life in japan questions

[Aguraki]

hey I was wondering how expensive is it to live in tokyo,difficulties to find a flat etc..
I´m currently in berlin but not a fan of the city so far and japan might be an option in the futur.
What about price of life in other cities in japan?

If anyone wanna share advices on the topic;fwiw I have no knowledge of japan so I´m starting from scratch.

[NTSC-J]

I don't know what sort of lifestyle you're used to, but apartments in Tokyo can be pricey. If you want a modern building near a train station with enough room that you can extend both arms out and not touch the walls, it's gonna cost you. I currently live in a place that was built just a couple of years ago and is five minutes from a station, but it's the size of an average American bathtub so it's only like a thousand bucks a month.

Rent is very affordable outside of the major cities.

[GaijinPunch]

Nice to see you two haven't killed yourselves.

The expense is quite relative. If you're making yen, that's half the battle right now. 99% of jobs due pay the local currency, so I wouldn't worry about that. However, it's going to make the expatriation process feel a little be like a full-fist enema. Generally speaking, if you want to live close, rent will cost you. 30 minutes from "the fun stuff" and it starts to get cheaper. I still think the average rent for a person in Tokyo is 80,000 yen a month. You can go cheaper, but you will miss out on things like more space than a closet.

There is a whole onslaught of other challenges that await you. Visas, guarantors, credit cards (give up on that), no phone until you get your visa approved, and worst of all: employment. Feel free to ask more questions. There's a shit ton of info on the intarwebs if you google. Assembler Games has a forum with lots of info on this very subject as well.

[Aguraki]

thx for the replies.
80k yen month sound reasonnable not sure if I want to live in 10 square meters tho.
I work from home on computer and don´t use phones.

just checked the visas stuff and I can stay 3 months there without a visa,don´t know yet about long term stay,will check it out.

right now I´m not ready to move but exploring the idea.
what about other cities than tokyo?
would you live anywhere but in tokyo if you stayed in japan?

I´ve also read it´s possible to do a border run to corea and back to japan for 90 more days.
it´s 180 days without visa which is a start.

[GaijinPunch]

At some point they will stop you from doing the border runs. When you come in, just say you're staying for 90 days. I doubt they would do it on the first, but from the second time on, your chances of survival drop. If you already have a job you can do from home, then that's a lot of the worry gone... the main worry is that the strong yen makes your money go far less distance than just about any other point in history.

[Randorama]

Regardless of the country, one's best chance to stay in one place as a free-lancer/independent worker is to just apply for a certain class of VISA. I don't know how it works in Japan, but EU/Oz/NZ (not UK anymore, though) free-lancers can move in, and get a VISA, by showing that they earn enough money to survive, and show that they can be potentially work for local companies. The idea is that if one already earns enough money, and could also find clients in the new country, then one can apply for various types of 2 to 5 years VISAs.

In my wife's experience, these VISAs are slower to get than sponsored VISAs, regardless of the countries. However, they are a more rational choice than the deeply retarded idea of hopping in and out of a country. Among other things, they allow one not to get arrested by the border police, which is never a good option.

[GaijinPunch]

Yes, but if you are only going to stay for 6 months, definitely not worth it. These visas generally last 3 months at a time anyway, AFAIK.

[scrilla4rella]

In my case, I got a flat with two other friends which has really helped keep the costs down. I have a super small room but I also have a decent living room, washroom, and kitchen. Roommates have downsides obviously, one of them spends and hour in the washroom doing his make-up , but I pay much less (52,000 yen before utilities) then anyone I know living alone. Also, electricity is fucking expensive here as is the moving in fees. Foreigners usually get double fist-fucked for deposit fees and all of that. Luckly one of my roommates is JPN so I only got four fingers when we first moved in.

[Randorama]

Yes, but if you are only going to stay for 6 months, definitely not worth it. These visas generally last 3 months at a time anyway, AFAIK.

I understood that Aguraki wanted to spend a longer term in Japan, though. For such a case, a long term Visa is the long way to go, frankly. Of course, whether the immigration department of Japan is willing to give such a VISA or not, is something that goes well beyond my knowledge. Australian laws on these matters are pretty draconian and similar to japanese ones, so proving that one earns a lot could be the key. May you will need to promise not to fuck Ganguro girls looking for white cock, Aguraki.

For shorter periods tourist visas usually work just fine, as nobody will ever come and bother a "tourist" to ask them whether they are actually getting an income from somewhere else.

A useful bit of knowledge, Aguraki. South Korea concedes 6 months to Canadian "visitors", if it can help. I am aware that long term work VISAs in S.Korea are easy to obtain, as I have one which I never ended up "using", just because I am married to a South Korean woman. I also know that 1- or 2-year VISAs for free-lancers are not expensive, and can be obtained quickly.

So, you may also think of "investing" in an official VISA in one country which has good liaisons with Japan, so that if you want to move back and forth (stupid idea, but it's up to you). If the Japanese authorities block you, you can always fall back to somewhere "closer".
I *believe* that similar conditions hold for Shangai, and only Shangai, but I'd ask around.

[GaijinPunch]

I understood that Aguraki wanted to spend a longer term in Japan, though. For such a case, a long term Visa is the long way to go, frankly. Of course, whether the immigration department of Japan is willing to give such a VISA or not, is something that goes well beyond my knowledge.

Same with mine, but I am pretty sure that the longest he's going to get w/o a sponsor is 3 months... and that's if they offer them at all. Entertainment visas are 3 months only, and your first work permit (with a real sponsor) is a year. I don't see them giving out a year for a journalist or any other type of freelance anything. Unless maybe he can up the standard Japanese skill set of slaughtering dolphins.

[Aguraki]

interresting responses thx.
rando actually the idea to go there came recently as I´m looking for a place to live after berlin,and i obv wouldn´t do border runs if they weren´t allowed.
As I said I can stay in japan without visa 180 days twice 90 days (thats where the border run idea comes from).
Also I think I should test for a few months the life there,maybe I won´t like it so 6 months with no visa is a start I think.
south corea could be a nice idea and shangai too (always wanted to visit china,even took chinese at university).
I´m not set for anything I´m trying to figure out cool places to live.

For the freelancer visa I doubt I´ll ever have one as my job is playing poker so that´s completely unreliable and in some countries forbidden(plus no paychecks no stability nothing).
I don´t want to go back in france as I can´t play there due to french laws so I have to stay abroad.

I´ve looked at some real estate sites and I think I could make it but tokyo would be prolly too expensive for me if I don´t want to live in 15m2 (holy shit is the area unity really in tatamis over there? ).
Chiba looked less expensive and not so far from tokyo it seemed.
I can totally envisage living in a smaller town (no idea how good are public transport in japan).

Anyway I´m gathering infos and not set on anything but I´m certainly attracted by asian countries.

May you will need to promise not to fuck Ganguro girls looking for white cock, Aguraki.

ahahah no idea exactly what is but I lol´d

[Adderall]

For the freelancer visa I doubt I´ll ever have one as my job is playing poker

can you explain/elaborate?

[Aguraki]

For the freelancer visa I doubt I´ll ever have one as my job is playing poker

can you explain/elaborate?

not much to explain I´m a full time player (online) and only need a computer to play so I can pick any place I want to live in as long as sites I play on are authorized (no france spain italy USA and some others).
I´m not rich I´m just making enough to pay the bills and live,that´s as much as a job as any other one and since I have issues with taking orders it´s almost the only thing I can do to earn money.
The only problem is you don´t have a good social status,with disregard to most social programs that countries offer to citizen (so you have to plan ahead and save some money for bad days) and are mostly viewed as a total degen from most people,which is a good reason to keep a low profile
A lot of players moved out due to laws and even tho there are some hot spots for poker community (thailand costa rica canada) to each their own at the end.
I´ll keep it there as I haven´t much more to say (I´m not a star nor had massive scores ),it´s really like a job and most of the time pretty boring.

[GaijinPunch]

Sure you want to move here?


No, really

[null1024]

Sure you want to move here?


No, really

Goddamnit GP, that is terrifying. Both of them.

[GaijinPunch]

and i obv wouldn´t do border runs if they weren´t allowed.

not much to explain I´m a full time player (online) and only need a computer to play so I can pick any place I want to live in as long as sites I play on are authorized (no france spain italy USA and some others).

My reply is in context to these two statements. What's allowed, what's illegal, and what's accepted are really relative in Japan. Japan's one of the few cultures where the masses actually obey the rules. And when they don't, they generally go unnoticed unless it hurts someone. Border laws really depend on the whims of the immigration agent... and it helps if you're white.

Technically, online gambling is illegal in Japan, but My guess is they do little to stop it. I quit playing years ago as I just don't have the patience. There are tons of offline games here though, which is easier for flying under the radar. There are some crazy stakes games even, but they are basically no-fish games. I had friends that played about 30 hours a week at these games, and they stated "it's a second job". Probably more stressful than their main jobs at times.

All that being said, in about 48 hours, illegal downloading copyright material becomes a criminal offense... as long as "you know you're downloading illegal content". Don't ask.

The only problem is you don´t have a good social status,

Well, I'm self-employed as far as the Japanese government is concerned, and I might as well be giving rim jobs in dark alleys for money. Can't tell you how many times I've been rejected for credit cards, and the teeth pulling (and cock kicking) I had to do to get my latest apartment.

[GaijinPunch]

Sure you want to move here?


No, really

Goddamnit GP, that is terrifying. Both of them.

Hey, I don't write the stuff. I just fist myself and jack off as I read it...

[Aguraki]

Sure you want to move here?


No, really

do not want.

lol clearly a short term stay seems the best idea to see how things go around.
I´m not really into freaky stuffs.
wtf happened to japan!

[Randorama]

I would add that Thailand or China could be places where your purchasing power could be much bigger, Aguraki. I think that, in the right places (suburbs of cities such as Bangkok, Shangai), one can access a decentish way of life at one third of the average cost in Europe. As a general rule of thumb, I'd never live in an asian country for very long, for several reasons I will only discuss if asked (and I lived in: S.Korea, Japan, China).

I'd suggest you to think of a career change at some point, and to work as a croupier. It is certainly safer than working as a player, and in several countries it pays well (e.g. Australia, NZ, asian countries in which Casinos are legal).

[Krimzon Kitzune]

Sure you want to move here?


No, really

Wow, Japan is more screwed-up than I thought before. O_O

Definitely do not want.

[gabe]

It's not like Japan has a monopoly on weird motherfuckers. There are plenty of them in the western world, and I rarely have a problem ignoring them.

If you don't want to pay $80/hour to sleep next to a chick, don't.

If you don't want to hang out with grown women wearing diapers, don't.

[BulletMagnet]

Sure you want to move here?

If I recall correctly, that one was actually first devised in some other country: Japan, naturally, couldn't be left out and imported it.

[greg]

Can't tell you how many times I've been rejected for credit cards, and the teeth pulling (and cock kicking) I had to do to get my latest apartment.

Do you mind if I ask if you have permanent residence? I've heard that credit card approvals come easier once you have that.

It's not like Japan has a monopoly on weird motherfuckers. There are plenty of them in the western world, and I rarely have a problem ignoring them.

If you don't want to pay $80/hour to sleep next to a chick, don't.

If you don't want to hang out with grown women wearing diapers, don't.

Exactly. As one may say in Japan, kankei nashi. It doesn't concern me.

[Randorama]

Re: credit cards.

It is a common practice, in many countries, that banks only approve credit cards to individuals who have regular payslips. Hence, free-lancers will have a remarkable hard time to get one. Japan may be one such case, I think.

[rancor]

Nope. I have a regular job with monthly payslips. I'm married to a Japanese woman, have a child, have a permanent address, a bank account, insurance, pay my taxes, the utilities are in my name (some), etc, etc, etc. Can't get a credit card. Not sure whats required here - it's a secret that they're not revealing. I gave up a few years ago, because honestly cash is king anyhow. Almost no one accepts credit cards except for major supermarkets and electronic stores - neither of which I frequent.

[Skykid]

wtf happened to japan!

It got even weirder.

[Ghegs]

Nope. I have a regular job with monthly payslips. I'm married to a Japanese woman, have a child, have a permanent address, a bank account, insurance, pay my taxes, the utilities are in my name (some), etc, etc, etc. Can't get a credit card. Not sure whats required here - it's a secret that they're not revealing. I gave up a few years ago, because honestly cash is king anyhow. Almost no one accepts credit cards except for major supermarkets and electronic stores - neither of which I frequent.

Really? Wow, that's surprising. I imagined Japan would have some high-tech solution to paying for things by now, like some tiny microchip embedded in your palm so you could just swipe a scanner and the deal's done. Or they'll just quickly read your DNA somehow and consult the Skynet for associated bank accounts and deduct it directly. Or something.

I very rarely carry cash on me anymore, and it's been years since I last went to a place that wouldn't accept credit cards. It boggles my mind to hear some countries still use cheques as well.

[Adderall]

I very rarely carry cash on me anymore, and it's been years since I last went to a place that wouldn't accept credit cards. It boggles my mind to hear some countries still use cheques as well.

When I was in Japan it appeared that most people were carrying around LOTS of cash. I'm sure Rancor or GP can verify.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, the USA still accepts personal checks as a method of payment but it's automatically withdrawn from your account and you're given it back after purchasing said item(s) nowdays (for your personal financial records). It didn't used to be that way back in the day. Of course, if paying by ATM or debit card or CC, then things start to get a bit different with the so-called micro-transaction fee of 25 cents charged in addition to whatever miscelleanous fees the banks charge for conducting said purchase transaction. It's all part of doing business as usual. As with the American grocery industry, they don't charge any extra micro-transaction fees & only just whatever the total amount is rung up at the cash register...so no worries in that department.

Now trying to get an cash advance from a Japanese ATM kiosk using a foreign credit card, that's a totally different matter. It can be done but you'd have to go to an International Cirrus ATM kiosk (which are very limited, location-wise) and you're good-to-go. I withdrew 30,000 yen once from said International Cirrus ATM kiosk and was hit with some expensive misc. fees (currency conversion fees, etc.) for that particular cash withdrawl transaction but it was worth it in the end.

Or you could always go to a Japanese bank and convert your foreign currency denomination into proper yen. However, the banks open at 11:00am at the earliest and close at 19:00pm. Crazy hours if you were to ask me. While I was waiting inside this one Japanese bank, at the lounging area, they had a HDTV monitor with a video of exoitc fish swimming around. Super razor-sharp overall presentation. Certainly cheaper than having a real aquarium setup indeed. Plus no need to feed the fish either. Had to chuckle upon seeing this HDTV aquarium setup.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[GaijinPunch]

Really? Wow, that's surprising. I imagined Japan would have some high-tech solution to paying for things by now, like some tiny microchip embedded in your palm so you could just swipe a scanner and the deal's done.

Oh, they do. IC cards. Think of Oyster cards in the UK, but you can pay for plenty with them. Any form of transportation, and just about any convenient store. You can tie them into your phone, or just carry a card in your pocket. iPhone didn't have an app for it, so Softbank made a sticker you stuck behind the carrying case. Note that these are cards you top up -- and they are anonymous. The idea is to not have more on it than you are comfortable losing. If you lose the card, the money is gone. You wouldn't go buy a 100,000 yen TV on them, but a 3,000 yen blow job you would (if they took them, but they don't).

I don't know how the service fees work on these cards, but the merchant fees w/ CC's is generally what turns stores off. You can use them at any major outlet, and just about any cab. You cannot use them at the post office (or I'd have a million fucking miles by now), or most small grocery stores. Mom and pop businesses still rule Japan to an extent. A lot of places (Mak Japan, for one) will give you the option but that whack you w/ a 5% fee, so they actually make an extra percent or so.

I very rarely carry cash on me anymore, and it's been years since I last went to a place that wouldn't accept credit cards. It boggles my mind to hear some countries still use cheques as well.

Japan is still ridiculously safe, and people carry cash. The upside is you don't get fucked by ATM fees as bad as the machines accommodate this lifestyle. You can pull out 500,000 yen usually from an ATM, and maybe up to 1,000,000 (currently ~$3800 and ~$7500 respectively).