Pro & cons of living in Tokyo (as a foreigner)

[Maciamo]

This is not the first thread on the subject, but I'd like to start something fresh and get something that does not degenerate into off-topic arguments. So the rules for this thread are :

1) Write a "pros" paragraph/list and a "cons" paragraph/list.
2) Do not argue about other people's points of view about other countries than Japan (so if someone says Tokyo is safe, and another one says it is dangerous, let's just assume that they come from different societies, and there is no "right answer", just personal opinions).
3) Keep it concise. No need to write an article to explain each point.
4) The title says "Tokyo" to make it easier, as saying that Japan is a convenient place to live would not have much meaning in a village in Shimane or Akita prefecture, although it does in big cities, especially. Tokyo. Likewise, saying that winters are mild is fine for Tokyo, but it doesn't apply to Hokkaido .
5) I wrote "as a foreigner" because most people on this forum aren't Japanese, and their point of view regarding lifestyle can be very different. But the Japanese are welcome to post too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pros

Food & Climate

• The climate is mild and clear in winter, and it doesn't rain much compared to Northern Europe.
• the food varied, tasty and cheap by Western standards

Convenience

• very convenient for shopping, buying food, etc., thanks to the numerous "combini", restaurants, department stores, etc.
• Bicycles can drive on the pavement/sidewalk or on the road (convenient for bikers, although some will find it dangerous)
• trains are spacious (high ceiling and wide) and in good condition (no graffiti, quite new...)
• easy to find a job for Westerners (although not any job)
• latest mobile phone technology readily available

Socio-cultural system

• Safety in general
• The service and attention to customers in most places are excellent
• The respect and politeness that most Japanese people have for others (except for noise)
• low taxes (esp. consumption tax)

Cons

Climate

- Summers are too muggy

Cost of life

• domestic flights, shinkansen and taxis are all very much overpriced
• cars (including licence, annual check, highway fees...) and parking spaces are too expensive
• No buses or trains running from about 00:30 am to 5:00 am. (no night bus system and taxis are expensive)
• houses/apartments are of poor quality and expensive
• Cinemas are expensive

Socio-cultural system

• The police have the right to arrest anybody for 23 days without evidence and refuse them to contact a lawyer or their family during that time (scary, especially as foreigners are more likely to be suspected of any crime than Japanese)
• foreigners are foreigners and will always be regarded as such, stared at or pointed at by kids, or refused entry to some establishments.
• bad education system (a problem for people having children in Japan, who do not want to pay a fortune for a private international school)

 

[Ewok85]

Pros

• Reliable climate (ie. winter is winter weather, summer is summer weather, its currently winter here and its like 23 degrees and sunny... thats not right)
• Decent public transport - trains run often and on time, to many locations
• Well signposted stations and roads
• Convience stores that are actually convenient!
• Friendly people
• Plenty of work

Cons

• As a foreigner you are an easy target. "Oh? You want this? You pay 2x what everyone else does" working overtime and not getting paid etc.
• Bugger all holiday time.
• Weather thats not quite to my taste (humid, RAINS IN SUMMER!?!? thats what I get for living in the dryest place on earth I guess)
• Expensive for tourists
• Low wages for dodgy jobs for foriegners (links to the first con)
• Strange laws that can and do catch unsuspecting and often innocent people out
• Anything bad that any gaijin has ever done is related to you regardless of where and when it happened. Your a foreigner! Evil evil! :evil: