Gaijin Houses
When arriving in Japan, your priority will obviously be accommodation. You'll soon get through your money by staying in hotels while you search for the right apartment so a more cost effective option is a stay in a guesthouse, or 'Gaijin House' as they are known locally. This will enable you to relax somewhat while you find your feet and assess the housing market and take the time to make the right decision about where to live, without the worry of a huge hotel bill. Monthly contracts are the norm although some may offer weekly contracts.
Tokyo has many such Gaijin houses and you'll find them in most major Japanese cities. Some are part of large chains of guesthouses while others are privately operated. Some will have a policy of only allowing foreigners. You have the option of renting your own space (obviously the most expensive option), or sharing with others. Shared apartments should cost below 100,000 Yen while private ones will be at least that price. Check to see if the cost of electricity etc is included in the price.
A great advantage of choosing to live this way for a while is that it will give you an insight into what it's like to live properly in Japan and the day to day routines and customs.
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