Rent in Japan

[Clareman]

I come from Ireland where it has got very expensive to live even though we are experiencing the celtic tiger. I see Japan is getting cheaper to rent and many places dont bother with key money. Is Chiba a good area to live?

[Alex Case]

Good as in cheap- yes. Good as in pretty- no. The cheapest places in Chiba would be a small one-room wooden apaato block flat through a Japanese agency for 45000 yen a month. Probably no deposit but you will still need a guarantor or two and will need to do all the paperwork in Japanese. To do the same through a gaijin agency, add 15000 a month for exactly the same place with less paperwork (which you can do in English) and maybe some extras like furniture and an internet connection.

[Clareman]

It turns out now I'll be teaching in Koga Ibaraki ken. Im guessing this even cheaper again than Chiba. Im working for a junior high school as an ALT. INTERAC have hired me.