I thought with the definition I put with a visa because to an extent it was unclear and inaccurate.

Many people have come off with this attitude that all foreigners want to move to Japan (primarily Americans) and live in Japan but via an American lifestyle. Do you know how hypocritical of me that would be? If you're going to Japan but hesitant, reluctant, and/or too set in your own ways to adjust to their culture, you might as well continue living a lifestyle you're comfortable with and stay where you're currently living (your homeland essentially). However, I'm learning Japanese. I don't have to; nobody is forcing me too. Yet it would be the polite and respectful thing to do to communicate in their language so they understand what I'm saying and I understand what they're saying. Also people tend to warm up to you more if you at least attempt communication with them in their native language. Example, I don't know that much kanji but I do recognize your kanji. The romaji for it is "hachi"; the hiragana for it is はち. No I'm not doing this to come off as a know-it-all because I've only been studying the language ten months. What I'm doing is giving you proof to prove to you what I say is true. If I had no knowledge of the Japanese language, I would not have been able to translate that kanji to romaji, and I wouldn't have been able to give you the English translation of the romaji. Bottom line is, I haven't even left for Japan yet, and I'm already trying to prepare myself BEFORE I go by learning and studying as much as I can with their language, so that when I go, I'll be at least semi-fluent with reading, speaking, and writing Japanese. I know in any language the most heavily used part is speaking; but if you want to be fully fluent in a language you have to know how to read, write, and speak it. This is my goal with Japanese. To assume all foreigners will act like this when they move to Japan is rude and ignorant. I'm a foreigner and I have no intention of acting like an American in a Japanese culture; just as Japanese have been influenced by western culture because they have become semi-immersed in it the same principal can apply for me. Japanese culture will influence my lifestyle and how I think because I will be immersed in it. However, if you're saying western culture isn't going to influence me at all you're wrong. I believe the foreigner's culture will influence them to an extent because it's how they were raised, and how you were raised tends to mold you as a person to an extent.

there is always Mcdonalds and KFC wherever u r in the world. But they cost more over there than in the states after the currency exchange

In the KAnsai area they have a foriegn food store called Itotome. Great but a little pricey.

ありがとう　ございます (arigatou gozaimasu)

Well , you need to apply for a passport first before you can apply for any visa for any country you are going or planning to visit.

When that part is over, next step would be a visa. There are different type of visa, tourist, working, student, missionary, spousal, etc. And each of this visa have different requirements.

The alien registration card can only be acquired when you arrived at the country and if and only if you plan to stay for 100 days or more. If your length of stay is less than that, you are not required to apply for an ARC( alien registration card ).

A lot of ignorance in that post if you ask me. Judge Japan after you've been.

Before you learn Japanese, learn English first, you obviously skipped the paragraph part, reading your posts makes my eyes hurt. =__=

Well, the fact that my local super market sells ALL western food. Maybe not all popular western brands. And that even in my poxy little town there are loads of italian, american, indian, french restaurants, shows that you have not done any research! If you had done some research then you would have discovered the truth, that western food is readily available.

You do realise that people also gave you advice too. But why focus on the advice & say thank you when you can flame?

How long will you stay in Japan?

Let's just get back on topic here...
 

済みません (sorry);

I tend to over react at times and read more into statements than is actually there.

If I have caused offense, I apologize.

But honestly, this post WAS originally an attempt to ascertain the availability of western foods in Japan. How it turned into a flame war is still beyond me, but I am sure my temper had something to do with it.

Passports, visa's and such aside, it Will be a few years before I can afford to relocate, and thus I will burn those bridges when I come to them, (hopefully AFTER I have crossed them).

My main reason for inquiring into the availability of western foods is tied into my desire to gradually accustom myself to Japanese cuisine by mixing and matching it with western meals.

On a side topic, perhaps someone can clear up a bit of confusion that I am currently experiencing.

I have been told on more than one occasion that Japan is one of the most expensive places in the world to live... How true is this?

All of my research into housing and other costs leaves me with the distinct impression that it is actually cheaper to live in Japan than it is to live where I currently do in south west Florida. (By a good margin no less) This includes living in Tokyo, which I have been told is one of the more pricey places to live in Japan.

Any comments on that one?

Sorry for my earlier commentary;
Kawaiineko

Ps...
 

I actually intend to move there permanently.

Kawaiineko

That is indeed true, and the closer you are to the big cities, the higher the price goes. Just out of curiosity, why are you intending to move to Tokyo? Many westerners who move to Japan end up feeling a lot more comfortable in one of the [relatively] smaller cities, as they are away from the hustle and bustle Tokyo.

I lived in Nagoya for 1 year - it's the fourth largest city in Japan, and it is big enough so that a westerner can still integrate into Japan without being totally cut off from what they are used to back where they came from. Plus, Nagoya has many many parks, and the city is very clean and much nicer looking than Tokyo. Tokyo is a mess of concrete and people - it's a great place for shopping and having fun, but man, I wouldn't wanna live there.

I would also like to say, do your best to make a trip to Japan prior to moving there. You absolutely must experience Japan first-hand before you make one of the biggest life-altering decisions in your whole life. You can learn every bit about the Japanese language and culture, but you can never, ever be completely prepared for life in Japan. When westerners move here, they first experience the euphoric feeling of living in some place completely foreign and exotic to them, and they love it. However, after the feeling wears off they realize that Japan is just another country - a country that has just as many ups and downs as the United States or Australia or anywhere. It is at this point where people will either go through a severe depression and leave, or they take things as they are and begin living their day-to-day life in Japan.

Okay i've never been into a western food shop but it does not taste that authentic because they use japanese ingredients and mix it with western ingredients to make. Heck the pizza contains corn, most westerners would be like WTF?! when they see it. But its still good food :)

Ano....
 

Actually, I have no intention of living in Tokyo, I was simply noting it's pricey nature. I would rather live somewhere more rural to be honest.

So I have heard.

If my finances allow, I intend to do just that.

On the flip side, Housing, at least, is cheaper there than here. How messed up is that?

Domo Arigatou for your input

Hmph - it sounds better if you refer to Nagoya as the third largest metropolitan area in Japan... Which it is. Fourth makes it sound smaller than it is, and really, Tokyo and Yokohama had might as well be one big city.

I keep meaning to ask you - exactly *where* in Nagoya were you? (Feel free to go into detail, I`ll know where you`re talking about.)

I`m really quite thrilled to have another Nagoya supporter on here. I`d never choose to live anywhere else.

Back on topic though -
What food exactly do you want to eat? Is it something that you can`t prepare from raw ingredients?