How to get contacts in Japan

Buying contact lenses in Japan is not as complicated as you think, but when you don't speak Japanese, it would be a disaster. There are some tips you could use when you try to get some.

Things you need:
NHI card or any health insurance card
Contacts (if you have made in your country)






Step 1: Go to the nearest contact lense store
Ask at the counter about making contact lenses (コンタクトレンズ). You will have to have a doctor check your eyes if you are able to wear contacts. You might have to move to a different counter to get checked. Then, you will be asked to show your health insurance card.



Step 2: Getting checked
You will have several eye checks besides doctor's examination by staff. They will test your eyesight by some machine, and then they will try to find the best level for you by an eye chart. 
・Up (ue)
・Down (shita)
・Right (migi)
・Left (hidari)



Step 3: Trial
Upon choosing your contacts, you will get to try several brands. There are One-day, Two-week, One-month and regular contacts. Consider well, and if you can, ask for the recommendation.



Step 4: Payment and Receiving
Pay for the eye examination which is usually no higher than 500 yen. Then,  you will pay for the contact lenses, and you will receive them. Note; sometimes they have to order for your contacts in case they don't have them in stock.

Deodorant in Japan

Not a huge selection

It seems like finding deodorant is not easy in Japan. Maybe for girls, it's not that hard, but for guys there are few selections you can get. I want to make a list of deodorant that you can buy at Japanese pharmacies.

For Girls:

・ Stick (スティック) / Roll-on (ロールオン)

Deonatulle -- Softstone W
8×4 -- Roll-on / Roll-on Mild Type
Ban -- nano ion Deodorant Roll-on
Ag+ -- Deodorant Stick
Rexena -- Dry Shield Powder Stick

・ Spray (スプレー) / Mist (ミスト)
8×4 -- Powder Spray 
8×4 -- Deodorant Essence 
Ban -- nano ion Deodorant Powder Spray
Ag+ -- Powder Spray D

Rexena -- Dry Shield Powder Spray

・ Water/Liquid (リキッド)
8×4 -- Deo Water
SEA BREEZE -- Deo&Water
 


For Guys:

・ Stick (スティック) / Roll-on (ロールオン)

Deonatulle -- Otoko Soft Stone w

8×4 MEN -- Roll-on

GATSBY -- Powder Deodorant Solid

GATSBY -- Biocore Deodorant Roll-on

・ Spray (スプレー) / Mist (ミスト)

8×4 MEN -- Deodorant Spray

AXE -- Fragrance Bodyspray
GATSBY -- Powder Deodorant Spray

・ Water/Liquid (リキッド)
GATSBY -- Deodorant Aqua

Alternative:

・Sheet (シート)

AXE -- Premium Black Sheet

Ban -- Sappari Shower Sheet

Biore -- Sarasara Powder Sheet

GATSBY -- Deodorant Paper

Ag+ -- Clear Shower Sheet

Cereal

Unfortunately, when it comes to cereal, we have such a poor selection of it. Why? Well, first of all, cereal is not a widely loved breakfast food in Japan -- we usually prefer toast or rice. Although it is getting popular, still regular supermarkets don't sell many unlike western countries where they have a whole aisle of cereal. 

Kellogg's seems to be the most famous cereal company in Japan as it is possibly the only company you would be familiar with here. Regarding Japanese brands, Calbee is the biggest. Also, there are some store brands.

What you may find at a regular supermarket:

Normal

・Kellogg's Corn Flakes (sugar free)

・Kellogg's  Frosted Corn Flakes

・Kellogg's Honey Nuts Crunch

・Kellogg's Chocowa

・Kellogg's Choco Crispy

・Kellogg's Pooh-san no Hachimitsu Daisuki

・Calbee Corn Flakes (Normal, Brown Sugar and Chocolate type available)

・Calbee Choco Puffy

Granola

・Kellogg's Granola  (Fruits and Chocolate types available)

・Calbee Fruit Granola
 

Diet
・Kellogg's Genmai Flakes
・Kellogg's All-Bran
・Kellogg's All-Bran Flakes (Normal and Fruits-mix)
・Kellogg's Special K (Red Berries)


Also, there are bar and sandwich type cereal.
Ex: Asahi BALANCEUP series
       Kellogg's Special K series


 

Marugoto Banana

Today, I want to introduce my favourite sweet called "Marugoto Banana" made by Yamazaki Pan. This is a simple sweet, a whole banana covered with whipped cream and rolled by a sponge cake. Surely, it sounds so plain, but it is addictive and tasty for the price which is usually no more than 200 yen. You can get this at convenience stores, super markets and so on.