Moving to Japan alone.
 

Hello everyone!
When I turn 18 years old, I plan to move to Japan but I need so help.
Alright here we are:

How much would I have to save to rent an apartment?

Which visas would be needed and how would I obtain them?

Is it possible to get a job when you are still in Canada. If so, how would that work?

How much money would you pay for rent if the place you would like to rent has one bedroom and one bathroom? (A standard apartment for the residence of one.)

I have belongings (Bed, computer, television, etc.) which I would like to take with me. How would I be able to get them there.


As you can tell, I am still very confused. Any information would be extremely helpful.
Although I still have three years to go, I like to be fully planned.

Thank you!
-Jaidalyn :rheart:

read and learn --> http://www.japanforum.com/forum/livi...ive-japan.html

Ah, thank you very much. :)

Probably as much as anywhere else. Apartments rent starting as low as 40,000 yen a month (maybe less), but chances are 60,000 is safer, depending where you want to live.
You only need one visa.

1) student visa: You must be enrolled in a college in Japan before you step on the plane.

2) working visa: You must have been hired by a Japanese company or government agency, and had all the paperwork filed before you step on a plane

3) tourist visa: You just need a valid passport. Lasts 90 days.

4) spousal visa: You just need to be married to a Japanese citizen and have filed all the proper paperwork to the Japanese government.

5) working holiday: you can get as a Canadian, but I don't know much about it (not allowed for USA)

Pretty much you HAVE to get the job while you are still in Canada.
Read this forum for ideas.

Totally depends on where you live. I paid 60,000 for a studio with bathroom/shower. I know people who paid the same for three-bedroom houses. It's all about location.

Besides a laptop, those are things you want to buy in Japan. It will be cheaper that way.

This has been covered time and time again... but here we go.

Obviously depends upon the apartment. Deposit, key money, etc is all calculated based on the original rental fee. There are a huge range of prices...

This also depends upon what you plan to be doing in Japan. Working - a work visa. Studying - a student visa. etc If you`re from Canada, I say go for the working holiday... An option that you should be able to take.

For a work visa, you need to do that. However, in order to get a job in Japan, you`ll need to have a degree... So at 18, a work visa is pretty much impossible.


How much money would you pay for rent if the place you would like to rent has one bedroom and one bathroom? (A standard apartment for the residence of one.)

Unless you have literally craploads of cash lying around - you don`t. And even then, most of it would be pointless. Electricity standards are different here - some things you can use, some you can`t. Television frequencies/formats are different. Basically, buy whatever you need while here.

Planning ahead is fine - but instead of the type of planning you`re trying to do, you need to look more at the basics. You can`t just up and move to another country on a whim. Renting an apartment and moving isn`t something you can just do when international boundaries are involved. You need to think more into what you`re going to DO in Japan, and then the details of actual living there later.

Very insightful, thank you.

Did you pay ¥60,000 for the apartment or $60,000?

As for a job, I would like to become an English professor. Would you happen to know how long I would take university for?

To be an English teacher you`ll need a 4 year degree in something... Anything.
To be an English professor you`ll need a graduate degree in the field.

Thank you very much!

I suppose 18 years old would be very unrealistic considering that I am still in high school and would need time to take some sort of university course.

¥60,000 per month.

Do you mean professor, or teacher...what Nyororin said is true.

Ah, I see. I suppose a four year degree would be the basic education.

I meant a teacher of some sort. :)

¥60,000
You could get it even cheaper, if you are staying in working women hostels.

To become an English professor, you need a Ph. D. in English literature.

A simple degree will be fine for an English teacher.

Personally, I would rather get a PhD rather than a regular degree.

Either way, you won't be moving to Japan at 18.

Indeed.

Thank you for all of your help. :D :D

well before you can get the PhD you need to get a regular degree first ..

Yeah, I mean getting a regular degree then spend a few more years earning a PhD. :)

Lots of people teach english at the college level in Japan with a 4-year degree. But they start as simple eikaiwa sensei (english conversation teachers) and move into the university job through introduction or word of mouth as a good teacher who accells at learning japanese.

Ah, I see. Would you think it would be possible to not know Japanese to work/live there.

My friend and I are taking Japanese courses starting next September.

I spoke nothing when I went, studied tons and was fluent and reading at a sixth grade level in three years. I believe it is impossible to learn a language well unless one lives in the country, unless, of course, you have a gift for languages.

I see. Thank you. :)

Hey i'm going to japan to when im 22 with a few of my friends, maybe you could go with us. you'll be 18 when im 22 so if you would want to you could travel with us.:cool:

I'm going in about 17 days. Just telling you to make you jealeous!

:mad: NOOOOOO! lol

I'll be thinking about all of you while I sip sake in the bar and grill and eat tasty treats hot off the grill, slowly slipping away from my worldly cares.

:mad: ahhhhh stop

I hope you can pass for become english teacher from college to Japan ^^ Oh get a note: Be stricts to students as you are teacher I think it's good idea if you are English Teacher to the students you want make sure kids not lazy like not want works their homework/papers/tests/anythings, bad students with very low grades and skip classes alot, Teachers have alot rules of good stricts and listens to teachers (and you in future ^^), and I hope and pray for you and good/honset students to you. ^^

I just came to Japan about a week ago. Im just in a language school for uni-prep Japanese. Right now im just waiting for my alien registration card to open a bank account and then find some part-time work. Most likely teaching english session. If you're truly dedicated, work for it, more effort = higher rewards.

Getting into the country is a lengthy process with a lot of paperwork involved. 60 000 yen a month is what im paying for rent, ontop of that transportation eats a lot of money (train) and food portions are small compared to north america.

Are you coming to Tokyo?

Get your degree in Japan? You wouldn't be the first to do it. An acquaintance of mine finished his masters in Japanese here last year.

Learning Japanese is tough enough. To get a PHD in English literature you'll need to learn Latin, as well as quite a bit of French, German, and Greek. You would do better to simply get a MA or PHD (if you make it that far) in education.

ok fine just ignore me:pinkcry:

No. My in-laws live in Nara prefecture just near the border of Wakayama prefecture. It's really country; just three meters off the house is rice fields and kaki trees all around. Gotta walk a mile and a half just to get to a Lawson's.

It would be nice to meet if I went that way. I only went for two days and I didn't like the big city, but too bad I didn't have someone like you to show me things I could prpbably enjoy there.

Who are you talking to? Me? If so, not ignoring, just hadto go back to work.

no not you its Jaidalyn

There's much to see and like in Tokyo, and it's not that hard to find. I'm in the city on Sundays and Mondays, let me know if you'll be around.

thank you fr your kindness. I'll do just that.