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What advice would you give to someone new, moving to Japan?
Things this year are becoming more permanent for me. I've worked out in Tokyo off and on for the last few years, normally a few weeks at a time on my original work contract. I now have an opportunity to prolong my stay, with the initial move being 6 months, with an option to extend after this period. This means that I now have to start planning for a more permanent set of circumstances, and re-negotiate my contract etc.
So, if you had the knowledge you have now, when you first moved here, what advice would you give?
I'm looking at things like:
Anything else you can think of?
I'm guessing the initial 6 month contract may be an issue for some providers, as the visa (I think) will only be valid as long as the contract is? Should I push for a 12 month visa, with a 6 month review?
I'm sure there are a million things that I will need to organise once the official offer comes through, but I don't want to turn up clueless and not have any idea where to start. I'm guessing I will have 1 or 2 weeks in a guest house when I first arrive, and before I start work, in which to get everything organised. So the better prepared I am, the more relaxed I can be during this time.
Things this year are becoming more permanent for me. I've worked out in Tokyo off and on for the last few years, normally a few weeks at a time on my original work contract. I now have an opportunity to prolong my stay, with the initial move being 6 months, with an option to extend after this period. This means that I now have to start planning for a more permanent set of circumstances, and re-negotiate my contract etc.
So, if you had the knowledge you have now, when you first moved here, what advice would you give?
I'm looking at things like:
- Comfortable monthly income (before tax) to live on (single, 40 something male). Reading the other thread, I think the general consensus is 500k per month? Reading a little about Japanese salaries, I think the average salary for my role in Japan is around 7-8 million yen per year.
- Areas of Tokyo to look for accommodation (working southern Tokyo, near the Yamonote line).
- Would you recommend a bit of a daily commute (1 hour each way), or try to live as close to work as possible? I can see advantages for both, but having never done a daily commute I'm not sure how tiresome it becomes.
- For the initial 6 month contract, how likely is it that I will find a decent affordable apartment willing to rent to me, or will I be restricted to living with other people in a shared environment?
- What benefits are normally included as part of a Japanese employment contract (medical, travel etc.)? Should I be expecting them to cover the accommodation deposits etc.?
- How did people transfer their bulk belongings from their home country (PC, clothes)?
- I won't have furniture, TV's etc., as I'm leaving those in my property which I'm renting out, so does accommodation normally come fully furnished?
- As everyone in the work environment wears suits, shirts etc, I imagine these must be quite cheap in Tokyo (compared to where I live), so would it be easy to just leave most things and buy a complete new wardrobe in Japan?
- Any recommendations for language classes in Japan (I'm N4, moving towards N3), or would I be better off just talking as much as possible and trying to pick it up (want to pass my N3 in the first 6 months).
- Mobile phones, recommended package?
- Does accommodation come with all utilities included (gas, electric, internet etc.), or will I need to organise with suppliers?
- How easy is it to make friends in Tokyo? In my previous visits I've made some good friends, and quite a few acquaintances, but these have all been external to the work environment while sitting in bars. Compared to your home countries, how quickly do you think you were accepted by your work colleagues and invited into their social circles (again, different cultures may have an influence here).
Anything else you can think of?
I'm guessing the initial 6 month contract may be an issue for some providers, as the visa (I think) will only be valid as long as the contract is? Should I push for a 12 month visa, with a 6 month review?
I'm sure there are a million things that I will need to organise once the official offer comes through, but I don't want to turn up clueless and not have any idea where to start. I'm guessing I will have 1 or 2 weeks in a guest house when I first arrive, and before I start work, in which to get everything organised. So the better prepared I am, the more relaxed I can be during this time.