Anyone moving to Japan next year?

Hi everyone. I�fm planning to live in Japan from autumn 2021 on a working holiday visa from the UK. I'm currently doing an online TEFL course and teaching myself Japanese (hoping to do Level 5 of the JLPT later this year). I'm keen to stay there for 1 year but may have to settle for less time (my employer allows 6-month sabbaticals for travelling, but my request for a year might be pushing it. I could potentially resign but would rather not as I love my job!).

I wondered if anyone else intends to move there next year and what your plan is, e.g. do you intend to stay in one place or move around, will you be teaching English or doing other work or just travelling, are there any particular places you really want to go, how long will you stay in Japan for? It would also be great to know other people if our time in Japan overlaps. I�fm outgoing enough to make friends but still slightly fearful of being isolated out there.

I'll probably teach English in private schools/ universities and get Japanese language lessons whilst I'm there too. I need to do more research and narrow down options of places to visit/live in. Interested to hear what other people have in mind for their trip!!

Hello! Sounds like it could be a nice trip you have in mind. Did your employer already say that you can go for a year? I know you had skepticism on it, but if you can confirm it, then you're a pretty lucky person!

If you're going to plan to work in Japan as well on your working holiday visa, just make sure you know the rules of how long you can work in Japan of what's allowed or not allowed. Make sure to keep in mind that if you get hired by a company, you need to have a contract with them along with insurance, place to stay, etc.

Living in Japan is definitely interesting, though there are some aspects that are difficult too just to keep in mind. Everything you get for statements, bank, mail, etc. is in Japanese, not in English. I know you wanted to take the N5 level Japanese test and wish you great luck with it. Just keep this in mind that living in Japan is much different than your native country, but wish you all the best.

Everything you get for statements, bank, mail, etc. is in Japanese, not in English

Curiously all this kind of communication in Spain is in Spanish, in Germany is in German and in the Netherlands is in Dutch. You might be up to some interesting discoveries. 😉

Hi

The purpose of a working holiday visa is to holiday, and it allows you to work part time to supplement your travel. If you plan on working at universities teaching English, the majority are looking for full time teachers with a degree and also a valid work visa (not a holiday visa), or they would sponsor you a work visa if you fulfil the requirements. You also cannot do bar, gambling and nightwork.

If you say to immigration you plan on working at schools and universities, they might see this as full time work and be a bit edgy about it. The plan should be to do odd part time work (arubaito) to supplement travel. Eg waiting tables at a restaurant, working at a convenience store etc. Work agencies like Hellowork can help introduce people with little Japanese to jobs that could suit them.
You may be able to get some money private tutoring English, there are sites like hellosensei where you can register as a tutor and meet students in a public place for lessons.

If your plan is to work full time as an English Teacher, then a work visa is better for you (if you have a degree in something)

Try looking at the website of : Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers. They have basic information (in English too, though it is somewhat limited). You might get an idea of what type of work might be available.

Everything you get for statements, bank, mail, etc. is in Japanese
Unless you use a bank that works in English . . . most is in Japanese, not all.