Cost 4 18yrold to move to japan!

Genki?
Watashi wa jiyuuria desu.

I'm almost 16 years old, and would like to move to japan when I finish highschool, in about three years.
I've opened a savings account and am putting in my paychecks from
work to save money to move there!
But Without a certian amount[ or somewhere near it anyway!] of money, im not sure how hard to work, and how much I need to save.

It's always been a dream
for me to move to Japan and live. I'm currently learning Japanese.
I want to teach English[ I'm a native English speaking American] after I attend college there.
So three year course in college?
O.o;
I would be buying the one way ticket, shipping a few things over, looking for an apartment,
food, college, ect.

Can anyone give me an idea of what im looking at.
I know the exchange rate of yen to the USD, so telling me in either way is fine.

Arigato!

Jiyuuria.

If you get your job before moving to Japan (many conversation schools are recruiting in the US), then you would start earning money right after arriving in Japan, and would require only very little initial money. Money for shipping costs, flight (note that the flight is paid by some companies/programs) and accommodation (there are some very cheap, furnished options that require only relatively small payments at the start of the contract).

Of course, it depends on your lifestyle. Many people don't need to ship anything. They move to Japan with just check-in baggage. On the other hand, if you want to live in a beautiful private apartment (as opposed to a cheap shared gaijin house), you might need additional money.

Julia,

Don't forget that as a student in Japan, the number of hours per week that you can work will be restricted by your visa, so you will basically need to save enough money to support yourself for the three years you are studying in Japan.
In case you aren't already aware, you will not be able to get a working visa without a university degree, so Uji's advice above will apply only after you have graduated from university (in Japan or the USA).

Julia, please ignore my initial post. I did not read your question carefully enough, and thought that you will be coming to Japan on a work visa.

The situation for students is completely different. As Dave pointed out, it is unlikely that you will be able to cover school expenses by your part time work. You are likely to need more money. How much depends on how expensive your school is.

I won't delve into the costs, but I really think you ought to rethink your plans a little. Try visiting Japan before you move there. Really, how can you pick up your life and move to a country thats so different without knowing a thing about it? (Please don't say you know from books... you really need to see things for yourself to get a REAL view of life.)

I have been thinking about living there as well and have done a six week long homestay. I really don't think thats enough to base a decision on, so next month I'm moving to Japan for an entire year. After that I will decide whether Japan really is the place for me.

Just slow down, you shouldn't do all of that right away.

I don't want to steer all of the other posters' off topic; I just wanted to give you some helpful advice.

Niko offers some fantastic advise!
So many young people that like japanese culture dream of moving there without really knowing it. Japan is not all that different.

I agree though you should save enough money to cover a basic life in japan for three years if thats your intended stay. You dont know what might happen while you are there :)
You 'wanting' to teach english may change when you get more proficiant with japanese too and I suspect this will be the case.
Japans a wonderful country but 'dreaming' to live in a country i think is dangerous. You live and you work when you live and enjoy life. When you visit you delve deeply in cultural experiences :)

thank you all.
i understand what you are all telling me,
and I actually do plan to visit Japan next summer!
i'm going with a friend who will be paying my way.
I think that I might have came across as an idiot child with no idea what shes getting herself into!
I guess I should have gone furthur into detail with my plans, but I thank you all for your advice!

julia

Ah noone is saying your a idiot child. Experience is something that only comes with age and each person aquires it at their own pace :)
Good luck with your plans, hope it goes well for you

That's nice to hear! You should also take that as an opportunity to decide exactly where you want to live in Japan. The areas are very different, similar to the differences between US states. Every place has its own perk.

I recommend going to a college in America actually.(or where ever you live.. i'm just assuming)

Find a college that offers Japanese and a great exchange program. At my college, you get a free plane ticket to your first study abroad trip, no matter for how long or where it is. They pay for it. Then if your trip is required for your major, they'll pay for that plane ticket too. Also, a lot of Japanese exchange students come to our school. I think from about four different schools each year. About 20 Japanese come to study here. Some leave by the end of the first semester, but others stay the full year. I've made many Japanese friends just by going to my school! the best part is visiting THEM in their home country.

My major is Japanese, I used my first trip to go to Japan for three months and studied at a school near Yokohama last year. Soon, this September, I will go again for a full year to Rikkyo Daigaku in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

I feel that by studying abroad, you can live there for a good amount of time and get a real sense of the place before deciding to live there with no true experience of the place. Plus you're there as a student, not a tourist (though you can have some tourist time too!) You get a true sense of independence by sustaining in a foreign country and yet you don't have the full commitment of actually being a citizen there.

After staying there long enough I feel like you can decide whether Japan is the place for you or not. So I wouldn't recommend totally submersing yourself in Japan for college (it'll be cheaper overall to study abroad I think, also Japan doesn't have many scholarships available...in Japan, parents pay for most of tuition for their kids). There are definitely some aspects of Japanese culture that i discovered aren't the greatest, but there are others that I really enjoyed.

I think you should go for it. Even if you've never been to Japan because that WOULD be your experience [being in school]. People do student exchange to the US all the time, so why not to Japan?

I mean if you find that Japan is just not what you thought and want to come back home it's not like you can't! :D

I want to live in Korea for a few years I hope to visit before I do but if I don't so be it. I love Korean culture hang around many a native Korean and am studying the Korean language. If I end up not liking it after 1-2 years and wanting to come home, der it's not like I am stuck over there! haha.

Miko, Kate, Thank you both for your input!
I've looked into studying abroad, for several countries actually, I have pamphlets from newzealand, iceland, germany, southafrica, and spain laying next to me.
I like to do research!
Actually, the cost would be more expensive for me, for the school i want to go to.
My older sister is 20 and we didnt use a scholarship for her schooling, so i wasnt really realing on that hope too much! but Thank you for letting me know of it, but I just am not sure if coming back will be whats best for me. I'm highly independant, and would not like the thought of coming back to my "family".
and Kate does have the point that, if I do happen to get too caught up in a new lifestyle, its never permanent. So I will indeed keep the option open. ^^

Kate, goodluck in korea. I know a family from SK, the Pham's. Very nice, and their culture is fascinating to listen to. Very talented artist too. :]

Haha, sorry my post is so late on the topic! Anyways, my name is Josh, and I lived in Hiroshima Japan for about 2 years via the military ( Actually in Iwakuni ) I even met my wife from Hiroshima.. I spent alot of time (if not at work) in Hiroshima city. Getting out of Highschool at 18 and going to Japan to work would nearly be impossible.. Some one may know a way or a loop hole but without a college degree of anysorts I dont see it really possible. You could always look into Nova Group ( just google that ) Which requires a college degree! I think they may have exceptions if you show you will be completeing or plan on finishing your degree sometime. I think they even rent you stay in an actual apartment (small but it's a start!) I'm not going to tell you dont go to Japan, because the fact is YOU MUST! I am actually moving back to get a job ( at 22) next july ( 08 ) I have no college degree, as I got out of highschool and joined the Marine Corps, I was lucky enough to get stationed in Japan for two years, and since the day I left ( 2 years ago) I can't WAIT to return. Anyways I was lucky enough to be offered a job by my wife's father in his company. To work you actually need to get a workers visa, which you need a college degree or actual experience in your jobs ( years ). On the flipside if you're married to a Japanese National you are exempt from that rule and can work. I think.. Anyways, a Student visa which it sounds like you want would require a sponsor ( which ever school ) You actually can work if your school grants it , or the immigration office. Only for a set amount of time. This info has all been found on inquiries to Japanese visa types, via google! =) I really do think you should experience Japan, as far as a place to stay or visit I would say Hiroshima. It's big city life, crowds..all things Japane without the strangle and confusion of tokyo! It's perfect for foreigners as well like Tokyo, being there is an American base not 40 miles away! So lots of English speaking. Lol sorry I dont know if I told you anything you didn't already know, but I figured I'd mention a few things here! If you'd like more research help let me know! I'll contact you Email and be glad to help! I'll even be living IN japan in about a year so.. I might be SOME help.. I hope =)

Hi! just thought id say that im 18 n am moving to Tokyo in a month for school. Im crazy excited, ive been wantin to go since forever aswel! Anyway, i think you should think about applying for scholarships or inquire about partner university agreements. My uni works with Waseda Uni in Japan and agreed to waiver all school fees for exchange students. Thats the major reason im even able to go. Saves me AUD$10000! and i also applied for a JASSO scholarship which covers my housing and some spending money. Im so fortunate to have almost all my expenses covered. I think itd be a really good idea to look into something similar. Check out the schools near you and see what they have to offer. Even ask any japanese exchange students you see how they did it.
Anyway, just thought id let you know. You might just get lucky!

one scholarship that seems to be easy to attain is JASSO. The application process is pretty simple and the pay is fantastic. They choose you primarily on your grades, so high grades are important. And they pick you not nationally, but by who applied within your school.
When I went last year abroad, someone in my school received 80,000 yen a month and 150,000 yen for the first month in combination for the 80k.

two other people from two different schools joined us. They went solo and both applied for JASSO. So it appeared that they got the scholarship for free since they had no competition.

Hi!
Thank you ALL!
I was so surprised to see
That more responses were posted here!
Yay!
I'm not sure if you have heard of it,
But im applying to Temple
University in Japan.
The lady i am working with
is very imperessed with me for
looking into all this at such an early age.

Ill google everything you told me about JOSH. Thanks alot!

Everyone else, i really appriciate your input.

So thanks! If you think of anything else, just let me know! More info the better I guess.