Pay close attention to your finances before you leave. Be clear exactly how much money you have, or most probably owe, so you can plan for repayments whilst in Japan. Speak to your bank manager and explain you are leaving the country for at least a year and he/she will help you plan your finances. If you leave your bank account dormant for over six months to a year and do not reply to any of their mail your bank may try to close your account due to inactivity. That is one mess that you don't want to have to sort out.

It is worth considering giving control of your bank account to someone you can trust in your absence. This will require a letter giving this person power of attorney, a member of the family is an obvious choice for such a role.

STUDENT LOANS

If you have a student loan, depending on the conditions of the agreement, your JET salary will bring you within the wage bracket in which you must make repayments. Rather than avoiding payments, your time on JET is an ideal time to start making repayments.

TAX

There are only three things in life you cannot avoid, death, karaoke and taxes. If you are lucky the taxman from your home country won't come a looking for you. The good news is that you will not be liable for Japanese tax on your earnings during your stay in Japan and anything you do pay can be claimed back upon your departure. Bad news is that you are probably liable to pay your home country a slice of your hard earnt cash (which is rather off considering you aren't even using any of their resources living in Japan). CLAIR will advise you on who to consult and we are not going to attempt an explanation of such a diverse and critical issue. A call to your local tax office, prior to departure, will answer any questions you may have in regards to your tax obligations. Beware the taxman!

It is advisable to set up an internet banking service with your bank which will enable you to monitor your account from Japan, make transfers and even pay bills. This will usually require signing and sending documents by mail so try to set this up before departure. This will also allow you to generate some account activity and stop your bank from picking it up as a dormant account.

A credit card will make your life in Japan much easier. Try to bring your card from home, but be warned that it will mostly be rejected when you try and use it in a store. Followed by up to an hour of trying to get your transaction authorised through conversations with your issuing bank back home, it can be a nightmare. If you are going to make a large transaction in Japan with your card from home, it is best to warn the issuer by telephone first.

Bringing your card with you will allow you to take advantage if your home currency rises in value against the Yen as well as sign up for a number of services which require a credit card such as discounted international telephone services. However, paying it off when you earn your wage in a different country can be a real hassle. So picking up a Yen credit card is a bonus.

It can be very hard for a foreigner to obtain a Japanese credit card. It is possible to get a Japanese credit card in Japan with the bank allocated to you by your contracting organisation. However, this is easier said than done. However, Citibank Japan have recognised the JET community as reliable candidates for their cards and the best chance you have of getting a Yen credit card is through them. As an international institution, you will not experience the hesitance of dealing with a 'gaijin' that you will with Japanese financial institutions. English Customer support is available 24 hours a day. You can also check your statements through their English website whis very convenient. You can find more details about their cards in the Dealzone.

HOW MUCH MONEY TO BRING

You will need about 200,000 yen (about $2000 USD or 1300 GBP) for your first month. You will be paid on the 21st of August for the first time (the 21st of the second month following your arrival). If you bring a Credit, Debit or Visa card, beware as there will be very very few places you can use them and ATM's shut around 8pm (see our Finance section). Most transactions in Japan are made in cash. Travelers cheques in yen are preferable. You will need this money to have fun, set up your apartment, buy food and maybe for a little comfort shopping.