There are a ton of things that I need to do before I head off to the land of the rising sun…but what are they? Here are some links that have helped me make my list.

JapanNewbie.com has a great article on how to drop everything and move abroad. Here is a summary of his tips:

Get up to speed with the expatriate community. Research clubs and lurk in forums
Get excited about the move – not a problem for me!
Start to learn the language

Blog it Japan has a more comprehensive list that includes the following items:

Pack vs. shipping – ship stuff you may not need immediately
Learn the language – must be good advice!
Save your money – Japan is expensive
Banking – make sure you can access you money and pay your bills back home
Make sure all of your documents are up-to-date, passport, driver’s license, etc…
Eat a lot of your favorite foods before you go – it might be a while before you can have them again!

Both of theses articles offer a little humor and great advice in more detail that I have listed here so check them out.

Here are some things that I will add:

Get a complete physical exam, have your eyes and teeth examined. Confirm that any medications that you take will be available in Japan and ensure that you have enough to cover you until you can figure out how to get more in Japan.

Review your medical coverage and ensure that you have proper coverage for Japan. There are many different options; here is my Google search for international medical coverage. Make sure you read all of the fine print on these policies as they are not the same as the policies that you may have been covered under in the past.

Decide what to do with your mail. Make sure you change your address where applicable and forward your mail to someone you trust to ensure that you haven’t missed any important items. Keep in mind that you can only forward your mail for six months. Here is a link to the US Postal Service where you change your address, forward or hold your mail.

Decide how you will communicate to your family and friends back home (Email, Instant Messaging, Blogging, VOIP, traditional long distance). If you will be using your computer for these things make sure that any software is loaded and working well before you leave. I need to upgrade the RAM on my computer because I added Skype (VOIP program) and a webcam to my system which seems to have slowed it down quite a bit.

If you will be using your credit card check to see if they charge international transaction fees in addition to the foreign exchange rate. This could get quite expensive if you use your card a lot.

If you have a car that you will be keeping check to see if you can reduce the premiums on your car insurance. If it is in storage (not being driven) the savings can be significant.

All of this is a bit overwhelming but I am tackling it piece but piece…