[JBaymore]

Just got back from 2 months there.

Legal employment in Japan can be a difficult situation for a gaikokujin. USUALLY, you already have a job before you get there...and a company/person that is sort of "sponsoring" you in this endeavor. The US JET program does not require passing Japanese language tests at all, I believe. But I would imagine that a LOT of other jobs would require that pretty much up front.

As to your more short term trip, it is VERY easy to spend money in Japan in oh so many ways. So if you are really scrimping to pull this off...... you might get yourself in trouble easily. Or get totally frustrated.

And it is no longer really a wise thing to think of 100,000 円 = $1000 US Dollars if you are from the USA. The exchange rate is worse than that now and it is showing no signs of getting much better anytime soon. That is an easy way to spend more (in your home currency) than you planned to.

Don't underestimate the cost of "getting around". The subways and trains add up FAST.

best,

...................john