An American living in Japan for a year

Hey everyone.
I'm a 24 year old american male. I do not have a bachelors degree. I speak very basic Japanese. I really want to experience living a year in japan. Besides going to a university or a language school, does anyone know how I can stay in Japan for more than the 90 days? I have heard of Cultural Activities Visa. Does anyone have any information about them?

I have also heard of people volunteering in Japan. Does anyone know if an American can get a visa to volunteer in Japan?

Any other ideas how I can stay in Japan for 1 year?

Thank you all for your help

Cultural activities visa is for a unpaid-internship, not for volunteer work.

Your option is either teaching English (if your mother tongue is English) with Specialist in humanities/International Services visa, or studying Japanese language with College student visa.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/index.html

Would you have the finances to be able to support yourself for a year in Japan? The most you can stay is 180 days on a temporary entry visa (tourist) and that includes leaving the country and returning for the other 90 days. You won't be able to work, since you don't have a degree which is necessary for a work visa. You can get a student visa, but you have to pay ALL finances up front.

Just to advising as a former ALT agent, sorry what I am writing is not an answer itself.
A degree is dispensable to teach in Japan, most recruiters add it as a criterion though.
They just mention it to limit applications since there are many people seeking for teaching position.
There are ALTs and teachers of English working in Japan without a degree.
So, teaching is still your choice.

@Emi-obasan
Bachelor's degree is not a requirement for the work itself, but rather for immigration. Unless the OP is eligible for Specialist in humanities/International Services visa as the 2nd poster mentioned, he'll need a degree or sufficient experience in the field of education, to get a visa to work as a teacher.

Actually you're both correct... because you've both made the same exact point.

I am not an idiot who enjoys posting rubsissh.
All I have written is truth, I sewar, I have worked for an ALT company and used to handle many papers for visa applicaiton for new employers.
There are many ALTs and English teachers who managed to get a proper visa without degree even though it is ture that those hold a degree exsist more than those who do not hold one.
'A degree is what immigration demands, but not what we demand' is actually a typical excuse the agent/company say.
Why? as I mentioned before, there are so many applications once the agent/company post their advertisement for recruit.
Now I am out of Japan but I am sure situation is still the same as long as I talk with ex-colleagues.
I am sincrely writing with truth.

In addtion, 'teaching experience' is not essentional for visa as well, tthis is another excuse to limit hundreds of applications.
What agent/company (probably immigraiton as well) regard the most carefully is whether applicants have any crim record or not, rather than degree or experience.
Another thing is whethere applicant can work for a long term at least 3 years.

If immigration cares degree and experience really, I am sure most ALTs and English teachers cannot get a proper visa.
Most degree-holing ALTs and English teachers hold a degree which is not related to language.
If immigraiton requires applicants without a degree 'experience', I wonder how my colleagues who are teahcing in Tokyo now could get a visa without a degree, experience
and even TESOL/TEFL.

*Sigh*
I hope you calm yourself down a bit and read/write more carefully....

I'm simply pointing out that some parts of your posts can be misleading.
For a visa for working as a teacher, Japanese immigration office demands either bachelor's degree OR teaching experience. (I forgot how many years, five, seven or ten.)

To obtain a visa to work as a teacher in Japan, you need either of them. You cannot change this whatever immigration office's true intention is.
(And yes, I agree, degrees/teaching experiences are not always requirements/essentials to get a teaching job in Japan.)

Again, I swear, what I have written is true.
It is fact according to my work, rather than my opinion.

A degree and experience are dispensable both for teaching and visa application.
The person above who deny my information must specify the link or something as a proof, if you are confident.

Anyone who deny me, please tell your personal e-mail so that I can tell you the name of the company I worked.
I would also happly introduce my friend who works for immigraiton.


*This is NOT a place blame real Japanese people who post to help the others with information.
You should simply add your information if you want to correct the things
Please stop being rude, thanks.

You both need to chill. This whole misunderstanding appears to be because .(guest) doesn't seem to understand the difference between dispensable and indispensable.

I know two teachers who are working in junior high school in Kanto with specialist in humanities/international Services visa.
Both has no degree, had no teaching experience, one was a musician, one was a fisherman.
One got a job and applied visa in USA before coming to Japan, another one got a job in Japan and changed his visa from WHV.
So, I think the person who posted a question can have a chance to teach.

http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/aspiring/eligibility.html

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa1.html

Creteia for JET and creterea for general ALT are different.

There seems to be anti-Japanese who enjoys trolling here.

Thank you all for your responses.

I know having a bachelors degree is not a must in Japan to teach English. But to legally work in Japan you need a visa.To get a work visa you need at least a bachelors degree.

I currently work in the casino industry so I do not think humanities/international Services visa would work for me.

I'm not sure if I want to spend the $10,000 on a Japanese language school. Maybe the cultural activities visa would be cheaper route.

I think the working holiday visa would be perfect for me but I'm american.Does anyone know if there is anyway an American can get the working holiday visa?

thanks

Immigraiton does NOT DEMAND a degree all the time, but the employers often require it for a secure visa applicaiton, and you MAY NEED it to win a competition to get a position.

"Degree is essential" is Tatameae (official stance).
"Degree is dispensabele" is fact.

What obasan said are the fact, that her honestness let her write.
What anti-obasan said are Tatemae, that employers officially say.

You should not conclude it trusting one only.

Anyway, if you really want a working experience in Japan without a proper working visa or working holiday visa, without Japanese skill, how about studying Japanese geting student visa and a work parmit, then fnd a part time job at first?

You can ask consultant for an affordable school and job huntng.
http://www.ms-support.net/index.html
http://ishijls.blog.fc2.com/blog-category-1.html

No WHV for Americans, period. No exceptions.

I know having a bachelors degree is not a must in Japan to teach English.

Correct

But to legally work in Japan you need a visa.

Also correct

To get a work visa you need at least a bachelors degree.

Not correct. As stated a bachelors degree is not required, and can be waived if you have sufficient related work experience for the job you have been hired for. That is typically 3 years for English teaching, and up to 10+ for other skilled jobs.

I currently work in the casino industry so I do not think humanities/international Services visa would work for me.

Probably not, but there are other options if you can find other work related to your field.

I'm not sure if I want to spend the $10,000 on a Japanese language school. Maybe the cultural activities visa would be cheaper route.

Cultural activities visas are far more difficult to obtain and may not be possible depending on your qualifications.

I think the working holiday visa would be perfect for me but I'm american.Does anyone know if there is anyway an American can get the working holiday visa?

Are you a dual citizen with a WHV country and are currently living in that country? Otherwise no, it is not possible.