My wife and I are just starting to learn the language, and I’m assuming it’ll take us at least 5 years to reach an intermediate level command of the language.
What are some common misconceptions that foreigners have about life in Japan? What is better than you expected before moving? What is worse?
I’m particularly curious about these things:
* Work-life balance. Is it really that bad? I’m a junior software dev and hopefully in 5 years I’ll be able to call myself mid-level. How hard is it to get a remote software dev job in Japan with 40-hour work weeks, paid vacation and little to no overtime?
* The transportation system. High speed rails and all that. Are they really that awesome? Could I live in Tokyo without a car (or at least, without needing the car a lot except for errands)?
6 comments
You would rather not have a car if you live in Tokyo. In reality, though, you may find that you prefer to live outside of Tokyo if you want some space.
Definitely no car, you might rent one for trips but that’s about it, finding a house with a garage/parking space won’t be easy in Tokyo at all
Work life balance really depends on your company. Some Japanese companies are notorious for long hours, but not every job is like that.
Transportation system is great in Tokyo. I would never consider buying a car here.
Japan isn’t as technologically advanced as you think they are. Just a heads up.
I’m in Gunma prefecture and outside the big cities you’ll need a car. Just accept that.
In Tokyo, you may not need a car but you will be paying an arm and a leg for that privilege. Just another heads up.
Part of moving to a new country is that you won’t know everything in advance. It’s a new country and a new culture. Embrace uncertainty!
Cost of living is actually pretty good.
Salary is horrible (think half of what you make in the west with a hard ceiling)
Japanese companies are terrible places to work
Lots of entertainment and things to do
Absolutely beautiful geography and places to visit
Convenience of living can not be overstated
Japanese bureaucracy is the worst I have ever seen
Taxes and social wellfare payments are high (think nearly 40 percent of your income)
Travel is cheap and easy (pre covid)
Everything is safe
>What are some common misconceptions that foreigners have about life in Japan?
I think the most common misconception is that life in Japan is vastly different from any other developed nation. Sure, there are small things. I don’t own a car here or feel a need to buy one. Although where I live is basically on the border of ‘you need a car land’ and literally everyone I know in my area has one.
I live in Chiba, but I’m close enough to Tokyo that at night if I squint I can see Tokyo Tower. My office (when I need to go there, which right now is not at all thanks to covid) is at Tokyo station. Its around a 10 minute walk from my home to the local station, and then around 40 minutes on the train. I made sure when bought this place that I wouldn’t need to change trains. Long commutes are one thing, but a long commute punctuated by changing trains is a whole other kettle of fish. My commute though is actually shorter than most of my coworkers despite me living ‘all the way out in Chiba’.
>Work-life balance. Is it really that bad?
It depends on the company. I have friends who are taking the last train every night home from work. I myself clock out at 5pm (well, usually 10-15 minutes before 5pm ’cause the empty train going home leaves a few minutes after 5pm and that’s the train I want to be on).
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>The transportation system.
In Tokyo (and to a lesser extent Osaka), you’re never more than a 10 minute walk from a station, although it may not be the station you actually want to walk to. Outside of those major urban centers it becomes a lot more hit or miss. As I mentioned earlier, I’m on the border of ‘you need a car’ land, although that would be for errands and such. For going to & from work you will almost always rely on public transportation and it is expected that your employer will pay for it.