Question Options to go to Japan medium-term

[Toli]

Hi everyone!

It's been my dream for quite a while to live in Japan for a couple of months. I'd like to do it to experience the lifestyle, see if living in the country will "click" with me. Experience the culture but not as a tourist but someone who lives there.

What are best options to do so? I wouldn't want to do a full-time job as I hear work-life balance in Japan isn't as good. But I wouldn't want to do nothing at all either, as this is not how you get to know the people. Ideally an activity that welcomes foreigners, can grant you a visa and of a social kind – to get to know other people. Money isn't as much a concern as I can save on my current job. I have a basic spoken Japanese language knowledge and, if need be, can get it up to speed to communicate with the locals on basic subjects.

 

[Buntaro]

Do you have an American or European passport? European citizens can get something called a work-study visa (which allows for part-time work) whereas Americans cannot.

Another idea is to get a cultural-study visa, where you do something like practice karate or study Japanese. (Such a visa would have to be issued in conjunction with a karate dojo or language school.)

Another idea is to go on a tourist visa and hang out at an 'English language coffee shop' everyday (or almost everyday) and just talk to Japanese people. You could then make friends with these people and they could then show you around the local interesting places.

 

[Toli]

Do you have an American or European passport? European citizens can get something called a work-study visa (which allows for part-time work) whereas Americans cannot.

Another idea is to get a cultural-study visa, where you do something like practice karate or study Japanese. (Such a visa would have to be issued in conjuction with a karate dojo or language school.)

Looks really interesting, thank you! I'm a Ukrainian passport holder currently residing in Switzerland - not sure if those visas you're talking about are only for EU. I haven't found any restrictions on https://www.isi-education.com/ though (are those the right guys?).

I didn't know you could get a visa by studying Karate! I'm doing jiu-jitsu here in Switzerland, but here it's much more informal, you wouldn't think of applying for a visa just because you want to study martial arts in another country

 

[Buntaro]

A work-study visa is where you study at a school and can work a limited number of hours per week. You need to find out about the specific limitations for a Ukrainian passport. I am sure the local Japanese consulate can help you with this.

I have heard of people going to Japan on a martial arts visa, but you would first need to find a martial arts school that would sponsor you. (Warning; training at a martial arts dojo in Japan is severe!)

Another idea is to go on a tourist visa and just hang out at an 'English language coffee shop' everyday (or almost everyday) and just talk to Japanese people. You could then make friends with these people and they could then show you around the local interesting places. Americans used to be able to easily get a 90-day tourist visa (although I don't know about this in these COVID-restriction days) but I do not know how easy it would be for you to get a tourist visa and if it would be valid for 90 days.

Here is a video from a Japanese fellow who practices iado (sword-fighting) in Japan. Perhaps he can give you an idea of where to look for a jiu-jitsu dojo in Japan that could sponsor you.

 

[Lothor]

Hi Toli, and welcome to the forum. I sometimes hang out at a cafe/bar such as the one Buntaro mentioned. It's in Tokyo and called Mickey House. They provide shared accommodation but no pay in return for working 3-4 days a week, and people usually work for a few months. It's a well-run place - I've talked to many people working there over the years and heard no complaints.

 

[Buntaro]

Here is a link for Mickey House in Takadanobaba, Tokyo.

English conversation lounge Mickey House

Here you can concentrate for conversation without caring about age, job, nationality. In a living room atmosphere, you will be able to have a relaxing talk about a variety of subjects, ranging from languages to social issues. You can enjoy talking in multi-languages and deepen your cultural...

mickeyhouse.jp

 

[Toli]

Thank you for your answers! I researched the question a bit, and it seems it's not possible to do Jiu-Jitsu on a cultural visa, because jiu-jitsu is Brasilian, and not Japanese.

That Mickey House looks really good! Do you know of any similar places that offer cheap shared long-term accommodation in Tokyo?

I got in touch with the ISI Education, and they quoted as requirements to study Japanese with them on a visa:
- 150 hours of prior Japanese studies
- 2,000,000 JPY balance in the bank.

Their tuition is 800,000 per year, which leaves around 1,200,000 for living expenses. Do you think such an estimate is reasonable, for Tokyo, including the rent?

 

[Buntaro]

Toli,

Have you mastered the reading and writing of hiragana and katakana? You absolutely must master them before you attend a language school in Japan. (Language schools in Japan do all teaching in Japanese -- not in English -- and they write everything in hiragana and katakana, not in romaji.)

 

[Majestic]

- 2,000,000 JPY balance in the bank.

This must be a minimum balance requirement. But you/they don't mention how long the course is, or how long the visa will be valid for. If its 6 months, then 1,200,000 isn't a realistic budget at all. Maybe its doable for 3 months depending on where you live.

Also, I was surprised by your comment

jiu-jitsu is Brasilian, and not Japanese

I think this will be a surprise to 120 million Japanese. Maybe some offshoots of Jiujitsu originated in Brazil, but the study itself is centuries old in Japan.

Jiu-jitsu dates back to the 1530s and was coined by Hisamori Tenenouchi when he officially established the first jiu-jitsu school in Japan.

Jujutsu - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[musicisgood]

Looks really interesting, thank you! I'm a Ukrainian passport holder currently residing in Switzerland - not sure if those visas you're talking about are only for EU. I haven't found any restrictions on https://www.isi-education.com/ though (are those the right guys?).

I didn't know you could get a visa by studying Karate! I'm doing jiu-jitsu here in Switzerland, but here it's much more informal, you wouldn't think of applying for a visa just because you want to study martial arts in another country

I got my visa years ago to stay in Japan for studying Karate. Of course, I was already in Japan with the US military and at a school of karate already. I did have to have a sponsor that had to have one million yean in the bank. I also found employment also in Hachioji at the time. Back then it was kind of easy to stay in Japan with a Japanese sponsor. These days to find someone with one million yen and cover your medical could get a little tricky .
Many karate schools are smaller when you go further south in Japan and the teachings can vary. Usually at earning a black belt with the right sensei you quickly find out that you feel you are a white belt wearing a black belt.
Also many local governments have a dojo in their cities. The prices are cheaper, but usually one hour a week lessons. But an NPO that works with foreigner can maybe find you a cheap student apartment. Usually these are around a University and mostly come furnish. Okinawa is a good place to study, but recently been there, I found out a car or 50cc you most likely will want to have. A bicycle, yes, but it gets very hot there as I know.

Good luck. Should be easy if you have a sponsor. I kind of think Okinawa might be the best way to go. Check out the schools there that cater to foreigners. Youtube videos will also help you see the sensei that runs the dojo.

 

[Toli]

Toli,

Have you mastered the reading and writing of hiragana and katakana? You absolutely must master them before you attend a language school in Japan. (Language schools in Japan do all teaching in Japanese -- not in English -- and they write everything in hiragana and katakana, not in romaji.)

I used to be able to do it couple of years ago they need JLPT N5 to start their school, I think should be doable via an online tutor or a small local course in half a year or so.

This must be a minimum balance requirement. But you/they don't mention how long the course is, or how long the visa will be valid for. If its 6 months, then 1,200,000 isn't a realistic budget at all. Maybe its doable for 3 months depending on where you live.

I consulted Numbeo for Tokyo, and it seems the monthly cost of life there is around $3000 including rent - would that be accurate enough?

 

[Lothor]

I used to be able to do it couple of years ago they need JLPT N5 to start their school, I think should be doable via an online tutor or a small local course in half a year or so.



I consulted Numbeo for Tokyo, and it seems the monthly cost of life there is around $3000 including rent - would that be accurate enough?

That figure seems rather high. There are plenty of places to stay for $500 to $600 a month.

 

[Majestic]

That figure seems rather high.

Really? I was going to say the opposite, but after thinking on it some more I decided it not to post anything because I felt it could be workable for a student on a budget in one of those very cheap apartments. But it doesn't feel high to me, especially with increases in gas and electricity:

Say 60,000 for rent in a cheap one-room apartment - bearing in mind that the cheaper the apartment, the higher your transportation costs will be.
About 10,000 for internet and mobile phone, if you get a cheap plan for both.
10,000 for electricity. (maybe more nowadays).
10,000 for gas and water.
Leaves 210,000 for food, transportation, and other.
I haven't included shakai hoken in this as it gets complicated. (Maybe short-time students don't even pay this. Anyway, I leave it out for now). So it leaves about 50,000/week for food/clothes/entertainment.

Feels workable, but it doesn't strike me as high - but I haven't lived on a student's budget it a while. Maybe my food expectations are out of whack.

 

[Lothor]

Really? I was going to say the opposite, but after thinking on it some more I decided it not to post anything because I felt it could be workable for a student on a budget in one of those very cheap apartments. But it doesn't feel high to me, especially with increases in gas and electricity:

Say 60,000 for rent in a cheap one-room apartment - bearing in mind that the cheaper the apartment, the higher your transportation costs will be.
About 10,000 for internet and mobile phone, if you get a cheap plan for both.
10,000 for electricity. (maybe more nowadays).
10,000 for gas and water.
Leaves 210,000 for food, transportation, and other.
I haven't included shakai hoken in this as it gets complicated. (Maybe short-time students don't even pay this. Anyway, I leave it out for now). So it leaves about 50,000/week for food/clothes/entertainment.

Feels workable, but it doesn't strike me as high - but I haven't lived on a student's budget it a while. Maybe my food expectations are out of whack.

A few quick points.

Shakai hoken goes on the previous year's income, so is low for a first year resident.

Apartment rooms use relatively little electricity (your neighbours heat your apartment to some extent). Gas is still relatively cheap.

Travel costs are not necessarily high. Someone living in my pleasant but unremarkable part of Tokyo about 8km outside the Yamanote line, where there is cheap accommodation available, could be attending Rikkyo University at Ikebukuro and spending less than 10,000 a month on a season ticket between my local station and Ikebukuro.

 

[Toli]

10,000 for gas and water

Hmm, so gas is used for cooking, not electricity?
10000 for the basic utilities is quite high though, in Switzerland I pay about that amount every three months for electricity.

And the 50,000 per week is about as much as I spend in Switzerland for food and going out, and that's the top budget. And Switzerland is supposed to be one of the most expensive countries to live in. Is 50,000 really what people usually pay in Japan for food weekly?

What other expenses should I keep in mind? Any insurances?

 

[Majestic]

There are both electric stoves and gas stoves in Japan. All but one of the places I lived in in Japan used gas for cooking.
10,000/month for electricity for a small apartment would have been expensive a few years ago, but today, I don't know. I just did a quick search on the internet and an article from 2020 said the average monthly electric bill for one person is 5700/month.

Let's say electricity costs you 6000/month.
Gas and Water; let's cut it back and say this is 6000/month as well.
Cheap phone plan (like UQ) and cheap internet; 5000/month
That leaves 223,000/month for food and everything else.

If you are here longer than 3 months, you will have to pay into the national health insurance scheme, which would be around 10,000/month, I guess. Maybe slightly less for some cities. This covers 70% of your medical bills. You pay for the remaining 30%, unless you require some major medical procedure.

 

[mdchachi]

Is 50,000 really what people usually pay in Japan for food weekly?

No, for food alone, you can easily get by for half of this. And if you are frugal you could get by with an average of Y3000/day I think.
But if you like to hang out with your friends and have a few drinks once or twice a week you could easily reach this amount.