Moving to Japan to begin teaching as an ALT. I’ve done a fair bit of research and a lot of people say the salary is unaffordable, without disclosing what their expenses are… but what if you’re a minimalist, or someone who’s not into consumerism?
I own exactly three things over $100; my laptop, my bicycle, and my guitar. I fully expect this to continue when I move there. Basically, there’s nothing I want that costs any real money. I cook food from scratch and never eat out, I don’t drink or smoke, and I buy durable, simple fashions that last a long time and can be used in a variety of situations.
Most of my hobbies are basically free too, or at least have a very small fee. Hiking, swimming, urban exploration, and socializing with friends. Occasionally hit the gym, although working out outdoors is preferable. Video games if there’s nothing better to do. I also try to volunteer whenever possible, and am hoping to do that in Japan.
In this situation, would an ALT salary be workable? I do have significant savings, but it would be stressful if they were slowly depleted each month just to fund my lifestyle.
6 comments
There’s a lot of other factors to consider such as where you will be living and your daily commute.
Apartment costs and the fees for trains are not cheap. If you’d like to see a lot of Japan while you are here then you’ll be spending a lot of money on trains or flights.
If you find a small, cheap, place, and don’t plan on traveling I think you could make it work with what you outlined. But it would not be an experience most people would want.
> In this situation, would an ALT salary be workable?
I mean… yes, of course. Many thousands of people have lived in Japan on ALT salaries, and almost all of them were actually spending money, so you should be completely fine considering you don’t spend anything.
Well, if you play guitar, then you’re going to need to afford rent for a place with thick walls.
If you go through with it you probably want to live in the countryside, which usually I think you can request
One tricky aspect of frugal living in Tokyo (and probably other Japanese cities too) is that it’s really hard to go out without spending any money. Where I’m from in London, there are big parks, free events, free art galleries etc., but in Tokyo, the parks are generally tiny and unpleasant, and everything besides walking down the street comes with a price tag. (There are also no benches, ensuring that you spend as little time as possible on the street.)
House parties are not a big thing due to everyone’s tiny apartments, so socialising here is done at events and bars, where you’ll be paying for an entrance fee or at least for drinks. Yes, you technically can live super minimalist here, but you will likely struggle to do so while maintaining a social life.
Certainly livable based on your habits, but you still won’t be saving a ton of money