5 Reasons to live and work in Japan

Thinking about getting a job in Japan? Read our top reasons why living and working in Japan may be the best choice for you.

You can learn Japanese.

There are many ways to study Japanese. Online, through textbook learning, language apps. But nothing beats learning and experiencing the language straight from your surrounding environment.

Also, textbooks won’t teach you natural spoken Japanese. But by living in Japan, you will start you learn more through everyday interactions.

You can try traditional and interesting Japanese food.

Many countries have access to Japanese themed restaurants. But working in Japan gives you the opportunity to try a wider variety of Japanese food. You can sample local specialties that are only available in certain areas. This includes snacks and even drinks. I mean, where else could you eat gold leaf ice-cream or drink wasabi juice?

You can experience a new culture; traditional and modern.

You may have learned a lot of Japanese culture from movies and anime. But living in Japan can give you a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the culture. Being an ALT, you will work in a school environment very different from the one you experienced back home. If you explore different places, you can see how modern and traditional architecture has blended togther in Japan. There are rural areas and cities, green rice paddies and high-rise buildings. You can see something new every day.

You can meet a variety of people.

Japan is quite unique when it comes to mindset and beliefs. You can meet people who are extremely shy or people who openly want to talk to foreigners. Japanese people are very inquisitive, but they do feel apprehensive due to the language barrier. If you are open and friendly, many people will feel comfortable to approach you or respond to you. This a great way to make many new friends in Japan.

Japan is safe and has great facilities.

Japan is well known for being a safe and clean country. Japanese people adhere to the rules and regulations put in place by the government. They have great personal consideration for others. Many people can walk to the konbini late at night without worrying. Due to the low crime rate, you can also leave your items unattended. If you forget or lose an item, some helpful Japanese person will probably hand it in to the local Koban or lost property area.

Japan also provides National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 Kokumin kenkōhoken). This allows many people to pay less for medical bills than they might pay in their own home country. There may be some waiting time at the local clinics, but most of the time they accept walk in appointments.

There are so many reasons for different people to work in Japan! We hope you have enjoyed these highlights. What would your reason be to live and work in Japan?

Want to start your ALT career in Japan? Apply now for an ALT job with RCS.