Considering full Japanese university degree (not exchange) – looking for experiences from foreigners who did it young

Hi, I’m a Swedish citizen (18M) (with diabetes) planning to move to Japan in a few years, preferably before I’m 21, possibly together with one close friend.

Later this year me and my friends are going to Japan for around three weeks. It’s partly a vacation, but also to see how it actually feels to live there day to day.

I’m not interested in a short exchange or English-only programs. What I’m considering is enrolling in a Japanese-taught university, joining clubs and sports, working part-time as a student, and possibly staying to work in Japan after graduation if I end up liking it there.

Sports and social life matter a lot to me. I’ve played basketball and volleyball in teams before and I’m also interested in badminton. A big part of why I want to study in Japan is to meet new people, be social, and really experience campus life through clubs, sports teams, and circles rather than just classes.

I’m not fully sure about my career path yet. I do know that I want to go to university, and I’m currently interested in art and maybe game development, but I haven’t fully decided. City-wise, Fukuoka really appeals to me because it seems more affordable than Tokyo, has good transport, nearby nature, and still feels like a real city with a student population.

I know this path is harder than doing an exchange, and that’s intentional. I want actual student life, school clubs and sports, and real integration, not just a short experience in an English bubble.

I’d really like to hear from people who did a full degree in Japan, especially if you moved there young, or from people who seriously tried it and decided it wasn’t for them.

I’m especially curious about how club and sports integration works for foreign students, what part-time work is realistically like while studying, how finding employment after graduation felt as a foreigner, and whether you’d do it again or choose exchange instead. (I would also like to know what the health care is like)

I’m not looking for “Japan is perfect” or “Japan is awful” takes, just honest personal experiences.