I am 38 years old and considering moving to Japan

[GregX999]

Originally Posted by RealJames

Let me try to walk you through the most sane, and unavoidable illegal in some aspect, way of starting an SP.

Jeeze! That sounds pretty intimidating while I'm just sitting here reading it.

What city are you located in? Have you heard it being easier or harder in larger or smaller cities?

[GregX999]

Originally Posted by RealJames

if time is on your side, you can find a lot of decent places without the cut-throat first month payment,
one tip on that is Japanese people are insane about the age of a building, whereas most westerners don't care, generally. So find a 30 year old building and enjoy the traditional feel with cheap rent and cold winters lol

Ah, that's good to know. I'll just stick to the south.

As far as when one just arrives, are "gaijin houses" pretty much the best choice? Are there other options for short-term rent (1-6 months)? Can they (or anything similar) be found in most cities? Are they going to be filled with 18-24 year-olds? ( if you're 18-24)

[RealJames]

I was 24 when I got here :P

hostels, love-hotels with random chicks or alone if it comes to it, gaijin houses, a bench, I'm used to roughing it so it's hard for me to make a good recommendation.
hostels here were a lot cleaner than in other countries I've visited, it depends on your time span
it's also relatively easy for foreigners to buy houses in Japan, so if you like to be smart with money and plan for long term then check that out

I live in Kobe, it's one of the more friendly cities towards foreigners.
It wasn't that hard for me to find a super awesome immigrations officer, 3rd try was a charm!
There's nothing intimidating about it

If you do want to start a business, keep in mind that immigrations officers often have to relocate every year or 3 years to prevent from power abuse, the guy I got had to relocate a few weeks after I got approved, to get a sense of how it works.

[GregX999]

Originally Posted by RealJames

I was 24 when I got here :P

hostels, love-hotels with random chicks or alone if it comes to it, gaijin houses, a bench, I'm used to roughing it so it's hard for me to make a good recommendation.
hostels here were a lot cleaner than in other countries I've visited, it depends on your time span

Yeah, I've stayed in lots of hostels before. They're cool for the most part. A bit expensive, long-term, if you want a bit of privacy. I stayed in one for 2 weeks while looking for a place in Argentina (just a few years ago).

I saw a youtube video once of a guy giving a tour of his apartment. It was an apartment specifically for foreigners and/or other short-term residents. (No key-money, etc.) I think his school arranged it for him, but he said others were living there that weren't teaching English. And many were even Japanese. Some using it as a weekday place to live, and going to their "real" home on the weekend. For the life of me I can't find that video again or remember if that kind of place had a name.

Originally Posted by RealJames

If you do want to start a business, keep in mind that immigrations officers often have to relocate every year or 3 years to prevent from power abuse, the guy I got had to relocate a few weeks after I got approved, to get a sense of how it works.

It would have sucked if he relocated before he got you the visa.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by GregX999

It would have sucked if he relocated before he got you the visa.

That's an understatement, it would have postponed my legal-opening a few months probably, but I'm sure I would have found another kind employee quickly enough.
The vast majority of Japanese people I meet are so kind. Even civil servants, who I admit are a tad less friendly, are still so nice.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by GregX999

James:"If you got a 4 year degree of next to any kind then getting a job teaching English is a walk in the park unless you're disfigured or dumber than Bush, in those cases it's mildly difficult.

The further you live from a city core the less frugal you gotta be to get by on English teachers salary. If you land a decent gig then it's a cake walk wherever you are."

On another board there are a few people that are constantly mentioning the glut of ESL teachers in Japan and how hard it is to find a job and how low the pay is.

You can imagine my confusion.

So, I'm just wondering if your view is based mostly from the Kobe area? Or do you think their view is based mostly on Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka (the well-known cities)? Or do you think they're just being pessimistic?

Thanks for any advice! I really appreciate it!
Greg

Well first off, Osaka/Kobe can practically be considered the same area, it's a 20 minute train ride from Umeda to Sannomiya so living and working in either place is quite feasible.

I'll give you the numbers so you have an idea of what I meant, and what these other people might also have meant:

When I first arrived, I was making 250,000y at my old job working 30 hours a week. I supplemented that with 4 or 5 private students (cafes and at their house) which gave me an extra 50,000y after transportation and drink fees (at the cafe, you buy a drink each lesson, 500y ish)
So that left me with 300,000y

I lived in a small apartment, and it was cheap 50,000y a month, utilities and everything were another 15,000y or so.
(If you were in a city center, that rent would be doubled or tripled)
We're down to 235,000y.
I spent about 50,000y a week on food, but I ate out nearly every day, now a days it's more like 20,000y a week (for two people), and I cook my meals (well my gf mostly does lol).
If you eat in we're down to 155,000y.
Phone 10,000y a month.
Internet 5,000y a month for the uber fast one.
We're down to 140,000y
Transportation is a killer, easily 20,000y a month.
I was saving about 120,000y a month back then so seems about right.
Am I missing something?

I can spend less on food because I'm in Kobe, and 10 minutes away from downtown lands you in cheaper areas that have cheap shopping arcades. Rent is cheaper also.

[xkmkmlmx]

Originally Posted by RealJames

I lived in a small apartment, and it was cheap 50,000y a month, utilities and everything were another 15,000y or so.
(If you were in a city center, that rent would be doubled or tripled)

Sorry if I missed this, but where did you live at first? Tokyo? Outside of Tokyo? Or were you in Kobe from the start?

And what do you mean by "city center"? I assume you mean in the "heart/downtown" of the city, or close to major train stations, etc?

Originally Posted by RealJames

I was saving about 120,000y a month back then so seems about right.
Am I missing something?

Well... what about other stuff? Things for your apartment (TV, appliances, etc), computer and computer upkeep, hygiene and other supplies like these (soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc), entertainment, clothing (shoes, suits and jackets as well as the basics) and other small expenses that may arise.

I only ask because from what I have gathered, you went to Japan without much. I figured you procured these things after you got there. Which obviously can start to add up.

This thread has me intrigued. I think at this point if I were to ever go back to live, I would try and bring something in the $40-$50k range for 'just in case' purposes. It would be nice knowing I had the security of the savings in case of emergency, but a good challenge to try to never have to dip into it. And hopefully, of course, add to it if I could.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by xkmkmlmx

Sorry if I missed this, but where did you live at first? Tokyo? Outside of Tokyo? Or were you in Kobe from the start?

And what do you mean by "city center"? I assume you mean in the "heart/downtown" of the city, or close to major train stations, etc?

I lived in Ashiya at first, which is 10 minutes between Kobe and Osaka city, in Hyogo. Now I live in Kobe, Sannomiya area.

By city center I mean in (one of) the heart(s) of one of the bigger cities, near a train station.
In Ashiya I lived near the train station, but Ashiya is quite small so cheap places can be found.

Originally Posted by xkmkmlmx

Well... what about other stuff? Things for your apartment (TV, appliances, etc), computer and computer upkeep, hygiene and other supplies like these (soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc), entertainment, clothing (shoes, suits and jackets as well as the basics) and other small expenses that may arise.

I only ask because from what I have gathered, you went to Japan without much. I figured you procured these things after you got there. Which obviously can start to add up.

This thread has me intrigued. I think at this point if I were to ever go back to live, I would try and bring something in the $40-$50k range for 'just in case' purposes. It would be nice knowing I had the security of the savings in case of emergency, but a good challenge to try to never have to dip into it. And hopefully, of course, add to it if I could.

I should have mentioned that I started saving that money after getting settled, which only took 2 months, my computer was 40,000y, two suits for the same price, I include hygiene stuff in the cost of food (my budgeting style, probably because I buy all that stuff in the same place lol).
But I also had little, my apartment had no tv, just computer and bed and a few cooking appliances etc, 200,000y was more than enough for me to get my place filled up with what I needed, I'm not big on "stuff" I keep my "cargo" to a minimum.

40-50k$ feels to me like an outrageous amount of money to use as "just in case" lol
I now keep 5k$ in the bank as "just in case" haha, I let the rest of my money live lol

[GregX999]

Originally Posted by RealJames

Well first off, Osaka/Kobe can practically be considered the same area, it's a 20 minute train ride from Umeda to Sannomiya so living and working in either place is quite feasible.

I'll give you the numbers so you have an idea of what I meant, and what these other people might also have meant:

When I first arrived, I was making 250,000y at my old job working 30 hours a week. I supplemented that with 4 or 5 private students (cafes and at their house) which gave me an extra 50,000y after transportation and drink fees (at the cafe, you buy a drink each lesson, 500y ish)
So that left me with 300,000y

I lived in a small apartment, and it was cheap 50,000y a month, utilities and everything were another 15,000y or so.
(If you were in a city center, that rent would be doubled or tripled)
We're down to 235,000y.
I spent about 50,000y a week on food, but I ate out nearly every day, now a days it's more like 20,000y a week (for two people), and I cook my meals (well my gf mostly does lol).
If you eat in we're down to 155,000y.
Phone 10,000y a month.
Internet 5,000y a month for the uber fast one.
We're down to 140,000y
Transportation is a killer, easily 20,000y a month.
I was saving about 120,000y a month back then so seems about right.
Am I missing something?

I can spend less on food because I'm in Kobe, and 10 minutes away from downtown lands you in cheaper areas that have cheap shopping arcades. Rent is cheaper also.

It's very helpful to see those numbers, thanks! I'm a bit like you in that I'm perfectly happy without a lot of "stuff". I'd just add a bicycle (or two) to that list (I love bikes).

But currently, is 250k yen to be expected? I see some say 250k-300k, and others say 200k-250k due to so much competition for fewer jobs these days.

And also there seems to be quite a range of opinions regarding how "easy" it is to obtain a job.

Lastly (for this post), from what I understand so far, the two types of jobs open to a "beginner" English teacher are going to be at an Eikaiwa and as an ALT. I assume your (James) figures and advice are for an Eikaiwa type job. Yes? Is there much difference? Are there other alternatives I don't know about?

Thanks!
Greg

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by GregX999

It's very helpful to see those numbers, thanks! I'm a bit like you in that I'm perfectly happy without a lot of "stuff". I'd just add a bicycle (or two) to that list (I love bikes).

But currently, is 250k yen to be expected? I see some say 250k-300k, and others say 200k-250k due to so much competition for fewer jobs these days.

And also there seems to be quite a range of opinions regarding how "easy" it is to obtain a job.

Lastly (for this post), from what I understand so far, the two types of jobs open to a "beginner" English teacher are going to be at an Eikaiwa and as an ALT. I assume your (James) figures and advice are for an Eikaiwa type job. Yes? Is there much difference? Are there other alternatives I don't know about?

Thanks!
Greg

Regarding the pay range, even if it's at the lower end, it will be because you're working less hours, not a lower hourly rate, so you can pick up the slack with privates and get about the same total.

I also like my bikes, got my cruiser and my mountain bike here.
Since I've moved in with my gf I've acquired a TV, a kotatsu, and another table and a few more dishes, it makes me cringe to think of all the shit I have now... I used to be able to count it all on my fingers!

ALT jobs and Eikaiwa jobs seem to have about the same pay, as an alt your weekends and evenings are more freed up (for privates?) but at an eikaiwa you will likely get to sleep in till 2pm monday to friday and work early on weekends.
I took the eikaiwa route because if you pick wisely you can avoid kids, and if there are some they are in groups of up to around 3 or 4 it would seem, much more manageable lol.

When you get here sign up at a modeling agency or two, keep your eye open for voice-acting gigs that pop up in the usual channels, things like that, as far as full time positions go you're doing alts or english schools, or whatever your former expertise was if you're crazy/lucky depending on point of view.