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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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 Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject: Accommodation |
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Hi all
as some of you know from my various other posts at the moment, I may be going to Tokyo in March for a job. I've been offered the option of taking accommodation with my employer, Saxoncourt, but was just hoping to get an overall impression from some of you on here first.
First of all, do any of you live in Saxoncourt accommodation? I know I can expect it to be small, but can you give any details beyond that? Is it generally better to go with Saxoncourt or look elsewhere?
If looking elsewhere is the better option, can you suggest any agencies etc that might be worth looking into? I've heard of Leo Palace but apparently they put lots of hidden costs in. I'd also rather try and avoid key money and other such evils in at all possible.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Accommodation |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
| I've heard of Leo Palace but apparently they put lots of hidden costs in. I'd also rather try and avoid key money and other such evils in at all possible. |
No real hidden costs. When you move in there are a few fees that are about equal to the agency fees you'd be paying for any regular rentals (its not just key money you have to worry about when you try to find an apartment). No key money in Leopalace. Plus they come furnished with all the basics (fridge/freezer, microwave, stove, TV, heating/air con, etc) and have internet at no extra cost.
For regular rentals these days, you really need to haggle with the agent, but you can sometimes get the key money dropped. But you will still have to pay the agency fees.
Would I say go Leopalace for your first place? If you weren't in Tokyo, perhaps. Out of Tokyo or the other big cities, Leopalace is quite a recent arrival, so most of the blocks are no more than a couple of years old. But I hear that some of the ones you find in Tokyo are older, smaller and not so clean and sparkly.
Just out of interest, does Saxoncourt have apartments already for employees, or are they offering to find something for our arrival? If it's the former, you might find you don't have the choice of living else where whilst working for them. |
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aynnej
Joined: 03 May 2008
Posts: 53
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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I rent from Fontana here in Tokyo. It's not perfect, but it's sufficient. My Japanese skills were low when I arrived (and still are, unfortunately), so I went with them since they speak English and have an English website. Plus, I didn't want to have to pay a lot of up-front costs. With Fontana, I paid one month's rent, one month's deposit, and either six month's or a year's worth of insurance. The deposit is refundable less a 15,000 yen cleaning charge. They will try to charge you for a partial month (for example, if you sign the contract two weeks before you move in), but I was able to whittle some of that down.
The apartment comes with everything you need to get started -- bedding, refrigerator, a few dishes, etc. The rooms are a lot smaller than they look in the photos -- I think they must've used some sort of wide angle lens or something. But, like I said, it's sufficient. I'm not sure what the rule is about posting links, but if you google "Fontana Apartments Tokyo" or "Tokyo City Apartments" you'll be able to find it. Good luck! |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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Very helpful guys. It's good to hear from someone who actually has experience with Leo Palace. As for judging it location, well, I would be in Tokyo, in "older, smaller and not so clean and sparkly" accommodation. So, we'll see.
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| Just out of interest, does Saxoncourt have apartments already for employees, or are they offering to find something for our arrival? If it's the former, you might find you don't have the choice of living else where whilst working for them. |
I assume by "our" you mean "your"? The offer is to have a place for me to live in one of "their" apartments. I don't know if they own them, rent them, or what, but basically it involves no key money, agency etc, it's just straight up furnished accommodation...but probably pricier. I'm looking for a double apartment, which they say goes up to 100,000 yen. As I understand it from the contract, you can leave the accommodation, but have to give 2 months notice.
Would love to know how big/small they are, and if anyone has any pics/videos, please please show them.
Aynnej do you have any pics/vids? I'll take a look at Fontana. I'm just wondering if it would be easier to go with Shane for the first year at least and then assess the situation on the ground. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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Why do you want a double? Are you bringing a spouse?
If so, does Shane know this? If you want to know how big the place is, just ask. Tell them you want to know because it will help you to plan what to bring. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
Very helpful guys. It's good to hear from someone who actually has experience with Leo Palace. As for judging it location, well, I would be in Tokyo, in "older, smaller and not so clean and sparkly" accommodation. So, we'll see.
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Not all LeoPalace apartments in Tokyo are older, by any means. A brand new one went up across the road from where we live earlier this year, and I know several others which have been built in the last few years in our area. |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:10 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski, yes, my girlfriend is coming with me. And yes Shane know. |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Search for LeoPalace on Youtube, there are a lot of Westerners that have put up home videos of their accommodation. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
| Glenski, yes, my girlfriend is coming with me. And yes Shane know. |
And, what does Shane tell you about the apartment size and such? I can only presume that you have asked, but your earlier post suggests otherwise. |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| The only thing Shane tell me about apartment size is that couples apartments are available. I do know they are small, but at this stage I'm more concerned with the pricing. Many people seem to be advocating not going with Shane. |
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Hot-Carl
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
| The only thing Shane tell me about apartment size is that couples apartments are available. I do know they are small, but at this stage I'm more concerned with the pricing. Many people seem to be advocating not going with Shane. |
Why not go with Shane?
The only real disadvantage that they have compared to other eikaiwa is that you have to do a cover day about once a month (sometimes nothing, sometimes twice a month) for absent teachers for no extra pay. Also, if you take the insurance they offer (don't... get national insurance instead), they charge you. Some other eikaiwa don't charge you for their company insurance. Also, they only give you 5 days of non-company holidays that you can take, whereas most others give you 10. Finally, they charge more for the same apartment than others do (10,000-20,000yen more for the very same place). Those are the worst parts of Shane, IMO. They wouldn't be my first choice for those reasons, but they certainly aren't the worst... not by a longshot. If that's who gives you the job, take it and look for other jobs while you're here if you want. |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hot-Carl, my main hesitation for accommodation with Shane is as you say, they charge 10-20k more than normal places would for their apartments. I'm wondering if I would be able to do better on my own, but think it's probably easier to deal with that once I'm there and on the ground.
You're not the only person to warn me off the "health insurance"...although apparently Shane are adamant that you must sign up to it, so I'm told? BTW, if you live in Tokyo, can you recommend a prefecture or district to live in? I'm looking for somewhere fairly calm and quiet to live but not too far a commute from central Tokyo, where I'd be working.
Thanks |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
You're not the only person to warn me off the "health insurance"...although apparently Shane are adamant that you must sign up to it, so I'm told? |
And here's another warning: If you don't sign up to to NHI, come visa renewal time, you will have to back pay to your date of arrival in Japan or you will not be allowed to renew your visa. |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:05 am Post subject: |
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Text deleted
Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that sunny response Shiori...  |
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