How to Move to Japan With Less Than $2,000

Before we jump into this I want to first state the obvious. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY! You will be borderline homeless. You will have to do a lot of walking, live in a small cramped and uncomfortable space, you'll go without food, and if any emergency were to come up you'd be at the mercy of others generosity.
 Please use your own brain. This is NOT by any means a good way to go about things. I am simply telling you what is possible and how exactly is it so. If you are smart and mature then you should wait until you have saved up enough money before you make such a big move. There are a ton of risks legal problems, physical and emotional stress as well as serious financial dangers that await you if you choose to go down this route. It is extremely important that you understand that just because you could or can do something does not mean that you should.
You really need to have about $10,000 to comfortably move to Japan and survive for a few months. Anything less than this is going to make your life a bit difficult as you won't really have enough money for your basics such as toiletries, rent, utilities, transportation, and food,
This is simply a short guide explaining how you can make it here for a month with about $1,000 USD. This is assuming that you plan to secure a job or enroll in college and recite financial assistance within the nest 30-60 days.

Who Is This For?

Everyones wants and needs are totally different. What one person can't live without you might not need at all. If you already have basic things such as luggage, a passport and required things such as a visa/COE then this post is for you. If you haven't secured these things then you'll have to add on about $300-$500 USD in addition to the estimates below to cover the application fees and shipment fees associated with securing your visa. If you are coming to Japan on a work visa to start off with then this post isn't for you because your company will more than likely core your flight and even housing expenses in some cases.

While a visa doesn't cost much of anything besides the application fee you'll have to prepare proof of your finances whether it be loans credit, assets or bank statements. These things can cost thousands of dollars or be temporarily free if your proof of finances is form a loan or a close relative like a parent that plans to finance your education abroad etc..

What Do You Need?

Passport
Suitcase
Carry on
3-6 Outfits
2 pairs of Shoes
Toiletries (optional since these can be purchased in Japan)
Personal Bag
Debit Card (preferably that's loadable and capable of both withdrawals and making online purchases)
Emergency Contacts (in the event that you go broke need money or a quick ticket back home)
One Way Flight Ticket to Japan
COE/Visa if you plan to stay for more than 90 days (you must also meet the visa requirements as well which can potentially cost you more money)
Accommodation for 1 Month (preferably that allows you to make a reservation and that accepts foreigners particularly ones that are new to Japan and lack a phone number bank account, guarantor, large deposits and "key money")

Miscellaneous Expenses

Luggage $80

Passport $145

Pocket Wifi $60

*Total Estimated Cost= $285

One Month's Expenses in Tokyo

Rent $480

Flight $495

Food $300

Transportation $150

Trainfare $11

*Total Estimated Cost= $1,436 You will still have over $500 left to disperse in other areas as needed. For example you can use this for extra food, an emergency savings/flight ticket home, entertainment etc..

Get Hired in 30 Days or Less

• Gaijin Pot
• Craigslist
• NOVA
• Gaba
• Interac
• Aeon
• Kids Duo

How to Prepare Your Finances

First you'll need to put aside some money. If you're struggling financial and/or working a retail job you might need anywhere from 3-6 months to get (roughly $1,000-$2,000 USD) enough money together to move to Japan (assuming that you're an adult that has rent, bills, and other living expenses). If you want to speed up the process consider moving in with a close friend or relative that understands your goals, dreams, and financial situation that would be willing to host you or pay most of your bills until your out of the country. Obviously you should do your best to help them out around the house by cooking, cleaning, organizing, running errands, and maybe even driving them around. Ask them if there is anything that you can do to earn your keep around their place. Be sure to also pay them back as soon as you get enough money once you arrive in Japan. Never take advantage of those that are kind and generous enough to help you in your time of want or need.

 If you're planning to live in Japan for anything more than 30-90 days then you will need to secure a job enroll in a school and hopefully get approved for a loan or two. Consider getting a couple of credit cards. Even a few secured credit cards would be helpful especially if you can be responsible enough to pay them off on time.

Apply for jobs on Craigslist and GaijinPot. Do a Google search in both English and Japanese and search for English conversation and international schools within your city (in Japan of course). Don't forget to apply to the big companies like NOVA,  Gaba, Interac Aeon, Kids Duo etc.. These companies are known for mass hiring just about everyone that applies (mostly native speakers preferably under 35) but they're also known for driving their employees crazy and making them quit, pack their bag,s and either leave Japan or search for a new job within the country. 

Remember the goal is to get to Japan legally and to survive here. You don't have to land a job at your dream company the moment you arrive. If you're serious about coming here you can manage working a not so good job for a few months to a year or two if it means waking up in Japan and having a more than just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ramen for every meal.

Plus Loan (FAFSA): https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus

How to Pack Your Bags

You'll want to pack your bags as light as you possibly can. This means you won't be bringing all of your favorite plashes, video games, anime box sets, magazines, gifts, and all of your favorite shoes and outfits. You should only pack neutral clothing that can be layered. A few pairs of jeans, a business suit, dress shoes, gym shoes, and  a couple of business casual outfits, a pajama set, and directions to your accommodation is all that you'll need. A laptop, cellphone, chargers, your wallet and other personal items can be placed in your carry on and purse/man-bag.
Remember Japan is a first world country. You can buy clothing, food and toiletries here. Anything that you can't find can be shipped your home form your friends and family or you can buy it yourself. There is a Costco here as well as Amazon and various import stores too. Your home will be small so you don't want to bring too much stuff because then you'll have nowhere to put all of it and if you're living in a dorm you have to respect your roommates personal space and probably end up just keeping your belonging s in a suitcase 99% of the time.
 Heavier bags cost extra to fly and you'll have to lug this around once you arrive in Japan which means that you're probably going to spend extra money to have your suitcase shipped to your door. It doesn't cost much but again we are trying to save as much money as possible here.

How to Fly

You'll probably want to purchase your tickets at least a month or two in advance. I recommend comparing Priceline and TripAdvisor to search for the cheapest possible flights and dates. You'll likely have at least 1-2 stops if your flight is less than $700 like mines was. You can fly for as little as $450 with companies that aren't quite exactly known for having entertainment, edible food, legroom, or good customer service but again if you desperately want to come to Japan ASAP on a budget then this is the way to fly. I personally recommend that you arrive at Narita Airport because they have a bigger nicer facility and their staff is a lot friendlier. They're used to seeing and dealing with foreigners and most of their staff can speak some English is not they're perfectly fluent. If you have anxiety and worried about getting lost then I would NOT recommend using Haneda despite the fact that is is closer. However since this is all about saving money I must add that if your budget is super strict then you should definitely go with Haneda because its only about 35-45 minutes away from the central Tokyo area so you'll save money especially if you're determined to take a taxi or to travel with large bags.
Once you arrive in Japan you can take a shuttle bus or take the train straight from the airport for about $10-$30 USD. You will also have the option to have your luggage shipped directly to your door just about anywhere in Japan for about $15-$50 USD depending on the size and weight of your bags.

Priceline: https://www.priceline.com

How to Get to Your Accommodation

While I don't recommend staying at a share house long term it is the best option for anyone that's new to Japan even if you're coming here with tons of money the support and ease of living in a share house is unmatched. A share house is not only the best option for making friends and getting help with ease from your roommates but it is almost always the cheapest housing options as well. It is rather difficult to get a normal Japanese apartment when you first arrive to Japan because you'd have to have a Japanese phone number, Japanese bank account, a work/spouse visa (most of the time), a high enough salary, guarantor, key money, personal stamp, contract of employment, and a previous address in some cases as well. To make things easy and to save you some money you should consider not only staying at a gaijin house but also choosing the cheapest room possible. This might mean sleeping in a mixed dorm and having only a cheap bunkbed to sleep in at night. Keep in mind that this isn't going to be your place forever. Your goal is just to get your foot in the door. You need a roof over your head and something besides the floor to sleep on at night. You can find a dorm room for less than $500 USD a month. While there are private housing options that are less than $500 USD they aren't usually in or near Tokyo and you'd have to have most of if not all of the things that I mentioned above. You can always move out later. You're not stuck at this crappy share house so just see it as temporary housing until you get your direct deposit from your student loans and start school or until you receive your first salary from your new job.

Sakura House: https://www.sakura-house.com/en

How to Budget for Your 1st Month

You'll want to spend as little as possible on your food and transportation. You should spend about $300 on food and $150 on your transportation for your 1st month until you get your situation worked out in Japan.That means no partying, going out to eat, or taking the train past a few stops from your home. You'll be relying heavily on your bicycle and your own two feet. Don't be afraid to ask your friends if you can borrow their train pass cash, their bike, or if you can get a ride to your destination if you have a friend with a car. As always be sure to keep your word and pay back anyone that has helped you ASAP. You never knew when you might need them or run into them again. You definitely don't want to start burning bridges within the first few months of your stay in Japan. You never know what connections people have here. You might have difficulty finding a job or a new home in the future thanks to being badmouthed by someone you screwed over.

Only eat food that has been gifted to you. Take advantage of free samples, leftovers,  and free food that is being given away at your dorm upon your friends and roommates moving out. Only buy discounted and cheap food such as bread peanut butter, jelly, curry, rice, ramen, pasta noodles, water, and tea. Limit yourself to 3 meals a day and go for a walk, take pictures, watch TV, read, study Japanese, go job hunting, sketch, paint, or take a nap if you find yourself feeling hungry or craving food. your not going to die from skipping a few meals nor will you die from eating a bit less than you're used to. Water is free and you can always drink some before and after you eat. Don't be afraid to tell your roommates that you're struggling and could use some food and financial help too but be sure to use your money and resources wisely. If you're kind and helpful to those around you people will be willing to donate to you or at least lend you some money or food until you're working again.

Can You Really Do It?

Coming to Japan with less than $10,000 is very difficult especially if you don't know whether or not you'll find a job or get accepted by a school and approved for a loan/credit. There are so many unexpected expenses. Keep in mind that the average person spends about $2,000-$3,000 a month between all of their living expenses.
The more money you have the easier your first month will be. Ideally I'd suggest having about $3,000$5,000- minimum when you arrive so that this way you'll have enough to stretch over the course of 2 months. Remember, you should be securing more finances through work and education ASAP once you arrive in Japan. Don't wait until you go broke and your 30 days are up!

Have any advice to share or tips to give? Have a question? Please share your experience with moving to Japan on a budget and ask your questions in the comments or send me an email and I will try my best to help you.

Stay Tuned!

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How Much Money Do You Need to Live in Japan as a Student | How to Survive in Tokyo Japan on a Low Budget | Advice for Students

If you have spent any length of time researching Japan then one of the most common heard or read statements is that Japan is "so expensive". I used to believe this until I actually moved to Japan myself and I honestly couldn't find this to be further from the truth. I will admit that if you have a family in Japan and you are living in Tokyo off of a single income then yes that is extremely difficult to do and your expenses will be ridiculously high in comparison to your salary however if you are like most of the foreigners here you;re not coming over to Japan with kids, you'll probably leave Japan before you get to have any and if you were to start a family you and your spouse would either both be working (if you're a foreign man since you can't afford a wife and kids the traditional way for lack of a better word), or if you're a foreign woman you're husband is probably making a good Japanese salary and can easily take care of you and your future children, but let's focus!

I really want to not only break down the cost of living in Japan, but I'd like to share my game plan for those of you who are stubborn like me and don't have the time or money to save up for Japan properly but still want to make it here in Tokyo anyway.



For more useful information on Japan checkout my YouTube channel.

YouTube Student Playlist

How to Save Money in Japan

How to Move to Japan in One Year

* Please note that these playlists aren't completed yet so there will be more videos added to them in the very near future.

Please read my blog post here on the student visa process for information about the student visa process.

Preparing Your Finances

It is very important that you have a budget in place and enough money to survive in Japan for at least 6 months, but preferably for 1 year without working. You will go through your money rather quickly upon arrival as you won't know the best ways to save money, you'll make mistakes and have to learn through and from experience, and you also won't be capable of qualifying for a lot of regular "Japanese priced" things due to a lack of experience, needed documents or a lack of having the required visa ( or visa duration). Try to have at least 2-3 credit cards (secured credit cards are just fine too) as well as 2 or more close friends or family members that are reliable people whom can loan you money or cover an emergency flight back home should you run into some problems, become very ill or experience homesickness and regret your decision to study or move to Japan.

What You'll Need Before You Arrive

Credit Cards: 2-3 Credit cards should be enough. You don't need to have a high limit! $300-$1,000 per a card is more than enough.


Cash: If possible I'd suggest having a minimum of $5,000 cash (spending money that won't go towards your tuition or books) on hand to exchange at the airport or later on.


Loan(s): Apply for 1-2 loans a student loan will cover all of your housing and educational expenses. A loan can be used to meet the $30,000 USD visa requirement as well. Technically you only need 2$5,000 but most schools prefer that you have even more to ensure that your visa will get approved and that you will be capable of paying your tuition to the school as well.

Prepaid Debit Card: I highly recommend using NetSpend. You can purchase a card from Walgreen or Walmart and it can be reloaded by phone, online, or at a local currency exchange without having the physical card on hand. All you will need is the debit card number to load the card. This way you can physically keep your debit card and your friends and family (whom you trust enough to tell your number that is) can instantly load money onto your card for just $5 or of course you can also use this card via PayPal online. You can use NetSpend's prepaid debit card to make purchases at Japanese stores and restaurants as well as to withdraw yen at international banks such as those found at most convenience stores and train stations throughout Japan.


Money Transfer Accounts: PayPal is the easiest and most practical account to use. However there are several Western Unions throughout Japan so you can choose to sign up for an account through this well known reputable company or you can also get a card with 7-Eleven bank that can be used to transfer money back to your home country.


Emergency Contact: 1-2 financial stable people that you are close to and can trust to send help, care packages and money as well as get you back home should you have any trouble in Japan.

5 Tips

1.) Create a detailed budget listing all of your expenses and salaries.

2.) Find 2 part-time jobs that are located near your home or school.

3.) Create an emergency fund of $2,000-$3,000.

4.) Learn Japanese during your spare time (you can get a higher paying job in some areas and fields).

5.) Get an apartment or a private room that comes with free water and internet/wifi.

Where Should You Work in Japan?

You can legally work just about anywhere on a student visa except for entertainment and nightlife or sex related establishments. I would personally recommend that you get a job at a conversation school because they offer a higher hourly rate than an international school. While you usually will work less hours you can make the same if not close to the same amount of money as a full-time teacher at a private international school. The pay varies but is usually $20-$30 an hour compared to the $10-$17 an hour that English cafes and private schools pay.While being salaried guarantees a stable flow of income if you do the math you are often being paid much less per an hour. Pick your poison!

How Much Should You Save in Japan?

Take baby steps! Once you get to Japan try to set up an account that is strictly for savings. Consider depositing or transferring just $50-$100 to this account every month. While it isn't much it adds up over time and can be extremely helpful in the event of an emergency or an unplanned vacation. It seems pointless but when you're broke and nearly homeless would you rather have $50 or $0?

How Much Money Will You Need?

Because everyone will attend a different school and choose to live in a different place I cannot tell you exactly who much it will cost you. If you eat a lot, waste a lot of water and electricity, choose to get a private apartment or a private room, or live with your boyfriend then obviously your expenses will differ.
The lowest amount of money that you'll need for a year in Japan is about $20,000 USD or roughly $1,500 a month. If you are coming over with credit cards, loans, and you are a native English speaker, native fluent, or if you can speak Japanese then you can of course find a part-time job and even teach your own students to make more money. You can use financial aid and student loans to cover your tuition and living expenses so take advantage of this but do keep in mind that this isn't free money and must be paid back.

You don't need to have this all at once in cash but of course it would be ideal. Realistically if you have the will power to find a job and you have loans on the way you can come to Japan with as little as $2,000 cash (spending money NOT including your tuition and housing expenses etc.).

The Cost of Living in Japan on a Student Budget

Before you start panicking and freaking out keep in mind that once again you can build your own credit at home, apply for loans, apply for scholarships and request an increase in your loans to cover your housing and transportation while in Japan. If you are working in combination with your loans you won't need to have a ton of money before you arrive here. This is not meant to scare you rather this blog post is to help you budget realistically.

Housing

There are tons of different housing options in Japan but the two most practical ones are living in a share house and having your own apartment. Homestay are expensive long term and they aren't long-term or permanent housing solutions so we won't talk about these here. Please keep in mind that there are no college dorms, but there are share houses in Japan. Japanese apartments in Tokyo are mostly older homes that cost about $800-$1,200 USD a month. They;re very small but so is everyone else's place in Tokyo so you won't feel left out or embarrassed.Share Houses (which are basically "public dorms") cost about $500-$1,200 USD and these are the best choice for housing by far.





You can check out My YouTube Videos and playlists for my information on housing.

Water & Electric

Utilities are free/included in your rent at most dorms and even some apartments otherwise you can expect to pay about $100-$150 for your utilities per a month for your water and electricity. Most homes in Japan don’t have gas. and instead use electricity for their plug in window A/C units. Do also keep in mind that most apartments in Japan don't REALLY have vents (there's usually just one really small one), This can be both a good and a bad things deepening on the season.
You can save money buy bundling up during the colder months as well as buying heated blankets, tables, chairs, and rugs. During the summer consider wearing sheer loose fitting clothing around the house as well as using your A/C on it's lowest setting for short periods of time. Spend less time at home and more time studying at your school or hanging out at the mall, library, train station, park, or a convenience store to cool off and cut back on your water and electric bill during the hot and humid summer months which can be brutal when you have practically no ventilation. If you stay at Sakura House you won't have a utility bill so you can use as much as you want free of charge, but you shouldn't abuse their kindness or be wasteful!

Internet/Phone Service

It is extremely easy to get lost in Japan and with a lack of street names and virtually no address on buildings having your own wifi is a must. Most convenience stores and train stations offer free wifi in 15-30 minute increments which can be convenient in the event of an emergency situation but realistically you'll want to have your own device so that you can travel freely without a fear of getting lost. Your wifi is helpful at school, while on a long train ride and of course when you're on your way to work, an interview, date, or meeting with a new private student.
Pocket wifi is about $20-$60 USD a month depending on your plan. There is no need for a Japanese phone number as it will almost never be used unless you have a full-time job or a Japanese apartment. Your internet will double as your phone bill since most people in Japan used LINE as their phone number. As long as you have data you can access the LINE app which is super fun and easy to use. It's like SKYPE & Facebook combined.

Transportation

If you stay at a share house that is located near your school you can either be walking distance from or just a couple of train stops away from your school. I personally only spent about $70 USD a month on transportation because I lived 1 stop away from my school. If you can ride a bike (which I can't) then you can invest in a bicycle and ride it to school for free or consider learning how to ride.
Let's just estimate that your living in a cheap and convenient location in Tokyo and paying $200-$300 USD for transportation per a month.

Groceries

Unless you're a picky eater or an extreme health nut then you won't find groceries to be all that expensive as long as you eat the proper portion size and aren't supporting anyone else such as your own children. You'll spend about $300-$400 USD for groceries per a month. Now of course you'll have to be strategic and plan your meals in advance. You will have to turn down going out to eat and partying to save money for your bills. You won't be eating yakiniku and sushi every night but at least you're still living in Japan with food in your stomach, clothes on your back and a roof over your head.





Before you can worry about your monthly expenses you'll have to handle all of the one time fees...

Estimated Total Cost College & Language School Students in Japan

There is no one size fits all cost for moving to Japan for school. the amount of money that you will need entirely depends on you. Different schools cost different amounts (tuition varies greatly) and depending on where you are flying from or what accommodation you choose the amount for these things can vary greatly. This is simply meant to be a general outline of what you can expect to pay to help you with your savings plans for your big move to Japan. Everyone will start from a different place so you may already have a passport and your family might be willing to give up their only luggage set to help you out but if you don't have these things it will become an additional cost and all of these fees can add up to be a pretty large amount of money quite fast.







Application Fee: $100-$200 (some schools don't have a fee)


Passport & Visa Sized Photos: $10-$30 (you can print your own from home for less or go to a convenience store)


Passport: $150-$200 (you can pay more like I did for extra pages)


Luggage (optional): $200-$300


Admissions/ Visa Application Fee: $300-$500 ( some schools don't have a fee)


First Semester's Tuition: $6,000-10,000



Airfare (non-stop/1 stop): $1,000-$2,000 (with a good airline & baggage fees included)


Hotel (layover accommodation optional): $150-$300


Transportation From The Airport: $10-$200 (depending on if you take a bus, a train or taxi


Move in Costs/ Reservations/First Month's Rent: $800-$3,000 (depends on if your accommodation requires a security deposit, reservation fees etc.)


Bicycle (optional): $150-$600 (the more you spend the fancier and sturdier the bike just like a car)


You will basically need close to $10,000 in order to move to Japan as a student. The good thing is that unlike your monthly expense these are all one time fees. You can also pay for these things over a long period of time and some of these items you may either already have or you can simply ask your friends, family, or boyfriend/girlfriend to cover the cost for you. For example my brother paid for my flight and suitcase.and my mother paid my application fee. I also had my dad pay for my overweight luggage and some of my toiletries like makeup and skin care products.




I went a period of time where I only had $800 or less to spend due to poor planning, being unemployed and behind on my rent so don't freak out! You can most certainly survive here with much less than $2,500 a month, but it WILL feel like survival. Most of the foreigners that live in Japan are single (at least in my experience they have been) and they only make $2,000-$2,500 a month (before taxes). If you individualize your budget then you'll probably spend more money on somethings like your health insurance or laundry and less on groceries and transportation. The point is that you don't want to come to Japan just to survive (I mean do you really want to be poor in a foreign country?). You want to be able to live a quality life. Nothing's worse than having headaches from water fasting and diarrhea from being on an all curry with no rice diet.

Let's Do The Math

If you're coming to Japan on a survival budget then you probably won't be living comfortably, but you still need a game plan so let's round everything up to the nearest $10,000 to make things easier and to give you a budget with some wiggle room.


You'll spend approximately $500 USD on your rent a month


Your utilities will cost you an additional $100 USD a month


Your internet will cost about $20 USD a month


You'll spend about $200 USD on transportation


You'll spend roughly $300 USD for groceries


That's $1,120 USD if you were to be frugal and save as much as possible you'd only have an extra $380-$500 a month (if you don't have pocket wifi or a utility bill and you ride your bike to work and school) which would then probably be used to cover miscellaneous expenses that vary each month such as toiletries, entertainment, clothing, laundry, cab fare, your emergency savings, an unexpected visits to a clinic due to illness etc..


We can estimate that to live in Tokyo, Japan while taking the most realistic yet cheapest route possible you'll still need about $1,500 a month, $10,000 for 6 months, or about $20,000 for 1 year (give or take a little).

Understanding Your Savings

Keep in mind that this $10,000 is NOT really meant to be lived off of but it can be. Think of it as an unemployment check to yourself. It won't last forever and is simply meant to help you get by until you can find another job. This is money strictly for you and not for paying your school's tuition or for your flight to Japan. You will need to make a separate budget for that.

You will spend this $10,000 very fast especially if you don't take job hunting seriously or if you decided to liv win Tokyo instead of Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe.In all honesty it is indeed possible to live off of just this $10,000-$20,000 (a lot of teachers here only make $15,000-$25,000 a year), but your life will be miserable and you'll be living in poverty. YOU HAVE TO GET A JOB unless you have a spouse, friends, or family that have the money and love you enough to financially support you and your dreams 100%.


If you don’t get a job and just live off of your savings then you’ll be eating incomplete meals like just a riceball with nothing else and canned or boxed food 99% of the time if you have just this amount and aren’t working or using loans in combination with the money you have saved up.























Another Route to Take...












Reoccurring Monthly Expenses



If you are coming to Japan with more money and a bit more experience and will power then you can afford to live a more normal life here thus we will make your budget for groceries, rent, and utilities higher. Some of these expenses such as your utility bill will vary or simply be non-existent depending on where you were to live. This is simply an estimate of your expenses for each month that you're living in Tokyo, Japan with a more realistic budget.














Rent: $900



Utilities: $200



Pocket Wifi: $20



Transportation: $300



Groceries: $500



Toiletries: $100



Cleaning Supplies: $25



Laundry: $50



Entertainment & Clothing: $130



Health Insurance: $20






*Tuition $5,500-$8,000 per a semester (due every 3-4 months)






* You'll pay about $3,000-$6,000 one time only move in fees



$2,500 is about how much money you will need to live comfortably in Japan (not including your quarterly tuition fees). As a student you will probably have half of this to live off of because you aren't working full-time so you will have to be much more frugal. This means relying less on trains, eating meals that aren't so fancy, hand wash your clothing, conserving energy and water, and of course not going out for shopping, sight seeing, partying and dates so much especially if you're going to be the one paying.










The Importance of Employment


Because your money won't last forever and if you're human you are bound to make mistakes and splurge at time then you will need a somewhat secure and stable flow of incoming money.

You will need to get a part-time job BEFORE your money runs out. The $10k is cushion money ( again think of it like an unemployment check or emergency savings). You don’t want to wait until your savings is entirely gone before you start looking for a job and you don’t want to spend more than you have to, so the goal is to get employed ASAP but because that’s not easy for everyone you’ll never money to live off of in the event that you struggle to get a job for a few months (so you won’t be starving or homeless or having to drop out and go home). If you’re like most people you’ll find it a little hard to get your first job here especially if you’re on a student visa, you can’t speak Japanese at an N2 level, and if you aren’t a native English speaker.




Don't Get Discouraged!


I didn't come to Japan with $20,000 in cash in my pockets. I came here with several thousands dollars. I eventually got financial aid and student loan money as well. I also had credit cards too. After a few months I got my first part-time job, and then finally I began teaching my own private students. If you're smart you won't come to Japan with less than $10,000 cash. Keep in mind that when I say cash I mean your own spending money. Your tuition at a university here alone will be about $10,000 (not including your books) for the first semester and then you'll pay about $7,000 for each semester after that.











You need at least about $1,500 USD a month to survive in Tokyo. Your total costs for needs will probably be about $1,100 USD a month, that is if you can be extremely frugal and cut back on things, but because you will need to do laundry, go out to eat, purchase clothing or furniture, and enjoy some for of entertainment that isn’t free we can estimate that even with the lowest rent possible in Tokyo you’ll still probably spend an extra $400ish USD.




Get a part-time job at a cafe, convenience store, or an English conversation school ASAP. You CAN legally work part time with permission from immigration just fill out a short application.




In addition to this job teach your own private English lessons both online and in person for about 2,000 yen (roughly $20USD). Try to aim for at least 5 lessons per a week for 1 hour. That’s 10,000 yen ( or$100) a week which is almost enough to pay your rent each month!



Opt for living in a share house.




Choose a place that is close to your school (preferably 1-2 train stops away).




Invest in buying and registering a bicycle. Ride your bike whenever possible.




Stop over eating! Eat slowly. Cut back on your meat portions and eat more rice while drinking more tea and water. Exercise at the beginning and end of your day.




Purchase cheap groceries like rice, curry, ramen, bread, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, onigiri, eggs, salad, spaghetti, and stir fry to stretch your meat while also incorporating vegetables.




Bring your own lunch to work and school & eat breakfast at home.




Get a discounted monthly train pass ASAP with your student visa and ID.




Find your own private students to teach English lessons to during the weekend and weekday evenings.




Take advantage of "Sayonara Sells" and get free furniture, appliances, and clothing.




Purchase used books from your classmates or download a digital copy for free or for cheap online.

Let's Recap What We Talked About!

You need at least about $2,000 in cash (for survival money) if you have student loans and financial aid on the way, you're willing to be on your grind and find a job fast, and if you have credit cards. Remember this is NOT money for paying bills or rent, but it i money to survive BEFORE your direct deposit kicks in and you receive your check for your loans and your paycheck from your job.
Realistically you don't want to come here with less than $10,000 because you don't know how long it will take you to find a job, you might have issues with receiving your financial aid, and you may come across an unexpected expense. Don't take any chance and take your time saving money.
If you don't already have a job then consider learning how to buy or create things to be sold on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. You can also babysit, offer lawn or repair services, drive for Lyft or Uber, or take a certification course to get a more skilled job and increase your salary/wages. Consider becoming a nurse aid or a pharmacy technician. There is a lack of much needed men so don't feel embarrassed! There are male nurses and techs too!

Thank you so much for reading! I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you'll be blessed with 

Do you have any more tips and advice for creating a budget as a student in Japan? If so please leave a comment down below or send me an email.

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