Living and working abroad can be an extremely rewarding experience as you can get to learn about a new culture and can study a new language. It will also broaden your horizons, allowing you to take a different perspective on life, which will help you to develop as a person. Many people move abroad due to marital or work-related reasons, whereas others will be seeking a new challenge from their lives back home. Japan is a dream destination for many people due to its rich heritage and outstanding beauty, not to mention its food and unique language. So if you are planning to work there, this article will inform you about all that you need to prepare. Read on to find out more.
A Visa
You cannot just turn up in Japan on an airplane and expect to be able to work, as you must have an appropriate visa. In the vast majority of cases, you will need to be sponsored by your employer, and visas will only be awarded to people with certain qualifications such as a journalist, an investor, an engineer, or an instructor. Visas will normally be given for 1-3 years, although these can be extended for longer periods as required. It is also possible to get a student visa, which allows you to study for the duration of your course, and you also may be entitled to work part-time. So, long before you intend to move to Japan, ensure that you have the correct documents in place to apply for the most applicable visa, and then all being well, you will have no problems on arrival.
Learn Some Japanese
The Japanese language is very different from English and is not even written in the same script, so it can be extremely confusing and difficult for foreigners when they first arrive. Expert linguists from https://livefluent.com/best-way-learn-japanese/ recommend that you take a language course before you leave your home country so that you are at least aware of the basics. Make sure that it is an all-encompassing program that not only teaches you the basics, but also introduces you to honorific language, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The sooner that you can at least speak a few words of courtesy, the sooner the locals will be happy to take you into their hearts, and you will start to enjoy being a part of their culture.
Sort Out Your Finances
Japan is not a cheap place to live, so it pays to be extremely well-organized and to prepare in advance for where you are going to stay, as this will be your biggest cost. Your employers should be able to help you arrange somewhere to stay, as going through the local bureaucracy can be difficult, or you can use an agency specially designed for foreigners. Eating out can also be rather dear, so finding where the local supermarkets are early on is a must if you want to be able to prepare meals so that you can eat at home. Getting around can also be costly, although it is extremely efficient. You may want to invest in a railcard before you arrive, or if you are more adventurous, you could explore the possibilities of renting a car for the duration of your stay.
Your Wardrobe
Depending on what season you are going to Japan and how long you are going to be spending there, you will need to pack accordingly. In Okinawa, the climate is so warm all year round that at times it can feel like a tropical paradise, whereas the northern island of Hokkaido is frigid in the winters, akin to being in Siberia. Some areas though, such as Osaka and Kyoto, have more seasonal weather where it is warm in the summer and cold in the winter, so the moral of the story is to ensure that you have read up about the climate in your destination, then you can prepare appropriately as finding western clothes in Japan can be difficult!
As we have discovered, there are many things that you need to prepare for when planning to work in Japan, not least the language, because it can seem strange and confusing at first and can take a while to learn. Make sure that you plan your finances well as the cost of living can be high, and make sure you have applied for and been awarded the correct visa before you land. Finally, check your wardrobe as the climate varies enormously in Japan. If you follow this guide, you will be well set to spend your time in Japan as enjoyable as possible.