moving to japan?

Question

me and a friend plan to go to japan in a year, just to go and get some inspiration for my career, and im not sure how much money i should bring like how much is enough is enough to get a 2 bedroom apartment for awhile till we could get jobs or something, because i plan on living there for awhile, probably in toyko, immigration/customs, and visa procedures ect, im not even sure where to start or where to look

Answer 1

☆You've already got lots of great info to help you get started!☆
If you are coming from the USA, you can stay in Japan for 90 days or less WITHOUT a visa. The USA is one of the countries that has a visa exemption arrangement with Japan.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/
If you still have questions you aren't sure of, call one of the Immigration offices. They speak English and will give you the correct info that applies to you.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix3.html#3
If you come to Japan this way and then get a job you will have to LEAVE Japan and then enter again with the proper WORKING visa. This could get expensive. As others already suggested it would be best if you had a job lined up BEFORE you came to Japan. Teaching English is your best bet if you're qualified. Check these sites and see if you're qualified or interested:
http://asiafacts.kingston.net/
http://www.teachinjapan.com/
http://www.aeonet.com/aeon_index.php
http://www.jetprogramme.org/
Money? Bring everything you have AND a credit card. Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live. A '2LDK' will be expensive and the 'first money' you give must be 3 times (or more the amount of the rental fee) in some cases.
This site has some good info:
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/RESIDENT/LIVINGIN/index.htm
You've got many good answers, I hope it will help you before you come to Tokyo. (I've lived here for almost 9 years and I love it!)♡

Answer 2

You can't just up and move to Japan. You have to have a bachelors degree to get a visa and a job. Otherwise, you can visit on your passport for three months and you will have to leave the country and come back, if you are planning to stay. You can go to Japan on your temporary visa and look for a job, but you will still have to leave and come back whether you get a job or not. Also, you will need a boat load of money to rent an apartment. What we call a studio apartment is big in Japan (some people here have bigger closets than some of the apartments there) and they are still a minimum of $600 per month, plus you will have to pay a non-refundable key fee which is anywhere from 50,000-250,000 yen (sometimes more). There's so much you have to do. Do you speak Japanese? If not, where do you plan to work? Are you going to teach English? Do you have a teachnig certificate? It's not as easy as coming to America (the most hated, yet most move to country in the world). Take a lot of time and do some research.

Answer 3

There is a lot of information out there about how to survive the first few months in Tokyo. Do your homework and you will be fine. A coupla points though:

Accomodation
I wouldn't recommend jumping right in and renting an apartment straight away. Try a "Gaijin House" These are basically like a backpackers just for foreigners, usually with twin rooms and share facilities. (ie perfect for you and your friend) There are a couple of good reasons why I'd recommend them... first, they're cheap, and until you're working cheaper is better ! More important though, you'll be sharing with lots of people who have been there longer than you. Every one of those people will have lots of good, up-to-date knowledge about what's going on in your area, Jobs, Parties, cheap eats etc.

Re Money
Tokyo can be deathly expensive. Or it can be super cheap ! Eat local food where possible, and cook at home. Talk with the person who runs your accomodation, or watch where the locals shop. I can honestly feed my family of four for less in Tokyo than I can in Australia ! However much money you can get together will only just be enough !

Locations
There is a lot to Japan other than Tokyo. I've lived in Tokyo and I live in Sapporo now (part-time) I've also been all over Japan for the last 10+ years. I would recommend getting away from Tokyo and trying somewhere like Fukuoka (if you like it warm) or Sapporo (if you ski / snowboard). Lots of work, cruisy lifestyle, just all round better IMO.

Visas
Depending on your age, education and nationality you may be entitled to a Working Holiday Visa. These are far and away the easiest way to get established in Japan - if you are eligible. You might even be eligible for the JET program, which can also be very good.

Overseas Hiring
Lots of companies hire staff in countries like the US, Australia, UK etc, for work in Japan. The reason they do this is because they can't get good people locally (in Japan). Maybe the pay is crap, the conditions poor, or they have a bad reputation. BE VERY VERY WARY of these kinds of companies !

Info
Get a current Lonely Planet Japan, try to find a local Japan society. Take a few language lessons, trawl the net, look at the websites Japan Today and the English language paper The Japan Times. Hell, flick me an email if you want !

Japan is a special country, really quite different from the west in a whole range of ways. In some ways I prefer Japan, in others, the west. I do love both...try not to fall into the trap of judging Japan though. You'll only end up jaded and unhappy.

Answer 4

Spudric & Joriental are right ... you need to get a job BEFORE you come here!!

Or you could register as a student before you come here, but you wouldn't be able to work on a student visa, and they have the right to kick you out if you ask them to change the visa while you're here ... they might NOT, but it's not worth the risk!

Look here;
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html
the work visa categories are near the top, in the first section. The student type visas are in the second section, appropriately titled "(b) Statuses of residence not permitting work"

You should be able to find all the info you need here
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
but if you end up getting a job in the entertainment business, for pity's sake be careful! (The 'entertainment' industry is corrupt and sleazy the whole world over, and Japan is NO exception.)

If you're qualified enough, you should teach English! It's a starting point..!

Maybe someone will come up with suggestions of where you could look for a job ... I have no experience of that because I came here as a spouse of Japanese.

Answer 5

You need a lot of money up-front to rent an apartment in Japan! Up to 6X the monthly rent depending on how "key money" the landlord wants. Probably you should look for a job and let your employer handle the details.

Answer 6

I suggest you find a guarantor first... or try visit the country and then decide later what you gonna do..
if you have japanese friend, to save you money, try homestay ..
it is very expensive to start.. you would need advance payment, etc etc..
I think what they are suggesting are good enough to think first and search before moving...
there are many people out there waiting for a job position..
I know both of you could make it there, but a wise move goes a
long long way..
good luck..

Answer 7

Japan is NOT immigrant country. Not like U.S.
You know, US is melting pot, however, Japan could be said it is soy sauce bottle.It is homogeneous nation.

Basically no one can hire you who entered as tourist. It is illegal.
You better check any job hunt web in your country first. They may help you to get a working permit in Japan.
or come to Japan as language student first, you will be able to get student visa and stay.

check similar questions.

2 bed room rent in Tokyo maybe over $1500/month, of cos depends on where you live.
and you also need 2 month deposit and some additional fees.

Answer 8

bring all money you got.your moving in japan specifically in Tokyo.Tokyo is so expensive.you want a 2 bedroom apartment maybe that will cost you around 100,000yen ($1000) per month. i could suggest that before you search for an apartment search for a job first some company provide housing to their staff in a low rent.

Answer 9

First of all, Tokyo is outrageous. $800 a month. If you get an apartment not in Tokyo, you can easily get one for $400-500. Nothing else other than taxis are outrageous in Tokyo.

Immigration/custons, etc....Call the Japanese Embassy. I had a job ahead of time and it took less than 2 months for me to get my visa. Try to get that ahead of time.

If you have a university degree you can teach English.

Answer 10

nicely, you need to to boot say screw it to this concept too, via fact it ought to no longer ensue. 4 year degree and a job supply. or you have approximately $a hundred twenty five,000 to $250,000 socked away someplace to pay for college and get a student visa. have they have been given any colleges that instruct any courses in 'certainty' the place you're from? in my opinion i think of the industry is extensive open on that front. very final answer..... PIPE thought.... POP!!! Nope. attempt back. @ Mr. Burns..... Nope, would not even count selection as a pipedream, via fact he's basically thinking approximately it. basically popped into his head this morning. Yep, gonna' take a tub, brush my tooth, perhaps purchase a sparkling style of mouthwash on the pharmacy and, hell, i'm going to think of roughly shifting to Japan. This crap would not even qualify as a pipedream. and you theory it may no longer get any worse! we've got human beings waking up interior the morning and coming up pipe suggestions. attempting to pop those could be like chasing a bubble to pop it..... they only spontaneously pop till you could now get to them. and can't talk a lick of Japan. i replaced into observing That 70's instruct a on a similar time as back and purple replaced into conversing approximately one among his son's friends. He referred to as him "yet another 18 year previous dumbass".