Thinking about moving to Japan?

My wife and i where talking about moving to Japan or Spain. We are looking into what we need to do to make this happen. For you guys that live in Japan do you have any suggestions or advice? Thanks

Sounds like you need to really think this out.  Unless you're financially wealthy.

Is there something wrong with where you're living currently?   All you need is money...  If you don't have much then you need to figure how you are going to make the money.

I heard its expensive to live out in japan.

Remeber you have to worry about exchange rates and such, if you move to spain the money you have now will be cut in half. Also you have to check into getting citizenship or a visa, also some countries arent as welcoming to new people as we are in America mso i'd just check into citizenship first.

[QUOTE=ExecutiveKoala187;290403]Remeber you have to worry about exchange rates and such, if you move to spain the money you have now will be cut in half. Also you have to check into getting citizenship or a visa, also some countries arent as welcoming to new people as we are in America mso i'd just check into citizenship first.[/QUOTE]
 
welcomin. we just jump the fence foo! 
lol
 
but serious check into a work visa. or if you have family from japan or spain you can try to get dual citizenship.

Im trying to get a hold of my friend that lives in Japan now. Keep all the info coming.

Little info- Spain has the danky danks....and they are the ounly country in europe that sells 40oz's of beer! I would know I've been there and sampled that!

[QUOTE=ExecutiveKoala187;290485]Little info- Spain has the danky danks....
[/QUOTE]
 
 
:420yawn:
huh?
 
really? I thought it was illegal in spain?
back on topic. 
 
what is making you move to japan or spain?

^ It's illegal here too but that doesnt stop us, and yea they got good shit. Also back on topic, check the embassy site to the country you want to live in and they should be able to hook you up also yahoo anwsers has a plethora of info!

We want to move because we want to live somewhere different. There is nothing tying us down here in the states. I mean why not change it up a lil.  Its a healthier lifestyle, beter education for the lil one. Plus I've had other family that have lived over seas and they loved it.

I feel you on that. 
been thinking about doin the same thing for a year now. 
but dont got the funds .
if you got the funds then by all means do it.

Where is the best place to live in Japan?

Dollar to euro exchange sucks.
Here in Italy you have to have a Social Security Card type thing for you to even get a house, job, etc. 
Also, unless you have a member of your family that was of Italian blood, you aren't going to gain citizenship.

Those are just the things to look for when moving to another country I guess. Job demand, paperwork etc.

Good luck man.

OR, join the military.

1st question...What do you do??

[QUOTE=elpresidente;290776]1st question...What do you do??[/QUOTE]


Former military, computer work

sometimes you can work for the military private sector or something like that. My GF is a teacher and we been contemplating moving to japan when we get married. She wants to either do the teacher exchange program or teach in the military base schools. Good luck with your search!

Aren't there some guys on this fourm that live in japan?

You can't just up and move to another country. I don't know about Spain but not Japan.

You need either

Citizenship. Which your not Japanese so doubt you have that.

Spousal Visa Wife needs to be Japanese of course

Work Visa Have some job offer which you qualify for and meet the requirements of the Work Visa. This company must also be willing to sponsor your visa. (Costs a pretty penny from what I hear)

Military, you may be able to re-enlist or something.

Student Visa, Not to sure how this works but being accepted and sponsored by a school of sorts in Japan.

You could check into teaching as many people use this method to get into Japan but there is a waiting period.

Just up and moving to Japan with no means of family or personal support could be a very bad idea. It seems all well and good but I would suggest going for like a month and see how you like it. Taking a few trips over seas should help you come to a more informed decision about living in another country.

There is alot of info here:
[URL]http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/travel_and_visa/visa/index.htm[/URL]

Make sure you read through it thoroughly.
Good luck on your decision.

Thanks for the info? As far as moving it wasn't going to be just an up and move thing. That's why I wanted to do the research first.

If you have not already visited both you should.

Both are quite large (think California) with vast climates.  I've been to both and both have their great attributes.

Spain was much easier to get around because its a Latin based language.  Japan was very difficult out side of any large city as I can't read Japanese or even make out the characters.

I've been to Spain once and to Japan twice and will be going again, however I would never choose to live in either of these places as there is no place like home.  The beauty of the California is you get to experience all these cultures in your own back yard.

Good luck

Don

It sucks you gotta do so much shit to gain citizenship to europe and asia because it seems all you have to is be an American is wait awhile then take a class and boom ur an American. And it is true that Italy uses a blood right as their citizenship, as far as Japan I'd be asking Grant.

I wouldn't move to Spain. I would attempt to move to Japan under a teaching visa and it would be a cool job but that would bea bout it. The tech sector in Japan is prety much dominated by the locals; finding a job in Japan with a common technology portfolio doesn't seem like a good idea either. And definetly take trips; get a feel for the countries you are considering. I would include in my list Germany, Denmark, Holland and France. As weird as it might sound, France is a very nice country to live in. Many middle-class Mexicans send their kids to school over there since the cost of living is almost as low as in Mexican urban areas.  

I have considered this myself but unfortunately my wife is not really up to a change like this; so I'm planning something like this as a retirement plan.

My final and repetitive advice would be to travel there first, research where you might find a job in your area of work, start pricing cost of living, then do an personal mental spiritual inventory of such a life changing desicion.

Then go do it.

[QUOTE=ExecutiveKoala187;291080]It sucks you gotta do so much shit to gain citizenship to europe and asia because it seems all you have to is be an American is wait awhile then take a class and boom ur an American. And it is true that Italy uses a blood right as their citizenship, as far as Japan I'd be asking Grant.[/QUOTE]
 
Damn ya'll are crazy moving to another country. Farthest I want to go is TX, or maybe buy up some houses in Detroit, you know, the 10 dollar ones lol.

find a GOV contracting job in japan
 
thats about the only way you are going to do it without HUGE red tape jumping.
Im getting out of the military in a month or two, and staying here in japan.  My wife works for the University of maryland on base and that gives her Sofa status to let us stay in japan. My Photography job also does working for USAF Services

Japan is usually the most expensive place to live at in the WORLDDD.Look it up man,its #1 most of the time.

Anybody who has lived there before will tell you that is completely untrue

Almost all aspects of life are cheaper in Japan; as long as you stick with the adage "when in rome, do as the romans do"

If you try to go there, live in a large 3 bedroom house with decent size backyard, eat an american diet with american sized portions etc, then yes its probably more expensive. 
Houses are smaller there. Backyards are non-existent. Big steaks are a luxury. People eat healthy food portions. If you can accept that then Japan is CHEAP as hell.

I was living on a budget of about $1000 a month; inc rent, food, alcohol and transport, in Tokyo (long story).

lol, yeah dom did it fine

im abotu to be living here on abotu a 3500.00 a month budget between me and hte wife. figure 100,000 to rent for a 3 bedroom apartment, 50,000 in support, thats 2kish for living. thats nt even counting random parts i sell, or the odd jobs i do

[QUOTE=Dominik;294374]Anybody who has lived there before will tell you that is completely untrue

Almost all aspects of life are cheaper in Japan; as long as you stick with the adage "when in rome, do as the romans do"

If you try to go there, live in a large 3 bedroom house with decent size backyard, eat an american diet with american sized portions etc, then yes its probably more expensive. 
Houses are smaller there. Backyards are non-existent. Big steaks are a luxury. People eat healthy food portions. If you can accept that then Japan is CHEAP as hell.

I was living on a budget of about $1000 a month; inc rent, food, alcohol and transport, in Tokyo (long story).[/QUOTE]

That what i thought!

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;294672]lol, yeah dom did it fine

im abotu to be living here on abotu a 3500.00 a month budget between me and hte wife. figure 100,000 to rent for a 3 bedroom apartment, 50,000 in support, thats 2kish for living. thats nt even counting random parts i sell, or the odd jobs i do[/QUOTE]

What do you do for work?

my wife is a financial aid advisor at a UMUC on base, and im a photographer

Cost of Living is not that much in Okinawa - Relatively Cheaper

i paid about 80,000 yenjimens for a 3 LDK with 2 parkiing stalls 1 USD to yen 91 (today) 879 bucks

I was in the military while staying there but my wife is Japanese

GAS and food i'd say is most expensive

isn't it nicer on main land?