Why should I NOT move to Japan?

16 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **Why should I NOT move to Japan?**

   I live in Canada but I’ve visited Japan about 5 times in the last year. I usually stay between 1 month and 2 months.

   I clearly really enjoy being in Japan, the people are great and I’ve made a bunch of various friends who wait on me to visit again to hang out.

   I actually just arrived back in Japan a few days ago and I’ve already been having so much fun.

   I love my life in Canada but Japan is just a whole different vibe.

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   I’m feeling a little anxious because I can’t seem to understand if it’s a good idea or not. Am I missing something because it seems to good to be true.

   Here’s some info about me:

   – No employer, I have my own online business.

   – 26 years old

   – Been learning Japanese since 2014 so I’m comfortable.

   I hired one of my Japanese friends from my Toronto University and when she moved back to Japan, she moved away from her family and lives in Shibuya and she suggested I should too if I like Toronto.

   I’m aware of the visa issues but I already have a solution for that so I would prefer if you focus on reasons unrelated to work but day to day life.

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2. Honestly since you are financially secured, you said you have plans for your visa, and good grasp of the language, I say just go for it. You have a lot of leeway and backup plans anyway in case it doesn’t work out.

   One thing you should understand now is that when you finally live here as a resident, *Japan is no longer your theme park*. I am saying this because it seems to me the main reason you want to move is because of people and all the entertainment you’ve been doing as a tourist.

3. >I’m aware of the visa issues but I already have a solution for that

   Well, what ***is*** that solution?

   You can’t just hand-wave the visa situation, especially when they only employment-related thing you mention is your “online business”.

   Are you planning on using the Business Manager visa? Do you have the necessary $45,000 CAD (At a *minimum*) to invest in the business? Do you have a business plan that explains why your company needs to be in Japan?

   You’ve yada-yadaed the most important part of this process, which is also the thing that this subreddit is here for. We’re not here to convince you to move to Japan, or convince you not to move to Japan.

4. Really, the main reasons for it are career/financial related, but assuming you can continue doing business here, sounds like you’re fine. Otherwise there’s not much downside. Worst case you find that living here isn’t what you expected and move back. I don’t think you’d actually regret your time here regardless.

5. Your friends make more time since you are not always there. Daily life challenges are a lot different when it is not a vacation.

   You should not move here if you don’t want to.

6. Go for it, why not? You can always move back.

   >friends who wait on me to visit again to hang out.

   Don’t expect this though. I mean, my Canadian friends do the same thing when I visit.

   The only reason you shouldn’t is that you may end up hating it and if so, will lose your fun travel destination.

7. > I’m aware of the visa issues but I already have a solution for that so I would prefer if you focus on reasons unrelated to work but day to day life.

   How is anyone here supposed to answer questions in regards to *your* everyday life?

8. how is your company structured, because that will matter. consider you’re going to have to pay yourself a salary above a certain threshold to justify a visa if you’re not already doing so. consider that the yen is weak and your salary may be worth less and be an additional liability for your company ~just~ to justify a visa

   also consider that immigration will want you to answer “why do you/your company need to be in japan” and that you’ll likely be on 1yr visas until you’re grossing 10m JPY

9. Out of curiosity: how did you make Japanese friends?

10. Shit income disparity

    If you’re white prepare for the journey of othering xenophobia lite

    Jobs are hard unless you’re fluent because Asians are the majority especially Japanese

    Work culture is toxic 

11. To be honest I am not sure what you are asking for. If you want to move and can move, why not move? Only you know your personal life and how you will adjust.

    Living somewhere is quite a bit different than visiting that place of course.

12. Since you’re Canadian and 26, you can apply for the working holiday visa and live in Japan up to a year. You don’t need to really work either, they want to see it as a holiday. 

13. Fellow Canadian, around the same age. I moved to Japan recently to get out of Canada and Tokyo in particular is amazing for young people (if you’re financially stable). My work isn’t as flexible and I’m not sure what you’ve intended for that, but I’ll assume you’re ready to deal with visas and business setup issues. It’s always more complicated than you think once you get into it.

    So that said, why not Japan? Here’s a few difficulties I’ve had lately:

    – bureaucracy once you live here truly is annoying. Even with good language level, the rules and difficulties with moving, setting up a phone or other monthly service, opening a bank, changing residences (really, moving is annoying)… It takes a lot of time. It’s really not that bad, but you just have to move slowly.

    – dating: I’ve had trouble finding people to casually date here. It’s not so bad to find more serious people with apps like Pairs, but I wish it were easier to just go get a coffee with someone low key like it is in Canada with tinder or bumble or even hinge, where people are usually down if you’re clear with your intentions. It’s surprisingly difficult though. Also personally I have no desire to ナンパ

    – it’s not quite as cheap as you think: because of various fees, you pay 4-6 months rent on move in if you move into any mid+ level rental manshon or 一戸建て. So, rental prices at that range are higher than you’d think if you’re renting relatively short term.

14. All things discussed here are positive and that’s good.

    But don’t get too comfortable until you see some NEGATIVE (dark) side of Japan.
    I am not trying to scare you. But Japanese people tend to go ‘ha, I told you so.’ type of attitude towards non-native people when they see some ppl struggling with Japanese cultures/customs.

    Like literally every country out there, Japan has some serious downside when it comes to politics, bureaucracies, and all things outside pop-culture. So move cautiously.

    But then you are only 26. What do you get to lose eh? Good luck.

15. Well, why should you? you don’t even seem to have actual reason why you should move to Japan. And “i just want to hangout there” is not a good enough reason to move to a different country.

    If you don’t have a solid reason to move, then you don’t have a solid reason to stay. At that point, you’re just a tourist with extra steps really.

16. Alright lads, wrapping this one up as it’s not going in a very good direction.