How to Move to Japan: All of The Basics Covered

Can I realistically move to Japan?

So, you want to know how to move to Japan? Well you’re in the right place! If you don’t know already, I lived in Japan for seven years (Tokyo, mostly) so I know from experience it is possible. You can live in Japan, too! After choosing to take a random Japanese language paper during university (because my friend said it would be a breeze – she was wrong), I ended up loving it and completing a semester at a university in Japan. When I finished studying, I decided to move to Japan solo where I would teach art and design at an international school. 

What you will find here

I don’t know you, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career (see what I did there?). Here you will find some of the basic questions answered about moving to Japan as well as possible pathways to actually get to Japan! So let’s get started.

Firstly, does Japan allow foreigners to live there?

Yes, but also no. Like most highly sought-after countries, you will have to jump through a few hoops.

Japan allows foreigners (known as gaijin) to live in the country, but how to get the ability to reside in Japan is often convoluted. The Japanese government does offer various types of visas for different purposes, such as work, study, family reunification, or cultural activities which I will go over in this blog post. With most of these visas, the length will be 1, 3, or 5 years. How is it decided? There are many theories as to how it is decided what length visa you will get, but I honestly don’t know.

How hard is it to move to Japan as a foreigner?

The difficulty of moving to Japan as a foreigner depends on various factors, including what country you’re from, the purpose of your move, your qualifications, language proficiency, and familiarity with Japanese culture and regulations. If you are a holder of one of the strongest passports in the world, you’re probably in luck.

Remember that specific requirements and procedures may change, so it’s crucial to check the latest information on official government websites or consult with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.

If you’re from Australia go to the Embassy of Japan in Australia website and look for the “Visa” or “Consular Services” section for detailed information on different types of visas and the application process.

How to Move to Japan:

What are the Easiest Visas to get for Japan?

Be an English teacher in Japan (duh)

This is an option many use because it is probably the easiest. You do not need to be a teacher or have any teaching background – as long as you are from an English speaking country, Japan will probably take you. All you need is a bachelor degree. You will need at least a bachelor degree so that a company can sponsor your work visa. You will probably have to pay for the move yourself and sort out your own accomodation.

Popular English Schools (Eikaiwa)

Berlitz
ECC
Coco Juku
Nova
Gaba

Be an International school teacher in Japan

This was how I managed to stay in Japan for so long as I was an international school teacher. The best way to find a job is to check Schrole. They have jobs from all around the world and the majority of Japanese international schools use this platform. You can also check on each school’s website for their list of vacancies. You will need a teaching licence in your home country as well as a degree or postgraduate studies in education, depending on the position. Generally, the school will organise your visa, cover the costs for you to move to Japan, and provide your accomodation or provide a stipend to cover part of it.

Popular International Schools (Tokyo mostly)

ASIJ: American School in Japan
TIS: Tokyo International School
Nishimachi
YIS: Yokohama International School
British School

Become a student in Japan

This is what a lot of people do in order to be able to live in Japan as get a taste of what it is like. Basically you pay to study and it gives you an opportunity to get to know Japan without the stress of working. This probably isn’t a great option if you want to make money though (People residing in Japan on student visas are only able to work in Japan for up to 28 hours per week and up to eight hours a day when not at school).

There are two ways to do this. You can either study Japanese at a Japanese language school or apply to study at a Japanese university in whatever subjects they have available in English.Just a heads up, if you’re getting a student visa, whether it’s for a university or language school, make sure to apply for it at a Japanese consulate or embassy before you head to Japan.

You’ll need to get permission from the Minister of Justice if you want to work, too. Check with your employer in Japan or your language school for more info on this. Your accomodation might be included in your school costs if they offer dorm rooms but it is best to check with the university or school what options they have if you want to live on campus.

Join the JET programme in Japan

The JET programme is a programme set up by the government where they get English-speakers to come and work at Japanese schools to bring awareness of the English language to Japanese students… or something to that effect. You will need a bachelor degree for this one too. You can read about the JET programme eligibility and process on the JET website. Accomodation for JET varies, and I’ve heard stories of accomodation being provided, a stipend being paid to cover part of it, or applicants being left to fend for themselves. The general rule on their FAQ page is that JET does not provide accomodation. They do organise your flights to and from Japan provided you complete your contract.

Get the working holiday visa for Japan

This is how I originally came to Japan as I applied for the working holiday visa as a New Zealander. The working holiday visa is a visa available to a range of different countries which have close relationships with Japan. You can find the full list of countries that have working holiday arrangements with Japan here. It is a reciprocal agreement, meaning Japanese citizens can also get a working holiday visa to travel to the countries.

It is a great way to travel the world in general, and if you are from one of the countries that offers working holiday visas I highly recommend you utilise it to travel to as many countries as you can! There is usually an age limit and you will need to check to see what countries your home country has agreements with. You will be expected to sort out your travel and accomodation.

Highly-skilled worker in Japan

If you already have excellent skills in your field this might be the option for you if you can obtain enough points to be considered a highly-skilled professional. If you are eligible for this, Japan is happy to allow you to waltz in and make yourself comfortable. You’ll be fast-tracked to permanent residency.

There are two ways to go about this; you can either ask your current employer to transfer you to their Japanese office (if they have one) and sponsor you or you can apply for a job in Japan and have your new company sponsor you. In terms of your travel and accomodation, it can vary wildly depending on your company and how desperately they want you to move to Japan.

How much money do you need to have to move to Japan?

This is like asking how long a piece of string is. Do you want to live in the Roppongi Hills Residences or do you want to live in a 8sqm tatami-bug (ダニ) infested studio with no toilet on the outskirts of Ueno? The likeness, if you’re reading this post, is that you are going to sit somewhere in between.

If you’re a single woman looking for an apartment in a nice area you’re probably going to pay around 100,000-130,000 yen per month in Tokyo (unless it is covered by your company). There are also upfront costs such as key money, deposit, and agency fees. This is dependent on each apartment but your real estate agent will explain this to you. You’ll also need to pay out for a phone plan, furniture, and the cost of moving your luggage or packages to Japan.

Below you can see the average prices for accomodation in each prefecture:

Luckily, all these things are reasonably priced in Japan and if your company is helping you move to Japan they should be giving you a relocation package that will help cover all of these costs. Many schools and companies sponsoring you to move will provide you with free or discounted accomodation.

Is it worth it to live in Japan as a foreigner?

Although I joke a lot about the struggles of moving overseas there are a lot of pros to living in Japan. As I said before I lived in Japan for seven years and as a general rule I would say that most people will enjoy it for at least a year. Luckily for you, I wrote all about the pros and cons of living in Japan. It is up to you to decide what matters to you and if it fits with what you want in life.