| Japan |
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| City: |
Tokyo |
| Country: |
Japan |
| Submitter' s Name: |
Eve |
| Nationality: |
Singapore |
| Arrival Date: |
2006 |
| Date Submitted: |
February 07, 2009 |
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Tokyo is an amazing city whose residents are always on the go; working hard and playing hard. Experience Japan through the four seasons where you can go surfing in the Summer, watch the Autumn leaves fall around ancient old temples in the Fall/Autumn, bathe in an outdoor hot spring with the snow falling around you in Winter and enjoy a sake and a picnic under the cherry blossoms in Spring. |
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In a big city like Tokyo, many local residents are used to seeing and interacting with foreigners. There is a slight (unspoken) preference and curiosity for those from North America or other English-speaking countries on one hand, and on the other hand, a growing concern and suspicion about crime rates committed by other non-English speaking foreigners.
Pros:
Being such an international city that thrives on saving time and convenience, I can get everything I need or miss here. A lot of great travelling art exhibitions and big-name acts make a stop in Tokyo so that is always good.
Cons:
Despite being an "international" city, you still need a certain level of Japanese to survive or get by!
Tokyo is a great city for couples. There is always something to do, see and explore. That is, if you are not too exhausted by work!
Women, traditionally, still are held back by societal demands and pressures (to be a stay-at-home-mum after marriage) and glass ceilings, in some industries.
People here dress nicely for work and dress up on the weekends. Suits are usually the standard for work. Work dresses for women or pants are alright.
Very safe country, bar the few odd incidents of drunken businessmen groping women on trains or exposing themselves.
Because of the frequent earthquakes (Japan rests on top of several tectonic plates - a hot bed for earthquakes), make sure you register with your embassy locally in case of emergencies and evacuation help. |
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Most expats are transferred from their offices overseas to a Japanese branch. Their companies usually take care of all the paperwork, including running to the ward office to get your work permit. It is quite dificult to land in Japan without work lined up and even if you do land a job, you will need to leave the country to apply for a work visa. |
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Most expats are on an expat package and their housing is taken care of. A lot of expats live near the international schools, around Roppongi, Minami Azabu or Hiroo. There are many expats around in these areas, as well as cafes and grocery stores where English is widely spoken.
Typically, expats either live in very nice, western style apartments in the above-mentioned areas or in very bad conditions (the other extreme end of the expat spectrum - factory workers, English teachers, models, entertainers and so on).
Be prepared to pay up to five times your rent just to move in and this may not even include rent for the first month. It is also extremely hard to look for pet-friendly accommodation. Singles or unmarried couples, same-sex couples or friends will have a hard time renting together. Best to ask for recommendations from other expats. |
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It is easy to find household help (maids and nannies) through the expat network. Someone always has a recommendation. Expect to pay around 2000 JPY per hour and above. (100 JPY = 0.90USD) |
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We use Skype or a calling card. Some homes provide free internet access. There are local newspapers and satellite tv companies.
Japan Post is now privatised but it is very reliable and convenient. |
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To get by and enjoy your interaction and time a little more in Tokyo, try to pick up some elementary phrases and reading skills. It will help you when you go to restaurants where the menus are all in Japanese and there is no plastic window display food telling you what it is all about!
Some wards (like the area where you live) offer cheap, basic Japanese lessons. Make use of such services. |
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Tokyo water is safe to drink but we have a filter.
Many people boil and filter their drinking water. The water bills come once every two months while gas and electricity bills come monthly. |
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| Finance and Engineering are big industries here for expats. |
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Japanese Yen. The Yen is strong right now. Many expats use Citibank and/or Shinsei Bank. With the latter, you can access ATMs from most convenience stores around Japan and you can request for your account details all in English. |
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Healthcare is not very good here in Japan. Prepare to pay a lot more and travel a bit further for English-speaking clinics and doctors.
Healthcare is usually provided by companies, as well as dental insurance.
Dental visits are often broken up into several visits because of the way insurance is charged. Request to have all your dental work done in as few visits as possible. |
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Many good, international schools are available for expat children. Comparable curriculum to what you would get back home. Children are either driven to school or picked up by school buses. I provide literacy support for expat children so I know that there are learning support services available outside of school, if you look for them. |
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After a year in Japan, we must convert our drivers' licenses to Japanese ones. People from North America and Europe will have to sit for an exam. Australians can just have their home licenses translated and converted. In Japan, we drive on the left side of the road. |
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You can get almost everything you need here and even more fun or wacky stuff you cannot get back home. |
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Baseball is big here, although the expat circles have their own cricket, rugby or Australian football (AFL) teams.
Tokyo is a city that never sleeps. There is so much to do here. You are never short on entertainment. |
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I brought a dog here to Tokyo and have managed to find and locate many English resources from online food shops, to petsitters, vets and boarding kennels. Contact me if you need any help. |
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Lost in Translation is a great movie.
Tokyo Families
Metropolis.
Gaijinpot
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Try to enjoy your stay in Tokyo.
We cannot try to completely understand Japanese ways but we can take the good and leave the bad, as in anycase, wherever we make our home.
See too: |
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City Description
Healthcare