MMoving to Japan

Seeking advice on moving to Japan in 2027 (8 YOE software engineer, no Japanese yet)

  • November 15, 2025

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some honest advice about which path to Japan is the most realistic for my situation. I’m turning 28 this month and planning to move to Japan by 2027 (so I’ll be 30 by then). I feel like time is running out, and I want to make the right decision.

My background:

  • 28 years old (turning this month), single, breadwinner (sending about 40k yen monthly to home), from SEA
  • Expat in another Southeast Asian country for ~3 years
  • 8 years of solid full-stack software engineering experience
  • Bachelor’s degree (4 years)
  • Zero Japanese proficiency
  • Recently got to 2nd round of a Japan company that offered relocation (my first ever Japanese interview).
    • I aced the first round, but the second-round live coding (30 mins real-time) overwhelmed me. I got nervous and messed up.
    • After that, it became harder to get interview invites (I apply through TokyoDev, JapanDev).

Now I’m considering different ways to make the move:

Option 1: Student Route (Language School for 1 Year)

Plan: Go to Japan on a student visa, study Japanese full-time from zero.
I have around 2M yen in savings—would this be enough to fund 1 year (tuition + rent + daily expenses) if I also work part-time?

Pros:

  • Can focus full-time on language learning
  • After 1 year, maybe reach N4? (Is N3 realistic?)
  • Being physically in Japan might make job hunting easier

Cons:

  • Entirely on my own expense
  • Still need to support my family back home
  • Financially stressful

Option 2: JET Program (ALT)

I’m considering applying as an ALT under JET. I know it’s competitive, but feasible.

Plan: Work as ALT for 1–2 years, then look for tech jobs and go back to software engineering.

Pros:

  • Expenses covered by the Japanese government
  • Stable income while in Japan
  • Can learn the language while working

Cons:

  • My dev career will be stagnant for 1–2 years
  • Will tech companies still hire me after that gap? (I plan to compensate by studying AWS certs or building personal projects.)

Option 3: Stay where I am and keep applying remotely

Basically, stay in my current SE Asia expat job, keep applying to Japan tech companies until one bites.

Pros:

  • Comfortable salary
  • No risk financially
  • Career remains active

Cons:

  • Not stepping outside my comfort zone
  • No Japanese skill advantage
  • Hard to stand out against Japan-based applicants

What I want advice on:

  • Which path is realistically the best for someone in my situation?
  • For option 1, is 2M yen enough for 1 year in language school?
  • For option 2, will companies still consider me after 1–2 years of ALT work?
  • Is it worth pushing the student/JET route at age 28–30?
  • Does “age” matter for Japan tech hiring?

Any honest feedback or personal experiences are appreciated. I just want to make sure I’m choosing the path that gives me the highest chance of getting to Japan by 2027.

Thanks in advance!

by Purple_Month2291