Moving to Tokyo

I've read most of the topics concerning this question, but I have rather specific situation. I'm employed as web developer in Croatia, so my location is not important as long as I have internet connection at hand. So i have few questions...

1. I would like first to come to Japan and stay here on tourist visa for 3 months. I know that i need around 100.000 yen monthly for place to live (I'm aiming at Sakura house or something similar), but how much I need for other expenses? I see different numbers all the time.

2. I'm training jiu jiutsu here in Croatia, and I would like to continue with training in Tokyo, does anyone know what are the fees?

3. Is there any other way to stay longer in Japan than leave country every three months (I've read all about visas, but there is no info for situation where I earn my money in another country) without marrying for Japanese girl of course

Thank you for your info in advance.

1. Ofcourse it depends on your lifestyle. You can get dishes for 500 yen already. Something I really enjoyed eating in Japan was rice and curry with a nice piece of fried chicken for 500 yen (in one of those places with a vending machine that gives you a ticket after you make your choise). It's a decent lunch for sure. You'll probably have enough time to look around what are the cheap places to eat. Anyway don't worry, there are always some around.

2. I googled a bit and I found one advertisement already:

http://oshierumanaberu.net/TAG/柔術.html

Price starts from 2000 yen (probably differs for each martial arts cause not only jiu jitsu is being taught) for 2 hours.

3. I'm sure there are people out here who are more familiar with visa then I am, but I can't really give you any alternative. Watch out though with renewing your tourist visa this way. They may find it suspicious at immigration if you stay a whole 3 months in Japan for several times a year.

Homerduff said:

3. I'm sure there are people out here who are more familiar with visa then I am, but I can't really give you any alternative. Watch out though with renewing your tourist visa this way. They may find it suspicious at immigration if you stay a whole 3 months in Japan for several times a year.

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May? They may find it suspicious the first time it happens and bar you entry into the country. Japanese immigration does not look kindly on people that try to exploit the system, the tourist visa is NOT for people that want to make Japan their home (you can't work on one, so your entire time in Japan you will be draining your own savings). A visa is the only legal way to move there. A working holiday might be possible, but I don't know if Croatians qualify.

If you can't get a visa, go to Japan and stay for three months, come home and save up some more, and in another year you can come back and do the same. Do not try to move to Japan on a tourist visa.

utilities will run you 15,000 to 20,000 yen/month depending on the season, your location, your type of apartment, and your lifestyle. (guest houses won't charge for this, but you may have to provide a 25,000 security deposit)

food will run you 30,000-60,000 yen/month depending on your lifestyle and appetite

phone will run you 3500-8000 yen/month depending on landline vs. cell phone, and on how many calls you make (even local calls cost money here).

local transportation could run 20,000 to 25,000 yen/month.

Want to stay longer than 90 days? Get a proper visa. Student visa, cultural visa, work visa. Requirements vary.

Since you already got a work, and if you can't get a working holiday visa and you still want to come to Japan for longer then 3 month, I'd reckon the only way is a student visa.

Take a 1 year or 2 year Japanese course, that should give you enough time to think and reconsider if you really want to move to Japan or not. And if the school have a dormitory, It should help you save some money by not having to pay those expensive guest houses rent.

Tho the money will go to the school fees, but hey~ at least you can stay here for 1-2 years on a pre-college student visa, and learn something useful on top of that too.

sakura-house.com is such a great deal, I can't imagine renting a place that ISN'T from them. what a nightmare that would be...