Any advice on living in Tokyo?

[Ozy_Flame]

Hello all. My brother and I recently visited Japan and fell in love with the country. We returned to Canada, but realized that Calgary is just not the place for us to reside, at least for now. As a result, we plan to return to Tokyo next year, and hopefully find employment teaching or otherwise and stay for a while. We are both over 21, each have business degrees in hand, are are learning Japanese over the next 12 months.

Any CP'ers able to give some advice on living in Japan (specifically Tokyo)?

[LIP MAN]

My brother posts on here from time to time and lives/works in Tokyo and has for quite some time. I'll let him know to post on here, and maybe exchange info.

[arsenal]

I think Commadore Affro is living in Japan possibly Tokyo right now, or at least he was recently. He will have some insight.

[LIP MAN]

Ya he is that's my bro. I was trying to remember his name and then you posted that. I'll drop a line on his facebook right now.

[SeeGeeWhy]

DO:

Breathe
Drink water
Eat food

DON'T:

Learn your japanese from the girls you are dating
Poke Godzilla with a stick
Expect to live in anything larger than 50 sq. ft.

[Locke]

Dont eat the Lobster Dinner from the vending machine....

Locke.

[DuffMan]

buy your steaks, beer and gently soiled girls panties out of vending machines on the street.

[Ozy_Flame]

LOL, I am aware of what's in the vending machines, I have seen what they have to offer the last time I was there.

You can get some damn good vending machine breakfasts though! haha

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Say "Kawaii" a lot. Especially to the elders.

[Superflyer]

I just read this article this morning. It was pretty good about an Australian who lived in Tokyo for a year and something that he learned.
http://firefly.yourjapan.jp/post/2/358

[HOZ]

CommodoreAfro would be the person to ask if he is around. If you come to the Osaka area I'd be happy to give you the lowdown.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

I've been in Seoul with work this week, so forgive my tardiness in replying to threads in general. In terms of coming to Japan, the first question I'd throw your way is how dead set you are at being in Tokyo. Don't get me wrong, I love Tokyo, but if I as a young guy coming to Japan I originalyly went on the JET Programme, which places English teachers (and others) in schools across the country. Hands down it's the best way to come to Japan for first timers as you are treated well (good hours - 8:30-4:30, good pay, your living quarters are sorted, and since you're brought in by the government, you are treated very well including the fact that they pay for your flight over) and it will give you a good crack at learning Japanese, as you'll be in an all-Japanese all the time environment. The drawbacks are that the programme only hires candidates once a year, that the process is rather long (itself a Japanese experience) and that they rarely place people in Tokyo (though you can request to be in the Kanto area, which will put you close to the city). Applications typically are due in November and if accepted, you would head to Japan in July. On a personal note, I went to Japan on JET in 1994, spent three years in Japan, moved back to Calgary, and came back to Japan (and eventually Tokyo) to continue in my field of work in 2003 (I work for an ad agency).

If however, it's Tokyo or bust, there are a number of places that will hire you and help you set up a place to live. Most of the English schools that you hear about will set you up in a small apartment and will pay about 250,000 yen to start. Here's a list followed of the schools along with their reputation amongst locals:
Decent Reputation:
Berlitz, AEON
A mix of complaints, with positives
GEOS, Gaba
More complaints than positives
NOVA, Interac
Avoid at all costs:
American School

Most of the above schools will set you up with a place to live, and in some cases dock the rent directly from your pay check. They all have a lot of jobs in and around Tokyo, and hire year-round. With the exception of Interac, all of the English conversation schools will have you work 12-9 five days a week. You will also have to pay for your flight over yourself with all of these companies, and in some cases, cover "key money" - in Japan when you rent an apartment you wind up having to pay "thank you money", 2-3 months deposit and the real estate agent so it can put a big dent in your wallet.

So if you're keen on teaching, and as you have about 12months lead time, that's a primer. If you have any questions specifically (I could write for ages on this stuff) but I figured if I could at least clarify your intentions to start that would make things easier.