I had 2 bank account.
One is MUFG Bank for work (where salary, guarantee fees transfer to this account).
Second one is Shinsei Bank (where I'll bank-in as my savings, won't transfer to my Msian bank until I reach certain amount. The more you have the cheaper the transfer fee).

But if like my Dad or Sis ketuk me for pocket money.
I'll use Western Union.. Just go to their website and check available location nearby where you stay and send the money back to Malaysia.

Irony, International License only last for a year and you have to go back to Malaysia and apply again.
Long term, you have to take Driving Test in Japan.

I didn't take thou because I have the priviledge to ride the subway or bus to anywhere .....and once in a while I'll get pick up at the station nearby where I stay and straight away head to production location.

Please check your PM.

Sorry guys.. Been away from the Internet Social Media World for almost 20 days.
I believe others who are currently lives in Japan will respond some of your Q's. lol

Am back in Kota Kinabalu already.
2 years period I moved 3 times.

Upon reaching in Tokyo, Nishi-Kasai (Edogawa-ku) opposite Aeon Mall.
Very small room for a month... Sharing with bunch of people. Can be quite havoc and chaotic sometimes. I think I paid around 48k yen for a month, not worth it but convenient because Mall just in-front of the apartment.

A month later, found a studio apartment 30mins walk from Nishi-Kasai in a small Neighbourhood area. Higashi-Kasai, close to river where I can spend my freetime wandering around. I have my own Balcony front and back for only 45k yen a month. Best rent ever..

Then when things happen at home and decide to go back after visa expired.
Last 3 months I move to Arakawa-ku staying with a friend of mine who have extra room for me. He ask for 40k yen a month, very cheap since it's very convenient. Convenient Store, Big Supermarket and 2 stations just around the corner.

Thx bro

Thanks. Not a car tho, that is wayyy to expensive. Was thinking about a bike. I read that some country like Thailand and Singapore can just convert their licenses into Japanese License with only eye exam. So will probably take the test if I plan to stay longer then a year, and take rental car to travel.

Thanks. After 5 years in Japan the last time, I think I'm not quite fond of the rush hour and packed train every single day, so I was thinking 50cc motor for commute and 250cc for travel on the highway (since I heard only 125cc and above can go onto highways, and 125cc above parking in tokyo is like double for those 125cc and under)

you can actually chose an apartment that goes against the "traffic flow". That was one of the criteria I gave my agent when he find an apartment for me.

All of you who are working in Japan can speak Japanese?

i have 4years working exp in IT field(mostly 1st and 2nd line support)
only have local diploma no deg,
able to speak/understand basic japanese.
do i able to land even 0.1% chance to get a job in japan if i were to try for job hunting in japan?

Thanks for the advice, but going against the traffic flow means you will live inside Tokyo, as most traffic coming from outwards to the inner yamanote line. I bet it'll be quite expensive. My workplace will be at shibuya station.

Unfortunately 0% chance (getting a job offer is not that hard, but getting the visa is). Minimum req for an engineer visa is a degree or 10 years of exp.
There is a loop hole for non degree holder, but it's sketchy even for someone who had been working there before like me.

Of course there is another type of visa, but google will probably be more help.

This post has been edited by Riolis: Jun 29 2016, 10:40 PM

That's true, but you can ask your agent about it. Am sure they are able to recommend. Unless you are renting it yourself, than its different story. There is no perfect solution though. If you want cheaper and bigger apartment, then will be outskirt like Kawasaki but pack like sardines. If you are willing to pay a bit more for a smaller apartment you can stay close to shibuya. It took me 2 months to find my current place. My agent was very kind and took me around tokyo nearly every weekend to look at houses/apartment.

thx for the feedback

Yep, which what prompt my idea about living in the outskirts and driving a motocycle into Shibuya avoiding the packed train. Chances are both will end up costing about the same, on one side, fuel + parking fees per month, and on the other hand, higher rent. I guess the other factor is less concrete jungle, bigger place vs smaller place but more convenience (like conbini is 1 min walk away).

For now I'm just going to read up on stuff and think it through, for the first few months I will be living in a guest/shared house anyways.

Hmm... Potential thread & TS same state with me

Dont forget that Japan is a four season country. During winter its cold and summer it rains a lot. So you really have to look at the pro and cons.

Guys I have a question. I have been looking in Gaijinpot and multiple other jobsites...anyway, most of them are saying you must currently reside in Japan, or already holding a work permit before they consider to hire you.

So basically,

No work visa= no job offer
No job offer= no work visa

So how does one exactly get the employer to sponsor you in the 1st place? This is really hard for anyone that is not under "Skilled labor" category. This neverending cycle is BS. And not only Japan, I believe a lot of countries like AUS or TW also apply this rule as well...

yeah, I guess when that time comes, suffer packed train. *sigh*

You didn't provide the most important info, what kind of jobs are you trying to look for? I got a job without visa and what not in the first place, only via skype interview, and later went there for face to face.

Um, I applied mostly for jobs in hospitality field. Like in hotels.

How did you do that?

Hmm, your one is a tough one. I have heard people who work in hotels under "Specialist in Humanities Visa / International Services Visa", you just need a degree to be qualified for that visa.

Tough as in, your job is not portfolio based, like me and OP, but rather people-skill based. So people don't really hire over skype for that. So chances you are getting a job while staying in Malaysia is practically near nil. But I'm not saying you can't work in Japan, you just need to do it differently.

Here is what I think should work for you :
- Go to Japan, you should be able to stay there for 3 months max, stay in really cheap ass place and start applying and going to interview. Without Japanese skill, your choices will be narrow and some jobs can be dodgy.
= 50-50 chances of getting a job and visa sponsorship

- Go to Japan, learn Japanese, because your job is customer facing, need to talk to foreigners AND Japanese. So go and learn it, you only need at most 1 year to get your Japanese to Business level easy. Can be quite expensive if self-fund (but part-time work in Japan pays quite alot and can actually support you school fee/rent/living expenses easily, I only have money for 3 months of living, but cover everything with part time), but there is other ways like this thing I saw spammed here in Lowyat ( http://japan-school.com/ ) Then apply for job at the end of your school year. This should be 100% chances to get a job if you don't play around. I mean even a uni dropout dumbasses like me can get a job easy with this path, so if you don't play around should be no problem.

There are seriously shitload of job vacancy for your position. Just go there and get it if you want it. Even in gaijinpot shows alot of hotel jobs with visa sponsorship.

This post has been edited by Riolis: Jul 4 2016, 11:08 PM