Thinking about moving to Japan for a few months, looking for advice and ideas

Hey everyone,

I just got back from spending 3.5 weeks in Japan, and it honestly changed something in me. I felt so inspired and surprisingly at home, especially in Tokyo. Since coming back to the Netherlands, I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to actually live there for a while.

A bit about me: I’m a 30-year-old woman from the Netherlands. Right now, I don’t have a job and I’m figuring out what I want to do next. Before I settle down again, I really want to spend a few months abroad, and Japan feels like the place I’d want to be. My boyfriend and I are planning to move next year, so this feels like the perfect time to do something for myself.

It’s been a tough year personally, and I want to travel solo for a while to rebuild my confidence, step outside my comfort zone, and take a break from everything here. Living in Japan for a few months feels like the perfect way to do that.

I have a background in media and content creation. I’ve worked in film, TV, and creative agencies. My biggest passion is storytelling, photography, and interviewing people, but I’d also love to try something completely different while living in Japan. I’ve seen that many foreigners teach English there, and that actually sounds interesting to me too. For me, it’s more about the experience and what I can learn from it than the job itself. I just really want to live in Japan for a longer period and see what that brings.

My budget isn’t huge, but I can save until March, which is when I’d like to leave. I’m still open to where in Japan I’d go. Tokyo feels like the most natural choice because I loved it there, but I’m open to hearing about other cities or regions as well.

I’d love to hear from people who have done something similar. Has anyone here lived in Japan for a few months, found short-term work, or managed to make it work on a smaller budget? How did you do it, and what should I look out for when planning something like this?

Thanks so much for any advice or personal stories. I’d really appreciate it.

Edit: I know all about the visas, just looking for experiences from other people. Thanks!