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Um, save up first. That's the biggest piece of advice. Are you going over through a program? Or completely on your own? Because programs like JET will line you up with a job and a place (right?), and if you are majoring in English and teaching it.. then you can get a job at the chain English schools (Nova, Gaba, etc) and I hear that they help you get a place as well.

If not.. then I suggest trying to find roomates beforehand (like posting an ad in Metropolis magazine, it's an English magazine for living in Japan, and has all sorts of ads, from clubs, sports groups, to selling furniture; just type in metropolis on yahoo.co.jp search). There were a pretty good amount of roomate ads the last time I looked.

Another alternative that a surprising amount of foreigners do is shack up with Japanese gf/bf.. but that comes with a relationship, if you want to handle one on top of all the stress you'll experience over there. wink

Also you may want to look into host families, although I don't know of any outside of high school exchanges.. do they do host families for 20+ people? I'm sure someone on this board will know something... neutral

If you are planning to stay in Tokyo area, know that it is very expensive, especially rent.

For jobs.. do you mean part-time while you study (are you planning on going to a language school at all; some have dorms)? Many many people teach their own language privately; wheather they are qualified to do so or not. senseisagasu.com is the best place to get students. there ARE students looking for people so you will get a response. Preferrably you should charge 2500 to 3000 yen an hour for private lessons. And usually people meet to do these lessons at cafes like Starbucks. You will see a lot of that in Tokyo.

It's a bit harder to get more "normal" part-time jobs, but if you don't mind late hours, then it could be very easy to get jobs at gaijin-catering bars, like English or Irish pubs, American bars, or even TGIFridays.. but then again, sometimes you do see gaijin working at little non-chain restaurants, cafes, etc.. it really all depends on the Japanese, and if they are gregarious enough to hire a gaijin who is still learning the language.

On your free time.. ? Why ask? anything you want to do! You'll be in Japan! Go see anything you want to see, and you may want to party with your friends; late-night drinking is fun and easy to do in Japan, with tons of all-night bars if you miss the last train, and trains to take you home, you don't have to worry about drunk driving! Some night clubs in Roppongi let gaijin in for free before certain hours. That's a 3000 cover charge for free!

If you're not the party type, rivers are the "backyards" of the Japanese; everyone is doing everything on riversides, from practicing instruments (I've seen cellos and shamisens!), to sports teams working out, people jogging, walking dogs, etc.. it's a fun slice of Japanese life that I enjoyed observing.

Everyone's experience and circumstances for being in Japan are different, I found when I met fellow gaijin. If you hang out with gaijin too much though, you may not be able to make too many Japanese friends; but then again it all depends. Don't get into any easy money jobs, like being a host or working at host/hostess clubs; it's too dangerous and you are at risk for deportation.

If you want to see a board more catered to people who are now living in Japan, go hang out on gaijinpot.com, browse what people are saying.. it's very informative board, even if some of the regulars are assholes.

Sorry if I wrote a giant post, just there is so much about it I could never get it all down.. and I was only there for 2 years! I experienced a TON and I'm sure you will too.

I've lived in Japan for several years both working, going to high school, and (as of now) going to college. Here is some amendments to Wisteria's comments and some extra advice.

-Money Money Money. Japan is expensive (if you come from the US or Canada) and its recommended that you have a fair amount of cash on you. Even if you live with a host family, you will need to pay for things like cell phones, calling cards, medical care, texts, tansit ect.

-Rent. I warn against room mates unless you can see the terms of the lease of the place where you are rooming. Japanese appartments often charge rent per person or at least require notification of a person living there for a long time. Subletting rooms is not common and often in direct violation of a lease. To get your own appartment you neeed an inkantoryokusho (a registared name seal from a Japanese citizen) and a note from you bank. If you work for a company, they will usually supply it. If you study abroad, you can ask your school for one but policies vary, especially considering that you are esentially asking the school to take on a very large finanical burden if you wealch on your rent. Telephone calls (land lines are technically manditory by law) are uber expensive and cellphones aren't much better. Utitlies are also pricey so watch out. If you are staying in a big city, rent can be fantasticly high so try and get student dormitory housing.

-Job. Ok, now its time for me to inject some personal bias. Avoid big English teaching chains if at all possible. Nova especially. Try finding students on your own through the afore mentioned findateacher.net or through a local personal add. I won't get into my opinions of the so-called "English teachering" jobs that plauge Japan. If you have some connections you can some time score a "real" part time job but if you are white, they do not have to legally hire you by law (the usual excuse is that they will loose business because customers will be scared). Only Asian minorities have, due to several high profile cases, one comprehensive rights to work. It pains me to say it, but most run of the mill convience stores are very very rasist when recruiting. Clothing stores some times will let you work but there are many forbiden jobs if you carry a student visa. Consult your local town hall before applying.

-Free time. Join a club or circle at school. I did running club in high school and now i am in the shodo (Japanese calligraphy club). Its a great way to meet people and practice Japanese. But be warned, clubs are very very competitive and strict. They usually practice for hours and hours on end and observe a very strict junior-senior code. Circles are for more casual activities and can be just as fun.

Ok, well thats one long post so i'll cut this short. Let me know if I can provide you with any more useful tidbits.

These are very good sugjestions

I am afraid that I am not familiar with your preticular college but if you happen to be near a city, the night life should be good. I go out clubbing in Osaka every weekend and when it comes to parties, many Japanese izakaiya (drinking rooms) offer a nomihodai set which means all you can drink. Its really nice because partying is expensive. Clubs cost about $20-30 for a door charge and one or two free drinks. They are also really tiny compared to Western standards.

Let me warn you about picking up girls. Japanese girls are very fickle and there is nothing worse than playing the "desperate gaijin" role. In Japan, over 90% of college students live with their parents, so good luck with shacking up. Also, if you do shack up with one, you might cause some trouble with the landlord. My ex-gf`s appartment management people got really angry even though I only slept over once or twice a week. Plus, copying keys are generally in violation of their lease and they risk fines or eviction.

As for meeting people, clubs do nicely but once you join a club you are expected to spend the majority of your time there. There is nothing casual about club activities and many sports and martial arts groups take training much more seriously than academics. That being said, you can meet people just about anywhere just by branching out and talking. I met my current girl friend at a random coffee shop in Osaka just by talking about the book she was reading. Just remember to play it cool and not step over the line to nanpa (slang word for sleezy womanizing).

I hope that helps a bit. Feel free to ask any more questions