Hi!
I hope I find you well. I need some advice…
Long story short;
I (33M) am thinking about moving to Canada since I loved my time in Vancouver (lived there for a year in 2022-2023), going back as a student (doing a Co-op for 2 years) or WHV (1 or 2 years), or both (WHV and then apply for a school to extend the stay and get a PR eventually).
My main plan for now is moving to Japan (Tokyo), for language school in April 2026 (studying now for N5), it would be 2 years, with the possibility of staying after with a Work Visa (living there basically)
I know it all depends on career prospects etc, I have a university degree in Filmmaking and Audiovisual Communication (I know this isn’t gonna go anything in Japan…), however I wouldn’t mind a career change down the road either, I’m open.
I like both, of course I have experience in Vancouver and not Tokyo, however I read all this people saying Canada is in a really “terrible” state right now, everything is extremely expensive etc (well… so is London), also the political situation is apparently not helping either.
I am also well aware that Japan is not Heaven and not everything is great and dreamy.
I’m really struggling to decide, since Japan has been a dream since I was a kid, but I also love Vancouver and would go back in a heartbeat.
Now being objective, which is the “better” place to go to? (with the intention of living there long term)
Both have pros and cons, and I still can’t decide, maybe the people who are currently living in Canada (or specifically Vancity) can maybe give me some advice? Would it be a good idea to move to Vancouver long term? Of course we can’t see the future, and Canada might get better (or worse)
Financially moving to Vancouver would be a bit better I suppose, since with the WHV I could work full time and barely touch my savings VS Tokyo which I would burn through my savings in those 2 years, before I finish school and can find a job after graduation. This is only one of many pros/cons tho.
I’m sorry for the long message, I’m very confused right now.
Thank you!
by Sternenstaub15