WORKING IN JAPAN - SOME ADVICE

Japan is a fantastic place to begin your professional life after graduating from university or college. Not only can you experience the adventure of living abroad in one of the most savvy (and safe) countries in the world, you also can make a pretty remarkable income for someone just starting out - (US $3000 plus per month).

And do not think that Japan is so expensive that all your money will go on living expenses - not at all. In fact, Japan has had more than a decade of mild deflation, with many consumer goods actually costing less than they did a decade ago. So once you get into the swing of finding work, both salaried and freelance, and know the right places to shop - (see Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 14), you will probably have more disposable income than ever before to spend on having fun (and paying down that student loan).

When it comes to having fun, do not make the mistake of squandering all that extra spending money on eating out, clubbing and shopping til you drop. Japan is an amazing and varied country to discover – stretching from the white sandy beaches of Okinawa in the south, to the mountainous hot-spring resorts of Hokkaido in the north. You can take surprisingly affordable 2-day trips travelling by the famous bullet train (Shinkansen) and staying in authentic Japanese inns (Ryokan) – quite the experience. It is quite easy when you know how to go about arranging it - (see Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 16).

Moreover, do not make the mistake of going back to your home country every vacation period you get. Japan is a fantastic gateway to other countries including China, Russia, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and even Australia – just take a look on a map. The places that seemed so far away and expensive to get to from back home are now a relatively short and cheap plane ride away - now that you are living in Japan with some cash to spend. So next vacation period, why not go to the Great Barrier Reef and learn how to dive or fly to China and experience the Forbidden City or walk along the Great Wall.

Whenever returning to work after a trip, either domestic or abroad, make sure that you bring back some token (edible) gifts from that region to happily share with your students AND coworkers, such as chocolates, candies, crackers, dried fruit, etc. Returning to work empty-handed is a big faux pas in Japan and highly frowned upon. Your students and coworkers will reciprocate this fun act-of sharing when they go away as well.

A Word About Accommodation

When you first arrive in Japan, you will probably be residing at a "gaijin house" (guest house), which can be fun and convenient for the first several months but may become increasingly stressful with time. Therefore, once you get settled into a job and are comfortable with getting around, seriously consider the idea of moving into your own place - maybe with a friend or colleague (or two). Having your own place to kick back can do wonders for your quality of life abroad.

Many who move to Japan never explore this option because they think it would be too expensive, too complicated and because they do not know how to go about hunting for accommodation. Thus, they never really settle in. Tokyo? No Problem, Chapter 2 clearly explains how to find convenient short-term and more desirable long-term accommodation and all the things you need to do in between.

Home 

Best Guide to Living in Japan