Experiencing culture shock while studying abroad in Japan is both common and completely normal. It’s a natural reaction to living in a country with customs, values, and daily routines that differ from what you’re used to. At JCMU, all Japanese Language and Culture program students during the spring and fall semesters take a course called JCMU Experience, which introduces the phases of culture shock and provides helpful tools to ease the transition into life in Japan. The model used in the course illustrates how culture shock is often a nonlinear process—something many students, including myself, find to be true during their time in Hikone.

First and foremost: don’t feel ashamed if you find yourself struggling sooner or for longer than you anticipated. Many factors influence how we experience culture shock, and it’s not a reflection of your dedication to Japanese language or culture. Your challenges don’t reflect your abilities—they’re simply part of the journey. When I studied at JCMU, almost all of my friends experienced the different phases of culture shock at completely different times.

I’m definitely not an expert, but this framework helped me better understand the wide range of emotions I went through during my year abroad. At first, I was in the honeymoon phase and really eager to explore, shop, and try every treat I had researched before arriving. But once the initial excitement wore off and I began settling into a routine, I quickly entered the rejection phase, followed not long after by regression. Everyone’s journey through culture shock is different. Some of my friends seemed like they were in the honeymoon phase for a really long time, while I had remained in the rejection/regression phase for longer. I wanted to offer some tips that helped me during my time in Hikone, and hopefully inspire you to think of your own ideas for combating culture shock when you head to Japan for your program.

Some things to bring with you to Japan for comfort:

• Any comfort item
  • Stuffed animals, games, specific clothing, posters, etc. This can be anything that brings your comfort. I brought a stuffed animal that looked exactly like my cat from home!
• Snacks you can’t get in Japan
  • While following travel guidelines, I think it’s a great idea to bring snacks or food items from home that are difficult to get in Japan. I brought a massive bottle of ranch and seasonings that I always used to cook with at home. Seasonings and sauces are great to make Japanese food taste a little bit more like home. 
• A small blanket from home
  • If you have space in your luggage or on the flight, this is the item I recommend the most. In my house, we have throw blankets in our living room that have been there for years, and when I came back to my dorm everyday, I had a cozy blanket from my house to snuggle up with.

Some things to do to combat culture shock

• Eat a good comfort meal
  • During the middle of the semester, one of the teachers at JCMU told us that when he gets stressed or overwhelmed, he takes himself out or cooks a nice comfort meal to relax. Saving some extra money to have a good meal every once in a while is something that I found to be very rewarding!
• Start or continue a hobby
  • To save room for essentials in my luggage, I didn’t bring any of my hobbies with me when I went to JCMU. I love doing crafts with friends— crocheting, knitting, jewelry making, etc. One of my friends was a baker at home, and she spent a lot of time cooking in her dorm (and we all stood outside her door with forks and knives begging for a bite).
• Indulge in your niche interests
  • I have an interest in food/beverage pairings and Japanese sake. When I had free time, I would book sake tastings and tours in Kyoto or Osaka to fill the time. When you put a lot of effort into something niche, it gives you the opportunity to put more energy into something that you really enjoy rather than focusing on the more difficult parts of the cultural differences.
• Engage in community
  • Even though you will have your JCMU classmates, it is important to immerse yourself in the local community, rather than simply keeping to your own little bubble. Take the time to make friends at Shiga-dai or Ken-dai through joining a club or going to events. Go to a sporting event. These things can help you to gain a group of friends who can help make the transition easier.

Tips to avoid burnout:

• Get out of the JCMU building!
  • You spend a lot of time in the JCMU academic and dorm buildings, so it’s really important that you get out and explore Japan outside of the JCMU buildings. If you are feeling overwhelmed with classes but still want to study, find a local cafe to study at or lay a blanket down on Matsubara beach!
• Find creative ways to study
  • Studying for hours a day can drain your energy, so find new ways outside of flashcards to practice Japanese! There are many apps and websites available that turn studying into games. Grab your classmates and try to make studying as fun as possible! Watching shows and playing games in Japanese is another way to build comprehension skills without the stress.
• Pace yourself and set goals
  • It’s easy to push yourself really hard in the beginning, but that can cause burnout super quick. I suggest setting weekly goals for yourself in order to keep a solid pace. Creating goals also helps you gauge your progress and identify areas that you may need to spend more time on.

You may want to immerse yourself 100% into Japanese life when you get there, but there is also no shame in taking time to connect with your home. Again, don’t feel ashamed if you feel like you are more homesick than some of your peers, because everybody approaches and experiences studying abroad differently.