Coming on your own : To work full-time in Japan, you first need a company or school that agrees to hire you. You can apply for a visa in or out of Japan, but to change a landing permit into a work visa, with very few exceptions, you need to get it at a Japanese embassy or consulate outside of Japan. Many people come to Japan on a 90 day landing permit (in many countries now, the "tourist visa" is outmoded), but the Japanese Immigration may ask to see your air ticket to show that you don't plan to illegally overstay your landing permit), find a company/school that will sponsor them for a visa, then leave the country to get it. The time it takes can vary. Other people enroll in a language, martial arts, or other accredited school and get a student visa which allows you to work up to 20 hrs/week legally (there is a separate form from Immigration you'll need to fill out). To get a student visa however, many times the Immigration Dept. will demand that you have at least one million yen in a Japanese bank account, and to see your college diploma (the real one, no photocopies). In either case, you will need a guarantor for your visa--usually your company/school can act as one for you; if they won't, you'll need someone (often they'll demand he be a Japanese man) with a stable job and salary who'll be one for you. Your new cute girlfriend or that cool dude you hang out with will not be acceptable.

Another important note : Once you're on a work or student visa, and you plan to leave Japan for travel, visiting family, etc. you MUST get a re-entry permit from the Immigration Dept. (take your passport to the local office). A single re-entry permit is JPY 3000, and a multiple permit, good for an unlimited number of re-entries (for the term of your visa) is JPY 6000. IMPORTANT!!: Failure to get the re-entry permit stamp in your passport may prevent you from being allowed back into Japan. Watch out for peak travel periods as well--the end of the year, August, and "Golden Week" (the first week of May) are usually jammed with passengers and prices are double or worse.  

HOW MUCH CAN I TAKE THROUGH CUSTOMS ?

While leaving India : It is recommended to declare any articles like camera, video camera or other valuable item you bring to Japan. This will save you from lot of hassles when you return back.

During you return to India : These are the current Customs Allowances for Nothing to Declare: Alcohol: 1 bottles up to 760ml. Tobacco: 100 cigarettes, or 10 cigars, Perfume-: 2 oz. Others : up to Rs.6000 value in total. Your treatment at customs will largely depend on several factors -- 1. The personality and mood of the customs officer that day, 2. How busy it is 3. Your sex and appearance, and 4. Your attitude. If you come up looking like a Wood stock Refugee you may have a full body and luggage search, likewise if you come off with an attitude. Also note that if you bring in videotapes customs may ask to view them. Bringing in pornography is not recommended.

APARTMENTS, UTILITIES and PHONE

Japan is a country about the size of California, yet has a population of about 123 million. 25% of the population live in the Tokyo area (Kanto) otherwise to tell about 70% of the population live between the Osaka area (Kansai) and Kanto. As soon as you arrive, you'll be faced with the next big challenge if you plan to stay here: finding a place to live. When you come to Japan you should bring at least US$5,000, and a little more if you plan to live in Tokyo or Osaka (where most of the jobs are).

"What?!! If I had that much money I wouldn't even go to Japan!!" Stay home then.

Moving to Japan isn't cheap, and living here certainly isn't. If the school/company you'll work for already has an apartment/dorm set up, you're in luck--this'll save you from a big hassle, but you won't be able to choose where you live. If not, you're on your own. Apartments in Japan are found through real-estate agents (fudosan). Many have advertisements of available apartments pasted on their windows. Magazines for apartment-seekers exist as well.

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