Japan Tokyo North Mission

Japan · Asia

All 4 seasons. Hot and very humid in the summers. The weather is very dependant on the area serving in. The Sea of Japan side gets heavy snow, but the pacific side doesn't see a lot, but they do get a lot of rain.
It is recommended to bring a rain suit, but some missionaries never use them. Wait to purchase any rain pants until in Japan and you know if you need it. However, bring a good rain jacket, as you will need one regardless of area.

Missionaries coming from the United States should bring enough toothpaste and deodorant to last the entire mission. The toothpaste there is strange to Americans and the Japanese do not have the same type of deodorants that work on most Americans. They do not sell tampons in Japan either.

The winter can feel really cold with the humidity, so dress in layers. Thermal underwear or garments are very nice to have.
Sisters: Most sisters wear dresses, but my missionary loves wearing pants, especially while riding a bike.

There are bikes provided by the mission, but knowing simple bike maintenance is helpful.

The Tokyo north mission covers part of Tokyo and stretches across Japan to a lot more rural areas. They still have stores where you can purchase what you need, but the bathrooms in train stations don't usually have soap or towels. Missionaries should carry little towels for drying their hands and packets of sanitary wipes or soap sheets.

They don't have public trash cans either, despite the cities being very clean, so it is helpful to carry bags for disposing of trash to throw away later.

The Japanese take off their shoes when entering homes, so shoes that are easily removed and put on are best.
Elders: The most common recommended shoes are Docs and Ecco’s
Sisters: Most common shoe is Dr. Martens Mary Jane’s and Dansko.

The most commonly recommended boot is Blundstone for both Elders and Sisters.

There is a mix of biking, walking, and trains, but no one really drives in this mission. It is mostly bikes and public transportation.

The Japanese love to collect things- trading cards, key chains, stickers, etc. It is a good way to connect with people when street contacting by asking them about them. Missionaries do not do a lot of door knocking, as most people are not home during the day. They do a lot of "streeting" or meeting people on the streets or in public places.

It is considered very rude to not eat what you are given and all of it.

They also have a custom called Jikoshoukai as a way of introducing oneself that includes a small photo album of family, friends, and hobbies. Bring a small photo album with pictures. Missionaries introduce themselves in each new ward with a Jikoshoukai.

Packages are very expensive to ship and they often charge the mission office additional fees that you will be responsible to reimburse. Amazon Japan is a really great way to ship your missionary things.

If your missionary is larger in stature, it might be harder to find things, but you can find pretty much everything you need in Japan. They have great thrift stores too! You do not need to over pack.

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