Tentative schedule

This trip is going to be awesome! Training, food, culture, activities, and friends. Below is where I will post information regarding our trip. This information is meant to be a helpful resource of things I have found helpful on my previous travels to Japan. My goal is to make sure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience in the land of the rising sun. I will handle most of the arrangements so you can focus on the fun. 

Before we leave for japan there are a few items you should handle to be ready to travel.

1) Passport. Make sure it is not set to expire within 6 months of our travel dates. Some places will deny entry if your passport is set to expire within 6 months of the travel dates. 

2) An international drivers license. This is required to participate in the Go Kart experience. Go to the AAA at  13540 Steelecroft Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28278. Tell them you need an international drivers license. They will take a passport style photo of you, attach it to a small booklet, hand write your license info in the booklet and you are good to go. It takes about 15 minutes and costs around $20. Once you have this, please text me a picture of it. I need it to register you on the experience. 

3) Grab some cash. It's always handy to have a few yen on hand before you land. Your bank typically offers the best conversion rates and can be ordered before you leave. Once we are in Japan, I have found that the ATMs in the 7-11 convenience stores are plentiful and offer competitive rates. The airport is probably the worst place to convert your money to cash.

4) Make sure any medications you might need are on hand. The Japanese health care system is excellent but their rules operate differently than what you might be able to get here in the US. I have found it helpful to go to the Passport Health located at 10801 Johnston Rd STE 127, Charlotte, NC 28226 and pickup a Diarrhea Prevention and Treatment Kit for Travelers which includes antibiotics, electrolytes, and Imodium. The cost is about $58 and great peace of mind. 

5) Check with your cell phone carrier. Verizon for example charges $10/day to use your existing cell phone plan in Japan. Mint mobile however does not offer international service. On prior trips, I ordered a mobile hotspot to be delivered to my hotel. The mobile hotspot allowed me to leave my iphone on airplane mode but still make calls, Facetime, text, use the maps/gps, and browse the internet. I had full functionality using the mobile hotspot for the cost of about $10/day. Since I use Verizon, now I just bring my phone and use it as normal. 

6) I need you to complete the travel waiver before we leave. Come see me to get your travel waiver completed.

Bring no-gi attire for our scheduled morning class with Imanari Sensei. If you want to participate in additional no-gi or gi classes in the available free time, pack accordingly. The Kodokan has rules about using plain white gis. I have arranged rental gis for the group so that you can keep more bag space for souvenirs. You will need to bring a belt to train at the Kodokan. I will need to set up your kyu rank (colored belt) in advance so come speak to me and I'll help place you into colored Judo belt for participation. I will give you a Judo belt you can take with you to Japan. 

Flying Delta airlines. Confirmation #: H7ZMOM Charlotte to Haneda departs at 9:33am on 9/8 and arrives at 4:10pm on 9/9. Haneda to Charlotte departs at 6:25pm on 9/16 from Haneda and arrives at 9:02pm pm 9/16. I recommend using the confirmation number on the airline website or phone app to stay updated on your flight info. 

You can use your record locator information on the Delta site to input your TSA Precheck or flight rewards program information. 

A load of laundry in a hotel washing machine costs about $6. Japanese clothing is typically pretty thin so plan for small laundry loads or extended drying times especially if you bring thicker clothes like jeans.

In Japan, people stand, walk, and lineup to the left. The right lane is reserved for people in a hurry. This is especially helpful for places like escalators and train stations. Follow along.

Public trash cans aren't really a thing there. The expectation is that people will sort and preferably recycle their refuse. So if you buy a drink from a vending machine, expect to carry it back to the hotel if you can't find a public recycling bin.

Japanese toilets are amazing. Play with all the buttons. (I am not responsible for any trauma they may cause)

At the Kodokan, when you step out for a match, you always step with your left foot first. It's weird but its a big deal to them. Left. Foot. First. If you win a match in competition, do not cheer, do not celebrate, do not raise your hand. You will notice the Japanese have a more humble approach to competition than Americans. At the end of your match,  do not turn your back to your opponent. This is a sign of disrespect. Instead, walk backwards off the mat. 

In Japan some of your streaming services may not work. To fix this you can download a free VPN app to trick the service into thinking you are still in the US. This will enable you to watch your netflix/Hulu/Crunchyroll in your downtime.