MMoving to Japan

Is the Business Manager Visa still realistic for small food businesses?

  • August 30, 2025

Hey everyone,

I’ve been wanting to move to Japan and open a food truck. I already run one where I’m at
for like 5 years now, so I’ve got the experience and about $70k saved up. I’m not trying to get rich, I just want to live comfortably and keep doing something I enjoy, in a place I want to be in yk?

The new Business Manager Visa update is making me second guess everything. Right now I could apply with what I have, but when it’s time to renew I’d apparently need around ¥30m. For a food truck, I honestly don’t know if that’s even possible.

Is it still worth pursuing? Has anyone here gone through this visa or tried running a small food business in Japan? Would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

by According_Ball_9043

4 comments

  1. Its not realistic anymore. You would need to find a way to get PR before doing that.

  2. Do you actually have a business plan? Based on what I’ve read about the new rules for the visa, I’d say you have to be a very very successful food truck operator to make it work.

  3. You have two options-

    1) Apply now and hope you get accepted under the old (current) criteria. You also need to pray that current visa holders are not subject to the new rules upon renewal and somehow get grandfathered in under the old rules.

    2) Wait and see what actually happens with the rules regarding new applications and renewals.

    Honestly, I would wait and see what the rules are once they become official. You might get seriously screwed and lose everything. I will need to renew in 7 months and I will be in a lot of trouble if I need to hire a Japanese person and increase my capital.

  4. barely viable under the current visa structure because you need an office space and an employee to man the food truck. you can’t be an owner-operator in F&B even under the current visa rules.

    restaurant with employees and 30m capital that also happens to run food trucks would be viable under both old and new rules.

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