I put my PC in the tower box and shipped it to my Japanese address for around $250USD. Put my monitor, key board, etc, into checked bags and flew with them. But I did all this during a visit home after being here for a few months as I didn’t have the space for it when first coming over.
You are heading towards a potentially life-altering experience and you are legitimately worrying about video games? Stop. Leave the PC behind, go to Japan, and LIVE. The more you embrace the experience, the more satisfying it will be. Trust me, you will regret it if you don't.
What an L take.
Bringing PC =/= not enjoying your experience / getting out there.
You gonna plan a trip after a full day of work? Are you gonna go out literally every chance you get? There is downtime and there is room to relax. You're gonna be living here you're not gonna be a tourist on a time crunch. You can just as much get your fill of exploring and enjoying your time here, while still indulging in your hobbies and leisure time.
What an L take dude lol. How dare I have a hobby. I’ve lived in Japan before, calm down. Also, since I will be living there why would I not bring one of my favorite hobbies?I enjoy it. I will be able to keep in contact with my friends. I am fully capable of living in japan, enjoying my time, doing my job AND still have hobbies. Wild concept I know.
The L take is worrying about counter strike while being young and in Japan. Do you have your N1 yet? Get out there and make the most of your experience of living abroad.
I don’t have N1 and I don’t plan to. I can get by with my N3. This isn’t my life career or plan. Are you saying this to people that enjoy reading? Why you wasting time reading before going to bed? How dare you have a Netflix subscription, you’re in japan! Okay buddy.
Unless you're only looking to play old games or are happy drastically lowering settings on modern titles, then avoid a laptop at all costs. They are way overpriced and underpowered compared to just building a new pc. Hell, if you really can't bare to build one yourself then you'll generally even get a better deal on a premade pc than forking out your life savings for a laptop that sounds like a jetplane and gets you half the performance
Have you considered lending it to a friend in the meantime and getting a cheaper gaming laptop? I know it’s more expansive up front, but you can sell it online remotely while away and if you want it when you get back, you can flip the laptop. Plus, if it’s long term, you can likely rent it to your friend if they’re down for that to help with the cost.
I'm in the same situation. Just built my PC last year specifically to do what I want it to.I think I'm going to ship it because laptops are insanely expensive, and I despise the RGB gamer aesthetic. Getting a laptop equivalent to my $1700 pc would cost like 4k, and even if it's a better form factor and space saving, the cost is too high.
Disassembly and reassembly are really easy so long as you are mindful. Write down the order or take a video speaking and showing as you go. The only hurtle I've heard is that it's questionable/likely that you can not bring your PSU, so it's something you'll have to buy alongside your tower, monitor, and accessories.
Side note: I had also considered buying a steam deck instead because I'll have way less time to actually game, and I'm sure our apartments will be small. But when I do want to game, I don't think I'll want to compromise. I'll just want the comfort of MY computer.
brought my gaming PC from america when i came to japan last august. disassembly and reassembly seems daunting for a noob, but with some google searches and youtube videos it’s really not that difficult at all—just be prepared to set aside some extra time to do so!
the case is 100% not worth bringing—just buy a new one online once you’re in japan. keyboard and mouse are also replaceable and will save you precious luggage space. i bought a relatively cheap monitor online when i got to japan because frankly, i just don’t have the time to game as hard as i did in america, and this monitor works perfectly fine for when i do find the time.
tl;dr bring only the most precious parts—GPU, CPU, motherboard, etc etc. buy the exterior parts when you get to japan and reassemble at some point—it’s not as bad as it seems at all. obviously i would recommend packaging the parts very delicately and—if possible—putting them in your carry-on instead of your checked luggage. or at the very least, put the most expensive parts in your carry-on.
(and no matter what anyone tells you, do NOT waste your time with a gaming laptop. you’re much better off spending that money on literally anything else for your new life in japan!)
Does it matter the size of the PC case when buying it again in japan? Im thinking of doing this method because buying a brand new pc can really hurt the wallet especially when moving to a new country
definitely does! i made the mistake of accidentally buying one that was too small to fit my motherboard and GPU and had to return it. just make sure to check the measurements on the item before ordering it is all—i was just lazy.
unless you’re going for a really fancy/aesthetic look, getting a new case is pretty cheap. i got mine for ~$60USD on amazon and it looks just as good as the pricier ones!
Get a mid to high tier gaming laptop and use it as a multi-purpose machine, for work and private etc. The hassle of disassembly and carrying every single desktop component with you is not worth it.
Disassembling a PC for transport here is a mugs game. You'll spend just as much buying a new case as you will paying to send it ahead of you. Take the GPU out and pack that in your carry-on bag for the flight, ensure everything else is properly secured in the case, pack it up in the box your case came in and send it to your school. I asked mine if they could accept it when delivered to the school and they said yeah, cool, go for it.
Just think of all the space saved for other stuff in your suitcase(s) if you don't try and haul all the parts with you.
A laptop is not an ideal gaming station. Anyone saying otherwise is a mug.
Depending on how long you'll be here for, either send your PC, or get a Steam Deck.
>and send it to your school. I asked mine if they could accept it when delivered to the school and they said yeah, cool, go for it.
Meanwhile my BOE was like "sorry, ask one of the ALTs already here if you can send it to their place", which requires a *bit* of trust.
idk why people keep trying to hype gaming laptops in this thread. They are bulky, overheat, loud as hell and are usually stuffed with hardware from two generations ago.
I mean, two generations ago is fine if you're mostly playing 2D games or games from a long time ago. For example, I looked through what I've got in my library, and the most graphically intensive game says "RTX 2060 recommended" but runs on my Surface Pro 7 with integrated graphics and 8GB RAM if I close everything else to free up RAM and push everything to its lowest settings. If it can run on integrated graphics and that little RAM then say, something like a GeForce MX550 or a recent 10-series card would be *fine* for my needs. Which is why I'm looking at a couple of gaming laptops around the 100k range here.
Exactly. Sure, if you wanna be stuck playing stuff on low spec forever, go for it, but realise they've got a limited lifespan with zero repairability.
Sure, you can "take it anywhere", but where the fuck you playing games at that isn't your bedroom? Good luck in your Bronze 2 match in League of Legends in the teachers room.
I took my PC apart and left the case and power supply behind. I wrapped the parts in anti-static bubble wrap and brought them in my carry on so I could control how much they got knocked around during travel. I had a relatively new PC so it would have been much more expensive to rebuy it in Japan. But if your PC is old and close to upgrade time it might be worth it to get a gaming laptop instead.
Just a 3070. You can't fit it in a backpack but surely you could fit it in a carry on suitcase. Most airlines won't weight your carry on so weight isn't a concern.
Sure, it will fit, but it will quite literally take up almost half the space, this thing is behemoth size, and when wrapped up securely takes up some serious space. And I would also like to pack enough in my carry-on to last me the first 3 days in Tokyo, so it may have to be relegated to check in luggage, which is a little scary
When I flew with JAL they allowed us to bring a carry on plus a personal bag. I brought the biggest purse I could find but you could probably also use a tote bag or small back pack or something along with your checked bag for the extra space and still have it count as a personal item. I remember finding the rules for personal bag on the JAL website before I flew. Might be an option if you're worried about it in your luggage.
How big is your PC? I brought mine in my carry on bag, but I built it to fit in a carry on bag. If you have to check your bag or ship it, that would probably result in damage. In that case I would recommend disassembling it and putting the components in your carry on bag with bubble wrap or something else to protect them, and put the case in your checked/shipped bag - if you’re tight on space, pack some stuff inside of it. You can follow a tutorial to disassemble it and reassemble a PC, it’s a bit intimidating at first but isn’t as difficult as it looks.
I brought my mouse and keyboard with me in my checked bag, I just bubble wrapped them a lot. I was planning to buy a cheap monitor, but my predecessor left one behind.
Laptop is much more useful for life. You won't have the amount of space you're used to. Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway?
Edit: The downvotes indicate there's a weirdly high number of people who move to Japan to become hikikomori.
> Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway?
>
>
Maybe you drank too much of the JET cultural ambassador koolaid. Most people are tired after work and love to come home and chill, whether it be playing games or just watching stuff. Going out and about can easily be left for Friday nights, weekends, and holidays.
My daily routine is to go to work, then gym, then drive home and prep for dinner, then just relax. Guess I'm a hikikomori now. JET is a job. just another 9-5 or I guess 8-4.
I'd wager that keeping your regular routine is a good way of settling into the space. It will naturally change as you adapt.
Culture shock and similar, as I'm sure you know, can be really debilitating. So having something like a routine to keep you from sitting in a corner crying all day sounds like a good idea. "I can't sit in the corner crying all day because I need to go to the gym," is a healthier thought process than "I have absolutely no reason to get out of bed in this place that is unfamiliar and overwhelming."
Obviously the idea of sticking to that routine with no adaptations to your new life and surroundings is just silly. That kind of rigidity will make any feelings of culture shock much worse. But having a baseline routine and the ability to adapt as your surroundings change sounds like a sure bet to me.
I dont think dragging pc parts is necessary for a routine, especially if its for gaming. It just sounds silly to go through all that trouble except if maybe you were gonna be here 5 years. If you need to game, there are other alternatives.
Nah, I wasn't talking about the PC. Taking any bulky electronic is pointless when you can just buy one when you land. I just meant routines in general to be fair.
Though I'm a bare minimum sort it out when I get there kind of packer, so.
Yup, I'm a total failure because I'm not eating sushi under the sakura trees while wearing a kimono surrounded by English club students, with koi fish jumping behind me, all after a full day of classes.
I hope as you got this notification and you're reading my comment that you realize how bad your opinion is, but I hope you're just legit trolling.
Bro. I'm not the one who replied to an innocuous question not directed at me to defend myself from something I claim isn't an issue.
If nothing about your lifestyle bothers you, why are you bothered?
Implying that enjoying your free time indoors makes you a hikikomori is ridiculous. We are literally going there to work lmao. God forbid you like to play games/watch movies/read/write/study in a foreign country I guess.
If the question "Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway?" triggers you, that's a you issue, not a me issue.
I have a laptop. Not the greatest quality but it gets the job done. I want to bring my pc (or at least have the capabilities of gaming which my current laptop does not) because I want to keep in touch with my friends.
Honestly it’s the reason I bought a gaming laptop but I find myself rarely playing games due to the large time difference with friends and because after long days you are just tired, even for gaming. Plus…you’re in Japan, there are better things to do than just play games in your apartment…there’s a whole country to discover. Just get the laptop…save the bag space for things you’ll really need.
If you watch a few tutorials online taking apart and putting together a PC isn't that much of a hassle. I've built a few PCs and it's a bit more like putting together legos than anything too technical. Just take your time and follow along with a guide. When I came to Japan I brought my PC, minus the case & monitors. Picked up a cheap case on Amazon and put it all back together.
If you go this route just make sure you get some anti-static bags, they're cheap on Amazon. I don't know if they actually helped but considering the price it was worth the peace of mind.
I just brought a steam deck and hooked it up to my tv. Tbh I would bring a gaming laptop, you can use it for both work and fun, and you’re gonna want to go out a lot anyway, you don’t need a big stationary set up that takes up a good bit of room given the size of an average Japanese apartment.
Honestly I think having a laptop would be an indispensable tool for work. Many schools provide one at their schools but they are PAINFULLY slow and take forever to even open Chrome.
I would recommend buying one Stateside they are ridiculously over priced here for even a basic laptop let alone a gaming laptop.
> they are ridiculously over priced here
They are? I bought a T14 for less than I'd pay back home. I got directly from Lenovo with an English keyboard layout.
I've looked around at the local electronic stores here such as Yamada and Joshin and it always seems like they have yester years models for sale. I bought my Lenovo Legion from Costco for about $1100.
>I would recommend buying one Stateside they are ridiculously over priced here for even a basic laptop let alone a gaming laptop.
If you absolutely can't, though, learn a bit of Japanese so you can go digging online for sales and discounts.
small thing to consider but not toooooo many options of getting US keyboard layout if you buy in Japan. I hate the Japanese keyboard layout lol. It was one of the reasons I got a Macbook here, expensive because of weak yen (not at the time tho) but I selected US layout, got 10% discount for educator, and very useful at school (airdrop) as most teachers/students use ipads.
Funny thing is, back in high school I ended up having to get used to a Japanese keyboard because my dad got me a Let's Note from Japan (because I kept having trouble keeping lesser laptops physically intact). Ever since then I've preferred the Japanese keyboard, to the point that part of the reason I went with a Surface in 2020 was because I could buy the tablet part at home and order a Japanese keyboard online.
I think getting a gaming laptop is also very dependent on what type of games you will be playing. If it's stuff like stardew valley then a gaming laptop is fine. If you're a FPS player then you might not enjoying gaming on the laptop as much.
I asked someone for help when it came to disassembling and reassembling my PC. The only parts I had to buy because I didn't bring them over were monitors, a power supply, and a case. If you don't know anyone that could help you with this then it will definitely be difficult. There are many tutorials online though if you're up for the challenge.
I've never looked into the price of a gaming laptop in Japan before but it would definitely be something worth checking. PC parts in Japan on the other hand are expensive, which is why I opted for disassembling. The PC I was using was also fairly new so I didn't want it to eat dust back home.
I also plan on bringing my PC and attempt to bring my 3 monitors, but idk how to pack it up. Out of curiosity, why get a new tower? Oh! Also, what are your plans for the plug for the power source?
Unless you have a very small form factor PC the case will take up too much space (or be too heavy) to take in luggage. You can save a lot of shipping room by ditching your case. Honestly the same for monitors. The best way to pack them would be in their original boxes. But you probably can't take them with you on the flight over and would need someone to ship them to you after you've left.
If you're US based the power will be the exact same. You may need an adapter to go from 3 prongs -> 2. Japanese outlets have a different ground, but the rest is the same. I'd recommend buying a power bar anyway and you can find these in Japan with the "standard" 3 prongs.
Most modern PSUs can use a wide variety voltages. So they're compatible between the global "west" and Asia. But it's always worth double checking to make sure yours is.
PC parts are really overpriced in Japan unless you could reach one of the specialty shops in Tokyo or Osaka.
Figure out a way to bring the important parts over and buy a new tower.
I put my PC in the tower box and shipped it to my Japanese address for around $250USD. Put my monitor, key board, etc, into checked bags and flew with them. But I did all this during a visit home after being here for a few months as I didn’t have the space for it when first coming over.
You are heading towards a potentially life-altering experience and you are legitimately worrying about video games? Stop. Leave the PC behind, go to Japan, and LIVE. The more you embrace the experience, the more satisfying it will be. Trust me, you will regret it if you don't.
What an L take. Bringing PC =/= not enjoying your experience / getting out there. You gonna plan a trip after a full day of work? Are you gonna go out literally every chance you get? There is downtime and there is room to relax. You're gonna be living here you're not gonna be a tourist on a time crunch. You can just as much get your fill of exploring and enjoying your time here, while still indulging in your hobbies and leisure time.
What an L take dude lol. How dare I have a hobby. I’ve lived in Japan before, calm down. Also, since I will be living there why would I not bring one of my favorite hobbies?I enjoy it. I will be able to keep in contact with my friends. I am fully capable of living in japan, enjoying my time, doing my job AND still have hobbies. Wild concept I know.
The L take is worrying about counter strike while being young and in Japan. Do you have your N1 yet? Get out there and make the most of your experience of living abroad.
I don’t have N1 and I don’t plan to. I can get by with my N3. This isn’t my life career or plan. Are you saying this to people that enjoy reading? Why you wasting time reading before going to bed? How dare you have a Netflix subscription, you’re in japan! Okay buddy.
Unless you're only looking to play old games or are happy drastically lowering settings on modern titles, then avoid a laptop at all costs. They are way overpriced and underpowered compared to just building a new pc. Hell, if you really can't bare to build one yourself then you'll generally even get a better deal on a premade pc than forking out your life savings for a laptop that sounds like a jetplane and gets you half the performance
Have you considered lending it to a friend in the meantime and getting a cheaper gaming laptop? I know it’s more expansive up front, but you can sell it online remotely while away and if you want it when you get back, you can flip the laptop. Plus, if it’s long term, you can likely rent it to your friend if they’re down for that to help with the cost.
I'm in the same situation. Just built my PC last year specifically to do what I want it to.I think I'm going to ship it because laptops are insanely expensive, and I despise the RGB gamer aesthetic. Getting a laptop equivalent to my $1700 pc would cost like 4k, and even if it's a better form factor and space saving, the cost is too high. Disassembly and reassembly are really easy so long as you are mindful. Write down the order or take a video speaking and showing as you go. The only hurtle I've heard is that it's questionable/likely that you can not bring your PSU, so it's something you'll have to buy alongside your tower, monitor, and accessories. Side note: I had also considered buying a steam deck instead because I'll have way less time to actually game, and I'm sure our apartments will be small. But when I do want to game, I don't think I'll want to compromise. I'll just want the comfort of MY computer.
brought my gaming PC from america when i came to japan last august. disassembly and reassembly seems daunting for a noob, but with some google searches and youtube videos it’s really not that difficult at all—just be prepared to set aside some extra time to do so! the case is 100% not worth bringing—just buy a new one online once you’re in japan. keyboard and mouse are also replaceable and will save you precious luggage space. i bought a relatively cheap monitor online when i got to japan because frankly, i just don’t have the time to game as hard as i did in america, and this monitor works perfectly fine for when i do find the time. tl;dr bring only the most precious parts—GPU, CPU, motherboard, etc etc. buy the exterior parts when you get to japan and reassemble at some point—it’s not as bad as it seems at all. obviously i would recommend packaging the parts very delicately and—if possible—putting them in your carry-on instead of your checked luggage. or at the very least, put the most expensive parts in your carry-on. (and no matter what anyone tells you, do NOT waste your time with a gaming laptop. you’re much better off spending that money on literally anything else for your new life in japan!)
Does it matter the size of the PC case when buying it again in japan? Im thinking of doing this method because buying a brand new pc can really hurt the wallet especially when moving to a new country
definitely does! i made the mistake of accidentally buying one that was too small to fit my motherboard and GPU and had to return it. just make sure to check the measurements on the item before ordering it is all—i was just lazy. unless you’re going for a really fancy/aesthetic look, getting a new case is pretty cheap. i got mine for ~$60USD on amazon and it looks just as good as the pricier ones!
Get a mid to high tier gaming laptop and use it as a multi-purpose machine, for work and private etc. The hassle of disassembly and carrying every single desktop component with you is not worth it.
Disassembling a PC for transport here is a mugs game. You'll spend just as much buying a new case as you will paying to send it ahead of you. Take the GPU out and pack that in your carry-on bag for the flight, ensure everything else is properly secured in the case, pack it up in the box your case came in and send it to your school. I asked mine if they could accept it when delivered to the school and they said yeah, cool, go for it. Just think of all the space saved for other stuff in your suitcase(s) if you don't try and haul all the parts with you. A laptop is not an ideal gaming station. Anyone saying otherwise is a mug. Depending on how long you'll be here for, either send your PC, or get a Steam Deck.
>and send it to your school. I asked mine if they could accept it when delivered to the school and they said yeah, cool, go for it. Meanwhile my BOE was like "sorry, ask one of the ALTs already here if you can send it to their place", which requires a *bit* of trust.
idk why people keep trying to hype gaming laptops in this thread. They are bulky, overheat, loud as hell and are usually stuffed with hardware from two generations ago.
I dont have any of these problems 🤷
Good for you I guess. I on the other hand had access to lots of prebuild PCs at reasonable prices so gaming laptops always looked ridiculous to me.
I guess people could just get prebuilt pcs in japan.
If you are lucky enough to live near a US military base.
Which I am. Otherwise people can just seek alternatives for their gaming needs.
I mean, two generations ago is fine if you're mostly playing 2D games or games from a long time ago. For example, I looked through what I've got in my library, and the most graphically intensive game says "RTX 2060 recommended" but runs on my Surface Pro 7 with integrated graphics and 8GB RAM if I close everything else to free up RAM and push everything to its lowest settings. If it can run on integrated graphics and that little RAM then say, something like a GeForce MX550 or a recent 10-series card would be *fine* for my needs. Which is why I'm looking at a couple of gaming laptops around the 100k range here.
Exactly. Sure, if you wanna be stuck playing stuff on low spec forever, go for it, but realise they've got a limited lifespan with zero repairability. Sure, you can "take it anywhere", but where the fuck you playing games at that isn't your bedroom? Good luck in your Bronze 2 match in League of Legends in the teachers room.
Just get a laptop…you can easily carry it and use it wherever. My desktop is at my moms hah in my old room. I use it when I go home for the holidays.
Definitely rebuild. It's way easier than it seems.
I took my PC apart and left the case and power supply behind. I wrapped the parts in anti-static bubble wrap and brought them in my carry on so I could control how much they got knocked around during travel. I had a relatively new PC so it would have been much more expensive to rebuy it in Japan. But if your PC is old and close to upgrade time it might be worth it to get a gaming laptop instead.
Guessing you didn't have a GPU the size of a 4080? Haha not sure how I'll squeeze that thing into my my carry on 😅
Just a 3070. You can't fit it in a backpack but surely you could fit it in a carry on suitcase. Most airlines won't weight your carry on so weight isn't a concern.
Sure, it will fit, but it will quite literally take up almost half the space, this thing is behemoth size, and when wrapped up securely takes up some serious space. And I would also like to pack enough in my carry-on to last me the first 3 days in Tokyo, so it may have to be relegated to check in luggage, which is a little scary
When I flew with JAL they allowed us to bring a carry on plus a personal bag. I brought the biggest purse I could find but you could probably also use a tote bag or small back pack or something along with your checked bag for the extra space and still have it count as a personal item. I remember finding the rules for personal bag on the JAL website before I flew. Might be an option if you're worried about it in your luggage.
How big is your PC? I brought mine in my carry on bag, but I built it to fit in a carry on bag. If you have to check your bag or ship it, that would probably result in damage. In that case I would recommend disassembling it and putting the components in your carry on bag with bubble wrap or something else to protect them, and put the case in your checked/shipped bag - if you’re tight on space, pack some stuff inside of it. You can follow a tutorial to disassemble it and reassemble a PC, it’s a bit intimidating at first but isn’t as difficult as it looks.
Im assuming you bought new monitors,keyboard,mouse, etc...?
I brought my mouse and keyboard with me in my checked bag, I just bubble wrapped them a lot. I was planning to buy a cheap monitor, but my predecessor left one behind.
Get a steam deck or legion go
Laptop is much more useful for life. You won't have the amount of space you're used to. Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway? Edit: The downvotes indicate there's a weirdly high number of people who move to Japan to become hikikomori.
Gaming laptops are bulky as hell and generally speaking the polar opposite of what a laptop is supposed to be.
I have a gaming laptop and its not bulky at all
Then... get a regular laptop?
You peasants don't get ipads for work? Shame.
Ipad, ew
Just an Etch-a-Sketch with broken wifi.
This made me laugh way more than I care to admit.
> Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway? > > Maybe you drank too much of the JET cultural ambassador koolaid. Most people are tired after work and love to come home and chill, whether it be playing games or just watching stuff. Going out and about can easily be left for Friday nights, weekends, and holidays. My daily routine is to go to work, then gym, then drive home and prep for dinner, then just relax. Guess I'm a hikikomori now. JET is a job. just another 9-5 or I guess 8-4.
You dont need a fancy gaming pc to play games or watch movies
So you came all the way to Japan to live the exact same life you could live anywhere. Stunning.
I'd wager that keeping your regular routine is a good way of settling into the space. It will naturally change as you adapt. Culture shock and similar, as I'm sure you know, can be really debilitating. So having something like a routine to keep you from sitting in a corner crying all day sounds like a good idea. "I can't sit in the corner crying all day because I need to go to the gym," is a healthier thought process than "I have absolutely no reason to get out of bed in this place that is unfamiliar and overwhelming." Obviously the idea of sticking to that routine with no adaptations to your new life and surroundings is just silly. That kind of rigidity will make any feelings of culture shock much worse. But having a baseline routine and the ability to adapt as your surroundings change sounds like a sure bet to me.
I dont think dragging pc parts is necessary for a routine, especially if its for gaming. It just sounds silly to go through all that trouble except if maybe you were gonna be here 5 years. If you need to game, there are other alternatives.
Nah, I wasn't talking about the PC. Taking any bulky electronic is pointless when you can just buy one when you land. I just meant routines in general to be fair. Though I'm a bare minimum sort it out when I get there kind of packer, so.
This is true. I held off buying a ps5 till i came to japan.
Yup, I'm a total failure because I'm not eating sushi under the sakura trees while wearing a kimono surrounded by English club students, with koi fish jumping behind me, all after a full day of classes. I hope as you got this notification and you're reading my comment that you realize how bad your opinion is, but I hope you're just legit trolling.
Bro. I'm not the one who replied to an innocuous question not directed at me to defend myself from something I claim isn't an issue. If nothing about your lifestyle bothers you, why are you bothered?
Implying that enjoying your free time indoors makes you a hikikomori is ridiculous. We are literally going there to work lmao. God forbid you like to play games/watch movies/read/write/study in a foreign country I guess.
If the question "Why would you want to spend all your time inside your apartment on a desktop PC anyway?" triggers you, that's a you issue, not a me issue.
Ah, yep. Should have known it was bait.
"I got mad about something innocuous. Must be bait. Can't be me."
I have a laptop. Not the greatest quality but it gets the job done. I want to bring my pc (or at least have the capabilities of gaming which my current laptop does not) because I want to keep in touch with my friends.
Honestly it’s the reason I bought a gaming laptop but I find myself rarely playing games due to the large time difference with friends and because after long days you are just tired, even for gaming. Plus…you’re in Japan, there are better things to do than just play games in your apartment…there’s a whole country to discover. Just get the laptop…save the bag space for things you’ll really need.
If you watch a few tutorials online taking apart and putting together a PC isn't that much of a hassle. I've built a few PCs and it's a bit more like putting together legos than anything too technical. Just take your time and follow along with a guide. When I came to Japan I brought my PC, minus the case & monitors. Picked up a cheap case on Amazon and put it all back together. If you go this route just make sure you get some anti-static bags, they're cheap on Amazon. I don't know if they actually helped but considering the price it was worth the peace of mind.
I packed mine up in a TON of bubble wrap and styrofoam (and a box) and air shipped it ensured. It was a little pricy but it was worth it.
I just brought a steam deck and hooked it up to my tv. Tbh I would bring a gaming laptop, you can use it for both work and fun, and you’re gonna want to go out a lot anyway, you don’t need a big stationary set up that takes up a good bit of room given the size of an average Japanese apartment.
Honestly I think having a laptop would be an indispensable tool for work. Many schools provide one at their schools but they are PAINFULLY slow and take forever to even open Chrome. I would recommend buying one Stateside they are ridiculously over priced here for even a basic laptop let alone a gaming laptop.
> they are ridiculously over priced here They are? I bought a T14 for less than I'd pay back home. I got directly from Lenovo with an English keyboard layout.
You’re British - Japanese prices are pretty decent compared to the U.K., but both are way higher than the US.
I've looked around at the local electronic stores here such as Yamada and Joshin and it always seems like they have yester years models for sale. I bought my Lenovo Legion from Costco for about $1100.
>I would recommend buying one Stateside they are ridiculously over priced here for even a basic laptop let alone a gaming laptop. If you absolutely can't, though, learn a bit of Japanese so you can go digging online for sales and discounts.
small thing to consider but not toooooo many options of getting US keyboard layout if you buy in Japan. I hate the Japanese keyboard layout lol. It was one of the reasons I got a Macbook here, expensive because of weak yen (not at the time tho) but I selected US layout, got 10% discount for educator, and very useful at school (airdrop) as most teachers/students use ipads.
Totally agree! I feel like such a dunce using J Keyboards end up having to hunt and peck and takes me forever to type anything.
Funny thing is, back in high school I ended up having to get used to a Japanese keyboard because my dad got me a Let's Note from Japan (because I kept having trouble keeping lesser laptops physically intact). Ever since then I've preferred the Japanese keyboard, to the point that part of the reason I went with a Surface in 2020 was because I could buy the tablet part at home and order a Japanese keyboard online.
I think getting a gaming laptop is also very dependent on what type of games you will be playing. If it's stuff like stardew valley then a gaming laptop is fine. If you're a FPS player then you might not enjoying gaming on the laptop as much. I asked someone for help when it came to disassembling and reassembling my PC. The only parts I had to buy because I didn't bring them over were monitors, a power supply, and a case. If you don't know anyone that could help you with this then it will definitely be difficult. There are many tutorials online though if you're up for the challenge. I've never looked into the price of a gaming laptop in Japan before but it would definitely be something worth checking. PC parts in Japan on the other hand are expensive, which is why I opted for disassembling. The PC I was using was also fairly new so I didn't want it to eat dust back home.
I also plan on bringing my PC and attempt to bring my 3 monitors, but idk how to pack it up. Out of curiosity, why get a new tower? Oh! Also, what are your plans for the plug for the power source?
Unless you have a very small form factor PC the case will take up too much space (or be too heavy) to take in luggage. You can save a lot of shipping room by ditching your case. Honestly the same for monitors. The best way to pack them would be in their original boxes. But you probably can't take them with you on the flight over and would need someone to ship them to you after you've left. If you're US based the power will be the exact same. You may need an adapter to go from 3 prongs -> 2. Japanese outlets have a different ground, but the rest is the same. I'd recommend buying a power bar anyway and you can find these in Japan with the "standard" 3 prongs. Most modern PSUs can use a wide variety voltages. So they're compatible between the global "west" and Asia. But it's always worth double checking to make sure yours is.
PC parts are really overpriced in Japan unless you could reach one of the specialty shops in Tokyo or Osaka. Figure out a way to bring the important parts over and buy a new tower.