how much to survive?

[Anonymous]

Hey all,
Just received my TESL certification, I'm thinking of coming to Tokyo at the tail end of march on a tourist visa and start looking for ESL jobs. I have a friend who is going to put me up until I can get a place of my own, after I get a job and some cash (hopefully a job that provides housing).

My question is, approximetly how much money will I need in order to survive in Tokyo until I receive my first payment from a job? I realize most ESL companies pay by the month, so assuming I find a job within the first month I am there (is that too optimistic?) how much would i need to bring to live off of? Remember i have a place to stay, I'm talking just food, train fare, etc.

Oh and to let you know a little about me (so I won't have to answer in further posts, just in case) I do have a B.A, a TESL teaching certificate, have one year teaching experience in Japan (when i was an exchange student) and speak nihongo.

please respond if you can, Dave

[Glenski]

Regardless of having a friend who can put you up, I would still recommend bringing US$3000-4000 with you. That first paycheck may be 6 weeks away, and you'd move into housing your employer provides, so you'll have to pay for that.

If you want a breakdown on monthly expenses, send me an email.
GHILL18299@aol.com

And, always plan for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

you will need 223,431 yen

[foymula]

$4000US ???! That is extreme. Common man. He's talking about survival, not pissing away hundreds of dollars each night in Ginza.

[Anonymous]

Yeah it is better to have too much rather than not enough. I rean out of money and food when I came. I also did not speak a workd of japanese and was generally not bright about the whole transition phase.

He is right though that first paycheck can be 6 or even 8 weeks away. Mine was 8 weeks. I only brought 200,000 with me.

The is the thought of rent too. The company I worked for took the rent out of my first pay and I had to pay cash when I got there.

I think 300,000 is enough

[Shonai Ben]

I can agree with 300,000 yen too.That is exactly how much I brought and I survived for 8 weeks before I got my first paycheck.I even had a little money left over and had beer on the weekends.

[Luke]

i think 500,000yen-600,000yen for the first month because if you are going to be finding a apartment by yourself you will have to pay for key money etc which could be around 300,000yen and then you would have 200,000yen-300,000yen to spend on other things!