Thinking About Moving to Japan in My 30s – Is It Too Late?

I’m a 29-year-old Spanish man working in the Navy in my country, earning a minimum wage. I’ve been studying Japanese for about two months and I think I’m around a pre-N5 level.

My plan is to keep studying until I reach N2 in a few years (hopefully within three or four), and then gradually aim for N1.

My biggest concern is whether, by the time I achieve that — when I’ll be 33 or 34 — it will be too late to try my luck in Japan.

Although I have a higher vocational degree in Marketing, it’s not really useful in my country, so I would basically be going with nothing but my language skills. I also speak English fluently, so that would be another asset. My idea is to go to Japan for a while on a student visa, since I’m no longer eligible for the Working Holiday one.

I’ve already spent a month in Japan as a visitor, and I really enjoyed the experience — though I know living there is much tougher. Still, I know I’d regret it if I didn’t at least try.

I’ve been reading that there might be job opportunities in convenience stores or nursing homes, but honestly I’m quite lost about the whole process. Even if I could live there for six months or a year, I’d already be happy. Of course, it would be amazing to build a life there and maybe start a family, even if it means leaving my job in Spain.

If I could go back in time to when I was 18, I would have gone into an IT degree and learned the language earlier — but it’s too late for that now, so these are the options I have..

Thank you for taking the time to read this.