What is it like to Live in Japan?

Question:

Hi, I'm looking into working for the Jet program in Japan in a few years to teach English.
I think my salary would be ¥3,360,000 a year and I would be provided a house in the program but I would have to pay for it. which would be about ¥30,000 to ¥60,000 per month. I read in another ask post that utilities usually cost ¥2500 a month. With general living expenses excluded, (emergencies, personal expenses, entertainment etc...) I approximated that I would be left with ¥2390000 left for other things. Is this amount decent enough to live without too many problems?

Answer:

Good idea to go with the JET Programme. That's quite a long time ahead to be thinking about it though. You know you need a university degree, right?

You won't necessarily be provided a house. In fact, that's quite rare. The JET Programme is known for a little catch-phrase: ESID - Every situation is different.

For most people on that programme, you're paid the same amount, but you pay for accommodation out of that salary. Usually a place will be found on your behalf (same apartment others on JET have used in the area), and it's usually a decent apartment. Sometimes you may even be put up in subsidized housing with other teachers (separate apartments of course).

It's the luck of the draw. On your application, you're given the chance to name a few areas you would like to live in, but that isn't guaranteed. It just gives the coordinators an idea of where you could go.

Those are pretty cheap utilities. Again, it depends on your set-up. I would expect to pay at least: gas - 5000/month, electricity - 2500/month, water - 1500/month, internet - 4000/month. That doesn't include your phone. Depending where you are and your lifestyle, electricity and gas can go up to around 10,000/month each in winter.

Anyway, on JET, you are making good money, and if you watch your money, there's no reason why you can't save money and still pay for these expenses and an apartment on the expensive side, living a comfortable life.

There are all sorts of perks associated with JET too: free Japanese correspondence course (high quality), free local conferences, free re-newers' conference (free transport and hotel in another part of Japan), free initial orientation in Tokyo (hotel, conference, some food), free transport to your new place of work from Tokyo orientation, free airfare to start and finish JET, tons of stuff taken care for you by the authorities (visa, accommodation found, bank account opened, local orientation, etc.), help lines, teaching resources, ...

Considering some people just go to Japan, look for work, and have to take care of everything on their own, I wouldn't worry about money on JET. It's such a small issue. You've got people just barely getting by just for the chance to live in Japan, then you've got JET people who sometimes have no idea how good they've got it.

Good luck!