Thinking about living in Japan

So, I've considering living in Japan. Not anytime soon, but one day when I have enough money saved up to do it. Basically I have a few questions, some have been answered here but I figured I would get some new answers since the thread I read was from 8 frickin years ago. Anyway, this is what I'm wondering

Should I be employed while in Japan, or will saving a large amount of cash suffice? I plan on living there for around 4 months probably.

Do people often speak English? Again this was answered but I'm wondering now.

Should I have a car?

Is it rude to carry a camera with me most of the time? If I take video on the streets of Japan with a lot of people, like in that situation.

How much money would be sufficient to live there for 4 months, not including any game buying I'll be doing.

Anything else that's important?

Thanks guys.

 

Well depending were you come from a tourist visa will allow you to "visit" up to 90 days, to work in japan you either need a working holiday visa (if available) or for long term stays a degree or years of experience in a field of work and in most cases a job already lined up before you go. From the sounds of it you have never visited japan before, so from personal experience i would take a holiday there first.

As for your other questions, english generally isn't spoken much - in tourist places and places where a lot of foreigners go you will find some but don't expect to. People might understand written english more but once again don't rely on it.

Transportation, well if you stay in the cities you shouldn't need your own car, trains and buses are excellent in japan.

Carrying a camera around will seem a bit stange, i usually just have it in my backpack and whip it out when i need it.

money will depend on how tight a budget you want to keep, after you pay for hotel/apartment i budget for £100/$150 a day for food, transport and spending money and that usually works fine for me.

 

Back in November 1999 I came to Japan with 3000 pounds and lived on that for 3 months without careful spending. That was a lot of money back then.

Of course not. Most of Japanese don't speak English and even ones that do aren't that good most of the time.

In Tokyo you probably won't need one.

I wouldn't have thought so. I do it and so do a few other members here not to mention Japanese are always taking pictures of everything with their phones.

No idea but as I said in 1999 I used 3000 pounds. No idea what that would be in todays money or even what currency you use.

Hmm, nothing that isn't in the many other threads I would have thought.

 

Everything you think you know about Japan.....

is WRONG

 

I have a hand strap on my DSLR, so instead of it hanging around my neck, it's in my right hand at all times. I'm 6'3" and even Japanese people say I look like Jesus, and they don't even know who the fuck that is. To say the least, I already stick out without the camera. I'd say it's safe to carry one around.

Depends on where the yen goes. It's really strong now and has defied economic theory for years now. Some people say it will finally weaken this year -- including the new PM who is trying to print money at the BOJ. So, it really is a question mark. Generally I would assume somewhere around 60,000 yen a month for a cheap guest house, and depending on how shitty you want to eat, at least 80,000 yen a month for food. 15,000 for transportation (in the city only) if you don't have a bicycle. This is all living rather humbly, mind you.

 

Some points to think over:
- Tourist visa is 90 days
- Japanese economy is in a downturn and it is very difficult to get a decent job at the moment especially if you aren't in Japan
- 99.9% of locals will not understand your English
- Owning a car requires securing a parking spot first which is on average $500/month in the city and also obtaining a local driver's license as the international one from the US is worthless, a US license is worthless too
- Japan does not produce or import toothpaste and deodorant that you will likely prefer so bring plenty of your favorite brand
- Unless you're a baller, you will be living much more frugally than where you live now
- Finding a decent place to live in will be difficult as you will not be employed and have no one to guarantee you

 

The toothpaste is livable. The deodorant is a fucking joke.

 

They sell colgate and aquafresh down here. That's what I use.

 

Yakumo, how did you get to work in Japan? You just moved from UK and thought to find a job or got one when still being in the UK?

 

I am a Crest man

 

Colgate, here. Just ran out. Figured I'd have been back in the states by now for work, but haven't.

Moving here and finding work is 100x easier, but that was in the late 90's when there was still some shred of hope. It has slowly gotten more difficult with the ailing economy, and may not be that feasible... even as a native English speaker that has teaching English to fall back on. For non-teaching jobs you're going up against people that are somewhat bilingual. Immigrating is definitely tougher these days.

 

He runs a Brothel franchise the largest is located in Shibuya.

 

I give that a 3. I'll go 4 if you fix the grammatical errors.

 

Oh wow, I had forgotten all about Crest. We had that in the UK.

I came over with 4000 pounds (or was it 3000 pounds???) with the plan of having a crazy ass great time. I met a girl, got a part time job as a waiter in a stake restaurant then became an ALT before becoming what I am now. As GaijinPunch said, this was back in the late 90's. Things were easier back then than they are now.

He can't, he's been banned again

 

What did he do this time?

 

I guess it was because of his comments in that thread about the girl getting all t he Saturn games. He was basically calling her a ugly bitch and so on. no need for that even if she wasn't that attractive. Each to their own mind you.

 

Wow really? Can someone actually make the ban permanent this time?

 

Christmas was last month, dude.

 

Aren't there entire websites dedicated to answering these sorts of questions? No offence to the OP, as I don't know what they are, myself. But there should be huge amounts of resources (especially in the TESL communities) for Japanese expats/etc.

 

I prefer to get personalized and current feedback
I have started so many threads asking the forum guys for advice on how to do this and that and their experiences.

Sure I look online at other sites but to get personalized feedback that answers exactly what's asked I like to get it from people I relatively know



Should I be employed while in Japan, or will saving a large amount of cash suffice? I plan on living there for around 4 months probably.
MOST visas allow a stay for 3 months (90 days) and you can extend it if you like it (I had a friend who did this) or pop over to Korea and back for another 3 months.
Getting short term employment is difficult to do and not legal (cash in hand).

Note that if you are from the following countries you can get 6 months

Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and United Kingdom (UK citizens only)

Do people often speak English? Again this was answered but I'm wondering now.
Not so many people speak english but its not totally zero.
Younger people seem to be picking up english more and more and if you are in Tokyo its much easier than elsewhere, though generally people in Tokyo might not give you the time of day if you try speaking to them in English. You can learn a few very basic words such as "PLACE ikitai. Doyatte ikimasu ka?" Which is just really short and to the point way of asking I want to go to PLACE how do I go. Add "sumimasen" which means excuse me to the start of your sentence.
If you are going somewhere specific bring map/show pictures at least a name - it usually helps.
Combine it with a electronic dictionary such as the 'imawa?' app on iphone and you will be good to go

Should I have a car?
If you plan to travel around Japan leisurely you can rent a car and this is a pleasant way of doing it - expect to get lost sometimes but thats half the fun right?
If you are just in Tokyo and plan to train other to places then there is no need for a car though I will say the costs for travel add up.
Sometimes you can hitchhike by the way.

You can also get the Japan rail pass as you are a foreigner (get it before you enter the country) which for a week or two or more, gives you unlimited travel on certain trains so you can explore the country.

http://www.japan-rail-pass.com/

Is it rude to carry a camera with me most of the time? If I take video on the streets of Japan with a lot of people, like in that situation.
No, don't worry about it. Japanese love taking pictures

How much money would be sufficient to live there for 4 months, not including any game buying I'll be doing.
This is a tough one, you can burn through money so quickly and the exchange rate is quite bad
Maybe you can refer to this guide
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2410.html

Hostels you can get for about 2000 yen a night
Food...cheap is about 300yen (combini/corner shop cheap bento) , snacks say 100 to 200 yen, in cheap restaurant from 600 yen -1000 yen in fairly low budget place.
Then you consider travel costs
You can also try couch surfing......I have heard it done

Anything else that's important?

Not particularly - just bring money
And make sure your country doesnt need a visa to enter Japan

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/visa.html