Welcome to Gaia! ::

As I mentioned in my intro, I was lucky enough to marry a Japanese girl and live in Japan for almost three years in Itami and Amagasaki (never been to Tokyo though). We still visit her family in Itami as often as possible.

If anyone has any questions about living in Japan I'll be glad to try and answer them if I can. Just ask in this thread or start a new one where everyone can see the question in the title. Or PM me if you'd like to keep the question private. ninja

This is going to sound like a cop out to some people but the answer is "Yes and No" to both parts of your question. Seriously.

There are plenty of apartment finder services in Japan (very similar to real estate agents) and they keep huge lists of different types of apartments in different locations (and cross referenced) to try and meet your needs. Do you want a 1LDK (living dining kitchen with a bedroom) or a One Room Mansion where everything except the bathroom is in the same room? Do you want it close to a train station (more expensive) or near the grocery? These are a few of the questions you have to answer as the agent narrows your selection down. Price range?

Then there is the matter of "Key Money" which is like 3 months rent up front to the apartment owner just for the privilege of moving into his building. Often this is non refundable when you move out. Some apartments don't ask for Key Money at all.

Then there are a few apartments that don't allow foreigners. We're too noisy for their standards. There will be a few apartment buildings in the big cities set up for foreigners but they are often owned or operated by large English school chains.

All of my experience in Japan is in the Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe area (aka Kansai area) and the smaller cities in-between (Itami, Minoo and Amagasaki). One of the easier ways to get started looking for apartments there is to pick up a copy of the English language magazine Kansai Time Out at the biggest bookstore in Osaka (Kinokuniya in the Umeda section of Osaka). Or you can check their online site http://www.japanfile.com/modules/news/


Hope this helps some. Japan is a great place to live if you can afford it but you have to put up with some major headaches getting set up while not getting ripped off at the same time.

I've heard a lot about electronics, not just about traveling to japan, but most anywhere, really, and I was wondering if you knew what exactly was the difference is between North American power usage and that of Japan's electronics.

For example, a Japanese PS2 compared to an American or Canadian one.
Just curious.