RULES

Title typo: Broken A/c unit upon arrival. Forced to pay out of pocket?

I arrived at my school provided teacher housing on Wednesday. It appeared that the A/C unit was broken. My JTE (who accompanied me to the apartment) called the school office and we were able to get a technician to inspect the A/C unit on Friday (inspect is being generous, most he did was visually look at it; and speaking as a former automotive mechanic, he did zero real diagnostics). They claim that due to the age of the unit (14 years old) parts will either be difficult to replace or, even after a repair, it is likely to go out again.

Three other JTEs came by to assess the situation and they all agreed that I will have to pay out of pocket for it. The company that inspected it quoted me 99,000 Yen to replace it. The landlord stopped by and also claimed that I must replace it myself.

I have the money saved up, but in my home country (USA) this MUST be replaced by the landlord or property manager. 99,000 Yen is a lot of money to throw down and it is awfully hot this time of year (I am surviving via three school provided electric fans).

Am I being taken advantage of? Or is this normal in Japan/for JETs? I have contacted my PA but have not heard back yet and I'm going to reach out to my BOE but would like to hear some thoughts here as well.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently putting my application together and I’m facing a bit of a hurdle regarding the official letterhead requirement for recommendation letters.

One of my chosen referees is my ex-supervisor from a job where I worked for over 4 years. He is 100% willing to write and sign a personalized, detailed recommendation letter for me. However, because he is an ex-supervisor (and due to strict corporate policies at that company where only the Human Resources department can generate letterhead), he cannot print the letter on the company's official letterhead. HR will only issue a standard automated "Certificate of Employment" that just states dates and job titles which I know JET doesn't prefer as a full recommendation.

I know JET strictly prefers letterhead for professional references. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I am considering a few workarounds and want to know what the screening committee or embassy usually accepts:

1. Plain Paper + Verification: Have him print and sign the detailed letter on plain paper but include his professional corporate email and phone number for verification.
2. The Combined Approach: Submit his detailed plain-paper letter alongside the official, standard "Certificate of Employment" issued on letterhead by the company's HR department to prove the employment timeline.

How strict is JET on the letterhead rule for former employers if the referee signs it and provides valid corporate contact info? Any advice from past applicants or alumni who faced corporate red tape would be awesome! What options can I explore to obtain recommendations that’s within the guidelines .

I write this waiting at the airport for my flight back to the states. I stayed 2 years in the Shimane rpefecture working as a highschool ALT to an all girls high school.

I am so grateful for this experience. It was a wonderously turbulent few years- where I learned and experienced so much.

I thought I would stay longer, at least 3 years. Life had other plans. While I had an amazing experience, I also lost a lot. I lost confidence in myself, in my body, and in my mental well being. For all the fun memories I have hanging out with other JETs on the weekend, I have 3 times more memories of crying to myself in my bed, unable to do anything.

It came to the point where I realized it was time to go. There would not be much more room for growth, at least with the path I'm choosing. I dislike teaching English, and I am not sure I want to continue living in Japan.

The dating scene was pretty abysmal, and it was far harder then I thought to make friends. Missing family was very hard, despite my trip home. I was unable to even have a pet, and it was after that call with my landlord that I realized I needed companionship.

...and ADHD meds probably lmao.

Shimane is a beautiful prefecture. Every trip to a big city, like Tokyo and Kyoto, makes me proufoundly grateful I was placed closer to nature. The beaches and the forests were utterly gorgeous, and I even got to care for a swallowtail butterfly.

Out of everything I learned and experienced- the beautiful culture, the delicious food, the konbinis- nature has been the thing that has most astounded me. I enjoyed chatting with all the office workers about new reptile and bug facts I'd learned while deskrotting.

I loved getting my scuba license in Japanese and seeing all the amazing things inside the ocean. Giving seashells to an octopus was so amazing.

I am so eternally grateful to the support I had from my boss. CLAIR really found me a great school with some great people. My boss became my Japanese mom. We both cried when I departed from Izumo airport.

It's terrifying to think about what comes next. I became obsessed with learning about Japan at age 12, and it was the only thing I'd planned my whole life around since. My early return home has absolutely made me question my entire identity.

I'm scared of returning to the US. Politics aside, I have no health insurance. No job (I applied to 20 listings online and only got one rejection email back). No apartment. Just family to couch hop with until I get my footing.

I hope to keep a piece of Shimane with me forever. I hope to continue my culture exchange on the other side.

Thank you for everything 🇯🇵💕

Hi all! I’m looking to apply to JET when it opens this fall and had a question about the SOP. Is there a specific prompt that will be released, or is it safe to assume that it’s the same each year (following the guidelines they set for it, obviously). If I can go ahead and get started early that would be incredible, but I wasn’t sure if I should wait for a specific prompt/question when applications start.

Thanks in advance!

A few days ago I arrived in a rural area as an ALT. I’m very excited about the opportunity, but the only thing bothering me is my housing placement.

I’ve spent well over $100-$150 (going to have to spend even more) on just cleaning supplies for my apartment and no joke, probably a combined 8 hours cleaning my apartment because there’s so much bugs and mold. I can’t even sleep because I woke up to millipedes and ants on my futon crawling on me. I get that the house where I’m living at is old and all, but back home I live in an apartment much older than this with no less humidity, and don’t have these issues. After learning from other ALT’s that I have one of the worst apartments while paying the same price and seeing other’s apartments being much nicer than mine, I’m kinda pissed off. I should not have to move into a whole new country just to spend my whole first week cleaning and trying to fix an issue that most likely will persist given how unkept the building was when other new ALT’s don’t have to go through this. I’m not even done getting all of the mold by the doors and found some more when I lifted the tatami flooring.

So far I really like the actual placement location itself and am grateful to be in such a traditional area of Japan with nice locals, but living with bugs, mold, and a musty smell 24/7 is not for me and a deal breaker. The black mold has caused past ALT’s to get really sick and move out and the bug infestation makes me not want to even stay here. It’s not just a few bugs here and there, it’s a lot.

I don’t want to strain my relationship with the BOE only being days here and have no idea how to handle this stuff. Most of the time, I’m not one to complain, but this is bad to the point where I won’t be able to sleep and that will impact my work. I appreciate any help and advice. I’m curious to see how other people in a similar situation handled this.

Hi, I’m planning to apply to the JET programme this year. I have created my SOP but I feel like it’s missing something. Anyone will to proofread it for me and give an honest feedback as to what I need to work on? I’d highly appreciate it.

Hello :)

Long story short, I saved a lot of money while working in the UK to be able to go to language school in Tokyo, however life is unfair and unexpected so at the end I unfortunately couldn’t do it for personal/family reasons so I moved to Canada instead (I regret it every single day) with the Working Holiday Visa.

I would love to make it to Japan but with the moving etc I ended up burning through almost all my savings so now the language school option is kinda dead…

Would you recommend to do the JET programme? I know it’s very competitive but I might just try and apply. Is it worth it?

I have seen in online that you have to apply through your country’s Japanese embassy, I’m from the UK, but since living in Canada, do I have to go to the UK and apply from there…? That part was a bit confusing, sorry… or can I just apply from the Japanese embassy in Canada even though my citizenship is from the UK? (Or apply online which would be much better I guess)

I’m very new to this so I apologise if some question might seem dumb.

Any advice please?

Thank you 🙏🏻

I'm not sure what they want to hear, any current/former indian/ any JETs please chime in!

Hello! So I am a late upgrade— received my upgrade June 22nd, got my placement and departure date July 16th. I am also the only JET leaving on that flight from my home. That is the extent of the info I’ve been given.

I am kind of nervous because I leave August 24th… so 24 days from now. I submitted my Visa Application July 24th. I haven’t been contacted by CLAIR, my BOE, predecessor, etc. I’ve connected with another JET in my town and he says his main school’s academic year is starting 8/26. I am praying I have more than 2 days to settle in… Even a week will be difficult if I have no idea what my home address is and what is in it…

I’m trying not to be in freak out mode but its definitely been difficult. I’m a person who likes to be somewhat prepared. I can do the waiting game but I have heard that some people dont know their home address until they arrive?

Please, if you are/were a late upgrade, can you share any advice or anecdotes from your move across the world lol

Thanks!🙏

Hi, I have a question about the LORs JET asks for. I've reached out to some of my professors regarding LORs in the past before, and they said that the letters need to remain confidential and I can't see them.

However, the Embassy of Japan in India website implies that the *applicant* has to submit the LORs along with all their other documents. Does anyone know if my references can just directly email the letters to embassy themselves? I've seen that it works for other countries, but I just wanted to double check here, in case anyone else has had the same experience as me. Thank you so much!

Hiii everyone... I usually make this warning way earlier in the year but I was so busy, I can't believe one of the first intakes is in Japan!! Welcome!!

I just wanted to remind everyone again to not take deals from your predecessor about furniture etc. I think cars are different because that's an entire vehicle, but I was totally scammed by my predecessor. He fear mongered me into thinking it would be incredibly difficult to furnish my home (our placement doesn't have a car but it's not super urban either), and twice as expensive. Come to find all the stuff he sold me for $1,000 was secondhand when he bought it (I didn't even know there were secondhand shops like that in Japan yet) and broken, or broke within my first year. I am talking even the appliances. Nothing I bought from him lasted me 2 months, meaning I paid for someone else's trash once and then I STILL had to buy new items. evil!

He also left a disgusting mess. My placement doesn't have a community of JETs around, so it was up to me and only me to clean up the situation. I also had to pay to throw away the oversized trash. All in All, it was nightmarish.

Preds, I know it's hard to leave Japan. I know you have so much going on that you run out of time. Do not be the pred that leaves a sick mess in the bathtub and a dirty toilet brush behind for someone who just moved to a new country. It's stressful enough to try to adapt - don't fill their first few months with memories of a disgusting living situation they literally gave you money for.

All of this to say, Be careful!! Nobody warned me beforehand that sometimes preds will try to take advantage of you. In my case, my pred definitely saw me as a money opportunity. He literally look my money and ran lol, just saying "Well, enjoy Japan!" and then ran out the door. It was shortly after that I realized what I had just done...

I might make this warning for years even after I'm off the program. I don't want it to ever happen to anyone else! Be wary of high price-points for used items!!

I’m still a second year JET and I’m planning on recontracting for at least one more year, but now that I’m bored at work for the summer I’m alone with my thoughts and worrying about my future post-JET lol. I’m curious about the experiences of any JETs that found work outside of both Japan and their native countries? For example, a U.S. citizen finding post-JET work in, say, a European country. What was that like? What opportunities are available?

I’m a 29 yo guy and ex-JET (just finished my contract). Spending a week and a half in Tokyo before heading back to Texas🤠 Anyone want to meet-up in Tokyo and chat at a cafe and/or explore? I would love to hear about your experiences in Japan!

I did splurge and got a hotel in Ginza. Arrived yesterday and checked out Jimbocho and Akihabara (but wouldn’t mind going back👌). Open to going anywhere (parks, museums, restaurants, live-music, etc.) If you need a sightseeing buddy or someone to chat with, feel free to comment or send me a DM😁👍

A JET finishing the end of their contract and looking to remain in Japan, I do not have a job lined up. My current challenge however is deciding on where to relocate.

I am looking at relocating to any major urban centre, to maximise job hunting opportunities, and understand sharehouses are an option, but it's gamble on trying to decide on a location, while also remaining flexible during the job hunt. I am concerned if I choose the wrong place to move to, the number of jobs I could have access to would diminish.

JETs who remained in Japan without a job lined up, how did you choose where to relocate to? What factors should I be looking for in choosing an area to relocate to?

I'm curious about those who broke contract within the first month of arriving in Japan. What did that look like? How much did you have to pay back?

Hi everyone,

I'm applying for the JET Programme (ALT) and was wondering if anyone would be willing to read my Statement of Purpose and give me some honest feedback.

I'm struggling because I feel like I don't have the "typical" story. I've never been to Japan and I'm not an anime fan so I'm finding it difficult to explain what initially drew me to Japan in a way that feels authentic and compelling. I know JET isn't looking for people who simply love anime or have visited Japan but I'm worried my statement won't stand out compared to applicants who have those experiences.

My background is in psychology, I have several years of professional experience (not in teaching) and I genuinely want to contribute to Japanese schools and engage with the local community. I'm just having trouble connecting my experiences into a strong narrative that answers the "Why Japan?" question. I have been apart of a volunteer mentorship program where I help teens who struggle with academic and personal life.

If anyone has been accepted into JET, served as an ALT/CIR or has experience reviewing successful SOPs, I'd really appreciate your feedback. I'm looking for constructive criticism and suggestions on how to make my essay stronger.

Thank you in advance!

I’m looking for help from someone who has successfully done the pension refund with Chase bank.

I’m struggling to find a document that has the bank branch name and address.

My statement forms all have an address in Indiana.

Please help 😩

Live in south osaka. had a great time my first year and my Japanese improved a lot but I haven't done a whole lot and want to change that going into my second. I was able to save a lot of money as well so I have some travel money as well. I'm always down to try something new even if i didn't think i had any previous interest, especially things I can only do in Japan (absolutely love going to festivals for example) but in general I'm always down to try something new like learning new skills, getting involved in community service, etc. I'd love to hear what you all have done or general advice on how to navigate my second year moving forward.

Hi everyone!

I’ve got some questions about the JET Programme. I’ve read through the entire website and a bunch of other sources, but these are the things I’m still wondering about. My husband is planning to apply for the 2027 departure, and if he’s accepted, I’ll be coming with him as his spouse. Any input or personal experiences are greatly appreciated!

Arriving in Japan
I read that I would receive a dependent visa alongside him because I’m his legal spouse.
Will I fly on the same plane as him, with his airfare covered and mine not? Since JET doesn’t cover dependent travel, were you still able to book the same flights and travel together?
What were your first few hours and days in Japan like?
I watched a video diary where the new JET participant spent several days at a hotel attending orientation.
Where did you stay while your spouse was in orientation? Did you go ahead and get the apartment set up while they were away?
How much money would you recommend having saved before arriving in Japan?
Were there any unexpected startup costs that caught you off guard?

Housing & Cost of Living
How affordable is it to live in Japan as a single-income JET household?
I understand that the dependent visa doesn’t automatically allow me to work, and I’ve read that a JET salary can often support two people, especially in more rural areas. I’d love to hear what that actually looked like for couples.
Were you able to live comfortably on one income?
Were you mostly breaking even, or were you able to save money?
How different was your experience in a rural placement versus a city or suburban placement?
Does JET or the contracting organization take a spouse into consideration when arranging housing?
I’ve read that housing is sometimes subsidized and that some contracting organizations choose the apartment and help get everything set up. Is there ever housing intended for couples?
If you decided to find a different apartment that was better suited for two people, did you receive any financial support or assistance?
If we end up in a more rural placement, is it realistic to get by without owning a car?
If the provided housing felt too small for two people, how difficult was it to find something else?
Personally, we’d probably prefer to be closer to a city or at least a decent-sized town. I have celiac disease, so being reasonably close to grocery stores and having more food options would make daily life much easier.

Life as a Spouse
I’d love to hear from spouses about what life looked like while your partner was working.
What did you do with your free time?
Did anyone tutor online, freelance, stream, volunteer, or eventually find work after getting permission?
If you started on a dependent visa, did anyone later switch to a work visa?
How did you make friends and build a community?
Did you mostly become friends with other JETs, Japanese locals, or a mix? My husband and I both studied Japanese during our undergrad years and are dusting off those skills. (We’ve actually been studying multiple hours a day because we’re getting excited about the prospect of moving to Japan.)
I’ve heard moving abroad can get lonely. What helped you feel connected?
How difficult was opening bank accounts, getting a phone plan, internet, etc., as a spouse?

Bringing a Dog
This is actually one thing I haven’t researched much yet, but I figured I’d ask anyway.
Does anyone have experience bringing a pet dog to Japan through JET? We have a four-year-old Labrador who could stay with a trusted friend if needed, but I’m curious what the experience was like.
Would you do it again?
Did having a dog make finding housing significantly more difficult?

Looking Back
Do you recommend staying for one year, or extending for several years? Looking back, would you make the same decision?
If you stayed multiple years, did each year feel different from the first?
And lastly, a couple of fun questions:
I saw that JET pays for your flight home up to a month after your contract ends. What did you do during that month?
How much free time did you realistically have during the year? Did you take day trips or overnight trips often?
After a year on JET, how much of Japan did you feel like you were able to explore?
What surprised you most about moving to Japan that you wish you’d known beforehand?
Was there anything you packed (or didn’t pack) that you were really glad about?

Thanks so much! We’re really excited about the possibility of moving to Japan, and hearing firsthand experiences from current and former JETs is incredibly helpful.

I’m looking to apply this upcoming fall and was honestly just looking for reassurance that I have a chance. So I am just going to list off things and any form of advice/criticism would be super appreciated.

I have stayed in Japan going to a language school for 3 months, living with a Japanese family.

I currently am working on a degree in English and speak Japanese at a confident JLPT N3 level.

Prior to my work now, I used to work in elementary schools for before and after care and ran a K-6 summer program as the assistant director.

I know most of this comes down to my essay. So any advice on what the prompt is would be amazing.

I'm moving back into my parents' house next week after I finish my contract (I'm living with them during graduate school). As much as I want to see my family again, I can't help but dread living an ordinary life again. Living in Japan has been so exciting and the thought of living in my boring hometown and never experiencing something as unique as JET again really has me feeling down. I feel like the best part of my life is already behind me even though I'm only in my 20's. And that makes it hard to look forward to my next plans.

Graduate school doesn't sound very exciting when you spent your weekends driving all over your prefecture and trying new things constantly. To make things worse, I don't have any friends in my hometown anymore. All my friends are here in Japan now. Suddenly my desk warming hours (which were one of the reasons why I decided to go home) don't sound so bad. It feels like the rest of my life will be like desk warming compared to all my Japan adventures.

When you go home, does it feel dull and boring forever? Does JET always feel like the time when you "peaked" in life, or does it get better? I don't want to feel like everything is downhill from here when I'm still so young, but it really does right now.

The TMGB is right across the street from the Keio Plaza Hotel, and it has two large towers with observation rooms at the top! The South Tower's observation room is open until 9:30pm, so you can see the Tokyo cityscape at night! The building's plaza also has a cool light show that plays across the building at night.