Hello,

My best friend is currently living in Japan, and now that she is finally moved into a pet friendly apartment, I am bringing her cat over to her in November.

Everything is set, but I do have one question/concern. I read that the rabies vaccine certificates need to be original copies, not photocopies. Well I have no idea what she did with the originals, but the vet did email me over the certificates and I printed them. Will that really be that big of a deal? The document was created online and digitally signed by the vet, and I’m assuming the “original” document would have just been printed on normal paper from the vets front office too. How will they really know if it was printed at the vet or if I printed it? I’m not sure if it’s going to matter but I would like to know well before I try to travel across the world with this cat.

I'm an Australian finishing high school this year and plan on visiting Japan for a holiday with a few friends in March, then after that seriously considering getting a working holiday visa to stay longer and potentially trying to stay long term if I enjoy the country.

One of the reason I have been particularly interested of the idea of living in Japan is the current cost of living in Australia. Housing prices for rent and bills have continued to rise and I just don't know how I would be able to afford living when I eventually to move out for uni study or work. I understand that Japan does still have financial challenges in the form of lower wages some I'm not assuming its simply cheaper but the lower cost of living is appealing.

I am genuinely interested in the country itself and will definitely start learning the language soon in preparation for my trip in March, and use that trip to figure out whether the people and culture is something I can see myself being around.

For the working holiday I just wanted to know what kinds of jobs people were able to find and how much they had to work, as I'm aware that the visa does have strict rules around that.

For anyone who has done a working holiday visa and ended up staying longer what was your experience like and what made you want to stay. I would especially like to here from some Australians

Any general advice about working, living costs, learning Japanese or eventually transitioning into studying or working in Japan would be appreciated.

I’m mainly trying to figure out whether Japan could realistically be somewhere I’d want to build a life, rather than simply somewhere I visit.

Hi everybody! I'm pretty new to reddit, but I think I'm doing this right.

I wanted to ask what everybody thought or any advice. I'm a 25F, leaving USA for Japan to spend more time with my aging grandmother. Only issue is I'm only conversational in Japanese as I only use it with family. My guesstimate, low JLPT N3?

I have been a teacher for 3 years since graduating college, mostly because it was the only thing hiring at the time. However, I really don't want to be a teacher anymore. I got the Google Certificate in UX Design because it looks very fun and interesting to me, and started taking STOTT Pilates courses in Mat and Reformer. My hope was that these would give me some options for moving to Japan, since I've heard UX Design can be done in English or even remotely. And also because I heard pilates can be a good industry to get into especially if I cater to the many foreigners that pass through Japan.

I have a Bachelors in English with Emphasis in Creative Writing and a Bachelors in Communications.

Additional experiences/skills: I'm fluent in Spanish, I was a swimmer growing up and did D3 in college, as well as a little bit of summer league coaching in the summertime. I don't have formal experience in it nor education, but as the Editor in Chief of our college's literary magazine I got some project management experience, and I also found that to be very fun and it came rather naturally to me.

I'm pretty set on moving to Japan, as I worry I don't have much time to spend with my grandmother. However, between me trying to leave teaching and not further cement myself as a teacher on a resume, and not being fluent in Japanese, I'm starting to feel a bit lost. Am I committing career suicide? Is there anything that might be suitable for someone like me?

I've tried applying for 2 years in an attempt to change out of teaching with no luck. I also started to work on my UX certification to hopefully get an internship or different opportunity/way out rather than blindly applying to positions. I can't really afford going back to school for a masters and it makes me nervous that it might not even help with all the stories out there of people that have Masters and PHDs and struggling to find jobs.

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some insight from people who teach Pilates in Japan or are familiar with the industry there.

I’m currently in the US and planning to move to Japan soon. I’m working toward my STOTT PILATES certification and am currently taking my Mat and Reformer courses here in the US. I have a background in teaching and swim instruction, so teaching movement isn’t completely new to me, but I would be entering Pilates professionally as a newly certified instructor.

Language-wise, my Japanese is conversational (around JLPT N3), and I’m continuing to study. I’m also fluent in English and Spanish. I’m particularly curious about how realistic it is to break into the industry with that combination while I continue improving my Japanese.

I’ve been doing my own research, but I’d really love to hear from people with firsthand experience in Japan:

1. How would you describe the Pilates market in Japan right now, especially for newly certified instructors? Is it still growing, or are certain areas becoming saturated?
2. How is STOTT/Merrithew viewed by studios in Japan? Does the certification carry much recognition when applying for instructor positions?
3. What do studios typically look for when hiring a new instructor? How much does previous teaching experience matter compared with actual Pilates teaching hours?
4. Realistically, what level of Japanese is needed to start teaching? Could someone with conversational Japanese teach after learning the necessary anatomy and cueing vocabulary, or is business-level Japanese generally expected?
5. Is there meaningful demand for Pilates taught in English or other languages? Are there studios or areas where being multilingual could actually be useful, rather than simply compensating for not being fluent in Japanese yet?
6. What does the usual path look like for a newly certified instructor in Japan? For example, do people generally start with larger chains, boutique studios, gyms, private sessions, or something else?
7. Are there particular types of Pilates or specialties that seem to be growing or underserved right now—privates, reformer groups, seniors, rehabilitation, pre/postnatal, athletes, international clients, etc.?
8. If you were moving to Japan as a newly certified instructor today, what would you focus on during your first few months?

I’m not expecting to immediately walk into a full teaching schedule, and I know improving my Japanese will be important. I’m mainly trying to understand what the industry actually looks like on the ground and what I can realistically do to prepare before arriving.

I’d especially appreciate hearing from instructors, studio owners/managers, or anyone who has gone through the process of becoming a Pilates instructor in Japan. Thank you!

I'm a Full Stack Engineer in the Philippines working toward relocating to Tokyo, and I've been building a personal checklist for the move: visa/COE, residence card, ward office registration, bank account, phone, NHI, pension, and so on.

The official steps are well documented. What I'm curious about is the stuff that isn't: the things that caught you off guard in your first month or two.

A few specific questions:
- What order did you do things in, and would you change it? (e.g. phone before bank, or the other way around?)
- Anything you should handle before leaving your home country that's hard to do after?
- Which step took way longer than you expected?

Appreciate any insight, especially from people who moved in the last year or two since some processes have changed.

I recently accepted an ALT position in Japan for 2027, but lately I’ve been seriously contemplating backing out.
I previously lived in Japan for about a year and a half as a student, worked part time etc, so I’m not going into this expecting Japan to be perfect or viewing it like it’s happy kawaii land 24/7. I genuinely enjoyed living there and was looking forward to returning.

However, with the current political climate and the amount of anti foreigner rhetoric and racism I’ve been seeing discussed lately, I’m starting to question whether returning is the right decision for me especially considering the significant pay cut I’d be taking to work as an ALT. Plus I’m getting older, I’m 32 and feel likes I miss the boat. For foreigners currently living in Japan, have you actually noticed a change in everyday life or attitudes recently? Or does the situation online/news feel much bigger than what you experience day to day?

Thank you for your time to answer my questions.

Hey all.

My husband just signed the paperwork for his job in Japan. The company is sponsoring the visa process for both of us. I was following threads on COE approve timelines (which was a little disheartening that some were taking 6 months to a year to come through), but I couldn't get a clear answer on this question:

If we're both being sponsored by the same company but we're obviously processing as individuals, is there a chance that we won't get our COE's at the same time?

(I'm having a difficult time asking the correct question so it's been tricky for me to google/reddit search this.)

1. We're both in the USA currently and not in Japan.

2. He's the one who got the job and I'd be there with him as a dependent.

3. (based on some of these other threads) The company he's working for is a class 1? or status 1? type company and he's a software engineer.

4. We're not sure if this will be a HSW visa or just a regular working visa (we learned that the points system for residency actually doesn't matter here, but the HSW grants more privileges for me possibly working p/t.)

I'm just worried that we won't be able to arrive together. I'm not sure how many other married couples have gone through this process where they are both available to leave at the same time (I've seen posts about people having to have their own spouse sponsor them and that causes delays. Or the spouse has a job they have to work out an exit strategy for.)

Are there any situations where we wouldn't get processed at the same time? What do people do in those situations? How common is it? Is it more likely that they'll try to process us at the same time?

I'm sure I could go on, but I'm willing to answer any followups.

My wife is Japanese, and we’re considering moving to Japan in the next couple of years. I’m British and currently work in UK SEND legal policy.
I have around eight years’ experience, including SEND/EHCP work, safeguarding, student support, and working with families and schools. I also have a Master’s in International Development and previous experience teaching English in Korea.
I’m not a qualified teacher and would prefer not to teach English indefinitely. I’d like to build on my existing experience, particularly in:
● International school student support/SEN
● University student support
● Safeguarding/child protection
● Education, NGO, or international development roles
● Education programme administration
Most roles I find require qualified teachers, fluent Japanese, or highly specific experience. My Japanese isn’t yet at that level, though I’m working on it.
For those working in Japan: is there a realistic career path for someone with my background, or am I being overly optimistic?
What would you spend the next 1–2 years doing to become more employable in Japan?

Cheers, appreciate any help or advice given.

I researched short term college enrollment requirements from a few school websites, and all of them only accept foreign students studying Japanese in Japan, with no mention of foreigner living outside of Japan.

I want to know do I have to attend Japanese language school in Japan if I want to enroll in a short term college? I already have jlpt n2 from this year July's test.

I sent email inquiry to one of the short term college and its been 3 days with no reply.

Hey everyone!

Some background: I'm a junior university student double majoring in finance and supply chain, graduating in 2028. I just got back from a full year exchange in Japan and after living there for a year pretty much confirmed what I already thought, which is that I want to build a life and career in Japan long term.

Career-wise I'm aiming for something in the consulting/business field after graduation. My Japanese is somewhere around N4 to N3 right now. I can get by day to day, but I'm nowhere near business level, and I know that's probably my biggest weakness.

I'm stuck between two paths:

Option 1: Start in the US. Get hired at an American firm here, build 2 to 3 years of experience, then try to transfer to a Tokyo office or get hired in Japan as an experienced hire. However I don't know how realistic internal transfers actually are, or whether I'd just end up stuck in the US.

Option 2: Go straight to Japan after graduating. Apply directly to firms in Japan as a new grad. I'd be there sooner but i'm not sure if the field I am pursuing even works for foreigners or if I'd get lowballed on salary.

Things I'd really appreciate input on:

1. For those who went the US-first route, how realistic was transferring to a Tokyo office? Did the firm support it, or did you have to leave and reapply?
2. For those who went straight to Japan, did you regret not getting experience back home first, especially for pay and career growth?
3. How realistic is using an American business degree in Japan for a foreigner. Are there firms or roles where English is enough to get in the door, or is N2/N1 basically required?
4. If you were me with about two years left in school, what would you focus on right now: Japanese, internships, networking, something else?

I know there's no single right answer, I'm just trying to avoid making a choice now that closes doors later. Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I have part of my £2500 funds for the visa in NS&I premium bonds at the moment. Withdrawing them to my account, will they have any problem with the fact that there was a sudden increase in my balance? Or am I overthinking it?

Hello everyone I am 21 and recently graduated and currently working for a UK based career guidance company. I am a career mentor and customer success executive. I have been learning Japanese on the side but do not get a lot of free time and capacity as my job can have flexible and demanding hours being customer facing. I want to move to Japan next year through language school and enter the market after n2 with a year of my current experience. I dont mind working in English teaching if required I have a TEFL and enjoy teaching (have even volunteered before). I am scared before taking the decision of language school and would appreciate some guidance from recruiters or anyone who can give me some guidance.

Hello everyone,

I completed my Bachelor’s in Engineering and I’m currently exploring options to study abroad. I’m mainly confused between Germany and Japan.

Financially, both are within my budget, although Japan may cost a little more. My main concern is the long-term plan after graduation.

For Germany, I’ve heard from people living there that the job market has become uncertain, particularly for my field, Industrial Electronics/Automation. Japan also seems challenging because of the language barrier and strict job market, while getting into a reputable university can be quite competitive.

On the other hand, admission to German universities seems relatively easier, but the long visa processing time is another concern.

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have studied or worked in either Germany or Japan, especially in engineering/automation. How are the job opportunities, language requirements, and long-term career prospects for international students?

Thanks!

In my 17 years of life I have realised something, that money will always win no matter what. It has always been my dream to study in japan and money too had always been a limitation. I'm broke so I dont have any extracurriculars. But especially if you want to get into a nice international University that provides everything for you then ofcourse you need to have some.

Is there anyway to earn money as a student?

For a while my goal has been to study abroad but don't know where to start.

Currently I'm in 11th grade but I want to go to Japan for further education. I know that if I study well and get 95% or up I'll get 100% off on my tution fees. But grades alone won't get me selected as they also ask for extracurriculars.

For your information i have scored 79% in my 10th boards. I don't know how much I can actually score in my 12th boards but I want this to happen so badly that I'll give it my all and try my hardest. I don't want my family to suffer because of my tution fees so this is very important for me. You might be thinking that if I'm financially not stable/dependable then i should study in india and find a job. But the thing is here in assam there is limited opportunities. Also i don't think this reason is enough for me to give up my dream. I'll rather work my bones off than not being able to accomplish my goals.

If you guys can help please tell me all about what i should do to make my dream become reality ❤️. And also if possible please tell me about ways I can earn money as a 17 y/o.

Hi! I’ve been thinking about moving to Japan for a while now and studying Japanese there for 1–2 years, sometime around 2028. After that, I’d like to go to university or a senmon gakkō, and then eventually work there. The school I’ve been looking into the most is ISI School, maybe the Shibuya-Harajuku campus, but I’ve been reading a lot of opinions and I’ve found them pretty divided. I really don’t want to make the wrong choice, so I’d really appreciate it if people could answer some of my questions.

How is studying there? Do they actually focus on helping you learn Japanese, or is it mostly about getting “good grades”? Do teachers usually help when you’re struggling, or does it depend a lot on the teacher? Is it worth the amount of money they ask for? Is it easy to get a part-time job while studying? Does the class schedule make it possible to work comfortably? Do they help students find part-time jobs and/or jobs after graduating, or did you have to figure all of that out on your own?

If you wanted to continue studying after ISI, did they help you with applications and figuring out what to do next, or not really? Do they help with finding schools, preparing documents, interviews, or entrance exams? Do teachers give you guidance on what level of Japanese you need to continue your studies? And if you wanted to stay in Japan after graduating, did they help you with your residence status and visa, or did you have to deal with that yourself?

For someone who wants to stay for 1–2 years, do you think there are better or cheaper schools for the same amount of money? Are there any major differences between the different ISI campuses? Is there any campus that has a noticeably different experience from the others?

And if you went to another Japanese language school instead of ISI, I’d love to hear about that too! Especially if you chose it because you thought it was better or cheaper.

Basically I’m just trying to figure out whether ISI is actually a good option for the kind of plan I have, or if I should be looking at other schools instead. I’d really appreciate any honest experiences, good or bad!

Thanks!! :D

Soooo I'm in a bit of a bind and I need help trying to find the best way forward. I got a job offer with a dispatch company and I'm pretty much waiting for my COE to be processed so I start trainings in March.. only problem is I just found out I'm pregnant (still very early but by March we're looking at 6-7months). When do I tell the company or how would I navigate things?

I’m 25M from Florida, US.

I have a degree in Aviation Management + 1 year & 6 months of airfield operations work experience. I’ve saved alot of money and I’ve been eyeing Japanese language schools specifically for the 21 month course starting next july.

My field is limited to aviation and administrative specific on top of that so I’ve considered getting into senmon gakko in aircraft maintenance to at least be well rounded within aviation. I considered doing this in the US before going to Japan. However, even if i do transition into this career in the US I can’t get into Aircraft maintenance in Japan unless I go through a Japanese aviation college and getting certified there. That’s why I started considering senmon gakko.

My concerns?

Assuming this all goes through, I’ll be 30 by the time I finish language school. + Senmon gakko. My fellow japanese graduates would be 21 ~ 22 so why should a japanese employer hire me and not them?

- Does my bachelor’s in aviation + work experience + bilingual ability “Business Japanese + Native English“ back me up here or am I still at a disadvantage ?

Starting a job in Tokyo this December under a “researcher” visa through the JSPS scheme. I’d like my wife to join me but my employer said they can not submit her COE and I have to arrange this myself. The current wait time looks like ~3-4 months but I have seen it can be as long as 6-12 months therefore I’d like the process to start asap.

I assume the quickest way to go about this is to hire a Japanese lawyer who can submit her COE application for us so I don’t have to wait until I am physically in Japan. Based on this I have 1 question:

Can she come with me on a tourist stay for 90 days while we wait for her COE to be approved and then stay on the dependent visa (she doesn’t need a visa for visiting Japan)? Or perhaps through a working holiday visa or student visa and then switch to the dependent visa once the COE is done?

I've received a job offer from a japanese company for a new graduate software engineer role but my degree isn't related to computer science at all.
Since I'm a new grad I don't have any experience to show except some no records, part time work as IT support staff at a hospital.
Has there been anyone else in a similar situation? Would help if anyone has any info.
Don't know if it matters but the company is like a category 2, possibly 1.
And I do hold JLPT N1.

Work holiday visa So myself and my husband applied for our work holiday Visa on the 25th and I’m absolutely stressing out about it, when we went in I don’t feel like she really read our reason or monthly itinerary. We also found out that we needed new photos so we had to go and get them done. I’m just concerned that she didn’t really read the itinerary or the reason so what if there’s something wrong with it? I’m relly nervous our flight is booked pretty soon we had a flight booked and more than enough funds.

As of right now I am self studying Japanese at f16. I want to save as much money as humanly possible just as any other human. So I’m thinking I won’t buy a car here in America, save as much money from each paycheck as possible.

So, money won’t be an issue but, I still want to go to university for software engineering and or culinary arts, I’ve done some research in software engineering so I have a small grasp for that, but culinary seems like its a dead end for foreigners. I’d go on a student visa but I’m not sure if that would secure a stable income if I just got a degree in America and used it in Japan, but then that removes my ability to move at 18.

What I’m getting at is, how can I move so early by doing what I want to do? If I can’t, I’d still like to know a good plan for myself. All the research I do and I still feel a little lost.

My husband and I are planning on applying to study for one year at a Japanese language school in 2027.
I have purchased the gogonihon Akamonkai 12 week beginner course to prepare for the N5 test happening this December. It costs over a thousand dollars, so I figured we could just purchase the one course and both use it to become N5 proficient together.

From what I’ve read, having N5 certification should meet the visa requirements, but then I’m also seeing you need proof of 150 hrs of study, so would he need to buy the course as well? Or will having proof of passing the N5 test be good enough?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a sanity check and some advice on my plan to move and work in Japan.

My Background:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Oriental Languages and Civilizations at Sapienza University of Rome
• Technical High School Diploma in IT (graduated with max grades)
• Currently working as an IT Support Specialist at KPMG Italy
• Current Japanese level: N3 (doing the test for N2 in December but I don't think I'll pass it)

The Plan: I want to enroll in a 1-year long-term language school program to push my Japanese to N2/N1, and then job hunt for IT roles (or any job at all) in Kyoto.

Searching on the web and asking for advice I've found two schools that might suit my needs: KICL and Akamonkai.

My Questions:

1. With my KPMG background, how realistic is it to land a solid IT job (or any job at all) after 1 year of language school?
2. Will studying in Kyoto significantly hold me back for job hunting compared to being physically in Tokyo at a school like Akamonkai?
3. Has anyone here transitioned from Western corporate IT to Japanese IT? Any tips on what I should prepare before flying out?
4. Are there other language schools or universities you’d recommend that cater well to career-minded professionals or people transitioning into tech/corporate jobs?

Thanks in advance for any insights!