Living In Japan: Revealing Insights From a 20-Year Expat

As a tourist in Japan, the people you meet are often willing to help you with communication. These people will often translate things for you and explain what they are. But, once you are living in Japan, you will need to develop your Japanese language skills to get by.

You might be thinking "Why do I need to study Japanese? I'm sure that I can get around with just English."

The truth is understanding Japanese language will make your life in Japan much easier. Here is how Japanese language can help you:

• Understanding social integration
• Making Japanese friends
• Going shopping
• Going to the doctor and communicating your issue
• Dating Japanese people
• Getting a job in Japan

Even if you only learn the most basic Japanese, it will help you in your daily life. It will be hard if you don't know any Japanese. Even learning basic Japanese phrases can help you in your day-to-day life in Japan.

If you want to learn Japanese, I recommend studying in Japan at a language school. There are language schools in Japan that offer intensive courses for foreigners.

Making Japanese friends and building a social circle can be very difficult. It's common for foreigners to feel isolated during the early stages of their stay. I've had people tell me that the first year in Japan was the loneliest time they ever experienced. This is especially if you don't speak Japanese. In Japan, most foreigners hang out with other foreigners. It's true! Let me explain...

• Social distance between friends in Japanese culture is greater than Western cultures.
• Japanese social etiquette means people don't want to be socially close to other people.
• Making friends with your work colleagues can be difficult due to the importance of power distance in Japanese culture.
• Some Japanese people don't want foreign friends. This sounds harsh, but its true. Many Japanese people feel that they cannot relate to foreigners. Even if that foreigner speaks Japanese and understands the culture.

Here is a great youTube video that supports what I have been writing about here. This video was made by JESSEOGN, Japanese youTuber. Check it out!

It can be very difficult for foreigners in Japan to adjust to the countries work culture. In fact, Japanese work culture is often referred to as "toxic". This is due to low salaries, frequently reported cases of harassment and office bullying, resistance to change, and excessive overtime.

Maintaining a work-life balance while living in Japan can be a challenge. Mostly because of the demanding work culture of Japan. Your experience with this balance depends on the type of job you choose. In fact, it is the high-pressure working environment that causes many people to leave Japan.

• Corporate workers in Japan face a lot of pressure to prove themselves.
• Employees work late into the night. This is sometimes encouraged by the company managers.
• Employees who do not conform to company culture may experience bullying.
• Foreigners can face pressure to quit. Those who don't fit the company mold may be forced out (there are many stories like this on Reddit).
• Intense work culture can lead to 'karoshi' (過労死 - karoushi) (death from overwork).

Taking holidays outside national periods like Golden Week and Obon is not discouraged. As there are so many national holidays, most employees only have one week of paid leave a year.

However, a Japanese company will usually not allow you to take the full paid leave in one period. Instead, people often add some of their paid vacation time to the start and end of a national holiday period to extend their vacation time.

As a tourist in Japan, may have been staying in hotels, but now that you are living in Japan, you will need to deal with the Japanese rental market. You might be in for a culture shock...

• Small spaces: Be prepared to live in very small spaces, especially if you plan to live in a central location.
• Tiny kitchen spaces: There are no ovens in most Japanese kitchens (houses and apartments).
• Thin walls: Apartments have very thin walls, which makes it easy to hear your neighbors.
• Rent in Japan: Rent is cheap, but initial costs to securing a rental property can be very expensive.
• Racial discrimination: You may experience racial or cultural discrimination. Some landlords don’t want to rent to non-Japanese residents.
• It pays to speak Japanese: Some landlords may rent to a foreign resident, as long as they speak Japanese.

Looking to rent an apartment in Japan? I recommend you check out Sakura House and Leopalace21. These places specialize in foreign residents. They are more expensive than the average price for apartments their size but offer convenience.

Living in Japan as a foreigner depends on your personal situation and goals. First, visit Japan a few times to see how you feel about it. Ask others about their experiences living in Japan. If you're still drawn to Japan's culture, language, lifestyle, build a plan to make the big move. But be aware, that it could end up not agreeing with you.