Job Discussion Forums

[shadowsinner]

hey guys,

i'm heading off to work for ecc at the end of june, and i've got a few questions that i thought i would ask. i know some people have discussed things on a similar line, but i sort of wanted opinions from any aussies out there too.

first of all, laptops. i was considering buying a laptop while i'm still in australia and bringing that with me to japan. however, a mate of mine currently residing and working in japan advised that i should wait until i get to japan because according to her prices for laptops in japan are a lot cheaper than prices in aust. i can get a dell for abt 1500AUD, but i have no idea how much a laptop would cost in japan with specs of 80gb hdd, 512ram, intel duo core 1.66hz, dvd dual layer burner etc. does anyone have any idea whether laptops are indeed cheaper in japan?

personally i'm really looking forward to going to japan. the money may be average, but since i've always wanted to go, i think it's worth slaving a bit. the whole big thing about eikaiwas not paying into the national health system thing - if the eikaiwas deduct 30,000yen/mth from my pay, i'd rather get private insurance in aust or in japan, i thought. what do you guys reckon? is private insurance expensive in japan, does anyone know?

i checked with some ecc guys - they reckon rent will be around about 65,000yen/mth. i was hoping to get rent cheaper, but they said that's not possible. ecc claims that they don't make money from rent, so maybe the landlords are taking full advantage of the poor foreign souls who are reliant on having accommodation found for them. wish i could arrange my own (cheaper) accommodation but that doesn't seem too possible at the moment.

also, there's been a few threads about the amount of medication that one can take into japan - but everyone says different things so i was wondering whether people can share their experiences - what you brought over, whether anyone bothered to check your luggage, etc?

any input would help. thanks

ss.

[ndorfn]

dunno about computers, try checking the ads in www.kfm.to

re. accommodation, it depends a great deal on where you are as to whether 65K is expensive or not, and whether or not you have to pay key money on top of that. I'm assuming thats a flat to yourself.

never heard of any probs with medication. bring a doctors note along.

interglobal health (try googling it) out of NZ do a bare bones insurance for about $100 AUD a month. also, you could just suss out a travel ins. policy through STA travel in Oz, I did this for the first 2 years.

[markle]

on medication if you have a preferred type/ brand of painkiller etc then I'd bring a batch with you.

[shadowsinner]

thanks guys.

with accommodation - no, thats the price they quoted me for share housing. i gather if it's share housing then it's expensive?

yeah, i dunno about laptops either. i was hoping someone knew something. T_T

insurance is gonna be a tricky one, i think... darn it, so many things to research... lol

[Eva Pilot]

I'm going in less than 2 weeks, and I was advised by some people that it's just a matter of whether you want to buy a laptop here with someone that speaks English fluently, and be guaranteed to be able to get an English operating system.

I ended up buying one before I go, and I think it's a good idea. You can load it up with all the files and whatevers you need, before you go.

[luckyloser700]

In Akihabara (Tokyo) you can get a laptop with an English OS at LAOX (A big electronics store). Most of the latest top-notch laptops (including the Sony Vaio's) can be bought there with English OS's already in them. You can even get one that isn't top of the line, but really sweet for around 120000 Yen. Of course, Dell's are cheap, reliable, and pretty good computers all in all so, if you can get one cheap back home, I'd do so. Especially if you're not going to be near Tokyo.

[shadowsinner]

well that's my dilemma. my mate says i can get a good laptop for less than 1000AUD.. that's like less than 84000yen. you mentioned a laptop around about 120000...

i don't know whether my friend has got wrong information either, that's why i wanted to run it by you guys who are already in japan. if she's wrong, then i'll definitely get a laptop while i'm still in aust, you see. getting it through dell shouldn't be too bad - they offer asia-pacific support too, i think.

[luckyloser700]

[Gordon]

Buy it before you get to Japan. You could then get the bugs out first AND be able to get some help in English. One less thing to worry about when you get here.

[shadowsinner]

thanks guys - you've all been a great help. i'll keep checking dell's website for specials.

oh yeah, as for rent - did you guys find places of your own, cheaper than what eikaiwas' accommodations offer? how hard is it to find a place to rent on your own? i heard that most japanese landlords don't like renting out to foreigners... and so i don't like my chances, but i figure i should start getting an idea since i dont wanna pay 65K in rent per mth.

what'd you all reckon?

[PAULH]

[thirstie]

I was checking out secondhand apple laptops and and an iBook G4 was around Y90 000. Japanese keyboards are narky too! Plus the power difference means anything you buy here won't work back home.

Rent depends on where you live. I'm in Kagawa on Shikoku and I only pay 45K for a really big 2LDK with a front and back courtyard. I get to sit out in the sun, surrounded by my veggie patch and plan my lessons!!

One piece of advice: bring an ausssie power board. Only need one adapter and can charge cameras and computers at the same time.

[shadowsinner]

paul, i hear you about accommodation. i know its tough finding a place, but heck, at 65K + 6K utilities, i'm better off going to a guesthouse for just 55K WITH utilities included.

i'm not a fool. i can work out the math. the thing is, it's really weird that NOVA allows their employees to move out of their apartments after the initial month, whereas this eikaiwa i'll be working for does not allow moving out for 5 months.

my mate says thats not legal, but i dont know the rules.

-------------

thanks for ur tip, thirst

[ocyrion]

Try these web sites:

www.primepc.jp

Or these ones in Japanese - use the Google translator:

www.twotop.co.jp
www.dospara.co.jp
www.sofmap.com

These places are all pretty well priced.

Alex

[japan_01]

I was facing the exact same problem - where and when to buy a laptop! I ended up deciding to buy mine in Australia for several reasons. 1) The keyboards are bigger and more spacious (Japanese keyboards are tiny and squashy. 2) Warrantys are hard to get for Australia unless you are purchasing an Apple. 3) You can buy an english operating system but it is usually the older version. 4) If you face any problems in Australia and have a Japanese operating system - expect to pay a fortune to get it fixed. Basically, if you are planning on buying an Apple - buy it in Japan. Otherwise, buy it in Australia.

As for travel insurance - I can highly recommend "Harvey World Travel Insurance". $1100 for an annual policy. I have been in Japan for the past 4 months and made 2 claims already. Payment was sent promptly within 10 days with no questions. Although, I have seen cheap medical policies in the Japan times for 45000 yen (annual). However, this is for medical costs only. Should you face any ticket, personal belongings or legal trouble you are not covered under that policy.

Hope I was of some help. Enjoy your time in Japan