Hi everyone, I hope this is the correct subreddit, if not my sincere apologies!
I will be moving to Kyoto, Japan because my husband’s company sends him to work there in January for approximately 3 years.
I will not be able to have a job since I will be on a staying-visa only (as far as I am aware of at least) and the laws don’t allow me to keep my job back home in Germany (my employer also won’t be able to deal with the time difference).
I thought about studying again and doing my masters degree online since I don’t speak Japanese.
I have been in Japan once before for three weeks and loved it, but I read that especially the summer with rain season and the high heat can be tricky.
Are there any tips on life in general, dealing with the weather, moving here, fitting in with the locals / the culture and how to connect with other English speaking people?
I will learn Japanese but I experienced that most of the Japanese people don’t speak English very well. I am just a bit afraid that I will be lonely 😔
Any tips and tricks would be highly appreciated, thank you! ❤️
Also sorry if I spelled or explained anything wrong, English is my second language 🙈
by girlietravels
5 comments
You should be on a dependent visa. You can apply for permission to work part time (up to 28 hours per week). You can work a part time job locally, or a part time job online with a company based in any country.
Be open for new yet different experiences. Be also ready to experience something that was against your anticipation. It’s not black and white, it’s gray.
Initial few weeks frequent the City centre. They have free classes on a couple of things like language, origami, cooking. Can be boring but a beginning to meet fellow foreigners.
Even if your Japanese language skills are dismal, just learn few greetings. Your few words in Japanese, will just melt their heart, helps in lowering the friction.
Sort out documents early, especially your driving license. Then you can explore hidden gems on a whim. If not, check for IDP.
Take AU to begin with. NTT’s premium is unjustified and Softbank can be unreliable. AU is middle.
Kyoto and Tokyo have few salient differences. Appreciate it. Tokyo peeps are too haughty for Kyoto.
You are going to a nice place. Enjoy and all the best.
A Japanese born and raised in Kyoto here!
I’d say one of the best things about living in Kyoto is that it has more international populations than in other places in Japan (especially compared to the countryside).
There are places like international bars, pubs, and night clubs. If you prefer something more chill and quiet, I’m pretty sure there’s also communities or groups for language exchange, cultural events, book/movie clubs.
As a Japanese living in Europe, I find it extremely important for people moving abroad to have a good community because living abroad is hard in the first place and could be even harder if you’re lonely. Pretty sure if you open yourself to new experiences you’ll find some good people.
I wish you luck!!!
When you arrive check your ward office/city hall and see if there is an “international lounge” or similar department.
They help foreign residents integrate and you can get low cost Japanese classes, get connected to social activities that helps you get to know the area and other foreign residents and locals (volunteer neighborhood beautification, etc). It’s a good way to get to know your area and other foreign residents.
Typically (at least in Tokyo), when bare apartments are rented out, you will need to hand them back over as bare.
When you furnish your apartment, remember that you will need to dispose of everything or bring them home with you. Disposing or bringing home everything you bought can be cumbersome so be mindful or what you purchase for your temporary home. This was one of our headaches when we ended our residency in Japan
Of course this will not apply if you rent out a furnished apartment.
Comments are closed.