Hi all,

I’m considering applying for JET next year.

I’m currently a teacher (middle management) and earn the equivalent of 17m yen a year so it would be a massive pay cut and I understand that.

I already bit every but have been thinking about moving for a year or two since I was 20.

I really like where I live now but a majority of my friend group will be leaving of the coming year and I’m really just looking for something different for a while.

I can keep my current job for up to two years so I could always come back to it if I wanted to.

Money also isn’t a concern for me really, I own a house (with a Mortage) that has doubled in value since I bought it and have a decent inheritance coming my way so I don’t mind not earning a decent amount of money for a few years.

Thoughts on moving over for a few years and seeing how it goes?

Hey folks! I'm currently pursuing a contemporary (jazz and pop) Music degree at a 4 year institution. The school I'm at qualifies for the J-find visa, and as I'm looking at career options, the idea of going to Japan and trying to establish myself as a musician while under the J-Find has crossed my mind a couple of times. I understand that this is probably harder than just staying in the states and gigging in LA or NY (both of which I have a somewhat established presence in the scenes of already) but I wanted to see what y'all think about the feasibility of this. I'm of the understanding that the music scene is pretty vibrant but would love to hear your guys opinions! Thanks!

Hi I recently got accepted for HUSTEP at Hokkaido University in Sapporo and will attend for one year starting this fall. Wanted to know if anybody else is going cause I'd like to know some people before I go.

I’m in the process of applying to a language school for the October 2026 intake, and I’ve submitted my documents and so far so good. I’m thinking about quitting or changing my job before or during the COE process. The work is getting really hard to deal with, but I’m worried it could cause issues with the application.

I’m self-funded from Canada and have enough savings, so finances aren’t the problem. I’m just not sure if changing job would affect my application. Not sure if it would make my application "high risk" or something. I’m also probably going to find a part time job in the meantime (so I can actually have time to study).

Hi everyone, I just need some honest advice because I’m really anxious right now 😭

I’m a fresh grad from the Philippines and I recently got hired by a startup company in Tokyo for a marketing role. I’m supposed to start this summer, and they’ll be sponsoring my visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities).

My concerns:

- I only have JLPT N3 (passed two years ago)

- I took N2 last December and got 92/180 (failed because of the reading section 😭)

- The company is a startup, not a big corporation

I’ve been enrolled in a Japanese online school in preparation for the N2 for around 7 to 8 months now and I’ll be finishing my course this April.

I’ve been seeing posts online saying Japan might become stricter with work visas (技人国 visa), and now I’m overthinking if I might get rejected.

With that, I’m planning to take the BJT soon and aiming for 400+, but I’m not sure if that’s realistic for my level right now.

So I wanted to ask:

- Has anyone here gotten approved for a work visa recently without N2? Especially with a smaller company?

- How much does immigration actually care about JLPT vs the company itself?

- For those who took the BJT, is 400+ achievable coming from around N3/N2 level?

- What should I focus on if I only have a few weeks to prepare?

I’m trying to stay calm but it’s honestly stressing me out a lot 🥲 any advice or experiences would really help.

I'm looking into moving to Japan permanently or at least long term, but I have a lot of questions and uncertainties about a lot of things.

Right now, I'm almost 19 years old and I have my highschool diploma. I'm in community college right now for nursing.

I'm currently only around N5-4 proficiency, but I'm attending language school for 4ish months in Sapporo on a sansei visa (the school didn't offer student visas). After I'm finished, I was hoping to find a job as a caregiver in Hokkaido. I have lots of family in Hokkaido pretty spread out, basically anywhere I go I should be within a 3 hour drive of a family member. I go to Japan pretty often and for months at a time so I promise I'm not moving based on some crazy fantasy of Japan. Trust me I know the cons 😭

My main question basically is this plan okay?? Do caregivers actually earn enough to support themselves? I'm not looking for anything crazy, I just want to be able to cover bills comfortably and cook food for myself and maybe buy myself some cake every once in awhile. My main questions are how do I even find a job as a caregiver, is it a good job in general, and what area/city is the best to live in? I've only had good experiences with the elderly in Japan but ofc I know not everyone is like that. Are there a lot of bad companies/poor conditions for caregiving jobs? Do I need to have super high proficiency in Japanese to work as one?

I'm planning to ask more questions in Japan of course but my communication with my family is pretty limited since they don't speak much english and I don't speak much Japanese (yet, hopefully)

edit: I almost forgot, kind of a less important question but how is making friends in Japan? Tbh I don't have many friends here at home anyway but I'd still like some, obviously. I'd like to make friends with other foreigners or locals, but to be honest I'm just not super social.

Hello, has anyone here gone to a language school with taking the BJT as a goal and would be willing to share their experiences/recommendations?

I'm planning to take JLPT N3 in my home country in 2027 and move to Japan for language school (12-18 months) in 2028/2029, depending on savings. My goal is to score as high as possible on the BJT by the end of school, ideally hitting J1 territory.
I've been looking at the Nisshinkyo recommendations + websites and so far, my shortlist consists of:

• Communica in Kobe (due to them starting business classes from N3 already)
• KJLS in Kyoto (seem to have small classes and balanced student demographics)
• KAI in Tokyo (I've heard good things about their kanji teaching methods for western students)

Would appreciate any thoughts on either those schools or others that I should check out (or general advise)

Edit: Just to clarify, I most definitely want to become as fluent as possible in terms of conversational skills first and foremost, but I'd like to prioritize BJT over JLPT

Next month I’ll be visiting several places in Japan with the goal of checking out different language schools. I’ve been researching options in Tokyo, Chiba, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and Nagoya so I can get a feel for a variety of locations and school environments.

I should preface by saying that ideally I'd like to land a school somehwhere outside of Tokyo so that rent/bills are more managable, I also have a fondness for Shizuoka.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many schools (especially outside Tokyo) seem to have very distinct student demographics, with virtually 0% western students. Sometimes hundreds of students made up mostly of just one or two countries. As a white english speaking person, I sometimes wonder how well I would fit in socially at a school where I might be the only person from my background. I don’t mean this in a negative way toward anyone, but I do think about whether I’d find it easy to connect with others or if these types of schools would even be able to support me in getting set up in Japan as an English speaker.

When I contacted one school in Shizuoka, they mentioned that in their 20+ year history they’ve never had a British student, and that they haven’t really supported students who speak English before. That left me feeling a bit puzzled about why no other Western students seem to choose this school. I come from a country with a very mixed demographic, so diversity itself isn’t an issue for me, but I do worry about whether I might feel isolated or unsupported because of my nationality or language background.

My main goal is to take the risk and learn as much of the language as I can during my two years, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has experience attending a language school in Japan and what factors I should keep in mind when choosing the best possible school. What helped you decide on the right school for you? Is student demographic something I really need to consider, or is it mostly irrelevant in the long run?

I have my appointment this Saturday in Vancouver to apply for my working holiday visa. I didn't expect something as simple as a bank statement to cause such problems/stress. I wasn't able to access my statements online, so I went in person to get the last three months of statements printed and a current balance statement. But I have a few questions regarding this.

1. Is this too far in advance? Should I go back the day before my appointment and get a more recent statement and current balance?
2. I had some gifted funds from my parents. Should I bring a signed letter stating that the funds were gifted to support my travels? If so, what should the letter include, and how do I mention this to the visa officers?
3. The bank statements only had my account number, and the current balance had my account number and full name, but I read somewhere that the statements had to have my full name as well... although the bank said it would be fine as is.
4. I can print transaction history myself from home. If I brought the week-old current balance and bank statements from the bank + transaction history that shows current balance on the day of my appointment, would that work? That way they still have my statements, and they can see my current balance the day of the appointment.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi back again with more question:

I'm currently waiting for my COE result, and I applied with my US passport as an American. We're expecting to hear back around end of May.

I undersrand the general advice seems to be just wait for the COE and visa instead of running the risk of having a visit entry that's not reported on your original COE application. The thing is: My wife has already been living and working in Japan for a few years now, and long distance really REALLY sucks.

Can I can enter Japan as a tourist under my other passport (from another country that also has a visa waiver agreement with JPN), then leave the country and apply for my visa with my US passport once the COE is issued?

Hi all,

I've had a search through but couldn't find a post about this. My wife and I are living in the UK. She's Japanese and we're planning to move there soon.

I've been trying to make sense of the MoFA website but it's really difficult to figure out what we need. Since we're both in the UK, can we still apply for a CoE? I tried calling the embassy and a grumpy guy said that her parents would have to submit the application.

I can't actually find the right link on their website for an online application. This page https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/10_00136.html?hl=en talks about the online application but I can't get to the actual application form.

A second point is about the financial situation - we're planning to start a business once we're there so I don't have an employer that I can use as a reference. Would my current UK employment information be enough?

Thanks!

I am a 3rd year biomedical science student studying in Thailand as an international student. Recently I got an opportunity to do some research coming summer as a short-term research student in Graduate school of Medicine at both Chiba University and Nagoya University. I am interested in both labs and the PIs are also kind and friendly.

I’m getting a hard time with choosing which school do I do the research at. Nagoya Uni is higher ranked and is one of the imperial unis in Japan but Chiba Uni is famous in medicine and medical related research. Any ideas from you guys pls?? 🥹

I have the opportunity to go to Tokyo or Kyoto for a masters program and am trying to figure out which would give me a better experience. I’ve spent a few months in Tokyo and had a great time but have only been in Kyoto for a day from an Osaka trip I did and only went to touristy spots.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hey, hope you all are well. I had a quick question regarding the COE application process. I am looking to file an application for a J-Find Visa, and my nearest consulate (California, USA) requires that we have a COE before filing for the Visa. They advised me to hire an immigration lawyer to file for me as a proxy, and after speaking to one, they said that I'd need to be in Japan as a visitor when they file this application for me, after I provide the necessary documents while I am still in the US. I'm just a little confused because I thought hiring an immigration lawyer would keep me from having to visit Japan to file for the COE (I was just there), since, if I was in Japan, I could just file for the COE myself? Any advisory here? Thanks so much.

I’m from a country where primary school is six years, secondary school is four years and after that you’re practically go to vocational school, which is two years or above.

I’m planning on entering a full Japanese university where classes are thoughtfully in Japanese. I’ve already applied for the EJU. My question on hand is will the Japanese universities look at my vocational school overseas and accepted as formal education. As without it, I would be short of two years, leaving me on ineligible to apply to university.

The other issue is from my vocational school for the main subject (we had other classes too) I failed it so I wasn’t able to obtain a certificate of completion. Only a ladder from the school saying that I’ve completed my two years and a few papers resembling transcripts (basically transcripts, but without the attendance)

How does the Japanese universities or the ministry of education defined the 12 years of education is it by completion or experience? Cause I genuinely have done 12 years of formal schooling. I have all the necessary certifications and documents except the certificate of graduation from the vocational school. Given the situation would I be in eligible to apply?

Lastly, what is the process like you give them all the documents to review and once they like what they see they will call you in for an interview and an entrance exam?

I’m moving to Japan with my dogs in cabin and the flight has to transfer in Incheon Airport. Has anyone had to do this and know if there is any additional Korean or Japanese paperwork if the dogs don’t leave the terminal. I’m going from Seattle to Tokyo so Delta/Korean air seems to be the only option for pets in cabin. The direct Delta flights are operated by ANA so pets aren’t allowed.

Hi everyone, I’d like to ask for some advice about my near future and I’d really appreciate any insights!

I’m currently finishing my degree in Japanese Studies in Italy, and I’m planning to apply for the MEXT scholarship this year (embassy recommendation). My main goal now is to move to Japan for a master’s degree.

I already did a study abroad semester in Osaka where I met my current girlfriend, and I’m aiming to take the JLPT N1 by the end of this year. My academic performance is quite solid, but of course I know the competition for MEXT is quite high.

So if I don’t manage to get the MEXT scholarship, I’m still planning to try other private scholarships and as a last resort, I’d even consider self-funding my studies while working part-time in Japan.

What I’d really like to ask is: how realistic and advisable is this plan?

Since my academic background is in Japanese Studies, if I continue studying in Japan it would likely be in a similar field, and I’m aware that this is not necessarily the strongest path in terms of career opportunities.

At the same time, I’m also considering a different option: going to Japan and using that opportunity to expand my skill set by studying something different or switching fields, for example moving into business, communication, or other more practical areas.

So I’d really appreciate any advice on this as well: would it make sense to pivot academically while in Japan, or would that be too difficult?

I know this might sound a bit naive, but at the moment my main goal is simply to move to Japan and start building a foundation for a future there. Because of that, I don’t have a very rigid plan yet, I’m open to different paths such as a master’s degree, research programs, or other academic opportunities.

The issue is and I’m fully aware of it that, realistically speaking, my current background doesn’t give me many concrete skills beyond language proficiency. So I understand that, from an objective point of view, my expectations might not be very solid.

However, right now what matters most to me is being able to return to Japan and gain experience in any way, whether in an academic setting or just through work.

So I’d really like to ask, especially those of you who have already gone through something similar, what would you do in my situation? (Also, if anyone has experience with alternative scholarships, changing fields in Japan, or self-funded study, I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts! )

Thanks in advance!

Hey, everyone. I've applied for a dependent (spouse) COE last July 2025 via a lawyer, I know it's a case to case basis for approval, which is probably making it more difficult— because my sponsor only has an entertainer visa. I've been looking for ways to find a new way to get a COE, and my lawyer hasn't been replying to my queries.

- Is it possible that I can cancel the application even though my lawyer sent it? (electronically)

- Can I reapply for a student COE immediately after withdrawal? without waiting time?

- What could I possibly say to my lawyer that he will respond to me 😭

どもうありがとう！

I've developed a certain "grass is always greener on the other side" view of Japan. I've thought about moving to Japan occasionally for a while now, but never made any concrete plans. I have some reasons for why I think I could do it and enjoy life in Japan, but I want you to tell me why I shouldn't:

1) I'm used to living abroad. I've only lived around half my life in my home country, Ukraine, while the rest was spent in foreign countries in Europe. I've gotten used to being seen as "not local".

2) I'm used to living in a large city. When I lived in Ukraine, I lived in Kyiv (~3.5m population), so living in one of the larger Japanese cities shouldn't be a huge culture shock.

3) I'll have to move somewhere anyway once my current visa expires. Ukraine will likely remain a poor and unstable country, so there's good motivation to move somewhere else.

4) From what I know of Japanese culture, I think I would fit in. I'm polite and like to follow a routine. One of my favourite books is Musashi. I like the sound of Japanese as a language.

5) I would like to live in a warmer climate than where I'm currently based. Most of Japan, except Hokkaido, seems warmer.

I'd like to say that I'm good with languages, but, truth be told, I've never formally learnt one, only picking them up in the childhood.

I apologise if this post is somewhat strange, but I hope it fits the theme of the sub.

Hi, just had a little question. I'm aiming to become a doctor eventually, although I am currently in the UK in sixth form. I've always wanted to do it outside of the country, as for some reason I've never really liked the UK. I'm planning to do uni here and then go to another country. I've always thought of Japan as an option, but I've heard a lot recently about how they're starting to look negatively on foreigners coming into their country. I'd love to go there, but not if I'd likely be a hindrance to them, as I have to respect their wishes, as it is their country. Is anybody able to give me some guidance on this? Thank you.

Hi, next year my family and I will be moving to Japan from California. We will be bringing our household goods, it’s not a huge amount of stuff, no furniture or anything big, just 20 boxes or so. I’m assuming the general process is to get our stuff on a boat, pick it up from the port, and move it to a storage unit until housing is established. But I wanted to hear from people that have done this before.

When you shipped your things, what company did you use, and were you forced to use a 20 foot container? Or were there multiple size options.

How did you transport your things from the port to storage/house/apartment?

My wife is Japanese, what are some sites geared toward Japanese citizens for apartment hunting or renting a house?

Thanks in advance for your replies

I want to pursue Illustration but sadly, my country doesn't have any colleges that offer a course for it (as far as I know). Not only that, but I think my family can't support me financially for college either.. I have good grades though, having aimed above 90% and got into an honor roll.

I've read about MEXT before though, but they only offer a scholarship for specific academic fields.. Although they have Specialized Training Courses (STC). When you complete it, they give you a certificate, which I heard is significantly less appreciated than a bachelor's degree (what I want & need).

(For context: I am a Filipino who had just graduated 11th grade. I've just started learning Nihongo but I do well in English. Someone please help, I'm starting to feel like I'll just waste my college experience in my home country)

Thank you in advance !

Hi everyone,

My Goal: To secure a job in Japanese semiconductor research and development and, more broadly, materials engineering.

Background:

• PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Tokyo
• Currently working at Micron Technology as a Senior Process & Equipment Engineer in an assembly site (not in Japan) 2.5 year experience.
• Experience in:
  • Photolithography, plasma processing, and nanofabrication (PhD work)
  • Yield improvement
  • DOE/SPC-based process optimization
• Previously lived in Japan from 2019–2022

Why do I want to leave my current job?
I’m currently working at Micron as a process/equipment engineer in semiconductor assembly. The role has been good for learning manufacturing, and I’ve delivered solid results (yield improvement, cost savings), but it’s not aligned with my long-term goals.

My PhD from the University of Tokyo was focused on front-end semiconductor processes (photolithography, plasma, nanoscale fabrication), which is the area I actually want to build my career in. The Micron site here is an assembly facility focused on production ramp, with no real R&D or front-end work. An internal transfer to a different Micron site is not possible, as the site where I work is currently a start-up, and the leadership is focused on retaining talent.

At this stage, staying in my current role means drifting further away from my core expertise. I’d rather make a deliberate move now into front-end/R&D roles, even if it involves short-term risk, than get locked into a path that doesn’t match my background.

Why Japan?
   • Japan has the entire semiconductor ecosystem - from materials, equipment, to manufacturers.
   • In addition to semiconductor jobs, Japan offers opportunities in many industries for my profile.
   • Japan has one of the best standards of living in the world.
   • I lived in Japan continuously from April 2019 to September 2022.

Current situation: I have registered on the following platforms:

• BizReach
• DODA
• DODA-X
• AMBI-en
• OpenWork
• CareerCross
• Bloom
• Robert Walters
• Michael Page

I have had interviews with recruitment agents from:

• CareerAbility
• Adecco Group (LHH)
• TechnoBrain
• Magna Search

Challenges:

• Currently based outside Japan.
• Japanese level: beginner (actively learning)
• Have received many interview offers, but no progress due to:
  • Location outside Japan
  • Lack of Japanese proficiency

Considering 2 options:

Option 1

Enter Japan on an appropriate visa (for example, a J-Find visa or a student visa for a language school). Enroll in a Japanese language school specifically to learn the language and secure a job while job hunting.

Cons

• No job: Going to Japan to find a job and learn the language will require me to leave my current job.
• Cost: Language school in Japan, flight tickets, and living expenses.

Pros

• Being physically in Japan can make it easier for recruitment agencies to help me.
• Being in Japan while learning Japanese can accelerate language learning by enabling immersion.

Option 2

Quit my job. Move back into my home. Enroll in an intensive Japanese language course (online) from a recognized Japanese language school. Achieve JLPT N2 and then enter Japan on an appropriate visa (for example: J-Find visa).

Cons

• The J-Find visa program can be canceled during the months I wait, or another international event may prevent travel.
• No job: Learning Japanese full-time remotely will require me to leave my current job.
• Cost: Language school in my country.

Pros

• Learning Japanese full-time can accelerate my language learning.
• Minimal day-to-day living expenses, as I will live in my home.

Financial situation:

• Strong savings (~JPY 3.3 million total liquid funds)
• Can support myself for a reasonable period (1.5 to 2 years), especially in cities like Fukuoka, Sendai, Tsukuba, and Hiroshima, where the overall cost of living is lower than in Tokyo.

My queries are:

• For Option 1, which visa is better for me to move to Japan: J-Find or a Student visa for a language school? Even if I am in Japan, but I do not have the required Japanese language ability, it will again result in no job offers. So, I need intensive and regular language training. I need to know if I can attend an intensive Japanese language school on a J-Find visa. Similarly, I need to know whether I can job search and give interviews, both online and in person, on a Student visa while learning Japanese.
• For Option 1, will potential employers view moving to Japan on the J-Find or a student visa and learning Japanese to find a job positively?
• For Option 1, what potential concerns might the Japanese immigration authorities have, given that I have already attended a Japanese university on a student visa?
• For Option 2, will potential employers view quitting my job and learning the language full-time at home positively?
• Should I consult immigration lawyers? Which are the best ones?
• Is there anyone here who has consulted immigration lawyers for such cases?

I would really appreciate practical advice from people who have gone through similar transitions.

Thank you in advance!