Renshuu.org - Study Japanese Online

im going to live in japan next year [tokyo ] for school [temple university japan ] and im wondering how hard it is to fit in and get a job i can speak decent japanese but im not the best and im American

Devin-
If you're going to school in Tokyo on a student visa, you are not allowed by law to get a 'real' job. That being said, when I was studying abroad, I knew a lot of people who did private 英会話 (English Conversation) lessons - usually they'd set up an account on something like http://senseisagasu.com/ and find students through that. You get paid under the table that way, so it's not violating the terms of the student visa. But other than that type of cash-only 'job,' you're not allowed to work while on a student visa.

It really depends on what you want to see....go to Tokyo, for all the lights and people and everything (very similar to New York City, personally not my favorite area) or Kyoto, for more of the ancient Japan. I love Kyoto, with the all temples, and I would recommend going either in the spring or the fall; the colors are spectacular! The cherry blossoms usually bloom in april, and it's really amazing and beautiful...highly recommended! Also, you have to see Mt. Fuji! Again, springtime is best when all the cherry blossoms are there. The top of Mt. Fuji has an amazing view, and so if you're fit and energetic enough, climbing to the top would be a great activity. Final little note, I personally think japanese food is the best in the world, so if you have a chance, try eating some stuff like okonomiyaki or takoyaki, as well as japanese sweets! yumm.... Hope this helped!

a note on Mt. Fuji - climbing season is only July and August, so plan accordingly!

Ah, Tokyo. The best city in the world.

For shopping, eating, and fun I recommend the area you live in and Shinjuku. Pretty much any area in Tokyo will have cozy izakayas and bars where you can not only practice your Japanese and meet new people but the people there will actually make you feel like you have a family in Japan.

Shinjuku has Golden Gai and all those amazing small restaurants in sanchome. For a more cosmopolitan feeling go to Advocate's bar in the neighboring gayborhood. 1000 yen beer blasts (all you can drink beer) from 5-9pm every weekday.

Snowboarding in Japan is great. Not a snowboarder yet you say. Not to worry, www.snova246.com/ have cheap beginner lessons that include wear rental and this is in the summer as well.

I never played American-style baseball before going to Japan, but there's no better stress reliever than the batting cages/centers you find every few blocks apart whereever you live.

Clam digging in Chiba, surfing in Shonan, Hanami and international food festivals in Yoyogi park.

You'll love Tokyo and you will always find people you'll fit in with.

Woah, I know where I'll be in 3 hours and 39 minutes  

I hear the only time they had to stop serving beer to their customers was when a New Zealand Rugby team started drinking there at 5 on the dot...They actually ran out of beer...

This is my surprised face. -_- I'm from NZ. However, unlike your typical rugby team, I'm not a big drinker. Kochi has changed me a bit and I do drink now and again (especially at my in-laws'), as opposed to almost never. Living out here in the middle of nowhere is such a big contrast to cities like Tokyo, though. It's been a long time since I had the chance to visit a big city.

I wonder if the original poster made any plans for Japan. Would be nice to hear about it xD Its fun to plan holiday trips ~.^

No detailed plan yet, I'm afraid. It's really expensive, and I think April is peak season. But since the trip would be my graduation gift to myself, I guess I could ask my parents to help me with the expenses. But I'm set on Kyoto, maybe meet a contact I know there, go to where 時代劇 are shot, eat, eat, eat, and walk. I also plan to bring a sketch pad along and draw. I like drawing.

Sounds good and I like that you want to eat, eat, eat! I think that is more important than sightseeing in my opinion xD Even trying Japanese McDonalds is a must if you like that is. I always thought you shouldn't eat McDonalds when its available in your own country but the menu is different and catered to the local taste. Worth trying.

Yes! I will try the McDonalds. When I went to Hong Kong, it was a shock to me that they had duck in the menu, so Japan could surprise me too. Also, the KFC there seems special, especially during Christmas.

I chose Kyoto because I heard that it's THE cultural city and because of the suggestions in this thread. Maybe I could find 芸者 walking around or just feel like I'm in 明治時代。

They even do noodles in soup in Hong Kong mcdonalds. I miss Japanese McDonalds. Prawn burgers, McPork burger and Shaka Shaka chicken >.< I haven't tried KFC in Japan yet. I always go to convenience stores or McDonalds. You will find food in convenience store much better. There are a wide selection of food to choose from and I could actually just live off from those food.

Yes. I think we saw that on the breakfast menu. Weird. Not bad though. Shaka Shaka Chicken?

From what I see in TV, a lot of people really just live off the foor from convenience stores. I guess those are cheap but good.

シャカシャカチキン is what you would want to look for on the menu. It literally means Shake Shake chicken. You have this southern fried chicken and you put seasoning in the wrapping and shake it so the chicken will have the seasoning. It is very nice and juicy <3 They do Black Sesame and Kim Chi seasoning. Think there was something else but I can`t remember.

Yeah very cheap convenient store food. There are a whole variety from buns to sandwiches to bento boxes.

But horribly unhealthy (covered in chemicals to keep them 'fresh'. I have had stretches of conbini binges in the past, but can't eat the stuff any more...

Okay. That doesn't sound too good. But I think I'll still have to eat from a konbini at some point.

Thankfully I am near a supermarket which closes at 7pm - which means the 50% off bentos are available at 5pm - but I have on occasion succumbed to those new burgers Yamazaki makes. Somehow the fact that they are apparently good to sit with the bread products at room temperature does nothing to sway my craving. It really should.

I miss Japanese bread. So soft and yummy ^^ Burgers too <3