I know this question has probably been asked to death already, but I couldn't find an older post here that fit better with my specific situation.

Some background: I am from a third-world country (Pakistan). No IT experience, essentially no degree, living paycheck to paycheck as a freelancer.

Right now, this is my plan to get myself out of this unsustainable cycle:

1. Utilise the SSW visa to enter Japan as a construction worker, which requires me to pass a skill test and a Japanese test to qualify, both of which I'm working hard to accomplish. I am aware it is not a great way in, but for someone like me, this is the only viable route. While I'm sure the pay won't be much, it will allow me to do step 2.

2. Work through a Bachelor CS degree from Uopeople (an online university), alongside the construction job while in Japan. I have researched a way to cut the cost of the degree significantly through transferred credits, and I plan to do it at an accelerated yet realistic pace.

3. Once the CS is done, I will start searching for an entry-level IT job while pursuing other certifications to bolster my CV on the side, namely:
   . Security +
   . Google Cybersecurity Certificate
   . TryHackMe SOC Level 1

As part of my degree credits transfer strategy, I would have already done:
. Google IT Support Professional Certificate
. Google UX Design Professional Certificate
. IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate

I am already studying for these certs from a bootcamp for free:

. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
. RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator)

I can take the exam for the above two while in Japan.

My question is, will this be enough to land an entry-level IT job in Japan to kickstart my career with no experience? IT support or help desk maybe? I know nothing is ever guaranteed, but will this at least give me a fighting chance?

Or is this hopeless or near impossible, and I should give up and seek employment in Dubai, whatever job I can get?

As for my Japanese, an SSW visa requires at least N4 level, but I plan to get to at least N3 before moving to Japan. Once there, I will be aiming to pass N2 as soon as I can since I have read that it gives you a much better chance in IT. My English is fluent.

Why don't I get my degree in my own country?
Can't afford it.
Why not seek IT experience in my own country?
No degree, can't afford most certs, pay for these jobs here is extremely low (about $100 a month for entry-level), to the point I will be unable to support myself at all.

SSW pays very little; you shouldn't do it.
I know. But for me, even the minimum wage will be a huge upgrade.
Doing construction and a degree at the same time will be tough.
The alternative is staying here and having no future. I am happy to dedicate myself to achieving this.
Why not turn your freelancing into a career in your country?
Pays peanuts. Unstable and unpredictable work.

TLDR: No degree/IT background, currently freelancing from Pakistan. Plan is Japan via SSW construction visa => earn a CS degree cheaply while working=>stack IT/security certs => push Japanese to N2 => then job hunt for entry-level IT/helpdesk. Fluent English. Realistic or fantasy?

I have a great GMAT score and work experience, and I can potentially apply to top unis across Europe, Singapore and even some in the US considering my overall profile

But somewhere my heart is set for Japan, not because of money and degree value, but just the lure of getting a job in Japan and getting to live there

I don’t want to apply for work elsewhere mostly after the MBA, hence wondering if I should do it in Japan and then look for work there. I am willing to learn Japanese too.

Just want to ask the people in this forum - if I graduate from a top Japanese university with a MBA degree and speak decent Japanese, can I get a good job as a foreigner?

Hi everyone!

I am a university student from Italy. I want to go to Japan for 6 months to do research at a Japanese university.

I have an "Erasmus Traineeship" scholarship, so my home university will give me money to support myself.

Can I use the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) for this? I know the WHV is mostly for traveling and part-time jobs, but is it okay if my main activity is doing research at a university with my own Erasmus money?

Has anyone here done the same thing?

Thank you for your help!

I did Niseko 25/26 and went in pretty blind.

My original job fell through, leaving me unemployed for nearly 2 months before I got my Level 1 SB instructing job in Feb and finally got a lift pass. I only averaged around 8 hours a week, although obviously I started pretty late in the season. I also lived pretty secluded, around a 30 min taxi from anything lively.

I’m currently thinking Hakuba this time, but definitely open to other suggestions.

What I’m looking for:

- Good seasonaire/social scene, people to ride with, grab food/drinks etc
- Lively/walkable area with bars and restaurants
- Easy mountain access (but I do have a car)
- Reliable hours but enough time to ride 2 or 3 times a week
- Ideally job perks like included or discounted accommodation and lift pass, but happy to pay for a shared place and pass if needed

I’m 31, age doesn’t necessarily bother me. I still want to live with fun/social people, just ideally people who are respectful enough that I can also get a decent night’s sleep!

I’m leaning towards bar/hospitality work this time for reliable hours and the social side, but I’m open to anything.

Does Hakuba sound like a good fit? Where would you look for work/accommodation, and what type of job would you aim for?

Also, if I want to do Canada in the future, is it worth getting Level 2 SB or Level 1 Ski to land a better job there, or is hospitality a decent route for future seasons anyway?

Thank you for your time 🤘🏻

With services like amazon, and the shinkansen, as well as the much lower price of land, housing, and living, shouldn't we start to see more rural flight?

I'm going to start teaching online and living in the Tohoku countryside. With Starlink I can get good service anywhere.

Hi friend!

I plan relocate to Japan - Tokyo with my wife. There are a lot, tons of content from Youtube about pricing, living, prons and cons

Nevertheless, 2 questions are still in my mind and I hope you guys could help me out:

1. I am a remote employee, so not interested to rent "close to center", but rather wish to rent a house from 40-60 minutes to the center. Do you think it is a good option and if yes what districts could you recommend (I prefer calm, non tourist, no loud place)? My budget is 200 000 yen (not including facilities).

2. Internet just has 2 camps. One says its cheap in Japan, another says its expensive. I get it. If you live and work in Japan, it might be expensive. If you are coming from the Western World, its cheap. However, my question is lets say you have have roughly 400 000 yen (as an example) per month, would you say its enough to live for you and your partner?

Interested to hear your thoughts

I'm planning to live in Tokyo soon, so I've been looking up random stuff about everyday life there.

I've seen quite a few people complaining about the garbage rules. Is it actually that annoying?

From what I understand, you have different days for burnable trash, plastics, cans, bottles etc, and if you miss the collection day you basically have to keep it at home until the next one. Is that actually how it works?

What happens if you just put it out on the wrong day though? lol

For people who actually live there, is taking out the trash genuinely annoying or do you just get used to it?

Hey everyone,

My wife and I are planning to move back to Japan next July once my military contract ends. For a bit of backstory, I was stationed over there for 2 years, which is where I met my wife (she's a Japanese citizen). I returned to the US and I ended up sponsoring her US visa, and now we're looking to head back the other way.

Since we're starting to prep, I have a few specific questions for anyone who has been through a similar transition:

When should we actually start the application process if we want to move next summer? What's a realistic timeline?

Can I use my VA disability compensation as proof of income for the visa requirements? If you've done this, what kind of paperwork or translations did you need to show immigration?

Is there anything I should expect or look out for while applying for the spouse visa? Don't want to get hit by any surprises that delay us.

Also when we do eventually get to Japan, what are my expectations for finding cheap temp labor as a foreigner with weak japanese(i'm practicing everyday). I'll be taking online college classes while doing that.

Would love to hear from anyone who has taken a similar path. Appreciate any advice or tips you guys have! Thanks.

I (30 M) am currently leaving my stable career that I have been in for almost 8 years now. I am in tech, and going towards something new, and I currently have 2 options I am debating between:

- Full time job at a startup in tech. Good position, ~$320k / yr + equity and benefits. Unlimited PTO (subject to company culture), remote work sporadically available. Even adjusted for COL in San Francisco, running the numbers, I would be able to save approximately $80k more that year alone. The sign on bonus I would be getting would alone be around the amount (pre-tax) I would be saving the full year in Japan.

- 1 year residency at prestigious startup in tech, in Tokyo. 25M Yen, no equity (~$150k USD equivalent). Work culture is not Japanese but more international (team lead works 9 - 5 and rarely on weekends), remote work allowed (and on that country's hours, for example, when visiting back home in the US I would be able to work US hours aside from very occasional important meetings). The other big red flag is 10 days PTO only, but my position is considered "flexible hours" and the work culture seems amenable to having that actually be flexible (as opposed to just working me to the bone instead – although I suppose I cannot be absolutely sure until I actually go and experience it).

From a career advancement perspective, both are a wash. They each have their own pros that give them slight edges, so for all intents and purposes we can consider them to both further my career.

This is significant, because it's just about the only time I would ever consider a move to Japan. I wouldn't do so if I had to put my career on hold otherwise, so this represents the perfect storm.

The catch, as I'm sure you understand, is the money. This is a lot of opportunity cost financially speaking. In the best case scenario, I would be able to land an equivalent or better offer once this year residency is over, and essentially only defer the financial security by 1 year. This is perfectly worth it to me.

The worst case scenario, is I do not find an equal or better offer, especially given this current brutal job market. I would, in this case, be relegated to using my savings (~65k liquid) while living at my parents while searching for a job. I have pretty high standards for my career, so I would be able to afford to be picky only for a short while. I can confidently land a job below my standards (but still within my career) if it comes down to it, and would be able to live with my parents for free to significantly extend my personal runway.

Now, Japan is my favorite country to travel to. I have spent a month there several times already, and have not grown sick of it. At the same time, I'm not romanticizing. I know the loneliness, the likelihood of not being accepted as a foreigner, and the novelty wearing off, are all likely scenarios. But at 30 M, I do believe it is my one of my final chances to take life by the horns and experience living abroad at all, before setting up for the rest of my life. Also, I plan to stay no longer than 1 year in Japan (even if the residency converts to full time or is otherwise extended), and my ultimate goal is to end up in San Francisco in any case. I believe I can sustain any of this for 1 year.

So, I think I want to hear from those who have moved to Japan. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I know that these are "good" problems to have, and either decision may seem solid, but I think because both options seem realistically feasible, I am struggling a bit with security financially in the face of uncertainty in life, vs. taking this opportunity and risking the worst-case scenario!

Hey there!

I’m moving to Japan for six months next April, I plan to eventually live there full time, but for now that’s the situation. Originally all I thought I’d have to worry about was getting my birth control pills switched over and finding an ADHD med alternative as adderall is prohibited. Problem is, I was recently diagnosed with a chronic illness and anemia (was a bad day lol), and so I’ve been put on a lot of meds and supplements to support that. I can’t skip a day of any of my meds without risking some major health issues. To my knowledge, I can bring up to a 2 month supply of certain medication? I’ll of course double check everything on what I can or can’t bring in. That leads me to my major question, does anyone have experience getting their medication switched to a Japanese pharmacy? If so, what’s that process like and what should I expect? What kind of documents should I have prepared beforehand?
Thanks!

I just got my COE and I’ll be moving to Osaka soon for language school, so I’m currently looking for an apartment.

I’ve been looking at a few sites but I’m not sure which ones are actually good for foreigners..

wagaya Japan- this was one of the first sites I found, but I’ve seen quite a few negative reviews here on Reddit, so I’m a little hesitant.

Mooovin Japan- came across this one recently. There don’t seem to be many reviews about them though so I’m not sure if that’s because they’re relatively new or if they’re just not very well known yet.

ABLE- this is the one my school recommended so I’m considering it, but I’m having a really hard time navigating their website. The interface looks weird on both my laptop and phone, and I can’t easily search for apartments using specific conditions.

I’m looking for something that’s foreigner/student friendly, preferably with an easy application process and no ridiculous initial fees. I’d also like to be able to filter/search for specific requirements rather than just browsing random listings.

For anyone who has actually rented an apartment in Osaka as a foreigner/student, which agency or website would you recommend? Are there any sites I should avoid?

Would especially appreciate recommendations from people who have recently moved to Osaka for school. 🙏

Hi there, had to epiphany that I don't see a life here in the U.S. and have had a few late nights researching and looking up people's experiencing with moving to Japan, among other places. Rather it's waiting for the next Language School applications or just saving money, I want to save up for the next year to about $20K including sold belongings as well as study my butt off to learn the language, N3 would be the goal before it happens.

I'm biracial so I've never felt like I've belonged here in the states and I understand that's the feeling other foreigners experience, even living there for years. One person said "the people who go far that move here are comfortable with being uncomfortable." And I was wondering if that's true? I've come to accept that the American way of life isn't for me anyway and am fully open minded about integrating myself into another culture while preparing myself to face the scrutiny.

Teaching English would be a stepping stone as a way to immerse myself but I did teach for a time here in Texas so if I love it, I don't see a reason to not stick with it.

It's to my understanding rural life and housing can be quite difficult and from what I have seen, Kyoto might be a more fitting choice, but Tokyo or another big metro area also sounds like the friendlier route for the start.

In short, I just want to live life. See and experience things I never thought possible and think this just might be the place to settle. Would love any advice.

Hey guys, I have bipolar disorder and ADHD and have been on medication for over 4 years now. I am stable and functional now, doing regular therapy and medicines. I have been accepted into a language school and plan to go there by late September. I plan to continue my therapy sessions online and I want to continue taking my medicines as well because they have helped me a lot. However, I am unsure if it will have any effect on my visa status/process. I’m waiting for my COE for visa, the results r out soon and after that I’m gonna apply for my visa from my home country. I’ve researched about whether I can take medicines with me, and I can take upto a month’s supply from what I understand. My question is mostly regarding whether taking medicines with me is looked down upon/can they reject my visa because of it. Does anyone have experience with this? I’d really appreciate if I could have a convo if you have been in a similar situation as me.

Hello. I’m interested in moving to Japan to see what it’s like living there instead of just visiting.

About me - 28m. Bachelor’s degree in cloud and network engineering. No Japanese language ability currently. I’ve been working as an IT endpoint admin since 2020 so going on 7 years of experience in the US.

Things I know so far - of course I know ill take a hit to the salary when moving. I know I need At least n2 to find a non-dev It job. (Probably better than n2 honestly)

Things I’ve currently been doing - applying to jobs from the US. Just in case anything lands. Studying Japanese. I plan to take n5 in December.

What’s the best route to living in Japan for me? Keep throwing my resume at the wall and see if anything sticks while I continue to study Japanese? I’m interested in language school as well. I felt that might be a good route and that gives me a break from working but it also leaves a gap in my resume and I don’t know how businesses in Japan feel about that.

Worst case- I have to return home. I have a house here I can return to. Ideally while I’m over there I want to rent it out to have some extra income coming in but if I’m unable to that’s fine as well.

I don’t know what I’m not thinking about and want to get some advice/maybe someone else knows what I’m not thinking about.

I don’t have any family here unfortunately and home doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Thank you!

Edit- I’d rather not teach English if it can be helped. I’m not a teacher and I feel it would be a disservice to anyone I would have to teach. I also don’t want the job to be the reason I don’t like the place haha

Hi! 👋 For Filipinos who have been working or studying in Japan for a while, I wanted to ask how you usually buy your usual Filipino toiletries and other Filipino products.

I’m moving to Japan soon and there are some products I’m used to using in the Philippines, like Myra E lotion, Palmolive shampoo/conditioner, Kojic soap, etc. I’m also wondering about Filipino-brand groceries and other products.

Is there a Shopee/Lazada equivalent or an online Filipino store where you can order these and have them delivered to your address in Japan?

Would really appreciate recommendations for online shops, Filipino stores, or forwarding/cargo services that you personally use, especially around Tokyo. 🇯🇵🇵🇭

Thank you! 😊

Hello guys I am 22 years old Male.

Currently at N5, i can also recognise N4 but only a little bit, but i am constantly learning.

I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Application, I am constantly trying to apply for a web development job, but i still got no luck.

I also know a relative of mine who has a 5 years of experience in this field but after he quitted his first job, he haven't got a job yet (it has been 5 months for him now), and that's what worrying me.

I also did a chat support job but the pay there was ₹13500 (actually that is a standard pay for most of the fresher's job here even in programming field) and there was too much mental pressure there from the coworkers there, i just couldn't handle it so i quitted mid way.

And now i am stuck, because i have tried both paths and still got no luck. And that's why i am here.

In short, i want to live in Japan, it doesn't matter how i would survive there, even if the money is low. I may have quitted the job here but i will definitely won't quit the job there, if that's what it takes for me to live there. I also don't want to depend on my family money for living there, sure they can help, but i can't depend on them forever specially when my family is middle class.

I just want to get away from my country as soon as possible because what government is doing here is just not good, I can't live here really.

Here is what i had planned though there is some problem:

I thought i will do a master degree there then -> to a language school -> and then find a job.

Or do a job there to earn for the first step.

But the problem is could i support that with my part-time job?

I also heard that getting a job and visa has become more tough, like N2 for job.

I also thought i could apply for MEXT scholarship, but there is huge competition there too, which also requires a good math which i have not. I love programming but i am average in everything else.

I also got to know just now that you need 1.5M yen in your bank, so you can apply for the visa.

I am still a beginner in this, I never applied a passport or visa.

That's everything, I hope you guys can give help me.

Alrighty. I'm a 21 year old male looking to move to Japan and live there with a working visa as an english teacher.

I plan on going to college next semester and beginning my undergraduates degree in either English or English Education, preferrably Education. Then, after obtaining my degree (possibly spending a semester abroad, but thats not important), I want to work and save money to successfully be able to move to Japan to teach english. I've heard of the JET program, but I was told not to go through that if I learned to teach english professionally. Anyways, I planned on moving to Osaka, but was also told that I might not be able to choose where my job is, so I'm not sure.

I'm currently studying japanese at a college level and hopefully I can be somewhat fluent by the time I move. I'm still young so I have time.

Any thoughts? Any and all would be appreciated :) thank you!

I was born in China to a Japanese father and a Chinese mother, my dad passed away when I was a child. My mom took me and moved to United States, which is what my current citizenship.

I highly doubt my dad registered my birth, I don’t have a copy of my birth certificate. I was pretty cut off from dad’s side after his death. My mom is still alive and it’s impossible to get any info out of her since there was so much resentment between her and dad’s family.

Is it still possible to get Japanese residency/visa for myself and my spouse/kids? Or it’s pretty much a dead end? Maybe try other visa types?

Thank you in advance to anyone that has some insights on this.

When I (28m) was 19, I was arrested for possession of marijuana and given a notice to appear in court, where I did pre-trial intervention and had my charges dropped. I haven't been in any legal trouble since, and dont use any drugs at all. I have been researching this alot, and I know that legally I can travel to Japan, as I do not have any convictions, but it has been really hard to find any information on if this is going to bar me from any other long term visas.

Does anybody here have a similar experience they can share, or know anybody who has been able to get a student or work visa with a non-conviction drug arrest? Legally, of course, I do not have any intentions or desire to commit any crimes when trying to move. Any details and advice are welcome, but mostly I would like to be able to know if it IS possible for me.

Hi everyone I'm currently an undergraduate student from Pakistan.I really want to know is shimane university is worthy for master in psychology?

As currently I am student of University of Punjab, Pakistan!.

Greetings people. I am a 24 yrs old female about to start my first big girl job in japan with gaba/nova as an independent instructor. I have read alota bad things about them in alot of recent reddits. In my case I am from a third world country and I need to get myself out of my country any way or other because I cant live here due to some personal reasons. My question is can i survive there? I am willing to work on weekends and early mornings/late nights. I at the time dont care about work life balance or anything because i am desperate. I have a degree in English linguistics so i dont have a chance at any other English countries or even the middle east as they prefer natives english speakers and lots of experience. I will be changing my field a lil and start MBA from sept. Maybe it will give me future opportunities in japan if I couldn’t do the teaching job.
Also I am placed at Shinjuku. I have heard it have more students and teachers get booked a lil more. I will also appreciate cheap accommodation options and eating places as i want to survive and maybe even save some money. Any frugal tips are also appreciated. Excuse my manners if i sound too desperate. Also I would appreciate any part time jobs i can do on my one day week off as i can only work 6 days a week. Thank you.

I've been seeing a lot of foreign freelancers in Japan lately (photographers, videographers, content creators, etc.) who seem to have made their freelance work their main gig, yet they clearly don't have a PR or spouse visa based on what they've shared.

From what I understand about Japanese visa restrictions, a normal work visa (like Engineer/Specialist in Humanities) ties you to specific activities and technically doesn't allow you to do unrelated work or have your side hustle become bigger than your main job. I know there's some permission you can get, but I thought that was very limited?

Yet I see lots of people thriving as full-time freelancers (such as content creators, but not only) and not mentioning any traditional main job.

Concrete example: freelance photographer who also works full-time for a magazine but CLEARLY labels themselves as freelance and has a bunch of side-gigs they promote on their website.

How does this actually work visa-wise?

So the last time I was in the US I had to extend my stay by a couple months to care for a relative. I never overstayed my visa, they gave me 6 months and I only stayed for about 3. But of course with the current situation being what it is, immigration didn’t care for my reasons and they deported me for “having intentions to illegally overstay” or something like that, and banned me from returning for 5 years. This happened a year ago.

I’ve lived in Japan before and want to return with a student visa, but now I’m worried this stain in my record will ruin everything. I have everything else in order with my school and this is literally the only thing stopping me from starting the CoE process.

How thoroughly do they check past deportations? Has anyone ever marked “yes” on the form and gotten a visa anyway? Is the question just a formality like those “are you a terrorist” questions they ask you on the plane?

Edit: So it turns out I might not have been deported, but just “denied entry” because I technically never got past the immigration booth… I guess this question is better suited for a lawyer 😅

Hi everyone!

I’ve been admitted to the University of Aizu for the Autumn 2026 intake (Master’s program) and I’m currently trying to sort out accommodation before I move to Aizu.

I recently received an email from the university informing me that I was not allocated university accommodation/dormitory, so I now need to find accommodation privately.

The timing is a little difficult because I also need to apply for my Japanese student visa, and I understand that I may need to provide accommodation details as part of the visa process. The University of Aizu's admission guidebook also says that students must find their own accommodation and provides information about private apartments/boarding houses.

I’m currently planning to arrive in Japan around September 20, 2026, before the October 1 start date.

So I’d really appreciate advice from current students, graduates, or anyone who has recently gone through this:

How did you find accommodation around Aizu-Wakamatsu?

Are there any apartments, share houses, guesthouses, or other student-friendly accommodation options near the University of Aizu that you would recommend?

What websites/agencies did you use to find a place?

Since I need an address/accommodation information for my visa application, would it be reasonable to book a hotel or temporary accommodation first and then look for a longer-term apartment after arriving in Japan?

If I book temporary accommodation, would that generally be sufficient for the visa application, or should I try to secure a long-term apartment before applying?

How difficult is it for an international student arriving from overseas to rent an apartment in Aizu without having a Japanese guarantor?

Are there any areas around Aizu-Wakamatsu that you would recommend specifically for a University of Aizu student?

If anyone is currently living in Aizu and has a vacant room/apartment, knows a landlord/agency that rents to international students, or has recommendations, I’d really appreciate it.

I’m trying to get this sorted out as soon as possible because my visa application depends on having the accommodation situation figured out.

Thanks in advance! 🙏

TL;DR: Admitted to University of Aizu for Autumn 2026, didn't get university dormitory, arriving around September 20, and need accommodation information for my student visa. Looking for advice on finding private accommodation in Aizu-Wakamatsu and whether temporary hotel accommodation is a sensible option while searching for a long-term apartment.

anyone here had experience working in Japan on a student visa while also doing design freelance work for clients in Japan or overseas, or selling handmade products/artworks through platforms like Instagram or Creema?

I’d like to ask whether this type of side work requires applying for an Individual Permission for Activities Outside the Scope of Status of Residence (資格外活動許可).

Also, if the freelance work is done remotely and the payment is transferred directly to an overseas bank account, how should this situation be handled?

With the immigration rules becoming increasingly strict, I’m particularly concerned about whether doing this without the proper permission could affect a future Permanent Residency (永住) application.

If anyone has actually applied for permission for this kind of side work, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Was the application difficult? Did immigration ask you to provide things like contracts, a business plan, proof of working hours, or other documents? 🙏🏻

Thank you so much!