MMoving to Japan

Preparing to start the multi-year process, need a bit of advice

  • January 6, 2026

I'll try to make this post as cohesive as possible but I am a bit scatterbrained and evidently ignorant when it comes to moving to another country, sorry

I am almost 23 years old, born & raised in the USA, and would like to move to Japan sometime within the next decade. I have been wanting to do so for almost 11 years. I am just beginning to put this plan into action, applying to college and such… as I have not attended college yet (only high school). I have a passport, but that's about it, no Visa obviously.

My current plan was this

  1. Go to college, get a bachelors degree (and masters if I find something I like) (still undecided what to go to college for, i am not picky)
  2. Study for N2, pass it eventually
  3. Apply to Japanese JET program, get in and move to Japan and live in whatever accommodation they give me. Obviously show interest in Japan, their culture, and my plan to benefit Japan if I were to be accepted, I know how competitive the JET program is.
  4. Spend awhile doing JET assistant teaching, save up money where possible, see if any of my Japanese friends are able to help secure me a job in quite literally any other field, if not, apply to office work such as accounting or blue collar work.
  5. Try and apply for rental housing/apartments, from there ease into more traditional Japanese life like most other people
  6. Profit???

Is there anything wrong/stupid with this plan? obviously it is very grossly oversimplified, but it's the general plan I had laid out. Is there any (relatively easy) degree I should prioritize? Should I wait to study Japanese until after college, or try to balance it out? Would would be expected of me when I am in Japan via JET, outside of the work itself?

I am not too concerned with finding a job in my field long-term, whatever it may be, once I am in Japan. My dream goal is to either work on a field/farm, be a NEXCO officer, delivery driver, or any other miscellaneous job – I know you can't get a work visa for those types of jobs, or else I would skip JET entirely and go with this. I am fully prepared to spend quite awhile working my way up to something like this. I don't care about working conditions at all. I've worked 13-14 hour shifts 6 days a week in America, so I don't mind anymore.

I am not at all concerned where I live in Japan, I know you can't pick and choose if you're in the JET program, so long as I am in the country itself I am happy.

I have nothing to lose, nothing I would miss by moving. I am single and currently unemployed due to the current job market over here. my car is my one joy I have and a family member has already said they would be more than willing to cover the cost of shipping+getting it registered in Japan.

Bottom line, I am not scared to take my time with this, I am young and have nothing but time. I am someone who would prefer to do something the easy way and have it take longer, than be balding at 30 from the stress of wanting to be the first across the finish line. I hope this doesn't come across as lazy, but I am someone who takes their time with life.

Thank you in advance!!

by violetgardenss