Things you might want to know if you are going to Germany that might be useful to know before you go.

Hello everyone.

I wish I had known about this if I was going to Germany. If I had known earlier, I might have been able to do a little more preliminary research and preparation before my trip. I have written about various things I thought about, including things I wished I had known earlier in my life.

We hope this will be helpful to those who are planning to visit Germany in the future.

Most young people can speak English, but it is safer to learn simple German.

Most young people can speak English, but it is safer to learn simple German.

You should at least learn how to read the alphabet.

To ask for directions, just learn how to read where you want to go!

Surprisingly, there are many times when you have to speak (even in restaurants, if a customer does not greet you, the waiter's attitude will change considerably), so you should learn to greet people and so on.

Gladly, the basic alphabet is the same as the English one, so just hang in there for a bit! You should be able to learn most of it in 30 minutes!

But this also seems to be a regional thing. For example, in Berlin, for example, there are not a few store clerks who speak only English.

It is best to learn a little bit of both English and German.

Google Maps surprisingly not easy to use in Germany / DL the apps that are often used in Germany.

This is very important.

Googlemap, for example, does not even give me the amount of the transportation fee. (This is different from Japan...)

Surprisingly, you need to use a lot of different apps.

Please see our separate article on the application.

Have Apple Pay and credit cards ready.

Apple Pay can solve a surprising number of problems.

For Android, it would be Googlepay.... Anyway, it's very easy (it was easy for me) to set up payment for mobile stuff and prepaid versions of SIM cards if you include something that allows payment settlement on your phone.

Great value tickets and unlimited tickets to all German domestic blunt trains for 50 euros per month.

Purchase bullet train tickets, bus tickets, and other items whose prices fluctuate as far in advance as possible.

The 30 euro ticket I had decided on the day before had jumped to 60 euros at the last minute when I was checking prices for a similar bullet train on the same day.

The euro is so expensive now that if I could save 30 euros, I could eat out or go out somewhere with that money.

The risks of the Shinkansen are 1) it does not depart on time (usually always late unless it is the first train), 2) strikes, etc.

Strikes are always known at least three days before they are scheduled to take place, and you can almost certainly board a train two days in advance if the tickets are still available.

Also, to be honest, if there is a delay, the flight will switch to whatever bullet train you want to take instead of that one, so I think it is safe to buy it.

For example, even if the bullet train was delayed by 30 minutes, if the bullet train that should have left 30 minutes earlier comes at the original boarding time of my bullet train, I can take it.

Stores are basically closed on Sundays, but that doesn't mean you can't go sightseeing.

This is something I have learned in my half-finished German knowledge.

I have been told by many people to be careful because not all stores are open on Sundays, but surprisingly, in many cases, tourist places offer rather good deals because it is Sunday.

Perhaps it is because for Germans, Sunday is not a day to get out of the house, but a concept to spend time at home with family.

You can travel a lot, even on weekends! It is true that many stores will be closed, but the service industry (hotels and cafes) will be open, and some museums and galleries, such as Munich's, can be accessed for only one euro.

You can get almost anything at the supermarket.

In the meantime, if you are in trouble, go to a supermarket. You will surely find what you are looking for.

The places you can find often are;

Tegut, ALDI Super, REWE

Those are. (It seems to vary from region to region)

It may be a good idea to remember the names of the above supermarkets, as Google Map searches for “supermarkets” unexpectedly return results that are not supermarkets, making it difficult to find them.

SIM cards can also be purchased at the supermarket. You can also buy breakfast sandwiches. At any rate, if you are in trouble, go to a supermarket.

A SIM card will work in the EU in almost any country.

The SIM card allows you to use it in the EU in almost any country. I guess you can use it anywhere, especially within the Schengen area.......

In addition, if you have a SIM, you can receive SMS -> it is convenient to receive a call directly and immediately in case of sudden delays, such as on buses!

For example, ALDI TALK, which is developed by ALDIThis Pagesays It can be used in other countries at no additional cost in various countries as shown in the following table.

Surprisingly, you can get all kinds of Japanese food at the Asian markets around there.

After all, it is Germany, and even if you miss Japanese food, you can usually buy what you want to buy.

When I went to Dusseldorf, it was already like Asia there. (I've never been there.)

I feel that even in small regional cities, there is usually an Asian market if you go to the center of the city. This is indeed a developed country!

Of course, they are expensive and not all brands you see in Japan can be changed, but I think you can usually find the material you are looking for. You might even be able to find shiitake mushrooms.

There's usually Wi-Fi there, but sometimes it's a little inconvenient.

I think this is one of the countries in basic Europe where there is relatively more Wi-Fi in the city.

But it is still more convenient to have a SIM card.

Wi-Fi at DB and other local transit systems, including the RMV, is relatively always stable, but sometimes there is a pattern of not being able to connect at certain times of the year (which happened in my case).

It would be useful to have a prepaid SIM card, even if it is a cheap SIM or something similar.

It is surprisingly difficult to find exchange offices, so it is safe to bring Euros from Japan.

I imagine there is only one or so in one town.

Since it is in euros, it might be a good idea if anything to exchange it for cash in Japan.

Basically, it is cashless, but sometimes you have to pay tips in cash. (Tipping is not compulsory nowadays, but it may be required in some places.

PayPal is also recommended as it is quite convenient to have.

Use local shampoo for hard water showers.

The damage to my hair is amazing. Especially coming from Japan, a country with soft water, I feel so.

German water is extremely hard and rich in minerals!

I don't think Japanese shampoo would feel like much of a wash.

Also sold at ALDI and other donkey-like supermarkets.This shampoowas somehow the best for me personally.

ICE(bullet train) and buses are usually delayed by an hour or two, so plan your itinerary well in advance.

Really the app called DB is really useful.

It is usually delayed, so plan your itinerary with some leeway.

The rest is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' “Tabi Regi" Be prepared for sudden service suspension information, such as strikes, by registering!

You will be the first to receive strike information from local embassies in Japanese. No need to worry even if you do not understand the local language or do not have a TV nearby in Japan!

Frequently used mobile applications, for example,this articlePlease take a look separately if you are interested in this information, which is summarized in the following table.

They really say whatever they think and communication is rather easy.

Unlike the reserved Japanese, they say pretty much everything straight out. Good and bad.

On the other hand, in that sense, communication is simple and easy. It is a little different from Japanese culture.

I feel like there is an environment where any person can have an equal discussion (or maybe that is just the environment I was in and not the case in other communities. Please let me know if this is the case in other communities.)

But on the flip side, they will also say negative things straight to your face, so be prepared to have a heart of steel that won't be hurt by what these dangerous people say to you. Opinions are free here. You are free to express your thoughts as you like. Of course, respect is still necessary.

Conclusion

How was the article?

I feel that Germans are similar to Japanese in many ways.

You will surely fall in love with Germany.

For other articles on Germany, see byClicking here.