A year has passed, a new one has begun, and soon I will complete my first year in Japan. This past week, I found myself reflecting on this experience.

To close out my first year and begin the second, I want to write about how I arrived here, what I’ve learned, and the ups and downs I’ve faced. Hopefully, this will help new expats know what to expect and inspire others to make the move.

Before Coming

Before making this move, I was working at CERN in Switzerland. If you’re wondering why I decided to leave Switzerland, the answer is simple: I was in the final year of my three-year contract, and most contracts at CERN are temporary. Since I’m not great at networking (which is often the key to securing an indefinite contract or a different role), I started looking for new job opportunities.

Among all the options, and since I’m a nerd, I had always wanted to work in Japan. So, I sent my CV to several job openings. This process took time because such a big change isn’t immediate. I won’t go into too much detail, as the job application process could be a separate post, but after multiple interviews and take-home projects, I managed to secure a job offer.

The Offer

The offer was for a full-time remote job based in Japan. The idea of working remotely in Japan worried me a little. It’s no secret that making friends in Japanese society can be difficult, and working from home might have led me to become a hikikomori (this is not foreshadowing—it didn’t happen).

The most important part of the offer was that it included sponsorship for an Engineer Visa. If you plan to work in Japan, don’t take shortcuts like coming as a teacher and then switching visas. I’ve seen some YouTubers recommend this as the fastest way, but it’s always better to handle these processes properly from the beginning.

After the Offer: The Visa Process

After accepting the offer, the next steps were as follows:

  1. I worked remotely for the company as an external contractor for almost two months while they processed my Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
  2. Once the COE was ready, I had to take it to the Japanese embassy in my home country to apply for my actual visa.
  3. The process was simple but stressful—mostly paperwork and waiting.

In my case, I faced some complications because I was in Switzerland, but my designated embassy was in Spain. This meant I had to send my passport and paperwork via mail and later travel to the embassy to pick it up. Once I had my visa, I was ready to start this new adventure.

First Months in Japan

Since I was concerned about becoming a hikikomori, I decided to stay in a shared house for the first few months. However, it wasn’t just a shared house—it was a shared building!

If anyone is considering moving to Japan, I highly recommend this experience. The company that manages this type of accommodation is called Social Design. They offer individual rooms with private bathrooms.

Every time I move to a new country, the first few months are the same: I’m extremely active—traveling, meeting new people, trying new foods—but eventually, I settle into a routine.

During my first months in Japan, I visited Hakone, Kamakura, and Hiroshima, met new people (including my current girlfriend), and discovered many new things. In a future, I might write about these trips, showing more photos and recommendations.

Statues on a temple in Kamakura Hakone lake

Things I Learned

Moving to Japan is completely different from moving to Switzerland. Although Switzerland has a distinct culture, it still shares a similar history, religion, and food with the rest of the Western world. In Japan, everything is different—religion, history, and mindset—so many assumptions you make as a Westerner may be incorrect. As my grandfather used to say:

Wherever you go, do as the locals do.

Here are some cultural points I learned:

  1. Do not walk while eating.
  2. Be mindful of when and where you talk. Talking loudly in public spaces (especially on trains) is not well received. As my girlfriend always says: Silence is peace.
  3. Adapt to the noise levels around you. In an izakaya, shouting is fine, but in a sushi restaurant, it may be seen as disrespectful.
  4. Cards are not always accepted. Though most places take them, some of them not.
  5. No tipping. (I love this one).

I must admit that I don’t follow all these rules perfectly…

Conclusion

Coming to Japan taught me a lot about myself, my cultural biases, and—most importantly—how much I love Japanese food.

I highly recommend stepping outside your comfort zone by working in another country or, at the very least, moving to a different city. Doing so gives you a deeper appreciation for what you had, what you have, and what you gain from the experience.

However, Japan can be a difficult country to move to. Society here is strict, and workplace culture is a gamble. Many jobs expect overtime. Fortunately, my company is relaxed about this, though I occasionally have to put in extra hours.

Socializing in Japan is also different from Ireland or Spain. Relationships with Japanese people don’t develop the same way. For example, if you want to schedule a meeting with a Japanese friend, you should plan for next month, not next week. Additionally, Japanese culture is generally closed off, so forming connections requires effort. Joining meetups or hobby groups is often the best way to make friends.

Once again, as my grandfather used to say:

Wherever you go, do as the locals do.