Living in Japan > Tokyo >
Tokyo, Japan
An expat talks about adjusting to life and working in Japan. She appreciates the kindness and generosity of strangers, but says that not being able to speak Japanese can be isolating.
Tokyo
Yes, I received some cross-cultural training after my move to Japan. It was mostly on how to interact with my Japanese coworkers. They said that Japanese are not confrontational and will never approach you with a problem they have with you.
Expats living in Japan interested in expat health insurance should take a minute to get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA.
In Japan, they speak Japanese, and I do not speak any Japanese. I do not plan to study Japanese much. I get by well enough with the Japanese I do know and the bilingual friends I have made.
Yes, I was very worried, but that is normal and a part of the experience. You are moving aboard to experience something new, and new things are scary yet rewarding.
Get FREE quotes from up to 6 international movers from The Relocator. Save up to 50% on your move to Japan! The Relocator offers an easy and free service to receive quotes from renowned and certified movers worldwide. They only work with qualified moving companies. Over 500 movers worldwide have already joined their service to help you get the best price and service for your international move. Get your moving quotes.
It was not too significant since I have visited Japan before my move here. I, also, had realistic expectations about my life here. I did not romanticize it and expect to go see something amazing every weekend. I am working a full-time job and won’t have time to do every cool thing there is. And, that is ok.
I personally did not experience these phases. I felt I adjusted fairly well. Again, I set my expectations very low when I moved. I expected to struggle and to be isolated and alone. Once you have realistic expectations, you can then thrive.
I experienced homesickness and loneliness. These are normal no matter where you are.
I appreciate the kindness of everyone that I run into. Everyone in Japan has extreme generosity. Also, I love how clean and quiet the suburban neighborhoods are, and yet they're only a 15 minute train ride from downtown.
The ability to not speak Japanese. It can be very isolating not being able to have conversations with the people you want.
None that I can think of off the top of my head. I did my research on the cultural expectations before I arrived. Grocery shopping is hard though.
Lower your expectations and don't romanticize living in another country. It is just another place with its own struggles. Moving won't solve your problems, but only make them worse. Once you realize that, then you can thrive and continuously be surprised by the kindness of strangers and the warmth of the friends you will make.
Get a quote for expat health insurance in Japan from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get a Quote
Expats in Tokyo enjoy the capital city of Japan, which is a sprawling metropolitan area. Here are some tips to help expats navigate a relocation to one of the biggest economies in the world.
Tokyo has many international schools and bi-lingual schools for expat students. Here are several of the more popular options.
An expat in Tokyo talks about the high cost of housing, living close to work, property searches and mansion apartments.
What's the difference between Social Health Insurance and National Health Insurance in Japan? Are there some English-speaking doctors in good hospitals in Tokyo? What's a typical doctor visit like? An expat in Tokyo answers these questions and more.
An expat talks about the challenges she's had adjusting to the culture in Japan, where people are much quieter and keep to themselves compared to the US. She explains that even acquaintances keep to themselves and this makes it hard to feel connected.
An expat talks about what it's like moving to Tokyo. It took some time adjusting to the crowds and culture, but he's happy now and looking back the culture shock wasn't as bad as he anticipated.
Newcomers to Japan should consider these 4 tips for conducting business in Japan.
Author and Blogger Brian O'Sullivan helps expats examine the differences in parenting that exist in Western and Far Eastern cultures. Emotional self-regulation and self-recoginition are a few of the topics he explores.
Expats in Tokyo have several neighborhoods worth considering when they move abroad. Individual needs, such as proximity to work, international schools in Tokyo and other factors will help determine the best choice for each expat and expat family.
If you're moving to Japan this is a must-read article highlighting tips from expats in Japan. Topics covered include driver's licenses, healthcare in Japan, international schools and more.
Get a quote for expat health insurance in Japan from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get a Quote
Expats in Tokyo enjoy the capital city of Japan, which is a sprawling metropolitan area. Here are some tips to help expats navigate a relocation to one of the biggest economies in the world.
Tokyo has many international schools and bi-lingual schools for expat students. Here are several of the more popular options.
Support your favorite restaurants in Tokyo as they recover from the pandemic. Submit a free listing for them on Expat Exchange to help spread the word about them to the expat community.
An expat in Tokyo talks about the high cost of housing, living close to work, property searches and mansion apartments.
What's the difference between Social Health Insurance and National Health Insurance in Japan? Are there some English-speaking doctors in good hospitals in Tokyo? What's a typical doctor visit like? An expat in Tokyo answers these questions and more.
An expat talks about the challenges she's had adjusting to the culture in Japan, where people are much quieter and keep to themselves compared to the US. She explains that even acquaintances keep to themselves and this makes it hard to feel connected.
An expat talks about what it's like moving to Tokyo. It took some time adjusting to the crowds and culture, but he's happy now and looking back the culture shock wasn't as bad as he anticipated.
Copyright 1997-2021 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.