MMoving to Japan

Just seeking some life advice from people who have permanently moved to Japan :)

  • June 26, 2025

Hi everyone, I (31F) will officially be moving to Japan this September and joining a Japanese language program for 1-2 years, in hopes of attaining fluency.

My end goal would be to find a job and move to Japan permanently. Some facts about me:

  • Current level: N4 (with certification)
  • Current savings: JPY 3850万 or USD 270k, no debt/loans
  • Work background: Marketing/Brand in consumer goods
  • Education: Bachelor's (Management degree, minor in Japanese studies at top local uni in home country)
  • Single, no kids, with dogs 🐶

Those who have successfully moved to Japan:

  1. What would you do if you were in my position? Any advice on how to best achieve my goals?
  2. (Optional) Will an MBA from a top-tier Japanese school help in getting into the workplace?

Thank you very much and I hope you have a good day. 🙂

by jigglypuffy09

16 comments

  1. Language school doesn’t guarentee you a job or visa after graduation. A lot of people seem to not understand this and after two years end up having to leave Japan. Plan accordingly.

    MBAs are pretty worthless in Japan.

  2. This doesn’t really answer your main questions but it will be difficult to bring your dogs with you. Look into what needs to be done there and also difficulties in finding housing as a foreigner with dogs.

    Otherwise, I recommend getting permission to work part time while you’re a student in order to get some real-life experience outside of the classroom (regardless of whether you need the cash), pursue your hobbies (especially ones that involve interacting in person with other people), communicate your long-term plans to anyone who cares to listen, and adapt your future plans accordingly. Maybe you’ll live in Japan for a year or two and decide it’s not for you. Who knows! Best of luck.

  3. Learn business Japanese as soon as possible. Fluency in two years is ambitious but a solid foundation will benefit you after you graduate and then I’ll say another 3+ years you can attain fluency.

  4. How many years of relevant working experience do you have?
    If you have many (5/6+), I would just focus on language and try to get to N1.
    In your field, especially if you want to keep doing marketing, Japanese communication is very important.

    If that’s the case I think you’ll be able to find good opportunities while at school. Start networking already now.

    As others have said, an MBA is worthless at this point!

  6. I don’t have any advice, but having $270k in savings by 31 means you are ahead of a lot of people. That’s quite impressive actually.

  7. I also in same boat like
    M 31
    Currently try to get into language school in October 2025 intake

    best option I am trying to find a freelancing job(SAP consultant) to support myself if I get lucky.

  8. You should invest in some capital preservation dividend payers, so you have “income” while you don’t eat away your savings. SGOV is a 0-3 months treasurer bonds that will pay monthly and will hardly ever drop below $100 a share. The current yield is 4.3% which would grant you $1,118 per month which is a very good payment to have as a student.

  10. Hi OP looks like you also have experience running your own business. Wouldn’t it be easier or more of a safer path to do the entrepreneur visa route instead of work visa?

  11. If I was you, I would go on Japanese Indeed and look at the job qualifications for positions that I might be interested in. That can help clarify what skills, experience, etc, might be necessary to be a successful applicant. 

    I’d probably also start thinking of ways that I could pivot my career. Marketing would be very difficult to break into as someone with just basic business Japanese (N2), a level that may be a stretch to achieve given your timeline. 

    I would not consider an MBA in Japan. I would explore finding a job at a Japanese company in my home country and working there for a bit and seeing if a transfer was possible. 

  14. Hey shameless ad, but check out my site in case you wanna browse listings – nipponhomes.com . Spent $300 of my own money and ton of time to put it up. 100% are free to use for now

  15. I refer you to a little blurb I wrote at LinkedIn (you need to scroll down to see my comment related to long term movements of the Yen vs USD):

    [https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-augustine-951525277/recent-activity/all/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-augustine-951525277/recent-activity/all/)

    I don’t think Japan’s future is very bright. If you are able to do as well as you have where you are, stay there and keep doing what you are doing. Such wonderful forward progress is no longer possible here in Japan. I know because I’ve lived here since 1978 and it is not what it once was.

  16. Honestly, I would keep doing what you’re doing in your home country and maybe retire early in Japan. Salary is low and stagnant here, so you could lose out in your prime earning years. Plus, long term, I don’t see the yen appreciating so you’ll also most likely have more buying power later.

    Normal life is pretty cool here but work culture absolutely sucks.

    Regarding an MBA, I haven’t really seen it make a big difference in most cases here, regardless of language.

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