What to bring to Waseda

This post is more or less a description of the dorms and what I would have liked to have known before coming here. If anyone finds this blog that needs this information, then I'll have done my job.

I'm living in the Waseda University Nishi-Waseda Student House. Apparently, it doesn't exist on Google maps. If you come to the school and you're not doing pickup (or even if you are--if something goes wrong), it's best to know that the easiest way to get there is walking from Takadanobaba Station and not Waseda Station. You do exit from the Waseda exit. You'll be on Waseda Doori, and the map that was supplied to you should suffice from there. If you're living in another dorm, make sure you bring directions to that dorm just in case (even if you are doing pick-up).

Picaso is a store that is just around the corner from the school/the close dorms. It is a small version of Don Quijote, and it has everything anyone might need for cheap (except fresh fruits and veggies--it lacks those). So when I say buy something, if I don't specify where to get it, that's the place to go.

Unless you really enjoy sleeping on a rice pillow (very similar to a bean bag pillow), bring a pillow with you or buy one immediately.

Bring an ethernet cable with you if you're staying in Nishi-Waseda Student House. I'm pretty sure they're universal, and then you can have internet the first night. I'd make it long if you want to sit on your bed and use the internet!

Bring bug spray. If you need to buy it in Japan, the word for it is mushiyoke (虫よけ；虫除け）and it can certainly be found in Picaso.

Bring feminine products from home. They're different in Japan (at least from the US).

Bring enough money with you to last you if your home bank cancels your credit card. Even if you tell your bank where you are, it can happen. Make sure to tell your bank at least twice before you leave that you actually will be in Japan. Enough money is probably somewhere between 30000-50000 yen.

Bring a knife. The Nishi-Waseda kitchen provides decent enough pots, pans, and chopsticks, but it lacks silverware, plates, and cups. Don't try cutting apples with chopsticks if you don't have a knife--a good, cheap one is easy to find at Picaso. Also, for just simple things like forks, spoons, and plates, a 100 yen store is a good bet. They won't be high class, but they'll work and they're cheap.

Don't bring a phone from home. It's too complicated, and most Japanese phone stores won't just sell you a new sim card. Also, what I've heard is that getting a phone with a plan is a lot cheaper than doing prepaid. The safest bet is probably to buy a phone from Softbank (usually it's free with a plan), and get the White Plan with texting. It allows for free calls between Softbank phones, free incoming calls, and unlimited texting to any phone in Japan and any email address. Very convenient and it only costs about 1350 yen per month! There is a Softbank in Shibuya that has English-speaking representatives. Exit the Hachico gate, find the Hachico statue, and the Softbank can be found on the second street from the left while facing that statue from the front.  (EDIT:  Don't get a plan if you're there less than two years.  I was dead wrong.  Do prepaid.)

Do bring some sort of watch or phone you can leave on before you get a cell phone! It's helpful to know the time, especially if you have a train to catch.

Definitely bring your own towels (they do not provide these in the dorms). Bringing your own sheets is a plus, too, if you don't want to use the relatively cheap ones they give you here (I don't have a problem with them, but some people might).

Also, bring a map from your country. My English train map has saved me on numerous occasions!

Groceries tend to be on the expensive side in Japan. Some people find that going out costs about the same amount as making your own food! Going out can be really cheap, but if you want to make food at home, learn your options. There is a fairly large supermarket by the name of Peacock near Takadanobaba Station; that's a really good bet for most things if you want to spend less money. There are several Lawson stores that sell some food, and they are a good bet for fresh fruit and vegetables. There is a Sandoku (small grocery store) almost right across the street from the Nishi-Waseda International Student House; it has cheap bananas (though so do most places), but it tends to be a little more expensive than the other places. It's closer than the others, though, so it can be quite convenient for small trips. Cereal and rice are the most surprisingly expensive things I've seen. Picaso is a pretty good bet for either, and Peacock has decent prices on rice.

I hope that this can help someone prepare for Waseda! I'll post more tidbits like this later :)