Utilities

[MMM]

May I ask what was wrong with the housing they offered?

You can't work legally, so doing construction isn't going to be feasable. I would look into bartending or hosting. It's discreet, not during the school day, pays cash and no one asks about visas.

[seaghyn]

I decided to get greedy after living in a tiny room cramped with 4 people, 2 bunk beds, no room, shared everything, etc. So I decided that I wanted to try out a single apartment where I'm responsible for everything, and then measure it up when I apply for a University and see if I would choose the dorm or an apartment.

The school does offer rooms for 38,000 a month, plus key money, deposit, etc. Theres nothing wrong with them, it's just that they are shared, and I kind of want to get myself into a single room, as well as out of the flow of foreigners. When you are with foreigners too often, you kind of lose the feeling of being in Japan, and it ends up feeling like a place alot of people go for vacation, instead of a nation all it's own. I really want to see just how another nation, another people lives. But it is to be noted that sometimes foreigners know more about places to go than the citizens. (not true for me)

So I'm a bit on the greedy end ^_^.

As for working, I thought I could apply for a working permit on top of the pre-college student visa if the school and the immigration office approves it, and work up to 4 hours a day legally?

[MMM]

Makes sense. I agree, being separated from other foreigners allows for a more real experience. Your Japanese will improve by leaps and bounds.

When I was a JET I was in a fairly central location, but knew JETS that travelled great distances to meet several times a week. They'd have parties every weekend, spending the night at one person's house or another. I attended some of the big events, but would sometimes go weeks speaking almost no English, or rather, to another foreigner. Now I use Japanese in my career.

I wasn't aware that students could get work-permits, so you know more about that than I.

[seaghyn]

Yeah, as for the work permits, I wasn't sure on alot of stuff, so I was sending emails to the Consulate to check up on info. It's just how much am I really going to be spending for living in Japan that I want to figure out. Thus the utilities post.

I'm just lucky to not have to take out loans, and that my family cares enough about my education to help me out financially. I still don't want to take that for granted, which is why I'm trying to live as economically as I can under the circumstances that I would like.

But it looks more like it will cost around 100,000 Yen per month to live. Apartment, Utilities, Food (cooking not eating out), cheap phone plan, transportation. Yes No?

[tommasi]

Originally Posted by seaghyn

Also, any ideas on phone services or anything? I checked out Houstek's Guide, and it's pretty useful, (already set up the service) but it still costs me $$ from paypal when I get a call, even though it is cheaper than directly calling international. I'll leave calling friends and family to skype, so I'm looking for a phone in Japan for domestic calling/receiving, possibly video recording, a way to transfer it to the computer, and that's about it. Any ideas on plans or thoughts about softbank vs docomo?

Thanks,

Seaghyn

Check for another thread about cell phone.

Someone is suggesting AT&T Tilt as a good cell phone to bring in from the US since the same phone costs more in Japan.

It runs Windows so you can use Skype on it to call your family, friends, and significant others back home.

Once you subscribe to Skype Pro, calls to US and Canada are free, aren't they?

[seaghyn]

I don't necessarily want to bring a US phone over though. If I go softbank and get the white plan, that's $10 a month, and if I keep to receiving, using the phone for things like, people to contact me with, as opposed to me calling people, I'm sure I can keep the bills down. As for family/friends etc back home, I do have a laptop to hook up at the wi-fi spots, and use skype there. The tilt is the same thing, just smaller with less functions. for 299.00 after mail in rebate on the tilt, I'm keeping my laptop for family and friends.

So what I'm really looking into is a webpage or something that has the model line-ups and the average prices. I checked softbank for example, and they have a sweet model line-up, but no prices.

[Nyororin]

You used to be able to get info on the prices and plans for cellphones on Kakaku.com, but it looks like they`re just listing availability at this time.

I will offer a word of warning though - I`d be careful with Softbank. We know WAY too many people who made the switch over thinking that the plan looked good, only to find that everything they did use the phone for didn`t apply for the discount, or that they didn`t use the phone enough, etc - ending up with bills through the roof and no way out of the 3 year plan they make you sign up for.

We wouldn`t touch Softbank with a 10 meter pole, let alone use them.

[Nathan]

I don't know if its a softbank specific issue or not, but be wary of cellphone-internet use.

If you don't buy the $40/month plan for unlimited internet use, the bill is ridiculous.

I know a guy who ended up with a $300 bill just from internet use alone. Of course, I question what kind of sites he was visiting...

[Henbaka]

Originally Posted by seaghyn

Okay, so in regards to the amount I use, I just need to stick to cooking as healthily and quickly as I can, quick but thorough showers, (probobly showers as opposed to baths.) and go to public places for the cooler atmosphere.

When I lived at the Sakura House Dorm in Sendagaya, I got by off of 39,000 Yen a month, and that was heating, ac, cooking, water, fridges, appliances, cable, internet, etc. The only down side was it was all shared, so good luck finding clean things to use, and there was no room in the dorm room (shared with 3 other people) to even keep your own dishes let alone cooking utensils.

This time, it's going to be 53,000 a month, and I don't think it includes utilities. So I just need to live as economically as possible if I want to keep it no more than 60,000 for the apartment.

As for cell phones, I'd really like to get cost info, I was looking at softbanks line-up, because of the student discount. You pay nothing a month for 3 years, free incoming, and free calling to other handsets between 2am-9pm. I am planning on getting a phone, but leaving it mainly for people to contact me than the other way around. 21Y for 30sec is kinda high. Similar to a payphone though, and I have some cards a friend gave me for calling.

So you think I can take care of housing for 60,000 a month? I used around 15,000 a month for food before, so I think I can work that out again. What do you think an average one room apartment at 53,000 a month will be once you include all the other fees??

Also, any ideas on phone services or anything? I checked out Houstek's Guide, and it's pretty useful, (already set up the service) but it still costs me $$ from paypal when I get a call, even though it is cheaper than directly calling international. I'll leave calling friends and family to skype, so I'm looking for a phone in Japan for domestic calling/receiving, possibly video recording, a way to transfer it to the computer, and that's about it. Any ideas on plans or thoughts about softbank vs docomo?

Thanks,

Seaghyn

Damn you eat cheap.

I assume it's somewhere in Tokyo you're going? Thing is, I'm currently searching for housing there, and if it's not too much trouble, could you tell me how you found the apartment? Where is it situated, and how big was the move-in cost? I think I'm on roughly the same budget as you.

I understand you have things of your own to deal with, but any help here is appreciated!

PS. What language school?

[seaghyn]

@Henbaka Right now I'm going to be going to school in Arakawa, which if you look at a Map of the Yamanote line, is located mainly at Nippori station, then stretches north. As for my apartment, I knew enough Japanese to google

東京　荒川区　アパート　which is "Tokyo Arakawa Apartment" I tried all those gaijin sites and what not, and they just seriously overcharge. For the apartment, look at the link name under the site, as it's always in english, open a page that looks promising, and if you have firefox, add on the translation button. It'll save your skin =). I found this site, which you may be able to find your ward on. Again, translate the page if your Japanese isn't good enough. Don't try to guess the symbos too often.

http://www.atroom.jp/search_eki.php

All the way on the left hand side choice box, is single room, and then the third option down was arakwawa for me.

However, only do this if the school (which it should) is willing to talk with you and communicate with the apartment agency.

Also, please note these are mainly 2 year contracts, and for me, there is a move-in cost of around 350,000Y, which includes guarantor, key money, brokerage (at room is the agency putting you with the landlord), 2 year fire protection, insurance, deposit, and just about every other fee you can imagine.

It kills, but it's what I was saving for mainly to be greedy and live by myself.

If your cheap, like I am when I'm finished with these move-in fees, check out sakura-house.com and browse dorms, apartments, and guest rooms. I used to be in the Sendagaya dorm, located around Yoyogi station. Shared a room with four people, and payed 39,000 a month. Food was around 15,000 a month, but my mom was willing to cover that =). I would recommend finding a place eventually that isn't geared towards foreigners as you get "Japanese for foreigners" alot, and miss out on a more "real" setting I guess.

Sakura-House is easy, located right by Shinjuku station, and cheap if you are willing to share. Otherwise, look for a japanese company and try to have your school contact them for you.

Any other questions feel free to post again.