Lowest Cost of Living in Japan
 

Hello everyone. I've nearly completed my International Business degree here in Canada and I'm strongly considering doing the JET programme.

I've noticed that they pay about 300,000 Yen per month and this has made me curious about the cost of living in various Japanese cities/towns.

Can anyone tell me which cities (250,000+ people) or regions/prefectures of the country have the lowest cost of living?

One particular place I'm considering is Hokkaido. I've read that it has many national parks and a great deal of wilderness. I also know that it was among the last places in Japan to be settled on a large scale. As a Canadian, the colder climate is nothing that scares me, and I enjoy a "good" winter :D.

In particular, can anyone tell me how living costs in Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa compare with each other and those of the rest of the country?

I've also considered living in Kyoto because of its historical and cultural significance, but I've heard that Osaka is very expensive (more similar to Tokyo), so I'm worried that Kyoto will also be expensive.

So if anyone knows about the cost of living in each of these cities and where the lowest cost of living in Japan is, I would greatly appreciate it! (As I'm sure many others would.)

Thanks to anyone that can offer some insight!

300,000 a month is more than enough money for a single person to live on. I did JET, lived just outside of Osaka and did just fine.

You can try and find a cheap city, but JET decides where you live, not you.

If you are a penny-pincher, don't move to Japan. I saw so many people that wouldn't tune on their AC units on 100+ degree days, or buy bottled water or eat out because it was so much more expensive than at home. If you are constantly converting yen to dollars in your head, you'll go batty. Seriously. I saw people literally drive themselves crazy, and end up breaking their contracts and going home because they felt that Japan was so expensive. But you are getting paid a lot of money as well. More than enough to love comfortably, even in Tokyo.

Most consumer items have a standardized price, so a Coke in Hokkaido is going to be the same price as a Coke in Osaka.

My advice: don't worry about it. Apply, get in, see where they place you, go over, and have fun.

What kind of things did you do with JET? What did you think of your experiences? Please tell :-)

The job itself wasn't the greatest in the world. My students weren't very motivated, so it was hard work getting them to work. But the experience of living in Japan changed my life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I appreciate the replies so far.

It's not so much that I want to pinch every penny, but I'm the sort of person that naturally enjoys saving money (not through sales, but rather saving extra income for my future) and has very simple needs. For example, I don't really care if I wear branded clothing or generally go out to expensive restaurants.

I was just curious about areas that have the lowest cost of living because I don't really know where to go. I don't have much of a preference so far, and I was really curious if particular places like Hokkaido, which I would enjoy living in anyway, were cheaper because of climate, and other factors.

You said you lived near Osaka? Would you recommend the Kyoto/Osaka area? Would you recommend any other areas?

I'm still really curious about costs in Hokkaido, I hope I'll find someone that knows that area specifically.

Japan is a pretty compact country, especially compared to Canada, so you aren't going to see the extreme differences in prices. Your school will have arranged an apartment for you, and that's going to be your biggest expense. My apartment was 60,000 a month, but the school paid half of that.

I have been to Hokkaido, but don't remember it being any more or less expensive than other places. Of course, Hokkaido is a big place, so living in a country town is going to be cheaper than living in Sapporo.

In terms of where you to recommend, it depends on what you are interested in. I like Osaka and I like Kyoto (though they are very different cities). I would recommend Kobe, too.

Well as I understand it, you're given a chance to select preferred places to live in. You mentioned that they'll pick the place, does this mean that these choices generally have little effect and typically they're more likely to assign you elsewhere (so its rare that you get your choices)?

Also, you mentioned that the school paid part of your accommodation. Is this normal? Will your salary/benefits (ie: partly paid for accommodation) vary greatly depending on where you are placed?

And lastly are there any ways to ensure you get a good/favourable placement with good benefits if that is the case?

I don't mean to bombard you with questions, but you seem to be quite helpful, which I really appreciate!

Basically after you are interviewed if you pass you are given a ranking. The highest ranked people have a better chance of getting their choices. Think of it this way there are 48 prefectures in Japan, and 90% of the people probably put 10% of them as their preferences. So the chances of getting any of those is slim. I wasn't put anywhere near my choices, but in the end, I was much happier for it.

Accomadations vary, but I don't know about costs. I paid 30,000 a month for a very tiny apartment. My friend paid the same amount for a 3-bedroom house (he lived in alone). But I was closer to the city. The prefecture you live in is your boss, so every situation is different.

I am not sure what you mean by favorable placement, but the short answer would be no, not really. Flexibility and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations is the most important quality in a JET applicant.

Great thanks,

What I meant by "favourable" was more like "generous." I heard from someone that one person that participated in the program got a far higher salary (he was apparently placed in a private school) which surprised me because I thought that the 3.6 million Yen salary was standardized for all JET participants.

The reason I'm wondering about preferences is because I'm not sure how many people would actually choose Hokkaido. I can't imagine that as many people are interested in going somewhere there as Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. so if I select it, I may be much more likely to be placed there than others.

By the way, did you have any TEFL/formal ESL training before you went?

And lastly, in your experience, how likely is it for someone's contract to be renewed if they want it to be and did a decent job.

Thanks for the great and valuable insights so far :D!

Oops, and I forgot, did you speak any Japanese before you went? Were you provided with good (and free or subsidized) Japanese language courses?

live on a farm.. for the most part, if you stay away from the larger cities, i think that life is generally cheaper. when i went to okinawa, the general cost of living wasn't that much more expensive than the US. also like mmm said the JET program ultimately chooses your final destination. i live in hawaii and from what i've heard about the jet program, fukuoka is very simliar to hawaii as far as climate and scenery.

raverboy

More people select Hokkaido than you would think. It's the people that choose Aomori, Saga, Ehime, Gifu and places like that who get thier first choices.

I had no formal training (or interest, for that sake) in English teaching when I applied.

Once you get there, the boss is the Ministry of Education of your prefecture. I have heard of RARE cases of salary bonuses. In fact, two weeks ago the mayor of a certain small town in Hokkaido came to its sister-city near where I live. They brought along a local JET as an assistant. This would probably be unheard of in most places, but, like I said, every situation is different. The salary SHOULD be the same across the board, so those cases are the rare exception.

In my situation I taught at a high school 4 days a week, at a local factory one hour a week, and at a night school one night a week. I probably was in the classroom 2-3 hours a day. Some people I knew did 5 classes a day. Some did as little as 8 classes a week. It just depends.

As long as you don't do anything indecent, you will get rehired for subsequent years (up to three total). I actually didn't get along with the vice-pricipal very well (no one did), but it was easier to keep me on then deal with the training and hassle of getting someone new. I have never heard of a JET who didn't date another teacher (or students!) not get rehired, though I am sure it has happened somewhere. What you can't do easily is transfer.

I majored in Japanese in college, but a lot of people didn't who go. Most don't speak any Japanese. I would learn as much as I could before you plan on going. There were no organized Japanese language classes offered to me, but I didn't need it, so I didn't look for them.

Once again, thanks for the detailed and insightful response.

You've given me a few things to consider and I'm very excited about the prospect.

Your comments about the ease of extending your work term are especially welcome, as I have considered (assuming I like it enough there) staying for longer than a single year to give me a better opportunity to develop my knowledge of the Japanese language during my stay. I will likely come with some modest personal study (about 2 months worth, as that will be the time between my graduation and possible move to Japan) and I fortunately have an affinity for languages, as well as the drive to learn them.

Anyone else's comments are also quite welcome. Thanks a lot to everyone!

You are very welcome.

Also, I would recommend staying more than one year as employers know the JET program, and know it's a 1,2 or 3 year deal. Staying for 2 or 3 years says "I am a dedicated go-getter." Staying for only one might say "I jump ship as soon as I feel challenged or something better comes along."

As mmm has said, I wouldn't worry about not being able to save. I live in the middle of Osaka, on faaar less than a JET, paying more in rent, and after bills and stuff (a hefty cell phone bill for one) I still have about $1000 for play money or saving.

However I'm from London, and Osaka seems CHEAP to me.

Cheapest places to be will be the countryside. Not only the cost of living, but also there won't be so much to do than if you were in Tokyo or Osaka.

However Jets placement choices...well be flexible. You say you want snow so Hokkaido, you could end up in Nagano.

So don't worry about it, just apply and hope for the best.

Yeah, I think I'll list some of the larger cities/more populated prefectures as my preferences in case I'm actually one of the few that "win the lottery" and wind up in Tokyo/Osaka/etc. (it would after all be a very interesting experience!) Of course, if I end up in a smaller city/town far away from the largest Japanese cities, I won't be too disappointed.

Ideally, I would like a city that is large enough to have a good mass transit system, either bus or rail, as long as it's affordable and effective because I do not plan to drive!

I agree. I wouldn't drive. It's too expensive (gas, insurance, etc.)

I spoke today with another JET spokesperson and I was told that they've decided to extend the number of times a person can renew their contract to 4, meaning they can potentially stay a total of 5 years (it's also in the pamphlets/magazines they gave me).

This has led me to wonder... are they at all flexible with payment during contract renewals? In other words, will they offer you any increased pay or incentive (such as a renewal bonus) to recognize your additional teaching experience?

What have you guys heard about this?

Also, after doing JET for a year or two, do people ever leave to get better pay/benefits in a private school?

I don't think the pay rate for a JET has changed since the beginning of the program. Now, with the strong yen, it is a very nice pay. The budget for the JET teacher is set in advance, so there is no room for negotiation in terms of payrate (unless something has changed recently). Why would they? there are tons of people who will happily take your place at the original pay.

One things JETs learn quickly is that they are the smallest fish in a very big pond. Westerners often have great ideas on how to fix things, improve systems, make them better, etc. In your position as a JET that is rocking the boat, making trouble, being a loudmouth. I am not saying you are an English-speaking robot, but outside of the confines of your classroom a lot of work-related decisions are made for you. Even the most seemingly innocuous question will require approval of the prefectural board of education. It's a massive bureaucracy...but a good social studies lesson.

Everyone I know goes home after JET. You have to. What happens afterward, I am not sure.

kyoto, not as expensive as tokyo or osaka thats for sure, u should also try kyuushu, not bad place to live. Very nice weather

Okinawa actually has the lowest cost of living as far as taxes go. At least that is what I've been told.

Thanks for addressing those questions.

I love that you talked about the "strong Yen." In my case, the Yen is actually very weak, compared to the Canadian dollar. That's good for getting set up, but bad if I want to move my savings out of the country at the end.

If you're an American, then you'll know what I'm talking about. The Canadian dollar reached parity with the American dollar just recently and for the first time in 30 years! What sucks is that prices are still higher here than in the US, remember those "$25 US, $32 Canada" prices on the back of books :mad:?

A lot of people are actually going across the border to do big ticket shopping. You can save hundreds of dollars at times and spend less on consumption taxes (here in Ontario, the sales tax is about 14%).

JETs getting a pay rise? hey hey don't be looking a gift horse in the mouth! And I'll bet money you'll be needing a bicycle!

Kyushuu is well........kyuushu..........um, nice pickled plums...

I wouldn't live in Kyoto personally. It's sooo touristy. I mean it's to the point that it's like some Japan theme park land. Nice to go visit if you want to see some Heian ira temples. But to live......

For some reason, I'm really liking Sapporo/Hokkaido. There are some advantages but also some disadvantages.

I've heard that the dialect spoken there, because many of the people are immigrants from various parts of Japan, is among the closest in the country to standard Japanese.

I've also read that the cost of living there is quite reasonable compared to other parts of the country. There are pictures of the city overshadowed by the nearby mountains and it looks so nice! :rheart::rheart::rheart:

Unfortunately, because the city and island were populated mostly starting in 1850, I'm worried that it shows of very little of "classical" or "traditional" Japan. I've also heard that Sapporo incorporates many Western concepts (ie: just look at the city planning), so I'm worried about whether or not I'll get the "authentic experience."

There's also it's remote nature. I'd be far away from the rest of Japan, making it harder to travel and more expensive.

Does anyone have any comments about Sapporo or regarding to my views above about the city?

Just like Canada, America, or anywhere else, no one city is going to give you a wholistic Japanese experience, but that doesn't mean you can't have a full and complete experience somewhere. I worked in an office with a handful Japanese people. One was from Hokkaido, a couple from north Honshu, one from Tokyo, one from Wakayama, one from Hiroshima and one from Kyushuu. It was funny how the spheres of knowledge for NATIVE Japanese people was very limited. People inthe east knew the east intimately, but people from the west had no idea what they were talking about. I could talk about Kansai with the person from Wakayama, but places and things I assumed all Japanese knew were complete mysteries to those only a couple hundred miles away.

As a JET you are never going to know about all of Japan, but you will get to know about someplace intimately.

Fair enough, I suppose that's true of pretty much any country (larger than a quarter).

Can you comment on that person's dialect (from Hokkaido)? Was he easy to understand? Do you know if they tend to speak the standard language among themselves more in Sapporo?

In an office situation everyone speaks standard Japanese, so I couldn't tell you if her dialect was stronger or not. Those kinds of things kind of depend on the person. I knew people in Kansai whose Japanese was almost impossible for me to understand, and other Kansai people who only spoke standard Japanase, even in the most relaxed and casual situations.

I don't recall if I've actually asked you MMM (or anyone else on these forums for that matter) whether you've been to Sapporo.

I'm curious what people's impressions of the city are and whether they liked it :D .

I have been there once, and I thought it was a very nice place. Hokkaido is a very green place, and Sapporo was clean and the people seemed friendly. I hope to go back again someday.

Thanks MMM!

That's exactly what I wanted to hear about Sapporo :rheart::rheart::rheart:

my friend lived in sapporo for a year. cheap apparently ans she spent all her time going on cheap weekend deals to onsen lol.

Ah, good to know someone else liked it. I'm also happy to hear that the cost of living is fairly low (at least compared to some places).

I'm still not sure if I'll end up going to Japan with the JET program. I think my odds of getting accepted are very good, but I'm also applying for a number of federal government jobs. If I get a good offer right out of university, I'll very likely take it.

Nevertheless, all of these discussions have encouraged me to list Sapporo and Hokkaido in general as my main preferences.

You will know if you got the JET job months before you graduate, so you'll have plenty of time to decide.

Yeah, the only problem is, I don't how long it'll take me to find out about those government jobs!

Actually, with that in mind, does anyone know how long a person has before they are required to make an absolutely final decision?

Also, have there been cases of people changing their mind once they arrive in Japan and coming back after only 2-3 months? What happens to them with regards to JET? I imagine they have to pay for their plane ticket home, but are there severe penalties for violating your contract?

I imagine they'd also "black list" you and I doubt you'd have another real chance in the future!

yeaaah there'd be no second time rounds for JET...

I don't know what the penalties would be.....but I can honestly imagine the dissapointment for everyone, and the silent shame that you backed out after a few months. Like the JET programe is supposed to be like a big WELCOME TO JAPAN of cultural exchange, and the schools you've let down would be without a teacher for the rest of the year. Everyone would hate you, no one would say it, but you'd know, and you'd have shattered quite a few illusions of foriegners for all the little middle school students

lol well as I imagine, I have no clue really but that would be what would stop me quitting!

I liked Tofuku. It seemed very quiet and peaceful. It contains Tufuku-ji temple which is surrounded by lots of greenery and as much nature as a city can hold since it is a zen temple. But i doubt there are any teaching positions around there. And living there would possibly be expensive too.

You are talking about Tofuku Temple, right?

There are many teaching positions in Kyoto, and it is a cheaper place to live than Yokohama, Tokyo or Osaka...

um...
I'm still in high school and going to go to Japan for my undergraduate level.
I'm going to take between Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto univeristy.
Would you mind to suggest which one should I take for pure Physics and the best place to stay?

thx
Regards