could I find a homestay in Furano (long term)?

[orient express]

Dear Forum

I want to live for 9 months in Furano to achieve a number of small goals, including getting fit, learning snowboarding, Japanese. Though i am based in HK, I was in Furano for a weeks recently. Is it possible to get a homestay that would accept a long termer? My basic web searches have not come up with much.

Also, I would quite like to teach English there part-time (I am qualified and experienced) to pay for some of my way and contribute a little too. Do you think that would be possible?

Many thanks for anybody's thoughts and info, especially if you are living in/familiar with Japan

-OR

 

[maushan3]

I have neer been to Japan, but browsing the forum has helped me learned a lot of things. So I hope i can be of some help.

Did you finish college? If so, you should check out with the mayor English-language school employers which are Nova and another one that I can't remember. I think that you just need to be from some English-speaking country, I wouldn't know how HK would qualify, though.

You could use this for your host stay, it charges like 50,000 en a month including meals: http://www.en.stayinjapan.net/

Mauricio

 

[GaijinPunch]

You have three options:
1: Get a job, and sponsorship. This will be renewed on a 1 year basis. Hope you're not adversed to being a 2nd rate citizen until your visa comes through, b/c you can't do anything. No phone, no bank account, etc. etc.

2: Get a tourist visa, and leave within 3 months.

3: Student visa (you'd need to get this one before going). You'd be allowed to work 20 hours a week, but it's not really enforced. You could work under the table as well.

 

[orient express]

Dear Both of you

Thanks for those replies. That's helpful. I should make clear that I am a native speaker of English working in HK for the last 7 years. 50,000 month? that sounds fairly reasonable if it includes all meals.

OK, so I could always nip out to Shanghai or Russia every three months if he worst came to the worst, then

Does anybody know what it would be like to work in Furano? I didn't come across Nova or anything big there as far as working. Perhaps I am picking the wrong place but part of my reason for wanting to go there is to enjoy the climate and to learn snowboarding. I should add that as I live in HK i am accustomed to the pollution and humidity but I would like to clear out the system a bit.

I just found Furano to be a very chilled place with nice folk and lots of space and facilities.

Thanks again, and appreciative of any further advice

Best
PO

 

[nice gaijin]

Japanese immigration doesn't take too kindly to people who are obviously abusing their visas. You are not supposed to work on a tourist visa, and "nipping out" to another country to renew your tourist status might work once, if that.

 

[orient express]

Thanks for your warning Nice Gaijin. I guess I have worked for too long in Asian Countries that I have become used to rule-bending being acceptable when both parties win. But, honestly speaking, I don't need to 'work' there at all. So the issue of work visas is not the main one but I would like to 'contribute' and a little extra money would be nice. Whereabout are you working? Have you spent much time in Hokaido at all?

OR

 

[nice gaijin]

I'm in Tokyo, and unfortunately haven't had an opportunity to get up to Hokkaido yet. Good luck in your search.