Challenges Overcome After Arriving in Japan
Ajay Devrukhkar Updated in OCTOBER 2024

<Food>
As a Hindu vegetarian, it was very hard in the beginning to find proper food in Japan. Usually, I cooked by myself and avoided eating outside food. Then slowly, I started purchasing bread, cookies (which don’t contain eggs) etc. There are much more vegan, vegetarian options in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other big cities. But nearby my hostel, there were very few options. Even if you found vegan restaurants, those were a little bit expensive as a student. Of course, Indian restaurants are there, but with very limited veg options.

<Life in General>
Japan seems a little bit expensive in all terms, when you are a student particularly, because you have limitation bar for earning (not more than 1.3 million yen/ year). In my case, I could not learn Japanese well due to my prompt decision to study in Japan. So, it was hard in the beginning to communicate in convenience stores, supermarkets, railways station, etc. However, everyone is so kind here, they help you properly. You can use google translation for communication for most basic conversations. But if you plan to live for a long time here, it is better if you learn Japanese, day by day. Because in Japanese language, there are many formal words and gestures used in regular life and at the workplace.