Confirm with agency as things can change (not saying they have but...), in the past:
- accomm allowance Y250,000 pm
- you find acceptable digs, SKY signs the lease and covers all initial costs (bond, key money, grovel-to-the-owner money etc) which are substantial
- rent paid directly from SKY
- IF your rent was less than Y250,000 then the difference would be added to your per diem payment which is paid into your Japanese bank account on the first of each month.
For interest all payments for utilities, gyms etc are direct debit - a pain in the arse to set up (if the application is not exactly completed as required you'll have to do it again...and again etc) and equally a pain when you depart.
Skeds: 7th day (at least) you have to be God, sked made up of mainly 2 or 3 day patterns, lesser 1 and 4 day patterns and the occasional 5 day, generally you'll do 5 or 6 days flying then a day off.
One bugbear is that your day "off" for "good rest and safety" can be surrounded by a late finish and an early start, that becomes a "...yes we talk about good rest and safety, TALKING about these things very important" type of exercise.
Cheers