SOMEBODY HELP ME.... I NEED REAL ANSWERS, REAL FAST.

[tokyojoe]

first.... I am planning to spend 6mo in Japan, my first time away from home.

second i want to know how everyone is liking all of these Xbox Contest ads....

Xbox is running ads here but I don`t think they are for contests

third i want to know how leanient the clubs and bars are in Roppongi. Am I, an eighteen year old, going to be able to maintain some kind of Roppongi nightlife, even though Im underage? Ive heard that Roppongi bars dont even check visas for some bartenders, is the chance good that i wont be questioned or hassled?

If you look of age they probably won`t hassle you unless you wear a school uniform. I see lots of kids from the local american schools going into the bars.


forth ... Can someone live (modestly) on 200,000 JPY? (with a roommate) ... Where should I live?

that is doable. rent will typically run 60-80k for a 6 mat place. quality will depend on location and distance. many places require a few months down payment as security. there are also gaijin houses but I don`t know much about those.

fifth... Should i give up thinking about being any kind of English teacher? What job SHOULD i persue?

I think most schools require a 4 year degree and a ESL qualification. If you want to work `under the table` you should be able to find some stuff.

sixth.... How much "seed" money should I take to japan to get started? I dont need a big place, I dont plan on spending much time there. How much money will i need to get started and live untill i can find a job? (taken into effect that im 18, just out of highschool) I was thinking of using a story about me wanting to become an esl teacher in the US, and I had always wanted to live in japan, so I thought I would live in japan and get some experience teaching before i went home to college to get my degree in it.... would that impress anyone? How little of money should i work for? How far does 200,000 JPY go if you keep LIVING EXPENSES to an absolute minimun?

200k will keep you for a few months if you live real cheap. I`d recommend more like 500k to keep you going until you find something. What is your visa status? If you are a student you can work 20 hours a week, I think.


DO I GIVE UP TRYING TO LIVE IN JAPAN FOR A FEW YEARS? ... WILL THIS WORK? ... DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY PAY FOR TRAIN TICKETS?

[GomiGirl]

Of course people pay for train tickets - you can't get through the gates without a ticket - even a valid ticket!! Transport is acutally quite expensive. But with your budget you should be OK.

But drinking in Roppongi is expensive. Beers are usually about 1,000 yen each.

Forget about going to the movies at 1,800 yen each.

but you can live quite cheaply if you are careful.

Teacher standards are actually quite strict in terms of a college degree. But you could get lucky. Have a look at a few job boards on-line.

Also have a look at http://www.metropolis.co.jp for some info.

[kamome]

Seed money is going to be a problem for you. To rent an apartment, you have to pay, on average, a two-month deposit AND a two-month payment called "key money" (i.e., a bribe or courtesy payment to the landlord) before moving in. Sometimes you can find places with no key money or negotiate down the deposit/key money amounts. In principle, the farther away from a big city you are, and the more distant you are from a train station, the lower your rent will be. You also need money to put a few pieces of furniture in your apartment (basic needs: futon, kotatsu, fridge), hook up utilities (you have to be able to flush the toilet and turn on the lights, right?), and to pay miscellaneous administrative fees (gaijin card, reentry permit, etc.). I would bring seed money of at least $5000 plus your monthly budget of $2000. Good luck....

[GomiGirl]

A car is useful if you live in a smaller town - but if you are in Tokyo they are more trouble than they are worth IMHO. The trains are so much more convenient plus they are heaps of fun on the last/first train on a night out.

If you are travelling cross-country on the highways - the road tolls are horrendous. Sure you can travel by local roads but it will take forever.

If you are on a tourist visa, run - do not walk - to your travel agent to get a JR rail pass. The upfront payment is steep but they will give you unlimited travel on JR trains including Shinkansen. Just one return trip from Tokyo to Osaka and it will have paid for itself. You can get to almost everywhere in Japan on this pass. They won't let poor punters with a work visa get one because they are such good value.

[kamome]

Do NOT buy a car in Tokyo. Between the nightmare of getting a driver's license (assuming you will live in Japan after your int'l license expires) and the cost of parking and gas, it's not worth it.