Job Discussion Forums

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Hey folks,

I am currently teaching in China and I am interested in going to Japan for amonth or two over the summer break... I was wondering if there was such a thing as summer camps there or if you guys had any suggestions on how I might go about that?

thanks

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I've heard of a rare thing like a summer camp, but you won't recoup your losses (setup costs) of coming here for that. Plus, if memory serves, the only people they hired were people who already had work visas. Nobody is going to sponsor your year visa for a month or two.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

what setup costs are we talking about, here? Sorry if it is a dumb question but I don't know much about what goes on in japan.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

No, it's not a dumb question.

Setup costs include airfare (about US$800), apartment key money (what you have to pay as a non-refundable deposit, about 2-5 times a month's rent), phone installation (home lines have to be purchased, and that runs about 70,000 yen unless you can buy one for half price from an exiting expat), etc. Then, there's always the issue of utilities (15,000 per month) and groceries (30,000 per month).

If you plan to stay only a few months, you probably won't want to sign a lease for a year's rent, and you couldn't get an apartment without a guarantor anyway unless you find one of those rare places like LeoPalace21. However, even LeoPalace21 asks for a deposit plus ALL OF YOUR RENT UP FRONT. So, if you plan to stay for 3 months, you have to pay for all 3 months, plus deposit. That's roughly 70,000 yen x 3.

So, for 2 months, your setup costs could be...

90,000 yen for airfare
70,000 x 2 for rent
25,000 for rent deposit (refundable)
70,000 for land line phone, plus 5000 x 2 for service
(or 10,000 for cell phone, plus 7000 x 2 for service)
30,000 x 2 for food
15,000 x 2 for utilities
Something for local transporation (15,000-20,000/month)

TOTAL = 385,000 to 445,000 yen PLUS...
Whatever you pay for souvenirs or local sightseeing
Something for health insurance

Never heard of a summer camp offering visa sponsorship from abroad, either, so you would have to figure costs of that in it. Even if they sponsor at all, it might mean flying to Seoul to process the paperwork. More expenses. But, as I said, they don't offer sponsorship, so you couldn't even find work anyway...