So, on my travels around Tokyo do I notice being stared at? Not anymore. Speaking of travels, here’s some stuff I’ve seen 
Pagoda at Asakusa
Sky Tree from Asakusa
Kitty Bus at Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku (I work here!)
This makes me laugh every time (it's really a Pachinko parlour)
Tokyo Tower from Roppongi Hills
Work is still going well, I’m really enjoying myself at GABA! The best part of course are the students I teach. Due to client data protection I can’t really talk about the kind of people I teach, but I have the opportunity to meet some really interesting people. Over the past few weeks I’ve taught some lessons where I thought afterwards “I can’t believe I just got paid for 40 minutes of awesome conversation!”. Examples of fun lessons I’ve taught are: creating a list of the top 5 videogames of all time, dating differences between the UK and Japan, and the stereotypes between the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish. Of course, the caveat here is that you can forget you’re actually an English teacher. No matter how fun the conversation is, you need to make sure that you correct the student’s use of English and teach them new words and phrases that are relevant to their goals.
Apart from work, I’ve been spending my time chilling out in Tokyo, seeing my friends and furnishing my flat! Montage time.
I'm too loud for my neighbours
Spotted this beauty in Shinjuku
'British Trad Mix' is apparently in this Winter
Awesome band stickers
Standard.
Over the past week or so the following video has been gaining popularity on facebook – it’s a video message from the Tohoku region. You should definitely check it out. There are a lot of tourism campaigns for the Tohoku region in Japan, I’m happy to say I’ll be visiting in Spring of next year!
Finally I want to say a biiiiiiig thank you to my friends and family who have been sending me cards and presents from the UK. In Japan Christmas is a dating holiday – you usually go for a date on Christmas Eve and then everyone goes to KFC on Christmas Day. Seriously. The little reminders of home have been really sweet and I have been good and haven’t opened any of the presents yet! It’s very much appreciated. My Christmas plans are taking shape and I’m looking forward to my first Christmas living abroad, even if I will miss my family millions. Merry Christmas everyone!
Give the Colonel a hug (take a photo!) when you go to eat yardbird at KFC (or like in my town, PFK, Poulet Frit Kentucky! )
こんねちわジェニーさん！よろしくお願いします。I have only just found your blog (whilst searching for visa application hints & tips via Google), I wanted to say that your blog is a super read with some fantastic images. I am a fellow Brit, so wanted to share the love and some what pick your brains/knowledge… if you don’t mind!
I am going to be taking the plunge and moving to Japan in 2012 mainly to fulfill my dream of reaching as native as possible Nihongo… as soon as possible! This will be the second time I have been to Tokyo/Japan to study. I am also aiming to be living in or around the Nakano/Okubo region as I am going to be continuing study at KAI Japanese School (no doubt you have seen or heard of, what with living around the area), which is in Shinokubo.
Like yourself, I am also looking at Fontana for my apartment, great to hear they are super helpful/friendly. Is there any specific apartments that you could recommend after searching or viewing the ones in the local area? My budget sounds roughly around your monthly level too, although keeping under 80,000 monthly would be ideal.
Finally, for my visa application, the form asks for my intended place of residence… is this essential prior to applying for the visa? Can I just submit Fontana’s details specifying that I will be seeking lodgings with them as a company?
Phew… apologies for the essay, think of it as a refresher on reading English…
After a while submerged in all that Japanese living/culture maybe a few rambling English paragraphs may bring back a few feelings of home! どうもありがとうございますと「メリー・クリスマス」からイギリスです。
ジェムーズ .:.
Merry Christmas and happy new year as they say.
Am really looking forward to working in Japan now… hopefully my lessons will be as pleasant as yours.
About the staring thing… I don’t mind it really, I enjoy kids looking at me like i’m some sort of alien. One thing that did make me feel ill-at-ease during my last visit were people making sure not to sit close to you in the metro…
I remember having two empty seats next to me, everyone preferred to stand up. Then a japanese woman left at a station and immediately one of the guys who had been standing for 5mn sat in her seat…
I was like… ouch.
ジェムーズ > About your visa application, if it is a working holiday visa you’re applying for, the name of the company you will be renting your flat from and a vague address (closest metro/train station) should be enough. Enjoy the studying.
Bonjour monsieur! Ca va?
Do you know when you might be coming to Japan? I’m really enjoying my time at GABA, I must say!
As a girl I don’t get the ‘seat gap’ issue too much but sometimes it does happen… you can’t help but feel slightly insulted!
Hi James! Thanks for stumbling across my little corner of the internet!
Ahh so you’re not completely new to Tokyo too, that’s good! Will you just be studying here or working, too?
Fontana are ok if you know how to play them… they’re not perfect, though! I live in Corudo Shin-Okubo, the rent is now going for 90,000Y. Ouch. Mine is less because I work for GABA! I have only seen a few of their places, but I can definitely tell you what to AVOID! Avoid the Piers: Pier I, Pier II and Pier Koenji. Also avoid the Doma building. The Fontana staff actually make jokes about these places! You have to be lucky to catch the ‘good’ apartments as and when they come up. I think Corudo is pretty much always fully booked, as is Torivian Homes (where my friend lives).
As for the visa, I echo the sentiments of our French friend Aryllies. I had actually reserved my apartment with Fontana at that point and gave that address, but after 2 days it changed anyway! Just a rough idea will do, they won’t check it! Obviously when you get here you have to get your gaijin card anyway, so then they know your address.
This was my first Christmas away from the UK, just caught up on Big Fat Quiz of the Year! Any more questions about Fontana feel free!
Ca va très bien merci.
(Doing just fine thanks!)
I will arrive in Japan at the end of January and start working at the start of February.
Looking forward to it, I need some change in my life about right now lol.
The seat thing is annoying indeed… oh well, it means more space for me!
Let’s not forget the good old end of the year sayings…
One day in advance: よいお年を！
Two days in advance : あけましておめでとう
There!
Hi, stumbled across your blog a few days ago.Really enjoyed reading it. I’m moving to Tokyo next month, to work with Gaba at the Shinjuku LS too. Sooooo much to do!!!! Never been to Tokyo or Japan before so I’m ridiculously nervous, but excited too of course. Just wanted to say your blog was great, learned a lot about getting a room with Fontana – I was actually considering the first apartment you had selected, which turned out to be a dive lol!! Thanks for the tips
This will soon become a abaG (read backwards…) haunt lol.
I will be starting at the same time as you Emily… I wish you good luck!
We should all do a meetup at some point and exchange funny work stories. ;D
I already can’t wait.
I like this plan!
Hi Emily, that’s great! Shinjuku is a really friendly LS so I’ll be meeting you soon!
Fontana use some special camera trick to make the rooms seem muuuuuuuuch bigger than they are. I’d definitely recommend avoiding the Pier buildings and the Doma building!
Hi! Well, I’m in Tokyo now
Arrived yesterday and was completely overwhelmed by the size of the city, but 17 hours sleep later and I’m feeling much more confident. My boyfriend is with me too, so that’s definitely helping. The apartment is actually really nice, and bigger than it looked in the photo’s which is surprising! And the neighbourhood is lovely too, so happy so far. Have my training with Gaba next weekend which I’m looking forward to. Thanks again for the tips in the blog, and maybe I’ll be seeing you soon!
Welcome to Tokyo! Which apartment did you end up in?
Are you placed in Shinjuku? When you come in for your OJC come find me and say hi!
Hi there!
I just wanted to say I stumbled on your blog before coming to Japan while I was looking up information on Gaba dress code (as it was pretty vague in their email). I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting me at ease with all your praise for GABA and Japan! I enjoy working for them too! I work at the Yokohama LS now and have been here a month, but I must say I was really nervous before reading your blog! Thank you!
- Liz
Am in Japan now! yatta!
The room I got ended up being bigger than what it looked like from the pictures… lucky me!
THe guys at anatnof (…) were a bit amateurish if I say so myself and I had to question their maths before they admitted to making a mistake… oh well.
Now time to do all the administrative stuff.
This stuff’s exciting.
welcome back! Which building did you end up in? I am moving out of anatnof on Feb 13th into a Leopalace, haha. I always double check their maths too!
Do you know which LS you are placed in yet?
yep yep, Shibuya it is, the one hidden on top of a Sumitomo Trust Bank (STB for rich people lol) with no visible sign that there actually is a Gaba office there… lost in the Shibuya signs’ jungle. Great way to get customers lol.
What’s Leopalace? Is it another gaijin accommodation company? Are they any good?
Ahhh Shibuya! Great location! I’m sure it’ll be a nice busy LS too, good atmosphere!
Leopalace 21 are a normal estate agency but they will rent to foreigners. Most places come fully furnished and they are cheaper than Fontana! A little Japanese ability is good I think, though. When do you come over here for your Initial Cert?
Finished it already actually and will probably start working very soon.
Will be keeping an eye on that Leopalace company, you never know…
Really? Wow that was quick! Welcome! Who did your training? I’m about to take my second BUC next week.
I’ll be posting a review of the company who helped me find my new place soon, so maybe it’ll be helpful
A lovely trainer who goes by the name of Richard.
Those three days were fun but long! Good luck with the BUC. I should be getting my first lessons by the end of the week or so (hopefully.)
Funny thing about Leopalace, I was strolling around the north of Shibuya and I saw a Leopalace building by pure chance.
Will investigate further rent-wise. If they are cheaper than Fontana, it’s a no brainer for me. My room’s lock is broken and it still hasn’t been fixed. Not that I don’t trust my housemates or anything but well…
It’s weird though, It feels like I’ve been in Tokyo forever now lol. Not too fazed.
Uhh hey! I’m another person who just happened to randomly find you. I was looking for a funny ALT related pic on Google images, and it brought me here!
And well.. I’ve already been living in Tokyo for 5+ years now, so I don’t seek visa or other such advice, but I figure there’s nothing wrong with making more friends in Tokyo
If you search for me on facebook, I’m wearing a white shirt sitting in front of my electric drums, with a bit of a smirk
よろしくねーヾ(〃^∇^)ﾉ