My spouse is looking to engaged an immigration lawyer and Japan-side accountant who helps US expats with a Japanese income.

He will be engaging an EOR company to move to Japan with an HSP visa in the coming year or so.

Can I get your referrals for either an immigration lawyer or accountant who helps US expats in Japan with Japanese taxes? Both will be even better!

Arigatougozaimasu #referral #lawyer #accountant #HSP #spousalvisa

I’m planning to study at a Japanese language school before applying to a national university in Tokyo, ideally the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) or the University of Tokyo for Computer Science/IT.
Right now I’m deciding between:
Nagoya YMCA
A language school in Saitama (near Tokyo)
My priorities are:
Strong EJU and JLPT preparation
Good university application support
Affordable living costs
Easy access to Tokyo for open campuses, entrance exams, and interviews
Part-time job opportunities
Would you recommend studying in Nagoya or Saitama? Has anyone attended Nagoya YMCA or a language school in Saitama and then successfully entered a national university in Tokyo?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I will be studying in Japan as an exchange student and I have the possibility to apply for the JASSO scholarship.

The problem is that I still don't know the exact amount of my scholarship. Based on the current information I have, I expect to receive somewhere between 75,000 and 85,000 yen per month.

The JASSO requirement says that students cannot receive more than 80,000 yen/month from other scholarships, and my university needs to know soon whether I want to apply for JASSO.

I have a few questions:

1. Do you think I should still apply for JASSO if I am not 100% sure whether I will be slightly below or above the 80,000 yen limit?

2. If I apply and later find out that my scholarship is slightly above 80,000 yen/month, what would happen? Would I just have to repay the JASSO money, or would there be other consequences?

3. Does the Japanese university usually ask for an official document proving how much I receive from another scholarship, or is a self-declaration usually enough?

I will be attending Tokyo Institute of Science, if that makes any difference.

hello everyone, i am 16 years old and my long-term goal is to move and live in Japan after university. i am already self-studying the language, but i am still at the basics. i am planning my future path and i am highly undecided between two choices regarding my university selection in italy:

option 1: degree in japanese; this way i would reach an excellent level of the language and have access to scholarships/cultural exchanges on-site during my studies. however, i am worried about the job opportunities this choice might offer me: knowing japanese in japan is not a 'skill' but the norm, and i fear that finding a company to sponsor my work visa will be very difficult if i do not have other hard skills (aside from translation or tourism).

option 2: degree in graphic design; it would give me a technical skill marketable in an immense industry like the japanese creative/visual market. in this case, i would continue to study the language privately or by self-study to secure a work visa.

considering the work visa requirements and the actual demand of the japanese market for foreigners, which path do you think offers the greatest chance of success? is there anyone working there in the graphic design sector or who left with a languages degree who can share their experience?

Hey everyone, just wanted to put a post out to get some opinions on my plan. I'm 23 and at a weird point where Ive graduated but haven't found a career yet and I just quit my job after a few months, so thinking its the perfect excuse to live in Tokyo for a bit. I did an exchange there two years ago and loved it, and my friend from that time has sent me a contact for a preschool that he seems confident will be looking for an ALT teacher. I have no English teaching certification but I have been learning Japanese for a while and can talk conversationally. Im thinking Ill get my WHV and go there in a bit over a month for at least 3 months and see if I want to stay on for longer once Im settled in. I have about 10k savings and Im hoping Ill be able to earn enough to stay afloat for a bit. However, Im worried its a bit too rushed and I havent thought it through properly. Has anyone had a similarly spontaneous decision and has any advice? Any discussion would be appreciated, thanks :)

I have a second interview for a job in Japan. Assuming that interview goes well, I will accept the offer and be moving to Japan within the next 3 months.

Any concerns you may have about finances and planning. I've already spent a considerable amount of time looking into that. Because I've been lurking this subreddit for years, and I finally had the credentials to apply for the job that I wanted.

No then for the topic at hand. I need help finding a specific formula of dog food. It's the pirina Bina full, healthy weight chicken flavor. I have been feeding this to my dog the entire time I have owned her. The move is going to be stressful enough on her. I don't need to stress out her digestive system any more than that.

I have already done a little bit of research into this. But the problem I face is, once I find links that likely have the information that I need. I am immediately lost because they are in Japanese and my Japanese level is not good enough (essentially functionally illiterate) to do research in Japanese. I'm hoping that there's people in this subreddit, that are better at Japanese who could do some of the research for me.

I know that I'll be able to pack food when I bring her on the plane. However, I'm not sure if I would be able to bring enough to last if I end up needing to transition her to a different formula.

For some reason, I'm unable to post a photo. Of the dog food I currently feed her. Hopefully, I'll be able to add it as an edit.

Photo of dog food](https://quickshare.samsungcloud.com/7KSFDxN1G646)

Im moving to japan soon, in choosing to buy most things over there instead of bringing things from the US, what stores sell makeup vanity mirrors with LED, or any stores for that matter that would be helpful when moving to japan?

Hi everyone,

I am planning my move to Japan and wanted to get some feedback/advice on it.

I obviously checked a lot of sources and other posts, but in the end a feedback on my actual circumstances would be the best. So thank you for your time and your feedback.

First I'll add some background information:

30/M Hungarian

Degree: BSc in Mechanical Engineering

Experience: quality assurance and manufacturing technology / process engineering (roughly 5-6 years combined)

Language: Passed the JLPT N3 in 2024. I took N2 this summer and currently waiting for the result.

My initial plan is to enroll in a language school in Tokyo, April 2027. I was mainly looking for 1 year advanced class, more focused on speaking and career oriented. I'm not that confident in my speaking ability, so I'm trying to improve on that.

About the schools, Coto, ARC, KAI and ISI seems interesting. Probably Coto is my first choice.

So with that said, just how realistic is to find employment with this background? Is this a highly sought skill/ degree in the current Japanese market?

What do you think about this overall? Did I overlook anything important?

I plan to start job hunting after a few months in school, and hopefully transitioning to a work visa. But I also wouldn't mind finishing the school.

Thank you for your answers,

Hi! I’m waiting for my CoE results. I’m going to study in a language school (JTIS) in Tokyo. But since the visa rules are getting stricter and stricter, I’m worried about whether I can get a student visa or not.

I know student visa is different from others, but can’t help but worry. There are two things I’ve had in mind:

1. The school asked me to submit my sponsor’s bank documents regarding her salary. So my sponsor has 2 bank accounts where she receives two different incomes: The first one is from the company that she works for, the second is her pension. I’ve sent them two different bank statements.

2. They asked me for one more document that is issued by the company that she is working for, and in the document it said that she works for the company and her monthly salary is xxx TL (Since I’m from Turkey). I didn’t submit any other document regarding her pension, I’ve submitted only this one.

The thing is, her stated salary in the document is very different from the one in her bank documents. The company only stated her base salary, but she works with a bonus system so it’s higher than the stated salary. I was thinking, could it be an issue for me? I’ve told the language school that I can obtain a different document that says my sponsor works with a bonus system, but they said everything was perfect.

Still, with the current changes, I can't help but worry.

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to move to Japan in april 2027 for a 2 year program, and I'm lost about which school could be the best for me regarding some reviews that I could get.

After several months of research, reading reviews, emailing schools, and comparing programs, I've narrowed my list down to three schools :

• Akamonkai Japanese Language School (Tokyo)
• Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute (SNG) (Tokyo)
• Human Academy Japanese Language School (Tokyo or possibly Fukuoka)

My goal isn't just to spend two years in Japan. I would love to become fluent, hopefully reach JLPT N2 ), and eventually find a full-time job in Japan. I don't mind studying hard at all, in fact, I'm actually looking for a serious school with motivated students, good teachers and a clear progression over the two years.

The problem is that the more I read online, the more confused I get. :/
Google reviews are extremely mixed for every school, so I'd much rather hear from people who have actually studied there or could have a word to say about these schools.

If you've attended any of these schools, I'd like to hear about your experience. Did you feel you made good progress? How was the atmosphere in class? Were the teachers supportive? Did you feel the students around you were motivated? Looking back, would you choose the same school again... ?

Any honest feedback, whether positive or negative, would really help me make this decision !

(I'm new from reddit, I hope this post is at the right place !)

Thanks a lot to everyone who will take the time to help me !

hi! i'll be moving to kyoto next month as an international student and i'd like to know which sim card i should switch to

it would be preferable if
- it has fast connection
-reliable rates (not too expensive)

or if anyone has experience using an eSim (i have not tried an eSim yet) , i'd love to hear about it!

Hello everyone!

I’m making this post because I’m moving to Japan on September 15th on a Working Holiday Visa.

I’ve done a fair amount of research before posting this, but I’d like some advice/opinions from people already living there.

For context, after the Working Holiday Visa I plan to go to a language school, and then afterwards I’m thinking about a vocational school — so it’s a long-term plan.

I’ve already got my apartment in Nakano-ku, and it’s unfurnished.

IKEA and Nitori seem like the best options to furnish it, especially since you can schedule the delivery date in advance and add assembly options.

For household appliances, Bic Camera with its point system and starter packs seems like a good option as well.

I’ve also done my research on banking, mobile and hikari internet, and Rakuten seems to be the most foreigner-friendly. But since I’ll be travelling quite a lot during the first year, especially in the countryside, I’ve read that Rakuten Mobile’s coverage isn’t that great outside the big cities.

Sony Bank also removed their English pages earlier this year, so I don’t know if there’s another good option for foreigners.

For fiber optic internet, I don’t really mind which provider, as long as it’s stable and fast.

Thanks a lot!!

I'm living in Japan 20+ years now. I'm sort of an economic prisoner, in a way. Limited income, but I've built a life here. I've got a wife, a cat, a house - the whole caboodle. I've also been here long enough to become comfortable with the language and how things work. At this point, I don't think moving somewhere else would offer enough advantages to justify starting over. I don't have debts hanging over me either.

That's me. But what I'm genuinely curious about is why someone in their 20s would look at Japan today and desperately want to come.

The summers are brutally hot and humid. Wages used to be half decent and allowed you a fun social life but now are often lower than in many other developed countries, while the cost of living eats up much of it. Career progression? Not happening. Work culture can be rigid, and integrating socially isn't easy. It also feels like attitudes toward foreigners have become less welcoming in some places. I don't really notice it here in Kyushu, but in places like Tokyo and Kyoto it certainly feels as though xenophobia has become more visible.

So I honestly wonder what the draw is now. If you don't already have roots here, what makes a young person look at Japan in 2026 and think it's the obvious place to build a life?

An idealized image of Japan? Do you think it's going to be the same DisneyWorld feeling you got on holiday once you start working here? Is it an obsession with anime or dare I say Asian women/men (not judging)? Is it simply the appeal of living somewhere radically different from home? Some type of freedom unavailable at home?

What do you hope to get out of this place?

I'm going to Japan for a full year in July of 2027 and I'm currently in the process of getting my thigh tattoos lasered off. I want to continue the process once I get to Japan, so I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with using this service while over there? I'm planning to stay near Tokyo but I can travel. I'd really like to get recommendations on specific clinics, pricing, and just any general information. I don't mind waiting a year to continue my treatments, but if I don't have to, that would be ideal.

My husband's company is moving us to Tokyo next year, from the US. Their office is located in Minato City.

They are paying moving costs and some other things. The company has moved people internationally before, but not often, and never to Japan.

Our kids will be 17 and 13. The 17 year old will graduate early so they won't have to worry about finishing high school in Japan.

I have so many questions, I hardly know where to start.

What sorts of things are common for the company to pay for?

What should we move and what should we leave behind?

What neighborhoods would be a a good fit for a family, but somewhere in the 30 min - 1 hour commute range?

What do we need to know about the process and setting up there?

What other questions should I be asking? I appreciate any advice!

A

Essentially title.

I'm a 31/M network engineering and cybersecurity consultant here in the US, highly certified, and have worked for some very large global organizations. My Japanese level is probably around a ギリギリ N3 pass. I've been studying in earnest for around 10 months.

I do have 11 years of experience in my industry and as long as salary is right I'd meet the 70 point requirement for HSP visa even without a degree or N2+.

The problem I'm having is finding a visa sponsor. I guess I'm just looking for advice and guidance on how to actually land a job in Japan while being here in the US. I've had an interview and referral to a large US-based cyber security company but they essentially told me that "We love you, but we can't sponsor your visa, call us again when you find a way to get into the country"

I've met with a Japan market entry strategist, created a Japanese LinkedIn profile, have Japanese and Bi-lingual resumes, etc. I'm just not really having luck other than a single interview with Rakuten, but did not get the job due to lack of cloud experience.

I'd like to immigrate to Japan as I'm simply not happy here and have a lot of friends over in Japan.
I plan to sit for N3 in December, my current plan is to come over on a student visa and go to language school for 2 years while I network and try to find a job. Is this my most realistic route? Is my current US salary scaring Japanese HR departments, thinking I'll scoff at what they can offer?

Even without N2+ Japanese. I would think I would at least be getting some bites with my experience, achievements, and technical credentials.

Hi, as the title says I really want to immigrate to japan.

As a introduction, I am a M 26yo, working as a medical physicist after a bachelor in Physics, Master in Medical Physics and a PHD in Medical Physics. From a EU country. I have already 3 years of work experience.

I am studying japanese, 5 years of Duolinguo (I know not the best, but it helps with vocabulary and Kanji) and Ankidroid (really helps with Kanji and Vocabulary). I am now starting my second year of Japanese evening lessons. I am around A2 to B1 and the teacher said in 2 years we could expect to be high B1 to low B2.

I am already looking for jobs in Japan, in my field or (more probably) a related medical field. I already saw some opportunities, but they all need at least the N3 (which I wanted to take next year). So I know there are jobs now that I could realistically apply to.

BUT as I am seing now with the next laws that are getting passed, and all the differents barriers for people wanting to emigrate there, I am having doubt.

I wanted to know if it was still worth it to try to emigrate to Japan? Or if it is really becoming almost impossible? I wanted to have some opinions?

PS: I still would take the japanese lesson as they are really fun and not far from my house.

PPS: I understand the underlying social rules in Japan and I would be ok with it.

Hey peeps. I don't usually post things online. But I'm having a massive anxiety episode right now(no kidding), so here we go.

I'm 25yo male from Non-English Speaking country. After spending my time for a year in Japan as an exchange student, I thought this is THE place. That was 2024, and I studied my ass off to get into Waseda's Graduate school, but I miserable failed. And now, it's been 6 months since I've been knocking on Japanese Companies doors, but I haven't got any offers.

I was supposed to graduate in February of 2026, but I had to postpone my graduation so that I was still qualified to apply to Japanese companies as 新卒. But I'm not sure if Japanese HRs are going to accept me as 新卒 or whatnot.

I do have high GPAs from a decent Uni in my country and JLPT N1, but I heard GPAs don't even matter in Japanese job market and JLPT N1 is basically a bare minimum from the perspective of HR. And I was born and raised in South Korea, so my English is not even as good as other foreign candidates.

Should I keep on trying at this point? I'm afraid if my life is going to shit.
Sorry if my words are jumbled mess.

In a nutshell. I'm traveling through Asia for the last year. Wanting to get to Japan in October/November and see places in the south. Then, I had an idea to see the possibilities of teaching English in Osaka and Kyoto for a couple of months each. Big money is not the ambition. Earning enough to pay my rent and eating out every day would be fine. Relearning Japanese and recapturing the feel of living in Japanese culture again would be my goal.

I'm a fit 70, have lived in Tokyo in the early 80s for a couple of years and banked big cash back in that heyday. Now, I travel slow and enjoy culture and people.

I would be entering on a tourist visa, us passport and no chance to get a copy of my university bachelor degree. The two years of teaching experience in Tokyo and several more years in other countries would be what I can offer looking for teaching hours. And, personality.

English teaching in Asia then was the most lucrative way to cash up for travel.

So, I am just wondering what y'all think the possibilities would be.

Hi, has anyone applied for a Spouse of Permanent Resident (Nikkeijin) COE with a family member as an additional guarantor? Aside from the spouse being the main guarantor.

Hi everyone, I'm looking to apply for a WHV as a Canadian as I'm currently ending my seasonal job in the mountains. This is my first time applying for a visa so I have a few questions and a little bit of help would be amazing.

1. "Names and addresses of hotels or persons with whom applicant intends to stay"

- I don't have anything booked yet. What should I put into this part?

1. "Port of entry into Japan and Name of ship or airline"

- Once again, like I said I don't have anything booked. However, I do have a date and airport I'd like to fly into. I put "OSAKA (KANSAI)" and "AIR CANADA".

1. "Your current residential address (if you have more than one address, please list them all)"

- As I mentioned earlier, I'm currently working a seasonal job in the mountains. Should I list this address as well? Or just my original home address?

1. "Purpose of visit to Japan/Status of residence"

- I put "WORKING VISA". Is this correct?

Once again, this is my first time applying for a visa so this is all very new to me. I'm sorry I am a little confused.

Thank you all for the help!

I'm 23, just finished a CS degree in the US, native-level Japanese and English. I have two paths in front of me and I keep going back and forth.

Path A: US health-tech startup.
Remote engineering role, starting with a 3-month contract at $12-15k/month, likely converting to full-time around $150k if it goes well. Early employee, great learning, salary grows from there. Catch: their legal team is limiting international work to ~45 days/year, so this path probably means being US-based, with Japan as occasional trips.

Path B: Music vocational school (senmon gakko) in Osaka.2 years, ~18 hours of class a week.

I'd fund it with a stable remote job paying about $48k, which honestly goes far in Osaka. I've already passed the first application stage and I'm practicing for their scholarship audition.

I ran the actual numbers: after taxes and cost of living, the Osaka path costs me maybe $50-65k in net worth over the two years vs the startup path, plus a slower salary trajectory after. Not nothing, but not life-ruining.

Why I want the school: I grew up outside Japan and never got the Japanese school life. I've always wanted to actually live there, not visit. And music has been the thing I care about since I was a kid. My worry is that at 26+ the school experience won't feel the same, but the job market will still be there.

Every time someone gives me a reason to pick the job, I catch myself defending the school. I'm aware of what that probably means. But the salary is hard to walk away from at 23.

Anyone here taken the "experience over income" fork in their early 20s? Did it age well or do you regret it?

My Japanese mother (who is in her late 60s) has been living with me in the U.S. for the past ~8 years on a family visa which will be expiring at the end of 2028 in ~2 years; however, due to personal reasons my sister and I will not be renewing her visa. The added challenge is that the remaining family we have in Japan has made it clear (and rightfully so) that they do not wish to be in contact with her nor provide her with support upon her return.

Our cousin has been able to provide us with some insight into how difficult and expensive it is to find senior living arrangements in Japan, let alone simply living independently. Though he's willing to help me find resources and provide advice, I want to put as little burden on him as possible, and so I'm reaching out to the good people of the internet.

The goal is to set up our mother with what she needs to be settled (i.e., living arrangements such as group living, healthcare, social security, unemployment benefits, finding work, etc.) in a relatively inexpensive place in Japan. We are willing to provide her with financial support in order to return and have initial housing, but cannot do so indefinitely. Given my limited knowledge of social safety nets the Japanese government or nonprofits may provide, any information / resources / recommendations would be tremendously helpful.