If you're like me and have had a long-time infatuation with Japan, you've probably thought about visiting or even moving there someday. Living or studying abroad is a great way to expand your horizons and seek adventure. But before you pack your bags, take time to consider 10 important things that will determine whether a long-term stay is right for you.
1. Prescription Medications
While this may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning an overseas move, it's certainly an important one to start with. There are numerous medications that are banned (even with a prescription) in Japan that are common in the US, including medications for ADHD/ADD such as Adderall, as well as certain inhalers and sinus medications like Sudafed.
Other considerations include whether you will bring your medications with you (in which case you'll need to obtain a yunyu kakunin-sho (importation certificate) from your doctor and have to make visits back to your home country for refills) or get your prescriptions as the Japanese equivalent (note that for birth control, you'll have to go in every month for your refills and it is not free).
2. Dietary Restrictions
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| Certain dietary preferences or products such as keto may be difficult to come by in Japan |
If you have strict dietary restrictions or diet preferences, you may find it difficult to source certain products, especially if you're living outside of a large city. For example, Greek yogurt was not available at my closest supermarket, and if I could find quinoa it was only 1 or 2 ounces. Oatmeal I ordered in bulk through Amazon, which can be a big help, or there are also Costcos in Japan if you purchase a membership.
Finding vegetarian options shouldn't be too much of an obstacle, but gluten-free, paleo, keto, etc. aren't trendy in Japan like it is in the US. However, many Japanese dishes and staples are naturally gluten-free or paleo.
3. Language Barrier
In order to communicate comfortably in Japan, you're going to need at least basic Japanese language skills. Although I had studied vigilantly for around 10 years before I moved in Japan, I was met with constant frustration in daily communication, mostly because what you see in textbooks and how people actually speak are two different things. Also, by the end of my 3-year stay I still needed help from a native speaker to cancel my utilities because customer service agents only use keigo (honorific speech that's almost like a second language) over the phone even after I asked them to speak more simply.
Of course there's no better place to study a language than in its home country itself, but there are definitely challenges with Japanese having three different written "alphabets," different speaking styles due to social hierarchy, and a lack of similarities that the romance languages share (for example, the verb comes at the very end of the sentence in Japanese, which sometimes has me re-reading long sentences backwards).
4. Religion and Sexuality
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| Ōura Cathedral in Nagasaki |
If you're religious, you'll want to consider if having a place of worship is important to you. As a country that identifies as 48% Shinto and 46% Buddhist, temples and shrines abound. There are Christian, Catholic, Mormon, and Jehovah's Witnesses churches, but of course, there will be fewer options, especially if you're in the countryside vs a megahub like Tokyo.
Note that gay marriage is not legal in Japan, nor is LGBTQ as mainstream as other Western countries like the US. Those who identify with these groups have fewer legal protections than in other countries.
5. Culture Shock
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| Dining etiquette is just one of the many cultural rules you need to follow in Japan |
Certain social rules may seem arbitrary or even stifling if you're from a Western country, like not walking and eating (except at a festival), not blowing your nose in public, no tipping, and no plastic (PET) bottles allowed in schools. Then there are simple things like Japanese-style toilets, driving on the opposite side of the road (depending on where you're from), or doing your banking via the post office.
I was frustrated at how small water glasses are in Japan (and some places may even serve and refill tea instead of water). If you go to any popular fast food chains like McDonald's you'll notice the Japanese counterpart sizes are much, much smaller.
Then there's things that just seem strange like graveyards being right next to homes, schools, and supermarkets, everyone carrying their trash home because there aren't any public trash cans, or there being vending machines for everything from alcohol, T-shirts, bugs, and canned bread. Also note that collectivism is prioritized as opposed to individuality, and communication is indirect, which may be different from your home country.
You'll adjust with time of course, but I still felt frustrated by a lot of cultural differences after three years.
6. Adjusting to Smaller Spaces
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| The typical apartment layout in Japan |
If you're from the US (especially Texas), you may be surprised at how much smaller and narrow spaces are in Japan. Studio apartments are prevalent, and the average living space is only 13.5 tatami mats, or about 22.3 square meters. In some places it may be difficult to determine whether a street is an alley or an actual road.
As with most countries, living spaces in the city will be smaller than in the countryside. When I moved from Hitachi to Yokohama I had a lot less space, including the lack of a closet. Other places like restaurants or shops can feel cramped if you're not accustomed to it.
7. Adjusting to Fewer Conveniences
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| Dryers are not common in Japan, so everyone hangs their laundry to dry |
While Japan's technology is advanced in many ways, in a lot of others it's behind other Western countries. This includes conveniences like cars, dryers, garbage disposals, and central AC.
You'll have to be prepared to always have stiff, scratchy towels, socks, and undies and to regularly clean out the gunky sink trap at least once a week. Instead of central AC, Japan has individual AC units designed to cool each room separately, which is an efficient way of controlling energy consumption but may be different than what you're used to.
If you're in the country you may want to consider purchasing a car depending on the length of your intended stay; otherwise, be prepared to get a good bike or find a place to live that's close to a bus stop and/or train station. There will be a lot of walking involved, and for me getting groceries without having a car was always tiring hauling everything back on my bike.
8. Standing Out 24/7
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| The Japanese concept of uchi-soto |
97.5% of the Japanese population is ethnically Japanese. This kind of homogeneity may look a lot different from your home country. Be prepared to instantly become a minority and embrace the challenges that come with it, including discrimination. I vividly recall being crushed that I wasn't invited to a party with the rest of the school teachers after Sports Day. Many times when I sat down on the train people would get up and move, and once an older taxi driver refused to drive me. Sometimes landlords refuse to rent to foreigners.
The Japanese concept of uchi-soto ("inside group" (us) "outside group" (them)) is embedded in their culture and even the language. As a non-Japanese person, you will always be a "them," even if you speak fluent Japanese and were born there. While I wouldn't say Japan is racist, there were many times where I was called "gaijin" (a negative word for foreigner) as an identity marker that I didn't care for.
Chinese and Korean foreigners may experience racism or discrimination due to a long history of tensions between countries. Note that Japan does not have any laws that protect against discrimination due to race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
The number one thing that non-Asian foreigners will experience is being stared at. It's like the world's easiest game of Where's Waldo? This is especially applicable if you're in the countryside vs a big city. People may ask to take photos with you and children may want to touch your hair. This may be their first and/or only interaction with a foreigner, particularly in rural areas without access to such diversity. Remember that since you stand out physically, so will your actions and behavior.
9. Loneliness and Homesickness
Building a community will be essential, which makes learning the language even more important. Many Japanese people will be interested in improving their English for work or personal reasons, which can in return improve your Japanese and provide opportunities to make friends. Note that the Japanese are notorious for working long hours, however, which may limit relationship-building (at least in my experience).
Networking with other fellow expats is another valuable source of community. Eventually, you will want to visit your family and friends back home. Consider how much it costs to make such a trip and whether it will be feasible for your anticipated budget.
10. Ability to Adapt to Change
Moving to another country that's much different than you're used to is a big adjustment, and you'll constantly be forced to adapt to new rules and cultural nuances. Adaptability is key to fitting in and making life in Japan go smoothly. Have you had experiences in the past where you successfully navigated sudden changes that required you to pivot? Perhaps you moved to a new town or state or changed schools. What were the challenges and how did you cope with them in healthy ways? Practice getting out of your comfort zone and doing something new to develop the habits now that you'll need later.
Moving abroad is a big decision in which you should carefully weigh many factors. If you're ready to make the move to Japan, congrats! It will be a one-of-a-kind experience where you'll make many memories. And even if moving abroad is not for you, remember that you can always visit!
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