Japan is a popular destination for European expatriates with the majority of those found living and working in Japan in the 20-25 year old age group – many of whom are teaching English as a foreign language to Japanese students.  There also exist openings for professional expatriates particularly in the banking and financial services industries in Japanese cities such as Tokyo and there are currently in excess of 10,000 British expats in Japan alone.

This is an introduction to living and working in Japan with a focus on immigration, housing, business etiquette and settling into day to day Japanese life for anyone contemplating a new life overseas.

There are four classes of visa that anyone travelling to Japan could potentially apply for entry under, namely tourist, work, student and residence although those from many European nations including the UK can enter Japan for up to 90 days, renewable for up to six months once in Japan with only a valid passport.  Anyone with an offer of employment in Japan will of course require a working visa which their company will sponsor and assist with.  Before travelling to Japan for any reason it’s always advisable to contact your nearest Japanese embassy to determine visa requirements and restrictions before travel.

The first thing that anyone moving to live in Japan will need to consider other than employment is accommodation, and because landlords and letting agents are often loath to deal with non-Japanese speaking foreigners, getting an apartment or room rental sorted out often proves to be the hardest thing for anyone to accomplish when going to live in Japan.  Not only is it difficult to source property, properties are usually small and very expensive especially in the most heavily populated centres such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto for example.

Renting property makes sense initially even if someone moving to Japan is determined to reside in the country long term and would ultimately like to buy property.  Be prepared to pay many upfront fees when renting, refundable and non-refundable deposits and to possibly fulfil the requirement of having a Japanese guarantor.  Those with a firm job offer may be lucky enough to receive accommodation assistance from their employer.

When it comes to working in Japan and understanding Japanese business etiquette, foreign nationals should take some time to read dedicated information about the day to day working life in Japan and how to conduct business meetings, how they are expected to dress and behave in the office, at professional and social engagements – furthermore expatriates already living and working in Japan can often assist those newly arrived to get to grips with the way things are done!  The Japanese tend to work very hard and also play quite hard and the pace of life in Japan is correspondingly fast paced. 

Living and working in Japan is a unique experience because the country, people and culture of Japan are so different to Western or European equivalents and the majority of those who do experience life in Japan gain a great deal from it.