[Nyororin]

I`ll try to wade through this, as I *sort of* did what you appear to be trying to do. (Go to Japan at 17, etc.)
Feel free to read the thread where I think I have answered at least 100 questions on it.

Originally Posted by Cortney

my first questions are concerning schools.
-What is the average high schoolers age?
I'm going to be 17 when I arrive there, and I'm not sure if thats going to be too old! (in October I am turning 18 when I am down there)

I`m not sure where you`re from... But high school in Japan is pretty much the last 3 years of US high school. There are 3 years of junior high, then 3 years of high school.

-If I have already gotten 3 years of high school done, do I still have to take the entrance exams?
-if I do have to take the entrance exams, what do I have to prepare for? do I have to be fluent in Japanese?

The chances of being admitted as a regular student are VERY low. Why, you ask? Because you would NEED to be able to speak, read, and write Japanese fluently to actually take part in any of the classes. Unless the school is VERY international, and takes on many many exchange students, there will be no special service available to help you.
Obviously, all exams are going to be in Japanese.

Basically, you would just be sitting there... That CAN work to your advantage, however, IF you don`t try to take this on as REAL high school.

-Are high schools easy to find? and when you do, is it a hassle to enroll if you aren't using a foreign exchange program?

High schools themselves are everywhere. But it is a hassle to "enroll". You would need to pay entrance fees, tuition, etc etc. If you don`t understand enough Japanese to actually gain anything from the classes, it is really a complete and total waste of money.
It is better, I agree, to go to a regular school that doesn`t have a big exchange student culture - however, those schools aren`t looking for exchange students (which no matter how much you`d seem to like to think of yourself as otherwise, you would be.)
Unless you are completely and totally fluent, no school is going to simply accept you as a regular student.

-Can I get by for a while using a language translator and an after school tutor?

Being as it would be a mess of trouble for the school if you had to bring a translator into every class, there is no way they would allow this.

-Will recommendations from *most* of my high school teachers help my chances of getting in? (even if they aren't translated in Japanese?)

They would make no difference at all, being as you would not be fluent and therefore could not be admitted as a normal student to begin with.

(also please note: i am done with all my high school credits, i do plan on going onto a university AFTER i spend this year in japan, i am not interested in going with a university, because i've always been interested in going to high school! thank you so much!)

There is nothing wrong with this - other than your expectation of being able to get credits for the year. Even in formal exchange programs, you often don`t get credits for the year abroad. And those are in schools that have special programs for exchange students.

-Is living alone in Japan safe? will I be okay alone?

Yes and yes.

-Is there a lot of crime in Japan (I.E. Kidnapping?)

No.

(please note: my financial situation is perfectly fine, i can afford to live on my own. THANK YOU )

You may be able to afford it with no problem... But without a proper visa (which you would need for a year in Japan anyway), you`ll be hard pressed to find anywhere willing to rent to you.
And just out of curiosity, how much are you assuming somewhere to stay in Japan would cost you?

-Is there a lot of cheap food down there (in convince stores, for us, the poor broke students!)

I thought you could afford living alone in Japan? There is plenty of cheap food, but you won`t find it in convenience stores. They`re higher priced than anywhere else.

after a while of living in Japan (appx. 4 months) going to give me enough experience to get into the swing of things? learn the language, and get around fine?

I was getting around just fine after 2 months. But I was also living with a Japanese family (arranged on my own, no program) and sitting in on high school classes (again, arranged on my own, which is what I think you`re trying to accomplish.) the entire time. Pretty much 24 hour exposure. You seem to be planning to have a translator, which will definitely make it take MUCH MUCH longer. Having someone translate for you does not speed up the language acquisition process - it slows it down significantly.

(ALSO- not to be mean, but i'm not interested in what i need to do (meaning how unprepared i am *helpful advice is welcome!*)

Even if it`s true? I actually went to Japan just after I turned 17. I arranged everything on my own - a host family, high school, etc. I did all of this, so actually know what it entails - and you don`t really seem to be prepared.

or how impossible this may seem *i went to another forum, asked the same questions, and got nothing but discouragement*

I`m not going to comment on how impossible it seems, as, well, I did it - so I know it CAN be done. It just requires more planning and research than you seem to have done. Looking for a high school and accommodations AFTER you`ve already set a date that you`re leaving on is not really all that well thought through.

so please just answer the questions asked above, or along the lines of helping. again not to be mean, but i don't really want people asking about my financial situations, or how i'm going to do this!)

I am going to ask, because I know it can be done, and am wondering if you are REALLY in a situation where you can pull it off.

How exactly do you plan to pay for this? As you later say that nothing really seems to be set, I have to be quite suspicious.

I THINK that you are planning to spend time in a Japanese high school while getting the rest of your credits via online classes through your current high school. That works.
However, I don`t see how you plan to get a visa for your time in Japan if you plan to spend an entire year here. You are not enrolled in a Japanese school, so you can`t really go that route. Please, clarify, and I may be able to help you more.