Health and Safety
General Safety
Medical Resources and Links
Disaster Preparedness
Emergency and Evacuation Resources
Emergency Supplies Checklist
Getting in Contact
Disaster Preparedness Handbook
Social Health Insurance
JET Accident Insurance
Mental Health
Sexual Health
Medication
Alcohol Abuse
Immigration
Status of Residence "Visa" (All 3rd Year JETs)
Travelling Abroad
Residence Administrative Procedures
Leaving JET Immigration Procedures
Important Documents
Money
Japanese Taxes
Home Country Taxes
Teaching Resources
Lesson Plans
Video Resources
Online Teaching Journals
Studying Japanese
Japanese Class
Self-Study
Category:
Kana
Kanji
Vocabulary
Grammar
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
JLPT Prep
Resource Type:
Applications/Programs
Books
Websites
Leaving JETs
Important Documents
Immigration - Status of Residence "VISA"
Return Airfare
Moving Checklist
Shipping and Forwarding Services
Selling/Disposing Your Belongings
Sending Luggage to the Airport
Pension Refund
Procedure A
Procedure B
Working After JET
Reverse Culture Shock
JET AA
Useful Links
General Safety
Medical Resources and Links
Disaster Preparedness
Emergency and Evacuation Resources
Emergency Supplies Checklist
Getting in Contact
Disaster Preparedness Handbook
Social Health Insurance
JET Accident Insurance
Mental Health
Sexual Health
Medication
Alcohol Abuse
Immigration
Status of Residence "Visa" (All 3rd Year JETs)
Travelling Abroad
Residence Administrative Procedures
Leaving JET Immigration Procedures
Important Documents
Money
Japanese Taxes
Home Country Taxes
Teaching Resources
Lesson Plans
Video Resources
Online Teaching Journals
Studying Japanese
Japanese Class
Self-Study
Category:
Kana
Kanji
Vocabulary
Grammar
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
JLPT Prep
Resource Type:
Applications/Programs
Books
Websites
Leaving JETs
Important Documents
Immigration - Status of Residence "VISA"
Return Airfare
Moving Checklist
Shipping and Forwarding Services
Selling/Disposing Your Belongings
Sending Luggage to the Airport
Pension Refund
Procedure A
Procedure B
Working After JET
Reverse Culture Shock
JET AA
Useful Links
Sexual health
Attitudes towards sex and sexuality in Japan are likely very different to your home country. It is inappropriate to discuss sexual issues at work (whether you are an AET at a school or a CIR in an office). Just make sure you are informed both of the general mindset of people around you, and of services available to you nearby so you can stay comfortable and safe! Remember you are under no obligation to reveal anything about yourself to anyone - stand firm to your limits, whatever they may be.
Condoms
Condoms are available to buy at most places that sell essentials, such as supermarkets, drug stores (薬局 yakkyoku), and convenience (combini) stores Drug stores will probably have the cheapest condoms on offer, with combini prices probably being the highest. Big stores like Don Quixote (ドンキホーテ), with multiple branches in Kyoto City, one in Uji and one in Fukuchiyama also stock condoms at reasonable prices and may have a larger range. Some JETs get condoms sent from home or buy them online from specific websites or quite easily on Amazon. Female condoms are sold under the name MyFemy.
Other forms of contraception
The pill (経口避妊薬 keikouhininyaku or just ピル piru) is fairly easy to obtain but requires a monthly prescription after a short consultation with the doctor and is a lower dose than what you might find in other countries. It is relatively unpopular in Japan compared to other forms of birth control. The pill is not covered by your national medical insurance (although your consultation is), and costs about 2,000-3,000 yen per month. If you are importing any medication, including the pill from your home country, make sure you follow the correct medication import procedures. You could land yourself in a lot of trouble by failing to do this!
Emergency contraception (morning-after pill) (緊急避妊ピル kinkyuuhininpiru) is considered unsafe by a lot of doctors in Japan so may be slightly harder to get than you expect. Again, it is not covered by your national medical insurance and costs about 10,000-20,000 yen. Not all hospitals and clinics offer this, so make sure to ring up before you go to make sure. This pill only really works within 72 hours so hurry! Click here for a detailed map of hospitals and clinics in and around Kyoto.
Pregnancy
Home pregnancy tests are available to buy at any drug store. If you are pregnant, you must register your pregnancy at your municipal office, where you will receive a Mother and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳 boshikenkou techou), which you must take with you to any visits to the doctor.
Condoms
Condoms are available to buy at most places that sell essentials, such as supermarkets, drug stores (薬局 yakkyoku), and convenience (combini) stores Drug stores will probably have the cheapest condoms on offer, with combini prices probably being the highest. Big stores like Don Quixote (ドンキホーテ), with multiple branches in Kyoto City, one in Uji and one in Fukuchiyama also stock condoms at reasonable prices and may have a larger range. Some JETs get condoms sent from home or buy them online from specific websites or quite easily on Amazon. Female condoms are sold under the name MyFemy.
Other forms of contraception
The pill (経口避妊薬 keikouhininyaku or just ピル piru) is fairly easy to obtain but requires a monthly prescription after a short consultation with the doctor and is a lower dose than what you might find in other countries. It is relatively unpopular in Japan compared to other forms of birth control. The pill is not covered by your national medical insurance (although your consultation is), and costs about 2,000-3,000 yen per month. If you are importing any medication, including the pill from your home country, make sure you follow the correct medication import procedures. You could land yourself in a lot of trouble by failing to do this!
Emergency contraception (morning-after pill) (緊急避妊ピル kinkyuuhininpiru) is considered unsafe by a lot of doctors in Japan so may be slightly harder to get than you expect. Again, it is not covered by your national medical insurance and costs about 10,000-20,000 yen. Not all hospitals and clinics offer this, so make sure to ring up before you go to make sure. This pill only really works within 72 hours so hurry! Click here for a detailed map of hospitals and clinics in and around Kyoto.
Pregnancy
Home pregnancy tests are available to buy at any drug store. If you are pregnant, you must register your pregnancy at your municipal office, where you will receive a Mother and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳 boshikenkou techou), which you must take with you to any visits to the doctor.