Which visa is best?

I am married to a Japanese national and I have been living in Japan for 9.5 years. We have 2 kids born here in Japan. I currently have a professor visa. We intend to move overseas permanently next year.

Before we leave, I was thinking about changing my visa to either a spouse visa or a permanent resident visa but I am not sure which (if either) I should change to? Will the permanent resident one lapse if I don't live here for some amount of time over a 7 year period? How about the spouse one? Or should I not worry about either and just get holiday visas when we return on trips to visit Japan?

Any advice appreciated. I just figure that whatever I choose to do, it will be easier to do it now before we leave Japan (i.e. in-country as opposed to applying from overseas).

Thanks!

You dont need a visa for Japan if you are living in another country.

I think, spouse of Japanese national visa best.

No matter your status, you can never stay outside Japan for over 5 years consecutively, since that's the maximum validity period of re-entry permits.

It depends when in next year you want to move? Permanent residence can take up to one year to be approved. Spouse visa maybe faster

You can keep renewing re-entry permit whenever you visit Japan