The subtitles are going to take a while on this one ^^. If you would like to help, please use the link below! こんな２0分弱の長い動画はまだ日本語字幕できておらず申し訳ございません。まだ作成中なので少々お待ちを！ ru-vid.com_video?ref=share&v=6nG8Fu64nbQ
Hiya! This video is sooooo helpful honestly, thank you 👀 however I have a question regarding transportation: I drive, so I'm used to have a car at all times.. Will it be worth more to buy a cheap little car 🚙 instead of using public transportation? Like how is with the car insurance, road tax, petrol/disel price range, parking costs, etc.. I intend to go for 2 years then maybe decide to move there depending on how I handle things during those 2 years. Oh, I'm Romanian but I live now in UK.. Donno if I'll have to take different approaches while living in Japan because I'll be coming from UK 🇬🇧 Also, something that surprised me from this video was the tax payment 😱 so grateful that you stressed the point of putting money aside during 1st year to be able to pay the tax when it comes knocking at the door on the 2nd year 🙈 cause I intend if starting to work a part time as soon as I get in Japan, like maybe 2-3 weeks after starting the language school. For me might be a bit more difficult to prove I can sustain myself cause I live alone in the UK with no one that could act as a guarantor 😒 so I gotta have that 1 Million yen in my account before even thinking of moving in Japan, right? 🤔 💭
@@ellarahela9690 Just my opinion after living in Japan for a while. If you get a car, by all means get a yellow plate. White plate will definitely be more expensive than public transportation. Even yellow plate requires you to think of several things. For example, if you are on your own, I would say try to do public transpo first and see your real costs, the monthly cost of riding your car may be lower, but you have to factor the price of the car. If you are with a spouse, then car makes sense. Finally, it also depends on the place where you will live, if it is a big city, parking is going to be a hassle and another money-drainer, whereas more rural places are more forgiving.
Can you make a video about japanese education system and I have a lot doubts about kosen can you explain or if you are free and if you don't mind can u talk personally with me?
I'm not moving to Japan but this is incredible, detailed, real-life, life-information that you won't be able to find readily and easily and this is going to be invaluable to so many people. Keep up the good work!!!
I started learning Japanese about a month ago and I know I still have a long way to but I was so happy when she started talking in Japanese and I understood something 😭 these are the things that keep me going!
@@beyondintervals6606 I already graduated but I was at YNU. It's a highly revered school in Japan, especially for it's architecture/engineering department.
@@stayforever2752 in Japanese. Here's the video where I explain the ups and downs of that:. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9g9U0RH3Y3s.html
By all means... have no worry about the sudden dark turn in the info. THIS is THE most extensive and detailed living in Japan presentation I have ever watched!! By pointing these things out, suddenly you've become like a big sister!!! Thank you!!
Please, PLease, PLEASE do more of these videos! I know there's more than meets the eye about moving to Japan and there seems to be a lot of videos where they glamorize it but I want to know the nitty-gritty of it. The real stuff! I panic easily when I don't know what's coming and how to deal with it! THIS helped a lot! Thank you! More, please!
I should be editing but this video is so gooooood I feel that 2 month later paycheck >< also nenkin is nuts, taxes are nuts, and how can I spend like ¥15000 on transport every month everything is nuts I wish I had this video before I moved here! Also you’re articulate and wonderful
Hey hey heyyy! └( ﾟ∀ﾟ)┘ Really enjoying all the good, cold hard TIPS everyone's sharing in the comments! Heads up, a few of you have already noticed, but I accidently listed my WEEKLY average 'groceries' cost, not monthly. Please excuse the confusion. In general you can assume about 4x as much for groceries, but remember ALL of these numbers are low end averages in MY situation, not absolutes. My spending costs, furniture, clothing, going out, travel, and higher costs during the summer/winter (electric bill is much higher) are not listed as these are the most normal, recurring base expenses. Hopefully this will give you a rough ballpark to help visualize your own possible expenses, or just be a fun overview for anyone interested. Also, a few people were nice enough to list their expenses in their regions of Japan. Please use their comments for further comparison! Thanks for such a fun conversation everyone!
xD I was actually doing research on this since I'm planning on moving to Japan, but the information was very different from website to other, I'm really grateful for this video TwT
Well, everything depends on the city that you are interested in , also in the same city you find different prices for the apartments, because of the facilities that they have around, and the other things such as food, electricity, water, gas, etc, I think it depends more on you. So, It's easier once you choose a specific place where you want to live😊. Good luck!
Hey, me too!! All the information is so conflicting and confusing haha. I'm planning on going by enrolling in a language school there and then extending my visa and going to work as an English teacher. Theres a lot more to the plan than that, but that's the very basics right now
@@animock3051 I'm going on an undergraduate MEXT scholarship so my situation is kind of similar to her's which is why I take great reference from her videos xD she's a senpai here
Just gonna add my experience on the hours here: across several different part-time jobs I held, I had serious problems getting management to agree to the 28 hour limit. I ended up quitting three different jobs (convenience store, secondhand goods store, and an eikaiwa), because management kept trying to up my hours. I eventually found a good part-time job elsewhere, but I just want to tell potential foreign students that it's important to stand your ground and just find a different job if management won't obey the law. There are way more jobs than job seekers, after all. I think someone mentioned it already, but it sounds like what you're referring to is residence tax and the amount was definitely surprising for me, even though I knew it was coming. I'm fairly frugal and have finished my loans, so it wasn't bank breaking for me, but I can definitely see how most people would find it to be a blow to their expenses.
The financial responsibility you have as a student is making me nervous 😩 I'm moving to Japan this October and I hope things will go smoothly. Thanks for all the heads in your video!
thank you for being realistic about student debt!!!! I feel like most people that can afford to go live/study in a foreign country in general after college are all wealthy to the point of not having debt or having a parent that's paid it forward. As someone that is very much in debt from uni in the states, I seriously appreciate your sincerity about how to handle it.
Let me rant for 2-3mins Why in the heck don't the other j vloggers/people living in Japan talk about this real stuff like honestly! I'm kind of upset because I've been fans of other j vloggers in Japan. I'm not going to name any of them because that's rude. However some of them have more subscribers, more views or have lived in Japan longer or whatever the case may be.. But other than Momma Loretta here I think think the closet I've seen to reality content in some of her videos, may be from Micaela. Everyone can correct me if I'm wrong here! 😅 Yet, Loretta, and I'll give cred where it's due and a few others as well, seems to be the ones who uncovers some of the actual lifestyle, harsh and not harsh realities of living in Japan. The biggest deal is the cost of living and obviously our lifestyle's tend to vary but it's still important to make note of the cost. I'm not bashing the other awesome RU-vidrs out there but some of them tend to create really fun extravagant videos like travel, going out type videos, really glossing over what it's actually like to live in another country. Mind you I've never lived in another country before and so, I find this type of content extremely valuable because sometimes holding out and not talking about this stuff it's truly misleading to those that don't understand. Like how real life is and how life really works. It's no different when moving the only thing that changes is the situation, and I'm not one to talk I'm still learning myself. Hence why I like this content. Learning from another who is teaching from experience so you don't have to OR fall into making the same mistakes, I mean isn't that how we truly evolved and humanity flourished. From bottom to present, from nothing to something, and I know they make those nice and squeaky clean "how I moved to Japan vids" but never really get into what it's actually like. I'm not saying they have to release all of their private information but sometimes it feels like fluff like its all fun which for some it may be and that's totally fine. But for others who are really interested in living /moving to Japan for real not just for school or visiting this stuff for those people is pretty important. All I'm really saying is that there should be more talk on the actual how to live a true life in Japan videos and true lifestyle videos not just how to make the most of your time in Japan. No disrespect to any RU-vidrs who create fun videos, because I'm all for watching them too! But, I mean it's refreshing to see content like this and brings me and I'm sure others back down to reality that life isn't all fun and games and that once the camera is off life is a whole other world. Love the video once again Loretta 😆😊👍🏽🤣 and happy Independence Day!!
The first time I lived in Japan as a student was in 2017, I was 19 years old at the time. I barely even knew how finances worked in my own country, I struggled greatly when arriving there! So much information here that I WISH someone would have told me then (either my teachers or friends who had been in Japan for a long time). I'm actually going back in October as a scholarship university student, THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT! All thanks to you Loretta, I'm so happy I decided to binge-watch the videos I hadn't from you yet :)
@@theofficalkey2312 Hey there! I've been in Japan for nearly two years now. I created a financial plan around the data Loretta shared here while considering my full-time job and scholarship money. It's been great :) it keeps updating and improving as I go.
You are honestly the best. Refreshing, organized, giving detailed advice that’s actually the most relevant, and hilarious! if I ever move back to Japan, I want to be your friend irl 🥺
Same been watching videos of people traveling, living, and seeing the world. I'm 40 and never been out the states and probably never will. The poor is strong with this one.
@@jonathanmiller5772 ...That's kinda rude. Most people can't find a way. I've been saving up for years on a better than average job and have saved up $15,000 and am being told that will barely cover 6 months (1/4th) of a language study program. For most Americans, moving there is impossible.
This gives me anxiety, and I don't even have student debts!... I'd probably just visit Japan every now and then, as a tourist, not as a worker there. 😅 Thanks so much for the very informative video though, it opened up my eyes! 👍👍
This helps a lot! I did apply for MEXT and while I don't know if I made the second round or not, this is a great tip video to let me know what to expect if I do, by some miracle or something, go to Japan. Cheers!
The idea that people think they can just abandon their student loans because they leave the country is insane. That’s not just an issue with your credit rating, people, that’s fraud. You don’t need to pay them off or anything drastic like that before you move abroad, you just have to have thought about how you are going to keep making payments (unless you are a student still and they are probably still deferred). That usually means just maintaining a bank account.
I believe that when you say tax you are referring to 住民税, right? They kind of try to make you the whole amount at once, but it can be negotiated to be paid in 3, 6 or 12 months. This tax is very important to be paid because it can impact if you try to get a Visa for a second time. My companies let me pay the 住民税 in 12 months, lifesavers. It would be nice for people willing to work in Japan if explain the difference between 国民保険 and 社会保険 🙇🏽♂️🙇🏽♂️. Good luck with your new projects!
This has to be the most helpful video ever!! Thank you so much. I am planning my move there, and really needed someone who candidly state out the breakdown of the expenses to help me plan better. I've only recently started watching your videos but I am so, so grateful!!!
I really wonder how many people can actually confidently speak the language of the country they moved like you do to after just 3 years. Thank you for this down to earth video.
It depends on how quickly you pick up the language, or rather how much exposure you have and how much you strive to learn it. I'm about to hit my second year mark of living in Spain. I can understand most Spanish and although I'm not 100% confident in speaking yet, by next year it should improve greatly. I didn't understand any Spanish before I moved. However, I had a lot of exposure by being a student and by being surrounded by the language in every aspect outside of home. It also helps if you try to spend less time around people who speak your native language because it really challenges you to get out of your comfort zone. This might have been something she did as well.
Well, saying she was fluent after only three years is more than a tad misleading. Loretta studied Japanese from HIGH SCHOOL and THROUGH COLLEGE (including studying abroad in Japan; she graduated from the CLS program in 2010). The last three years was just her graduate studies in Japan, so obviously she was fluent in Japanese prior to that! In fact, a quick google search shows she had put up Japanese study aid videos back in 2007!
@@Finians_Mancave I didn't say after only 3 years of studying....I know she studied before moving, but as everybody also knows the real language you learn in the country where it is spoken.
CONGRATULATIONS on your success and amazing accomplishments! Not moving to Japan no having the courage to follow your soul and believing in your dreams!! I LOVE IT!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!
Hey, thank you SO much for your videos. Im moving to Gunma in April next year, and I was so scared about the money even tho i already have a granted arubaito, you helped me so much and got me feeling safer. Im watching all your videos now hahaha.
Ok, I've watched you over the years. Now it's time to subscribe. I'm working on going overseas in the spring en route to my bachelor's, and getting my MBA with an internship/ career in my sights. But you are the only RU-vidr I have seen who had successfully moved their family to Japan. I am bringing my wife and daughter when I go in the spring, but I think I'm going to start sharing your content with my wife.
Thank you for all that information ! Basically, it works like the Swiss system with two exceptions: - You can pay taxes by month (pre-pay them) in order to avoid a very large bill the next year - Insurance bills are crazy expensive here, but everyone gets the same level of insurance. For elderly pension, I don't know if it's the same in Japan, but here there are 2 factors that are taken into account. 1) The number of years you pay. 2) The amount you paid. But the most important one is the number of years. In fact you can purchase up to 5 years, but that costs a lot of money. So even as a student everyone is required after their 18th birthday (when you are considered adult) at least ~450$ / year. And of course here everything is crazy more expensive (I've spent many month in Japan, and the cost of Japan for me basically resides in the flight ticket and JRail pass) Thanks for all the tips :)
As someone who plans on doing language school and University (and maybe live and work afterwards) in Japan (especially in Tokyo) this was very helpful. Thank you for this!
Ok, so I recently got accepted into the studyabroad program at my university (Go Bears!) for the Spring of 2021 (Covid pending). And I am learning about how most universities want you to go to a different university for graduate work, which brings me (back) to this video, and the two or three more videos that could help me lay out my life for the next 4+ years. I just wanted to say thank you, and you are the best!
What a great video! I'm thinking of leaving my job and going to study next spring/summer (fingers crossed miss rona gets more controlled by then), so I'm saving up now. The admin side of living in Japan is what is scaring me the most because it's a lot more simple in the UK. ahhh, saving this for reference, thank you.
KIDS don't know that they can get BLACKLISTED if they run away from their loans. Proper functioning adults would know it's their responsibility to clear them before moving overseas.
Great information!! I always tell people to bring as much money as possible. As soon as you decide to go to Japan start working as much as possible in your home country (or bum the money from your friends and family lol).
This is soooooo helpful!! Thank you soo much!! I'm trying to see if I can finish my bachelors in Japan, and I have a Shiba Inu who is, of course, going with me. I'm not sure if they have scholarships like the one you recieved to complete an undergraduate degree, but if that's not the case I'll just save the money.
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for this video! Extremely helpful and insightful, I'm just halfway in and have learned so much. I am actually applying for MEXT this year and if I end up selected, I am definitely going back and making notes for the future :D Thanks!
Hey, I got your video in my recommendations and I wasn't disappointed very informative and helpful. I'm already planning to move to Japan in a few years so it helped me besides the big picture I had on how much I should save before coming (Was already planning to save up 5000e so a bit more than 5000$ glad my estimation weren't off.)
It is refreshing to hear you bring up student debt, thank you for the honesty! I didn’t start making payments on my student loans until I graduated, and that debt (along with car payments) are the reason I never seriously considered going back to Japan. There’s no way I could try to cultivate a new life with debt looming over me in the U.S. Thanks for the interesting video! It’s interesting to see the cost of living in other parts of the world. I loved transportation in Japan because of how cheap it was compared to the Midwest! I would trade car payments, gas (nearly $250/mo for me and hubby), and any repairs for my
Thanks for the general breakdown. I've been fancying living in Japan for max 1 year just to see what it's like. Not a student or a super recent college grad, just saving up at the moment and looking at options.
Dogen has a really good video about taxes, if anyone needs a more thorough breakdown on that particular aspect of living in Japan. It’s based on being an American in Japan that isn’t a student and still has American citizenship. Which is an important distinction because you will still owe American taxes as well as Japanese taxes on any income you earn.
I don't know if anyone covered this in the comments, but the reason you found electricity to be used faster than in the USA is because the USA/ Canada (and UK and all European countries) only bill domestic customers for Active/ Real power but in Japan you are billed for Apparent power. The difference is the loss of power due to load in the alternating current power supply. In USA/Canada/UK/EU this is billed only to commercial customers through a surcharge called Power Factor whereas Japan bills you for it as a domestic customer too.
As someone who is a College graduate & thinking about studying abroad for my Masters this is very helpful to know thanks Loretta! I’m glad my students loans have been all paid for over a year now it wasn’t easy but I’m very grateful my parents help pay for half of it. Please anyone with debt try to pay in your steady time before going abroad & get as much help needed. Saving up change over the few years helped to pay it off even if it was a small amount for me.
Thank you so much for your videos! I'm really thinking about applying for the scholarship 'cause it would be the only way I could study at college due to the political situation on my country. I'm Learning japanese by myself, and your videos are really inspiring
Thank you Loretta for inspiring me to pursue a college education abroad, and for generally inspiring me to be more responsible for myself as a young adult. I love watching your videos! I’m 18, and from the Philippines. Hope you’re doing well with work now. Cheers
Just for general information: 3LDK in Okinawa is around 75000 Yen....plus the weather is better. Downside: you have to have a car to get around....no trains here.
Over 152,000 views and 147k subs must bring in a decent amount from RU-vid to help with the bills. :) You do a great job producing your videos. Very clean editing. I am an old guy and Photo shop is over my head at the moment. I wish I had half your skills. You deserve every view and sub. I am a new fan now.
i used to have a friend in high school in South Carolina who looked and sounded just like you. she was learning japanese and had written kanji on her jeans. so crazy
Your enunciation of Japanese is very good. I was surprised because normally foreigners who did not grow up there, speak poorly when it comes to how they say the words.
Wait, what? Husband!!!. When did you get married??! Congratulations!!! The last time I watched you, you were trying to see if you could teach your "friend" Japanese. Now, said-friend is husband. And a dog to boot! My oh my how time flies. I"m glad I tuned back in to your Japan journey. I was a regular watcher about 3 yrs ago, now I need to play catch up.
Hey!!! Haha yeah I think we were engaged at that point but I was still figuring out how much I wanted to share online. In the end we ended up posting our whole wedding video here too so its there if you like! 😍❤️✨
You have so beautifully explained everything!!! Especially those charts you made. However, it would have been nice if we could know how big the apartment is. If you didn't want to show it because of the privacy, which I completely understand, it would have been nice if we could get a little more detail about how big/small the house is. Over all I loved the way you explained, it was so clear. Arigato gozimatsu.
@@kemushichan thank you so much ... I guess the fist appartment that you showed, the small one, was the one you told the price about in this video. Right???
This is amazing! I’m also wondering how job search goes in Japan. I hear it’s pretty scarce with foreigners since we are, well, foreign. Thank you for this vid!
You should also be telling about the resident tax which you need to pay in the next financial year if you were a resident in Japan of January 1 of the last financial year. It is big amount totalled annually. The amount gets deducted monthly from your salary in the 2nd year onwards in Japan.
Because I'm still dependent on my mum and money in general intimidates me, the financial aspect of moving to Japan actually scares me more than learning Japanese xD I honestly have no idea how I'm going to go about the move because of it all. It's probably a step-by-step thing but my anxiety makes it look like one big impossible leap...
Just a note that this is one specific individual's cost of living based on lifstyle choices they make. My CoL in Tokyo is ~400,000 JPY per month including all food, random expenses, etc -- and that's with a relatively small apartment (considering frequent food for two).
Definitely! This was originally a video targetted at prospective students, but there are a lot of viewers looking for more information in general. A few commenters have done so as well, but if you feel comfortable, please feel free to share any notes about your situation (presuming a work visa?) why its different, or what you feel is the largest source of expense for you. 🤸♂️CHEERS!
Super useful informative video! Also the other you have uploaded are EXCELLENT! Thank you! God bless you and keep pushing forward to your goals and dreams!!! =D
Guys it's just 1000$ a month for 2 people and one dog. It looks expensive but it's truly not depending on where you are in Japan. The most popular and crowded places are much more expensive Ofcourse. Especially in Tokyo.
