Hi all, I 20M from the UK looking to move to Japan for my long-term long distance girlfriend 20F. We've been visiting one another for a few years now and with my degree (Cyber Security) finishing up next year we're beginning to do our research into living with one another. She's not Japanese, she's Filipina and has been living in Japan for a little over 6 years now and has almost completed her study as a pastry chef at a Japanese pastry school. We're expecting some difficulty in finding an apartment however we're hopeful!
With the introductions/situations out of the way the reason I'm here is to seek advice and methods in which it'll be possible for me to go to live in Japan hopefully for a few years. I've done some research already and my findings are as follows…
Japanese Language school – I know your all probably tired of hearing the name gogonihon in this sub I've browsed a few posts about it and it seems legit as well as affordable (with alot of saving up). There are other sites however gogonihon seems to be the main one (please correct me if I'm wrong) and it also seems like the best step forward as I only speak a small amount of Japanese as of current. If I did enjoy living in Japan and wanted to peruse a career there then of course I'd need to know the language! The visa also provides a 28 hour weekly work limit (again please correct me if I'm wrong) which would be enough for things like rent given we'd have both our incomes. My girlfriend worked at McDonalds through school and she worked with a lot of other foreigners some of which spoke little to no Japanese so hopefully that'd be the work aspect covered.
Working in Cyber Sec in Japan – The great thing about Cyber Security is you can work remotely! The other great thing is it's a growing industry that needs people. With that in mind family members have recommended I just work for a Japanese company. I'll have a degree, a desirable one too. However I lack the language. I could work remotely however I'm unsure if there's a visa that supports that and I'd also have to find the remote work before heading out there to ensure an income. This to me seems like the riskier and less desirable and the not so future proof option.
SIDENOTE – I doubt the apartments that they offer for the language school students would be big enough for two and I also doubt they'd be open to having two people stay if it's intended for one. Thankfully she's able to get to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya quite easily with the bullet train so I'll have someone to view the apartments and pay the fees.
We're thinking we'd like to live in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama or Nagoya based on what gogonihon has to offer. Maybe Kobe but Tokyo is really cool and if we're in Osaka we're nearby to abit of everything just rent is crazy expensive. Where do you guys recommend?
I'm here hoping that those who have been there and done that can provide some guidance for us!
Many thanks in advance 🙂
by _WMW_