What makes Tokyo an expatriate magnet is that it is a high-tech city in a paradise country of cherry blossoms and quaint country sides.
Geography and Climate
Tokyo is a powerhouse of a city packed into 2187 square kilometer of land. This city's mainland is situated northwest of Tokyo Bay, about 80 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.
The city is considered a metropolitan prefecture, which basically means that it is divided into administrative bodies. Tokyo has 23 special wards, with the Western Tama area further divided into 26 smaller cities.
The city's topography is a landscape of striking mountains. Some of the city's picturesque peaks are Mount Mitake, Mount Kumotori, Mount Mihara and Mount Takao.
Tokyo has a humid subtropical climate which basically translates to hot humid summers and mildly cold winters. The warmest month is experienced in August, where temperature plays around 27.5 °C or higher. The chilliest month is January, with an average temperature of 6.0 °C.
Due to its proximity to mountains, the city gets to experience an annual rainfall of about 1470 millimeters.
Demography and Economy
Japan's capital is a melting pot of cultures, and this pot is made up of almost 12 million inhabitants.
The city has an estimated 364,653 foreign residents, the most of which are Chinese (123,661). The expatriate population is also composed of 106,697 Koreans, 31,077 Filipinos, as well as a considerably significant number of Americans (18,848), British (7,696), Brazilian (5,300) and French (3,000).
The Tokyo metropolitan prefecture with its 23 wards and numerous surrounding islands being both commercial and tourist hubs, experience an increase of about 2.5 million people during the day.
The metropolitan area's GDP amounts to around US$1.479 trillion in 2008. As if the dollar amount is not enough to impress, 47 international companies out the world's top 500 are also based in Tokyo.
Getting a Visa
Japan would be one of those countries that require a visa upon entry. However, there are countries that are exempt from this rule; exemption is still based on how long you intend to stay in the country and what your purpose for stay is. You may check the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.mofa.go.jp for more comprehensive information on this.
You may apply for a visa at any Japanese consulate or embassy in your home country. Basic requirements would include a valid passport, two passport sized photos, completely filled out application forms, proof of financial means while in Japan, and proof of medical insurance.
What to Pack
As far as clothing is concerned, you might want to pack clothes that are a bit on the formal side, especially if your purpose of moving to the city is to find work or further your career.
Warm clothes and a handy umbrella are your best bets for the potentially cold winters and the occasionally rainy weather in the city.
You will find yourself walking a lot in Tokyo, as traffic can be a bit heavy during rush hours on workdays. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes. You may also want to bring shoes that you can wear and remove with ease, as is it Japanese custom to not wear any footwear while indoors.
A Japanese translation book would also be helpful, as despite being a metropolitan city, you may find that a lot of signs and products here are still in the country's language.
Make sure to bring an adapter for your gadgets as Japan uses 100-volts.
Tokyo makes a charming promise of a quaint lifestyle and a promising career in one of the world's most powerful capitals. It's an expat destination you wouldn't want to miss out on.
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