I need help with getting to japan.

[username5433]

I am sorry to ask this becuase I am sure it has been asked about a millions times before, but I will ask anyway.

I need to get to Japan and I have little to no money . I was woundering if any one knew abut any programs where I could work in exchange for housing or something of that nature. Basically I really need to get to Japan but I probably won't be able to afford much after the price of airline tickets. I am not sure how long I would want to stay in Japan but I at least want to be there for a few months. I would love to move to Japan but I can't think of how I would do that at the moment. Well anyway any information would be great. Sorry to fill the forums with anouther stupid question but anything you could tell would be great. thanks

 

[Mike Cash]

A fellow Tennessean!

If you barely have enough to cover airfare, then living expenses are definitely going to present a problem. Have you looked into lining up employment teaching English? Do a search on the forums for "Nova", "Geos", "Aeon", or "JET" and you can pick up quite a bit of useful information and save us from typing the same thing for the millionth time.

As an American, you are not eligible for the working holiday visa that people from a few other countries are.

If you're in a sharing sort of mood, could you tell us why you need to get to Japan?

 

[username5433]

I don't mind sharing most things over forums but this is a very personal reason. If it turn out that it is a must for people to know then I may share it but for now I would prefere not to. thank you though for your information and I will look for those forums.

 

[Keiichi]

Is this in a rush? I think the best way is to get yourself a job first whereever you're at now and make some money. Even if you get a job in Japan, you still have to put down payments for staying at certain places. Unless you have a really good friend there that'll let you stay, and pay'em back later, or something.

Keiichi

☝

 

[Mike Cash]

The first thing Marrow needs to do is look at visa requirements and eligibility.

 

[King of Tokyo]

Get money. And a fairly substantial amount at that. This is such a general question that it is hard to answer as no one knows your situation or what you are able to do. But if you do get a great answer of how to get to Japan, do let me know.

 

[TwistedMac]

yeah... the whole japanophile community would bask in the glory of the answer on how to go to japan instantly without any funds and survive...

heck, I wanna know how to do that in my own country...

 

[username5433]

well thanks for all the replies. I suppose I will just see if I can sell some organs or something and get some cash

 

[Ewok85]

Your age and some background would be useful. In uni? done uni? working? highschool?

 

[wintersweet]

Yeah, it's difficult to think of things without some data. For example, there are some programs where you can work on an organic farm for room and board, but there are certain eligibility requirements.

 

[username5433]

high school grad. decent - good grades. 18. little college.

and UNI does not ring any bells. I am not sure if I had heard of it.

 

[Mike Cash]

"Uni" is short for "university".

Without a college degree, you're going to find it extremely difficult to come to Japan as anything other than a tourist. This is due to visa requirements.

 

[Ewok85]

College, uni(versity) degree is a must to get a visa. Or get married, which i highly dissaprove of to just get a visa...

 

[username5433]

ha i have never heard a university called uni. oh well we learn something new everyday. Does anyone know about he programs mentioned by wintersweet.

"Yeah, it's difficult to think of things without some data. For example, there are some programs where you can work on an organic farm for room and board, but there are certain eligibility requirements."

 

[Ewok85]

Thats a working holiday setup, no good for you.

You've done a little college so I'd ask around the counsellors and see if your college has any exchange programs going.

Otherwise without college or work experience (5 years at least i think) you wont be able to get more than a 3month tourist visa, or possibly a year student visa if you can get a school to 'sponser' your visa. Then you need to pay for airfare, accomadation, tutorial fees etc... exchange is your best bet.

 

[username5433]

ok well I am screwed. My college has no exchange program. well thanks for the help anyway.

 

[Mike Cash]

If you're still in college, just hang in there until you graduate.

 

[Ewok85]

You get more out of finishing college than dropping out early

 

[Mike Cash]

You get more out of finishing college than dropping out early

Having dropped out early, I heartily attest to the accuracy of that statement.

 

[ArmandV]

From what I've heard, one of the best ways is to line up a job in Japan and have the company sponsor you. Unless you have a means of gainful employment in Japan, they really don't want you there.

 

[Ewok85]

You need to meet visa requirements first, which is normally the hardest part of getting to a country for work once you have the plane money etc.

 

[username5433]

grr. those visa, always out to get you. Hey I have a much easier idea. anyone know a Japanese woman who wants to marry a young, handsome, smart, talented, wealthy, american? (without the handsome, smart, talented and wealthy). C'mon I am easy to get along with

 

[Ewok85]

Visa's are useful, means you need to make some kind of an effort to get into your country of choice

Dont worry Marrow, im in the same boat as you.

 

[username5433]

I was just kidding around. onc I graduate I am sure the visa won't be hard to get. its the waiting till I graduate. Once again I want to say thanks to those who have given there opinions and advice

 

[myrrhine]

the organic farm program thing is called ... tip of my tongue... umm... ah! wwoof!
stands for world wide organization of organic farms or something such. they're pretty specific that you should be genuinely interested in the work, and the locations probably generally aren't exactly urban if you need access to a city...
it's not just farms though if i remember correctly, there were other things too like retreats and whatnot. and several specified that you didn't need to know japanese, if that's an issue. there's a bunch of info online, just google it.
not so sure about visa stuff there, you're not technically employed, so maybe just a tourist visa is fine?
looks like a cool program anyways!