Completely oblivious

[AmerLaw]

I have an offer to work in Tokyo for a year, but I'm completely dumbfounded about Tokyo. I don't know how much it will cost to eat, and even if I can get past the housing cost, will I have money left to travel. I've given up the idea that I'll be able to come back to the states, but I'd really like to explore other parts of Asia and Australia. Any ideas on how expensive it is to travel from Tokyo to these other areas? Also, what should I be looking at as a weekly/monthly budget for food? ANYthing would help -- I'm in a bit of a hurry, and like I said, totally oblivious...

[Ewok85]

It compares fairly well to any major city - housing is either cheap, convenient location, large size - pick 2. I don't know how much travel you can fit into one year if you are working full time, but working in Tokyo will make going to other Asian countries cheaper than going from the US.

[AmerLaw]

I'll be working full-time, but I've been told that it's not time consuming, so there won't be long days. And, I'm sure there's time to take off. I would definitely plan to use my weekends wisely too. Even within Japan, would it be feasible to travel for a weekend for under a couple hundred dollars? I have no idea what money means there. Is Y10 million a lot?
Also, I'm a very tall woman (over 6 ft). I already know that I'll stand out terribly, but I'm guessing it would be impossible to buy any clothing or anything like that there....
Is Roppongi pretty much the best place for a foreigner (who's pretty unfamiliar with Japan) to live?

Another question...is it completely unreasonable to bring my dog? He's about 45 pounds. He'll be 8 in February, and I hate to leave him.

[Glenski]

If you are being offered a salary of 10 million yen per year, you will have plenty to live on. Average wage in Japan is half that, and entry level wages for teachers alone are 1/2 that.

Tokyo expenses are similar to those of London or New York City.
www.pricechecktokyo.com

If you don't know how much 10 million yen is, learn to use a currency converter, or to check your local newspaper daily for the exchange rate. At today's rate, that comes to US$87,000. You will have to pay taxes on that back home, by the way, as it is over the ~$80,000 upper limit for tax exemption on money earned abroad. So, you may get double taxed (here and in USA).

Weekend travel is what you make of it. An average hotel room costs 5000-8000 yen per person (roughly $50-80). Train tickets may run any price, depending on where you go. Use http://www.hyperdia.com/ (click on the English link if you get the Japanese site) to do some calculations on time and costs of traveling here.

Roppongi is a haven for foreigners. Boat people, as my friends and I used to call them. It is an entertainment sector of Tokyo, and prices for living are expectedly high there.

For issues related to women and women's clothing, I'd say go to www.being-a-broad.com or read the companion book. You're going to find it hard to get clothes here, that's for sure.

Dog. Leave him at home. It will be hard on him during the flight, and as much as quarantine measures have relaxed, finding a place for you to live will be hard, as most apartments don't rent to dog-owners, whether they are foreign or Japanese.

What sort of job do you have lined up? Are they arranging housing & visa?

[epigene]

At your income level, bringing your dog is not completely unreasonable. You'll have to go through microchip implant, vaccination, etc., and quarantine for a month or two before you get your dog back from the quarantine office, but otherwise it should be OK. A lot of my kids' friends brought back pets from the US to Japan, and I haven't heard of any problem.

If you want a good environment for your dog, I recommend living close to a large park such as Yoyogi Park (which is close to Roppongi). You can have the real estate agent look for an apartment that allows pets. This type of apartment is growing in number, especially in the Tokyo area. Also, the Yoyogi Park area has a fair amount of foreign residents. I think there are many dog runs there as well.
There are also "pet hotels" that keep your dog in case you plan to travel for more than a couple of days without your pet.

[AmerLaw]

Thank you guys so much for all the help. It's reassuring to know that I'll make enough to live. I'll just have to watch the food, I think...and leave the dog with the family. Though that's a tought thought. It's important to be able to travel, so good to know that I'll be making enough...

[AmerLaw]

One more question...Is there a way to find housing without having to pay the two months or so fee?

[Glenski]

There are some organizations in Japan, probably mostly in Tokyo, that help foreigners (and others?) find housing without key money requirements. I don't know the names, though. Why ask here, when your employer should be providing you with this information, or at least an apartment already furnished? Seems a logical package for someone with a salary like yours.

Worried about food budget???!!!!! Unless you eat 4 times what the normal person does, I wouldn't worry. Remember, you are making 3-4 times what some teachers do, and they aren't starving.

[Mike Cash]

Not time-consuming.....pays 10 million.....

Are we talking about what is euphemistically referred to as "hostessing" here?

[AmerLaw]

Thanks for all of the help. I'll be a professional, but as far as time-consuming, I compare it to the US. Here, I work long hours, and I've been told that that won't be the case there. Food - I eat a lot, but probably not that much. I just don't eat much Japanese food...I don't like seafood, no many veggies (particularly mushrooms). I suppose of that will change, but I'm building in some room in case I need to buy some more Western food to stay sane.

[Calchas]

Worried about food budget???!!!!! Unless you eat 4 times what the normal person does, I wouldn't worry. Remember, you are making 3-4 times what some teachers do, and they aren't starving.


She is proably worried about eating out alot to get her fix of western food.

Not all the food in Japan is seafood (but a good part is) and there are western places to eat including western fast food. But that may thin out the further you move away from a major city. Don't know about grocery foods since I never cook when in Japan.

Not having to work long hours in Japan is a blessing if you can cut down on a long commute you'll have it made compared to most of your Japanese co-workers who work in Tokyo.

If you love food, like me, then don't miss a trip to Shanghai for some of the best Indian food outside India. Should be cheap flying there from Japan too.

[Glenski]

AmerLaw, would it be asking too much of a personal question to know just what sort of job you are getting?

[Shibuyaexpat]

AmerLaw,
Having been an ex-expat myself, I would be cautious about your taxes. I seem to recall that the U.S. will not tax you on any income up to $60K (US), anything over that, you get taxed both in the States and in Japan. In other words, for a $100K salary (rough conversion from yen to USD) you'll get taxed the full amount in Japan, plus $40K USD. I would highly recommend that you get in touch with a tax attorney in the States prior to departing.

As for social security tax, I think that in 2006, the laws changed so that you, as an American working in Japan, are exempt from paying into the Japanese welfare system as you'll derive no benefit from it.

Some questions/comments/suggestions:
- Is your employer a Japanese or American company? If it's the latter, I would recommend that you ask for a paid home-leave (standard in any expat package).

- Is your housing paid for (part of some expat packages). If not, I highly recommend that you avoid expat communities like Roppongi, as their rents are crazy expensive.

- If you're ever in the mood for a good-old fashioned American breakfast, Good Honest Grub in Ebisu is a good choice.
(http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/japan/tokyo/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1154675177708)

[AmerLaw]

Thanks so much for the advice. I think I'll definitely have to hire an accountant or something -- if nothing else than to finish off finances and taxes here since I'm heading over at the beginning of the year.

The job is with a Japanese law firm. I'm an American lawyer, and my firm is granting me a year leave of absence to do it. The Japanese firm knows that I'm planning to return stateside after a year, but the offer is permanent as I understand. Not sure how that affects local/national tax in Japan.

The firm is not providing accomodations, though I'm hoping to go over ahead of time to arrange those. Once I do that, I think I'll feel so much more comfortable. Unfortunately, Roppongi and Chibayu may be the places I'm looking at since I am so unfamiliar with the area. I just want to be able to have flexibility and some comfort.

[Glenski]

AmerLaw,
Having been an ex-expat myself, I would be cautious about your taxes. I seem to recall that the U.S. will not tax you on any income up to $60K (US), anything over that, you get taxed both in the States and in Japan.
The figure is closer to $80,000. Over that, and you pay US taxes on it, too.