Can you get a work visa without a degree?

Would really appreciate some insight here on staying in Japan for longer than 6 months if you don't have a college degree.

I'm an online entrepreneur and have a successful marketing agency - a stable income is not a problem. I dropped out of a top 20 school a decade ago and would prefer not to go back to school just to spend a year or two living in Japan.

Is my only option to get a tourist visa and stay for 6 months in the country?

So, do you actually want to work in Japan, or just live here while your business continues? It isn't clear.

There are (legal) ways to stay in the country without a work visa - it's not the only option.

If you have 10 years of business experience and could find a company to hire you as a consultant or something it wouldn't be a problem. The rules are a degree or a certain number of years or experience.

The bigger problem would be what kind of visa you'd qualify for to continue your current work unless you wanted to set up a Japanese office and get a business investor visa.

Thank you both for your replies, I really appreciate it! :)

To answer your questions:

I'd prefer to live in Japan while my business continues. I already have one job -- would prefer not to look for another job while in Japan.

I wouldn't be opposed to starting up an office in Japan for my agency but would prefer not to if it can be avoided.

Basically, I just want to spend a year or two in Japan and see if I enjoy living there before I decide if I want to stay further.

Appreciate the insight once again! :)

Ok, so you don't actually want or need a work visa for that (to live here, essentially not employed in Japan). That does, however, pose a different problem. The immigration assumption is that if you are in country you are doing something - you cannot just turn up and live here. You can stay under a temporary permit, but longer than the typical 90 days, it is not allowed.

What you might look at doing is a "representative office" and transfer yourself to that office for a year or two. The process is not too expensive and it does work.

Got it. Thank you!!