[Daniel]

Thanks for all the replies Nyororin. So basically life will be much easier for a foreigner, like myself, over there if I can speak a little or basic Japanese (at least enough to hold an average conversation). In that case I'll try my best and work hard on learning as much Japanese as I can before I come over.
Also just one more question. About permanent residency. You are married to a Japanese man (so you got residency that way) , so marrying a Japanese person seems the most simple way to get it. But how long must one stay in Japan to get permanent residency or citizenship without marrying a Japanese?
Tyler. I once read on another site about a guy who went to Japan, first teaching English for about a year, and then after a year he was settled (house etc.) he also took Japanese lessons throughout the year in his spare time. So after being there for a year he could speak good Japanese and had a house etc. So he then got a normal non English teaching job. It seems that is also not a bad way to do things. I.e getting a english teaching job and once you're settled getting another non Japanese job.