As most of you can probably imagine, moving to another country is quite a big step. It is not easy to leave your home country and go to a place where you look different and don’t speak the language. But I didn’t move to Japan on a whim, I spent a fair amount of time thinking about my move. I even visited Japan three times before moving. Not everyone who has come to Japan has been happy with their choice, sometimes the differences in lifestyle, culture and language are too big to overcome.

Before moving, you should carefully weigh the benefits and costs of such a move. Can you adjust to living in a tiny apartment? Can you adjust to commuting on crowded trains and subways? Can you adjust to paying twice as much for food and clothing as you did in your home country? Can you adjust to hot and humid summers, and cold winters?

Next, you need to think about life as a “gaikokujin”, or “foreign-country-person”. In America, the word “foreigner” is seldom used or heard. Most Americans (and many Europeans) come from somewhere else, and regardless of their appearance, or English-speaking ability, they are most likely Americans; there is no way to identify who is a foreigner, and who is not. This is not the same in Japan. If you are a non-Japanese, you are a foreigner, and that’s it.

Thirdly, you need to consider what kind of work you will do after you arrive in Japan. There are several options available, a few of which require no ability to speak Japanese. There is, and always has been a demand for foreigners in some professions. The most popular jobs are language teachers, chefs, entertainers, and bilingual people who can translate, or work at international companies with offices in Japan.

If you think you can overcome the living conditions, being a foreigner, and finding a suitable job, then you might find Japan an attractive place to live. All you need to do next is find out if you meet the basic requirements to get an appropriate visa to live in Japan.