Real Estate

The first thing I looked at was real estate. I found some pretty good deals on this site: http://www.japanhomesearch.com/. Does this seem legit? I found an apartment I like - three bedroom, 895 sq ft, 150,000 Y a month, complete with a balcony and a tatami room. Is this a good price? It doesn’t seem outrageous to me. This site also offers “packages”…. the apartment in question comes with the silver package:
# Accompanied housing tour
# Free “Welcome to Japan Package”
# Processing of contracts and provision of English summary
# Assistance with initial payments and provision of English invoice
# Set-up of utilities (electricity, gas and water)
# Accompanied move-in and detailed inspection and documentation of property condition
# Explanation of property features and garbage disposal process
# One single point of contact (English-speaking) for all maintenance issues throughout the contract period.
# Accompanied move out inspection and cancellation of utilities

It says all of these things are “free”. Does this really mean that there’s some sort of contract? Perhaps saying that I can only live there for three years, or something?

Anyway, that apartment was just an example. If anyone knows a better site to find Japanese real estate, that would be good.
Also, I don’t know ANYTHING about Japanese geography - yet. It may not be possible, but I was hoping to live in a slightly less populated area… like a suburb or something. Where should I search for property? The apartment I looked at is in Nagoya, Yamazoto-cho. The ward (whatever that is) is Showa ku.
So anyway, if anyone can suggest any areas that are a little less populous than Osaka or Tokyo (though being near Kyoto would be cool) that would be appreciated.

As for career, I want to be an editor (of books, not newspapers). Does anyone know if this is a hard business to crack into in Japan? Or, if there’s anything else a person with excellent English (that is to say, speaking, writing, not necessarily just the English language) skills could do there?

I guess my last question, and probably the easiest for you, is how hard is it to immigrate there? What is the process like, what does it cost me? How do I get a driver’s license, etc.

If you can think of anything else I should know, let me know.
Thanks!
Oh and obviously, I’ll need to learn Japanese. You don’t have to mention that.
Oh and obviously, I’ll need to learn Japanese. You don’t have to mention that.
Oh actually I’ve started learning. I know my hirigana pretty well, and some basic sentences….

By: Kiki

About the Author:

just some chick asked:


I weià Ÿ, dwellings, the dogs in Tokyo are difficult to get, but which is with others, smaller Städten such as Kyoto and Nagoya? I did not decide, which city still. I am degree fà ¼ r schools (beginning nächsten April) in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya, where I get to live, hängt completely of it off, the schools, if à berhaupt ¼, I in. Also, how far in advance I should contact real estate agents (two months before the departure? ) Or I should wait etc., to I and stay in one gaijin house or something else, während I search there?