Hi,
I’m a guy in my late 20s planning to move to Japan long term, specifically Osaka. In my field, most jobs are based in Tokyo. But since I’m set on living in Osaka, my realistic options are remote, hybrid in Osaka, or a flexible hybrid role in Tokyo.
Language-wise, I’ve self-studied Japanese on and off for ~10 years, around N3–N2 level. I can handle daily conversation and have Japanese friends in Japan that i talk with just fine, but I don’t feel confident in business Japanese yet.
My plan is to job hunt while in Japan, but in case it takes longer than expected, I had two backup plan visas in mind:
Designated Activities Visa (Sightseeing)
Pros:
Much cheaper
More freedom (not tied to a school schedule)
Faster to obtain compared to waiting for next April school intake
Cons:
Less structure/accountability
Harder to socially integrate compared to a school
Would require strong self-discipline
Language School
Pros:
Clear structure and routine
Built-in social opportunities and community
Helps with language improvement and JLPT prep
Cons:
Expensive
Less flexibility
Might not be as “useful” career-wise, although it does help with language/socially
My end goals are:
Moving to Japan long term
Improving my Japanese as much as possible
Meeting new people and making friends
I'm somewhat confident in my self-discipline, but I worry I might get complacent on the Designated Activities visa and not push myself socially. On the other hand, the freedom and lower cost are tempting.
Any advice, clarity, etc would be appreciated, thank you!
by Glittering-Belt9993