Job Discussion Forums

bobo_bt · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

I'm coming to the end of my time in Korea and am looking into diferent possibilities, such as staying in Korea, working in Vietnam or Japan.
I started the application process with Westgate, but I've read quite a lot of negative things about them.

Basically, I would like to hear from people who are currently working in Japan, or have been there previously. Where do/did you live? Do/did you enjoy your time in Japan?

I realise that in Japan I will be working longer hours than I may do in Vietnam (including travel time), but the idea of living and working in Japan does appeal to me just as much as the prospect of Vietnam.

I've noticed that most jobs are around 250,000 - 270,000 Yen, do people find this enough to live comfortably (the savings potential is nowhere near that of Korea, but money isn't everything!!)

Where do people recommend to try and find a job? I would love to go to Tokyo, but as expected there are many drawbacks including living expenses, travel times, congestion, pollution, etc. So perhaps it is best to find a city on the outskirts. What would people suggest?

I would love to hear about other people's experiences and would appreciate any advice they feel they could give.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I know a guy who made 240,000 yen a month and was able to save abouta $4,000 american dollars in about 4 months. Now, this is SUPER hard and he lived off of like 100 or 200 yen a day...but it can be done.
If you come here with a partner you can really save alot of money. My husband and I live on the out outskirts of tokyo (maybe 2 hours by train) in a town that has 122,000 people. It is perfect for me but doesnt have much of a night life. I make 250,000 yen a month and my husband makes 240,000 yen a month...my plan is to save 280,000 yen a month, I know for a fact that I can save 2,500 a month but I am trying to bump it up to see if we can save more. We spend a decent amount on travel but we never have drinking binges or nighttime karaoke (we go in the day..lol). I also cook every week night but friday, we eat out on the weekends and friday nights. We have cable tv which is about 3,000 yen a month, a car that is 10,000 a month, bills that are about 12,000 yen a month (elect. and gas), and I save about 140,000 yen a month for expenses..the rest goes to our savings. So you can see that we could cut back and save more...I would say that a single person could save between 50,000 and 70,000 a month...
You should defintley give Japan a try. It is beautiful, clean, and safe. The service is outstanding and almost everything is labeled with pictures! Sure, there are the bad sides, but I think everyone that can should give Japan at least a small try.
I would suggest a city on the outskirts, mainly because Tokyo is just to stinkin big. I dont know so much about pollution, I have heard of it but everytime we go it seems fine. But it is only good for me as a weekend trip, nothing longer...
I tell everyone this, but I if you dont want to be worked a WHOOOLE lot then I would choose being an ALT over a conversation teacher. This almost completely guarentees a 8 to 4 workday.
I dont know much about Westgate, but you can find bad in EVERY company, believe me. So you just need to decide what you hate and like the most and go from there.
hope this helps..

bobo_bt · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Thanks for the advice, I was looking at the JET program, but the application proccess seems very long. Does anyone know about finding other ALT positions. I also think that I will look for a small city just outside of Tokyo (better find a map of Japan to find these cities). I live in a small city in Korea at the moment, I definitely need to go somewhere at least a little bit bigger with more to do at nights.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

There are a ton of ALT jobs on the internet, even now in the non hiring season. You can start with Interac, but they are everywhere look at Ohayo Sensei and GaijinPot, and even this weeksite.

KCorv100 · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 14

The best method is to build.

By that I mean take one job - try it and if you like it stick with it. If you don't look for another..

WHILE...

you are enjoying it/ looking for another (same path lies ahead) gather another job that is convenient travel time and pays acceptable money.

I came from a background of 9 -5 in my own country and it took me a long to relax into the good life.

Work on the adjustment.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Tochigi isn't the outskirts of Tokyo Quibby, it is full on inaka! Wink

chollimaspeed · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 120

Currawong · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 16

I'm living in Fukuoka (I married a local) and from what I can see, it's considered the best city to live in. It's not too big, is near Asia if you like travelling and 15 mins on an express train south of the city takes you to the countryside where apartments are cheap and the environment somewhat relaxing.

If you're young, Tokyo is exciting, but not any more when you're getting into your 30's.

If you don't go drinking all the time and don't smoke, you can definitely save cash, especially if you're not paying Tokyo rent prices.

Currawong · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 16

I'm living in Fukuoka (I married a local) and from what I can see, it's considered the best city to live in. It's not too big, is near Asia if you like travelling and 15 mins on an express train south of the city takes you to the countryside where apartments are cheap and the environment somewhat relaxing.

If you're young, Tokyo is exciting, but not any more when you're getting into your 30's.

If you don't go drinking all the time and don't smoke, you can definitely save cash, especially if you're not paying Tokyo rent prices.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I'm in my 30s and still think Tokyo is exciting- you don't have to be into the Roppongi scene to enjoy living there. With kids definitely a smaller city though.

FuzzX · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 122

I hope you like eating ramen noodles. Where I was a bag of apples cost around 8 bucks US. I ate Ramen noodles for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Get ready for this:

Italian Ramen noodles (noodles with ketchup),
Chinese ramen noodles (noodles with dried vegetable bits)
Shrimp Ramen noodles (noodles with Sea monkeys)
Korean Ramen noodles (noodles with kimchi)
American Ramen noodles (noodles with nothing but it still makes u fart)
Middle East Ramen noodles (noodles with curry)

Then again I'd spend alot of my money collecting those Gundam Wing robots... Very Happy