Living in Japan
 

For various reasons I am thinking about moving to japan for 2-3 months. I just love the culture and need a break from everyday swedish life and I would like to study some japanese and japanese women.

I have looked at something called monthly mansions where you rent a furnished room / apartment with internet connection for one month at a time. Anyone know anything about this? Any recommendations on companys I can check out?

What city should I go to? Any place where I can get by with english would suffice.

Hello from Japan :)

You can find a lot of useful information here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/

I haven't used a weekly/monthly mansion for 7 or 8 years but at that time they usually had Internet access already, so it should be no problem at all nowadays.

October/November and March/April/May are usually the best months to be in Japan. If you go for 2-3 months I would actually stay in several cities (e.g. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, Fukuoka, etc.) and maybe in a smaller city somewhere as well.

"You rike Yapanese woman?" Then saddle up!

Once upon a time I did a lot of business in Tokyo. It is an amazing place. Looks like, and often feels like, New York, but that is just the surface. Underneath, it is entirely Eastern.

Most Japs speak a little "Engrish" (also call Janglish), or at least pretend to, especially in Tokyo, where you will find a whole "Gaijin" (Western) subculture. Needless to say, there is a lot written about this on the web. Also, Dave Barry wrote an hysterical book, Dave Bary does Japan, which I found spot on - and very funny.

Japanese LOVE their vices: porn, young chicks (have them keep the little uniform on), gambling (pachinko, stay away), and heavy drinking (I was a semi pro at the time) but like everything else in Japan, it's VERY expensive. Did I mention it's expensive? The vices, AND the food. In other words, the very stuff of life. A hard boiled egg is five bucks. A good reastaurant dinner for two will set you back $250. $500 if you go for Sushi. Got cash?

Happy trails!

These days Japan is cheaper than ever, especially if you come from Europe. Japan went through a deflation and the yen is even weaker than the dollar. Pretty much everything here is cheaper than in Europe now.

Excellent advice, keep it coming. J B, how does it work with internet connection, can I just bring my laptop or do I need special converters and such?

All you need is a travel plug adapter (same as for the US). Hotels and mansions usually have LAN or W-LAN.

i am in osaka right now.. going to tokyo wednesday

very funny reading this post. i am thinking the exact same thing as you

I have no clue what to do during the days except work, study some japanese is one thing I thought about. I just want to experience the culture. If I live in the monthly mansions, are they cool with me staying in during daytime working in my room or do they have special rules for what you can and cannot use the room for?

hm, why? I was planning to go in August

I was going to go for about 3 weeks

internet is actually not needed for me, I won't be working
but I assume there are some internet caffees where you can check mail every few days?

re prices, Im confused, BooblerBob said it's very expensive while you said it's even cheaper than EU... from my research it didn't seem like that

and the western style hotels seemed quite expensive for me

I guess the hardest part there can be transportation or walking through the cities, if you don't know Japanese and the streets have names written in Japanese... or no names at all!

Re Japanese women, are the typical women attracted to foreign guys or totally indifferent? Not talking about the Roppongi girls.

BTW there's a thread already called "living in Japan" I think

and then there's that big thread from Jay[neX]

and the thread from DarkJedi about Japanese girls that I bumped today

Yes from Europe you'll need an adapter. United States people wont. Other than you might want to bring a grounding plug adapter as a lot of the plugs there are only the 2 prong type. United States is 110 to 115 but may fluctuate to 120. Japan runs on 120 If I recall correctly. Things still work just fine.

Visit Kyoto, Tokyo, and Yokohama. You wont have much trouble with language until you are outside of the bigger cities. For instance as you go on the train from Tokyo to Yokohama you start seeing the notification on the trains change from Japanese and English to just Japanese only. Our whole family goes there once a year to visit my inlaws. This year should be super interesting considering we are taking 3 kids over this time. Plannin an October trip this year. Think it will be my 7th time going over.

Don't do hotels. Look for "executive apartments" or short term residences. You won't get anything like hotel, but you can get a decent place for a month at about the same rate as a decent hotel for a week. Most of the facilities are located reasonably close to public transit, which is very important.

It is easier to stay in the bigger cities, it gets harder the further outside of the major cities that you go because of the language issue. In most of the major cities, at least some of the signs for transit and stuff have english translations. Go outside of the biggest cities, and everything turns solidly japanese with no translations and often very few people that can understand you.

Taking a japanese language class or self teaching at least the basics of communication would help.

Now, this is hot :error :error :error

oh my god!!!

Bakeroh!

http://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/backtobehind.jpg

ADG

A few more...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ters/Japan.jpg

http://www.amuseline.com/wp-content/...11/warning.jpg

ADG

Another reason... the Japanese College Girls!!!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/...9affcd8e_b.jpg

I might move to tokyo soon as well... what'll it cost me for a shabby but liveable apartment maybe a 2bdm?

Oh, let me add some information on rentals:

First things first, apartments are mostly measured is "mat" size, which is the number of tatami mats that would be required to cover the floor surface. Older japanese apartments often have spaces that convert from one use to another, so a one bedroom apartment might be for a whole family, with mom and dad sleeping in the "family room" that converts to a bedroom at night.

More modern accommodation are quoted in bedrooms, size, and mats.

If you rent longer term, you will be required typically to pay first and last month rent, a security deposit equal to anywhere from one to three months rent (returns at end of rental) and key money (tip to the landlord for giving you the key to the unit) typically one or two months rent which is never returned, just lost money.

As a result, it can be somewhat expensive to setup to start with.

There are large numbers of companies that rent executive or "short term" units all over Tokyo and other major cities. These go from simple one room 400 square foot boxes to stunning high end units. Rents are all over from 100,000 yen a month to more than 3 million yen a month. When you consider that a decent hotel will run you 15,000-25,000 yen per night, the monthly rentals are pretty good.

Search google for "expat rentals" or "tokyo short term rentals" and that should get you started.

You can stay there whenever you want. It's pretty much the same as renting an apartment.

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IMHO August is pretty much the worst month to be in Japan as it's really hot and humid then. Also, it's the peak season for typhoons.


Yeah, and many hotels have a free Internet terminal in the lobby.


I think BoobleBob was talking about the past. Also, it's a difference whether you come from Europe or the US. The value of the Yen decreased together with the USD, even more actually. That's why it's quite cheap for Europeans now.

With a bit of research you can get a reasonable hotel with free Internet and a good location in e.g. Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto for EUR 60-80 per night. If you prefer to stay in 4 or 5 star hotels, it's usually a good idea to go to a local travel agency in Japan because they often have very good specials (This is not so easy if you don't speak Japanese and don't have any locals to help you though).

It's no problem at all to get a very nice lunch or dinner for less than EUR 10. Of course, you can also spend much more if you want to. For example, if you want to eat Sushi, you can eat for EUR 10-20 in a running sushi (the quality is usually quite good) or spend many hundreds in a nice traditional restaurant and everything in between. The same goes for everything else but that's the same pretty much everywhere in the world.


As long as you're in bigger cities it's no problem at all.


I would say that the majority of Japanese women don't have any real interest in Gaijin but luckily Japan has a big population, so no matter where you go you will always find at least a few. If you give out your email address, be prepared to get emails even years later when girls happen to plan a trip to Europe :)

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In general I would say that the less Japanese you speak and the less local people you know, the more money you will spend and the less you will actually experience the real Japan. That's why I would learn at least some basic Japanese and maybe try to get in contact with a few Japanese people before you go. There are quite a few sites on the net where Japanese people want to get to know western people.

College girls don't wear uniforms... :2 cents: :error

ADG

Do you know how to speak little Japanese, you need it to introduce yourself

Koonichiwa, Watashi no namae wa kandah desu:thumbsup

true that

I lived in Mansions for about 6 months when I moved to Japan, it was very comfortable but small. The internet is plug and play and is usually pretty fast.

As far as getting by with just English, a lot of people say that in the big cities you'll be OK, but in my experience you'll need at least a basic level of Japanese understanding to get by. Maybe I just wasn't lucky, but finding people who speak enough English to make sense has been hard for me :)

I considered going to Japan for a stint 7 or 8 yeas ago... was offered a position as an English teacher.... free room and board, and all that jazz.

Kinda regret that I never went, to be honest.

My Buddy just landed there last week, he is in the marines. I will have to forward these post to him.

I want the one on the right :)

thanks for all the info JB, I appreciate it

wow that nice.... But in a few years I'll be married most likely...



I'm totally unmotivated recently, and I also failed learning Russian few years ago, I don't think I'd be able to learn a language with a different alphabet.

Actually I know 3 foreign languages and I've been always told I have good language skills but I'm not really planning on learning Japanese.

I don't know anyone in Japan either... BTW JP - do you LIVE in Japan? Or are only on vacation there?

Try to contact with people in Japan before going there? You mean through MySpace etc? Or perhaps AFF? :Graucho

My pleasure :)


Yeah, that's excactly what is happening to me. I married last year but still get such emails once in a while :error


You don't need to speak Japanese well. Just learn the basics (Hello... my name is... how are you... I'm fine... I have a futon in my pocket... good bye... etc.) and it will already help :)


I don't live here but I'm here quite often as my wife is Japanese.


One example: http://www.japan-guide.com/local/?aCAT=2

Oh yeah, if you have a schoolgirl uniform fetish, Japan is pretty much gonna kill you. The twenty something girls put on their uniforms sometimes just to tease guys. Nice stuff.

the age of consent is 18 there I think

I will have to ask each girl in school uniform how old she is :disgust

Id love to go there myself

Dude you're going wild

It is actually a pretty big problem. The age of consent in Japan isn't really set, but the age of consent with gaijin in 18. The laws aren't very strict for Japanese, just for non-japanese people.

Overall, I love Tokyo... tons of fun to be had. Just don't go in July or August, it is too freaking hot.

Best of luck to you, sounds like it's going to be a great adventure!

:winkwink:

um was there for a while. pretty cool place.

Listen to some Japanese CDs to learn some of that action. Nice.

This thread really deserves more pics about japanese college girls!!

I am leaving for Japan in 3 days - Staying in Tokyo right outside the Chidor-Cho Station - email me we get together. I love Japan ;-))

webmaster@ mad4cash.com

:winkwink:

final bump

i'd go for the ass dog licking!

Let us know how your trip goes mate.

Must be depending where u live... Europe is not cheap, but the high rent districts of Tokyo and Osaka still have to be pricier.

Some great advice in this thread, thanks a lot you guys.

great indeed

btw i said im going to japan end july, but i have unfortunately other things that require my attention at this time, not to mention tht as some people pointed out, August may be too hot to experience japan anyway

What is too hot?