How I did it: DId a 3 month internship in Tokyo and lived in an apartment in Monzen Nakacho. You need to arrange everything well in advance, but with a US passport you can stay in Japan for 3 months without a visa. Also, finding housing in a country you don't live in without references is hard, so I found my apartment through a guesthouse agency. Friends I made through work and friends of friends in Tokyo made the whole experience fun and fulfilling. 

Lessons & tips: You should probably know the language. Just keep exploring because you'll never run out of things to do!

Resources: I found my apartment through a guesthouse agency called Sakura House.

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Jan 15, 2009, 06:30AM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer