Harder Than I Think?

Hey All,

I hope this ends up being a simple question. (fingers crossed)

I need to get my Japanese up to snuff for a job back home in Canada. I have a friend in Tokyo who has hooked me up with a place to stay, but the rent is unclear yet. Probably around 50,000.

What I need to do is work enough to sustain myself on a modest lifestyle, while at the same time attending Japanese lessons. I am confident that I can study a lot on my own, so maybe lessons only twice a week will do. I have several years teaching experience under my belt already.

I would like to be in Japan from August to early December. I'm Canadian so that gives me three months landing visa on the passport. So I suppose my questions are these.

1. How easy will it be for me to find a job quickly upon arrival in Tokyo?
2. Would making about 150,000 a month be sufficient for my plan? I plan on studying, studying, studying. No partying/outside trips necessary.
3. Is it possible to work for three months, take a quick trip to, say, Korea for the weekend, then come back and get another three month visa?
4. Would it be simpler to get a student visa of some kind?
5. Should I just avoid Tokyo all together? In other words, would it be easier, cheaper to get a job elsewhere?

Thanks for your advice!

SG

SuperGenki said:

I would like to be in Japan from August to early December. I'm Canadian so that gives me three months landing visa on the passport. So I suppose my questions are these.

1. How easy will it be for me to find a job quickly upon arrival in Tokyo?

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A better question would be "How legal will it be for me to work on a tourist visa?"

Also, if you are studying alone, whats the difference between doing so in Canada and Japan?

lol are you 2 trying to keep him out of Japan?

Hi Mike. It wouldn't be legal at all. I would prefer if it was. Would I be able to change my visitor visa to a student/worker one once I arrived? Is it possible to get a part-time worker visa?

Hi Ewok: sure, I could study in Canada or elsewhere and I am considering it if Japan is too expensive. But I think total submersion in the country/language would be vastly more effective than simply reading books. To clarify: I wouldn't study very much formally, but rather only a few hours a week. Then I would take what I learned, try and make friends and integrate my new knowledge with my conversation.

Studying here is really expensive - just sounded to me like you were going to come over with some textbooks and sit admiring the view while working through them. Formal lessons can put a dent in the budget - like 4000 yen for a single 90min lesson.

Not trying to stop ya, just making sure you know what your in for

SuperGenki said:

Hi Mike. It wouldn't be legal at all. I would prefer if it was. Would I be able to change my visitor visa to a student/worker one once I arrived? Is it possible to get a part-time worker visa?

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Google working holidays, you should meet the requirements if you are Canadian.

Heh, the working holiday would be a great idea...if I hadn't already got one a few years ago.

Carlson said:

lol are you 2 trying to keep him out of Japan?

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Quite the opposite.

I'm trying to keep him from running the risk of being deported and banned from future reentry to Japan for a number of years afterward.

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