Hi all, I am a 22F and I am at a little bit of a crossroads. I work remotely in tech in the UK with only a monthly meeting in office or so being my in person work time. My issue is I have been offered either a payrise on my current salary or a relocation to Tokyo for a 2 years contract with the ability to stay if i so desire. I currently make £120k here in the UK and my payrise would be to £140k. Although if I relocate to Japan and work remotely there with monthly meetings in the Tokyo office I will be paid ¥21.5 million. They offered visa help, housing for up to 3 months until I find my own place and fully funded Japanese lessons etc.
The main thing is I know very little about Japan and Tokyo specifically, from what I can tell the salary compared to the average is really high but cost of living is lower…would i be stupid not to take this over the payrise? I should also say I'd expect another big payrise of 20-30% within another 2 years or so whether in Japan or not on my current track record.
by mymetalprincess
32 comments
That would be enough to live like royalty and save significantly. (And still contribute to your UK pension which, if you stayed in Japan, would serve you well).
20M+ puts you in the top 5% of earners in the entire country. You would be able to live *extremely* comfortably on that even if you have expenses back home.
I really should have chosen tech as a career. Feels insane that you can earn that much at 22!
What sort of role is it? Where in the UK do you live currently?
Quality of life on that wage in Tokyo will be unreal, especially with no dependendents. I guess you don’t even have to live in Tokyo but without Japanese or a network it’s probably the best place to be – lots of Expats you can connect with.
After 2 years in Japan, then what? Will they guarantee your position back in the UK?
What company in Tokyo is giving 21 million to a 22 year old? Even very top new grads who go to international companies like Goldman would be in the 10+ millions.
With 21 million, you can live in very high end condos, have a great car, and have good lump of money left to invest. You’d be one of the youngest rich people thats not a youtuber.
I would move in an instant.
you can live like royalty with that salary and probably buy a house in like a year if you chose to stay. Howvwer since you dont know anything about Tokyo/Japan Im gonna say I dont see why you would want to move over as in the UK you already earn a significant amount so I dont see your quality of life changing or improving in anyway shape or form outside maybe living in Tokyo as a city but with no language or any of that it’ll be an isolating experience.
If you said you had some sorta interest that is tied to Japan I’d say do it lol. Idk if your into drifting or something car related but on that salary you could have such a good time building a car and going to events and therefore finding your own community that alone I’d reccomend as you wont get this kinda track access in the UK.
That is the absolute dream. Congratulations! I’d give nearly anything to be in that situation.
Not to be a wet blanket, but it is also worth considering the cultural side of things. The way life works in Japan is very different from the UK. Yes, us Brits love to complain about the UK, but most do not realise how good they have it until they leave. Japan is still very male-oriented in many areas, a lot of everyday tasks have to be done in person rather than online, and the bureaucracy is slow and heavily paper-based. Depending on what kind of social person you are, that can feel quite isolating. People tend to be shy, private, and mostly keep to themselves. On top of that, there are natural factors to think about, like earthquakes, which you have probably never had to deal with if you have lived your whole life in the UK. If you had always been someone who was interested in and somewhat understood Japanese culture and lifestyle, the move would be much easier. Going in almost completely blind is a very different experience. I am not remotely trying to put you off, just considering all possible implications the way an adult would.
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I would be a little wary of “live like a queen” on jpy21.5mm/yr… yes, it is much more than the average salary (for your age) in Japan, but those jpy100k/mo flats may be on the edge of Tokyo (45min+ commute), or if nearer to the center, pretty small, especially compared to Western standards. Younger, single workers usually either live at home or in a subsidized company dorm
If you get homesick for your own food, it’s easily available but at a huge premium, especially compared to the local food. If you like to party it can get expensive.
At least you would be working for a foreign company as an internal transfer. Otherwise promotion paths and pay increases for traditional Japanese companies are regimented, and internal sexism remains rampant.
Always keep in mind your path forward when you choose to leave Japan…
Girllll can I have your job if you don’t want it???😩😩😩
Because damn girllll you are blessed!
Though £120,000 salary at 22 is really good in UK too right ??
My only possible advice is have you ever visited Japan? I have only visited and liked it enough to consider moving there. But some may visit and decide it’s not for them. Are you into travel or trying new cultures? Or very used to the way things are and change is hard? That might be the hardest part in all of this. I’ve had friends study a language for years in school, learn everything about a country, then move there and have mental breakdowns. And friends who didn’t do any of that and LOVED it.
It comes down to personality! 🙂
But if you’ve never visited, I’d recommend going for a week or two at least just to see the vibe and if being home sick happens right away or not.
Good luck! ❤️
P.s. what do you do for work?? Maybe I need to change careers loll I would loveeeee to telework in Japan and only one in office day a month ??😩
Move to Japan. When I lived there I was paid ¥3.8m yen a year. That is an incredible salary for Japan. It’s a fantastic country.
I see no interest in Japan or Japanese culture in your post. Why are you considering this option?
If you like a new challenge, go for it by all means, but let me point out one thing.
Do you have any friends there? You will be floating without much connection because it is remote job. If you don’t understand something about Japanese life/system, it is better to have a friend living there to discuss your questions, or just complain, etc. Are you OK with being cut off from support in a foreign land where you don’t know much about, as you mentioned?
You’re very young and it’s pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity. You’ll be paid very well and you’ll have the opportunity to experience part of the world in comfort that you might never get again.
Even if you ended up hating it, it’s 2 years of high pay, worst case scenario is you save a lot of money and move back home.
And since it’s an American based tech company, the chances of it being a hyper Japanese focused work culture would be lower.
I’d say go for it and enjoy the experience.
if you do make the move will your workers protection continue under uk law or will you be something like a contractor? this happened to my friend and they went from having robust workers rights to literally none. you can probably guess what happened next.
140k pound Vs 21.5 million yen(101k pound) for more or less the same role? Why take the paycut ? Unless there’s a good career growth potential
Go to Japan! It’s incredible. You won’t regret it
You should try Yamato City, Kanagawa. It is pretty close to Tokyo by train and rent is cheap
Your salary is insane in japan, it’s like executive level. You would have a blast
Japan is an amazing country, but I wouldn’t take that massive of a paycut this early in my life if I were in your shoes tbh.
You can do a LOT of tourist visits for 40k GBP, especially if you let it compound in the market for a bit. You’d get every upside of the country, with zero obligations or expectations apart from making that foreign currency rain from the heavens. The yen is cooked and like as not will stay so unless they can materialize a giant breakthrough in robotics or AI to counteract the aging population and the resulting loss of economic productivity
You will be able to get PR rather quickly too, given your salary and occupation!
If you start learning Japanese within your own pace now then you will definitely enjoy the life in Japan 🇯🇵
I work full remote same within IT consulting so I’m planning to move abroad and see how remote I can get
Good luck in your endeavors
I am not in Tokyo (elsewhere) but visit couple times a year. Tokyo is honestly massive, it would be like comparing to London where it is very busy but you wont need to experience this working remotely (unless you have to go into the Tokyo office); its pretty eye opening and for some anxiety driven hopping onto the train (unless you can walk). Don’t mean to be negative but realistically its not for everyone!
When you sacrificed your social life early on, did you feel lonely and alone? You might feel this way in Tokyo but if you can make friends at the Tokyo office and/or English classes it shouldn’t be too bad, all you need is a couple good friends and some hobbies to lighten up your mood! Having a look at your hobbies and what might be around in the area – this might help but there is also a lot to do in your off time and explore.
Now with your salary in yen – if you intend to send it back into Pounds you literally might get Pounded – the yen is weakening which is good for us earning in Dollars/Euros but if you switch from Pounds to Yen, its going to get devalued a little while getting fees eaten away say from Wise.
To me, Japan is a place you holiday and nomad too depending on your personality, working fulltime in the concrete jungles of Tokyo is a different story, luckily you will only commute once a month for meetings! For a 22yo girl with no friends and support close by, it might be a bit too much depending on your personality
My God girl, you are 22 and being offered to be helped relocate in one of the most exciting capitals of the world. Just freaking go! What do you have to lose? Even if you eventually realize it’s not your cup of tea, you can go back after just 2 years with a ton of new experience and you’re still 24!!!
The average professional salary in Japan is about 6 million yen/year. I would take the Japanese salary being offered and move to Japan. Cost of living, even in Tokyo, will not be a problem for you with that salary.
I would go , just for the experience but I bet that experience is not for everyone.
Idk what to add here and everyone saidOa enough. That’s a great chance to get an unbelievable experience in your life in one of the most interesting cities in the world. Accept it and don’t hesitate a second.
Even if you won’t like it for some reason(very unlikely) it’s only 2 years, time flies fast. But I’m sure you won’t regret.
Very happy for you, young lady!
how is a 22 year old making near 22million, that’s absolutely insane. you can live well in tokyo for 6m yen a year, let alone 22m. you take that in a heartbeat. someone else mentioned it too but if you’re only going to be in tokyo once a month for a meeting, you can live somewhere else and just take the train into the city whenever you have the meeting. since you live in norfolk, places like kamakura, zushi or the boso peninsula in chiba will give you the similar beach city vibe. my only gripe is that japan is more prone to earthquakes, so im the type of person who wouldnt want to live near a large body of water.
if you like mountains, places like matsumoto (in nagano) could be good. living in tokyo will be more expensive than those options but if you like socializing, especially since it’s your first time in japan, it could be the best. you’ll meet the most internationals in tokyo. kichijoji (in tokyo) could be a good option.
You would be silly to say no and regret it for the rest of your life. Huge money to live in an incredible, safe, advanced city (and the cuisine – don’t get me started). Just go.
Moving to JP as an “expat” is a dream cause your job and return are secured. And you have all the support you need to make the move.
Heck your 22 … it’s an adventure of a lifetime and possibly eye opening experience.
Count yourself lucky …
I think this decision really depends on your happiness in the UK and your ability to be happy outside of the UK. It is a bit of a lonely place and making friends or finding your social group can be really challenging. My husband and I moved here this year and he found a friend group very quickly through skateboarding but it can be difficult to connect with people. Japan is amazing and you would be able to live lavishly but happiness is also important.
I’d do it and you can always move back after 2 years
The salary would be fit for a king in Japan. You’d be able to do anything you like there on it. I’m a female living in Sendai right now (northern Japan). I can tell you yes there is sexism, but it can happen anywhere in the world. I have not experienced much of it since I am remote working also. I would give it a try. Japan is very comfortable for me. I only visit Tokyo, but I love it too. Nowhere in the world is perfect, but I think you will enjoy.
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