Hello I just got a position at Uni of Tokyo and will be moving there soon. Here's the address of my working place:

Komaba,
Meguro-ku, Tokyo
153-8505, Japan

I have been looking for room for rent, unfortunately I do not know where to get started as I am not very familiar with Japanese language. Please help.

I hope to save most of my salary. So, my budget per month is:

Room: less than 50,000 yen (incl. utilities, internet and others)
Food: 35,000 yen

Questions:
1. Any website to browse room for rent?
2. Is it possible to rent a room, rather than an apartment or flat?

what you working as in tokyo uni? how much salary?

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Added on April 4, 2010, 12:43 pmI think u underbudget. You will use much more than your budget although i dont know the exact figure because im not in tokyo and i use much more than that

This post has been edited by fimbulvinter: Apr 4 2010, 12:43 PM

i think your best bet would be try Sakura apartment for your 1st month while you look for a permanent/long term accomodation

Btw, anyone willing to provide me your info so i can use in my visa app?
Fire doesnt mind i use his as i used his last year, but this year he is not in tokyo

also, 100yen -> 36.0 exchange rate ;_;

This post has been edited by e-jump: Apr 4 2010, 01:57 PM

Hi. Welcome to Tokyo! Good thing about Meguro... it's near the Malaysian Embassy.

Anyway, reality check - 50,000 yen for room + utilities etc will be very hard to get if you want to stay in Meguro. If you do find a place that fits that budget, you'll be staying in a pretty old building or a really tiny room. Getting a room only (eg back in Malaysia style) rather than your own place is very uncommon here unless you're looking at Guest Houses. I've not stayed in guest houses before so I cannot offer you my insights on it.

Here's a couple of websites for you to get a grasp of what the usual rentals are like in Japan (1K, 1DK, 2DK etc...) and the estimated costs.
1. http://www.chintai-k.com/c1a_13_110/ (This is already selected for Meguro).
2. Homes.co.jp (This is already selected for JR Meguro).
3. http://rent.realestate.yahoo.co.jp/03/

Use Google Translate to translate the site if you're not familiar with Jap language.

Word of advice:
Renting a place on your own will be very hard due to the fact that you're a foreigner and you're unable to communicate in Japanese. While it is not a must, most of the time you'll find that you'll need a guarantor in order to seal the deal. Also, will you be here long term/short term? Most rental contracts are for a minimum of 2 years and this is something you need to look into. Then you'll have the extra cost of the security deposit, 1-2 months advance payment, agent fees to think about for your first time payment.

I think it might be best to engage the help of your Uni dept or someone whom you can get assistance from there. They might be able to help cut the red tape that's involved to get you a place.

35,000 JPY for food per month is really low... you're looking at 1,000+ JPY per day for the ENTIRE month. I don't know about you; but it's Tokyo and with that budget do you mean you do not plan to eat out/socialize etc???

A bowl of tasty Ramen in Shinjuku's restaurant costs ~800 yen .... 1 day 1 Ramen and a few slice of bread at home should make it...

UGPM.

Yen is weakening by the day...

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Added on April 4, 2010, 7:18 pmHaha... ramen... lots of choices indeed.

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Added on April 4, 2010, 7:20 pmI see... you might be right on the wrong timing part... I think it might still be the school holidays thus lots of kids are free with their non-working mom on weekdays.


This post has been edited by PsyCHZZZ: Apr 4 2010, 07:20 PM

35,000Yen for one month food...is too low....no need breakfast and Dinner? Even give u a Cheapest tasteless Ramen also need 500Yen around...if you set 35,000Yen on food mean 1 day is 1,130 yen only..where got enough?

Everday Ramen? no need 1 month i think you will go hospital already...MOrning , lunch , dinner ..everday everymonth ramen?

Yes Apr 1 was during the spring break school holidays before the start of the new academic year. The new school year starts tomorrow Apr 5.
As with anyplace else, try to avoid school holidays.

On a related note, tanoshi - your girl should be starting kindergarten soon no? Kindergarten = big deal to Japanese i.e. big formal ceremony, lots of speeches, parents take the day off to attend etc. It was one of the few days of the year that I had to wear a suit.

Good Info. Thanks.
I am also applying for Uni accommodation available for employee that costs:

Entrance Fees (Taken as "cleaning fees" when entering): Foreign researchers: 14,700 yen
Foreign researchers: 18,600 yen (monthly)
Water Rates: 1,500 yen (monthly)
Electricity Rates: 1,050 yen (monthly basic rate) + usage charges
Internet Access Fees: 2,730 yen (monthly)
Common Service Fees: 1,500 yen (monthly)

So, total might be less than 30,000 yen per month. Could anyone advise about usage rate for electricity rate?

I hope food in Todai is much cheaper compared to outside Uni.

may i ask how u apply for job in todai??is't very hard to get enter to todai..i plan to enter to japan for further my master at there..so need ur advice...

btw, anyone knows where i can buy Mario stuffs here in Tokyo?

I don't think you need to worry too much about usage rate for electricity. It's not really high.
I think on average you'll be looking at probably 3-5k per month with moderate usage of the heater/air-con for a single person. My electricity bill averages around that for spring & autumn and it goes a bit higher during winter & summer (you can guess why).

I'm sure you'll be able to work within your budget for food but do take into consideration of setting some money on the side for the unexpected rather than trying to save all your salary.

Here's some tips for food shopping when you're here -
1. Find a local supermarket that is near your place and join their point cards system. This point card system is just like your average credit card points where you can trade points for cash.
2. Most supermarkets lower their price of daily perishable food by up to 50% 1-2 hours before their closing time.
3. I'm not sure if it's common but my local supermarket here sets Sunday as a sales day where a range of items has up to 20-40% discount off their retail price.
4. Talk to your local/foreign colleagues and find out what are some of their tips and tricks on stretching their yen. My guess is that if you guys are on the same pay scale; it'll be easier relate to each other.

Is gas or electric more expensive? I have a gas cooker in my room but if gas is expensive i might want to change to electrik cooker the one using IH. Please advice senpais

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Added on April 5, 2010, 8:54 amOh and another thing, why i notice the heater I have in my room uses gas and electric? WOnt it be expensive to use both?

This post has been edited by fimbulvinter: Apr 5 2010, 08:54 AM

hehehe...no lah bro...she already started last week..new advanced class for her
I've experience it last year...boreeeeeeeee
I guess you to hahaha

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Added on April 5, 2010, 10:37 amMmm..I think its common to stay in kaikan (dormitory for students, but u r not rite? ) normally can stay maximum for 1 year!

Btw envy you! R u the only proud Malaysian who is workin in Tokyo Uni.??? Its no. 1 the best uni. in Japan!
All Japanese salute on this Uni....No. 2 is Waseda
Eh how long you are gonna stay here, permanent post or contract, as what ya? (sowi many question) Just proud lorr...I can say to other 'nihon jin' ...'hey, got Malaysian la workin in Tokyo Uni.'!!!
Omedetou once again.

Bout food, the only 'canteen' university in Tokyo provide HALAL foods! The 1st and only one I guess
(one of my friend suggested for Muslims student and its approved!)

This post has been edited by tanoshi: Apr 5 2010, 10:37 AM

[quote=tanoshi,Apr 2 2010, 06:26 PM]
ehemmmm...do you want me to send a 'message' to your fiance? Nak ke?

hahaha she doesnt mind me watching jap porn. she's a cool fiance


Yen depreciates so much! 100Y:RM3.42 Good for me to travel end of this month
but a BIG lost for my fiance to bring yen to malaysia. 1,000,000 : RM34,200 instead of RM39,000 previously
lost about 5k already sigh
any chance yen might increase back up in aug or sept? if it does might as well keep yen until end of the year

I think heater that uses electricity will be more expensive compared to gas plus the fact that you might run into a situation where your circuit breaker will trip due to overload. For instance, in my place - I cannot turn on my aircon heater + microwave + hotpot + my usual electrical appliances (PC, TV, fridge etc) at the same time or it'll trip my circuit.

Your heater uses both gas and electric at the same time or it can use either one of it? Could it be it's just that it can uses either or and thus you have the flexibility of choosing which one to use? Also, I'm guessing Hakodate is pretty much cold on most of the days in a year so you'll want to ensure that the heater is functional at all times.

[quote=nasizwan,Apr 5 2010, 12:37 PM]
[quote=tanoshi,Apr 2 2010, 06:26 PM]
ehemmmm...do you want me to send a 'message' to your fiance? Nak ke?

hahaha she doesnt mind me watching jap porn. she's a cool fiance
Yen depreciates so much! 100Y:RM3.42 Good for me to travel end of this month
but a BIG lost for my fiance to bring yen to malaysia. 1,000,000 : RM34,200 instead of RM39,000 previously
lost about 5k already sigh
any chance yen might increase back up in aug or sept? if it does might as well keep yen until end of the year

[/quote]
aiseh bro...dont mention it here lah bout your fiance hahhahaha!
Later forget not to contact me yah!
eh so when your confirm date to come?

lain kali cepat transfer duit...DONT use TT larrrr....old fashion bro! huhuhuhu
Mind to PM me your 'engagement photos'? yeah it might be personal...but mind to PM me?

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Added on April 5, 2010, 10:43 am[quote=PsyCHZZZ,Apr 5 2010, 12:39 PM]
I think heater that uses electricity will be more expensive compared to gas plus the fact that you might run into a situation where your circuit breaker will trip due to overload. For instance, in my place - I cannot turn on my aircon heater + microwave + hotpot + my usual electrical appliances (PC, TV, fridge etc) at the same time or it'll trip my circuit.

Your heater uses both gas and electric at the same time or it can use either one of it? Could it be it's just that it can uses either or and thus you have the flexibility of choosing which one to use? Also, I'm guessing Hakodate is pretty much cold on most of the days in a year so you'll want to ensure that the heater is functional at all times.

[/quote]
Yeah PsyCHZZZ is rite...use the one called 'danbo'? with the 'minyak tanah' one...its cheaper but stinky smell huhu

This post has been edited by tanoshi: Apr 5 2010, 10:43 AM

@tanoshi
Confirmed date 22nd April, short trip, will be staying for a week only
Hai! wakarimashite! will contact once i reached there

About the money transfer, since too much hassle and cost fee I have decided to bring back cash and exchange myself here
But the problem now yen depreciate alot!! Is there any trend that yen will go back up end of the year?
should i change now and keep until yen goes back up?? or maybe change half first? i need some advice here!

We didnt do proper engagement ceremony like most malays do so i dont have engagement photos to share cause its mixed culture so i just proposed her thats about it but pmed you!

This post has been edited by nasizwan: Apr 5 2010, 11:14 AM

hehhee...got your PM di...

keep your yen lol...later will naik one for sure hehehe

submitted my visa app
fire as main contact and phyz as 2ndary contact.
so far i messed up my bank statement as it wasnt chop+signed by bank.
need to resubmit maybe later today if rajin to go thru jam, or 1st thing tomorrow morning.

btw, anyone getting the JR-Pass? should i get it (the 28k yen one) as i'll be traveling on shinkansen?
jom bulk jr-pass

im arriving on 17th morning