Comments
by Yubuken on Mar 24, 2026
When I made the decision to move to Japan I was excited/motivated all the way through because I would rather waste my life going for my dream than to waste my life not going for it. If you ask everyone on the older side, they will always mention regretting the things they didn't do rather than the things they did. It's better to regret doing than to regret not doing.
by imeon_stark on Mar 24, 2026
I’m in almost the exact same position as you (emotions, life circumstances, language capability and all, 23F), and moving today to go to language school in Tokyo!
It was tough leaving my life behind, but I realised that I’m lucky that I love my friends and family enough that it hurts to leave them. It’s not like moving to language school necessarily has to mean you’ll live in Japan forever, so you’re not leaving them permanently.
I thought to myself it’s better to do it now when young and fulfil your dream (albeit how scary it is) rather than look back on your life when you’re older/settled down and realise that you didn’t achieve as much as you would have liked to.
I hope this consoles you at least a little bit :) the last month or so after getting your COE flies by really quickly, so please make the most of your time spending it with loved ones! I’m sure we’ll both have a blast in Japan.
by MarioModGuy on Mar 24, 2026
I felt similarly to you, im 1 week out from my flight to japan for language school and my nerves have calmed down now that ive said my goodbyes and started looking into the area I will be living.
But like others will say, your young taking 1 year to go try something won't ruin your life if it doesnt work out the way you hope, but never trying could lead to future regret down the road.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do though!
by Rival360 on Mar 24, 2026
I think it's pretty normal to have doubts as it gets closer to a major life change, especially when you're young. It's also extremely easy to stay where you are because, as you said, it's comfortable. Many people live their entire life this way. They're the types that will tell you, "Oh, I could never do what you're doing" when you mention your plans.
Some amount of fear when it comes to making a change is good. That fear is there to protect us, and has been shaped by our upbringing and societal expectations. It also holds us back. It's necessary for growth, as it forces us to either give in to the doubts, or push ourselves to overcome them. We don't know what we're capable of until we try.
There's nothing forcing you to stay the whole year if you're not enjoying it; you can leave at any time. I do think you'll regret it more if you don't go though, as it's a great opportunity for personal growth. You may look back on it and realize it's the best decision you ever made. Or maybe it will be the worst. Realistically, it will be somewhere in between.
Ultimately, your experience will be what you make of it. It's easy to make friends at language school, as you're grouped into classes with other foreigners. You can stay in that foreigner bubble if you choose, but you'll get so much more out of the experience if you venture out of it.
That said... if you're content where you're at in life, then there's nothing wrong with staying where you're at. You can learn Japanese on your own, or take classes in the evenings or weekends. There's also nothing preventing you from attending language school later in life, if you so choose. Many people attend in their 30's and later (I was one of them). The only thing to be aware of is that life's obligations tend to increase the older you get, so it may be more difficult to take a year off.
There's no wrong choice here. At 22, your life is pretty much just starting. If the main concern is not having traveled, then as an alternative, why not do a trip to Japan? Maybe plan it with your friends to go in a year or two. You'll get a feel for the country and the culture, and you can then decide if you want to attend a language school, which you'd still be able to do before 30. Or maybe it'll reaffirm that language school was the choice you should've made, and you'll feel some level of regret for not attending when you planned to... but hey, that's life.
by Herno8 on Mar 27, 2026
Very nice comment! May I ask how was your experience doing a year off at language school as a 30+ adult? Was it a fun and interesting experience in the end ? Thank you!
by Rival360 on Mar 27, 2026
I think it highly depends on the person. In my case, I had wanted to live in Japan since my teenage years, so this was akin to a lifelong dream being fulfilled. I had traveled to Japan previously, so I wasn't going in *completely* blind.
I think going "later" in life was actually good for me. If I was younger, I don't think I would've appreciated it as much. The life experiences and perspective I had accumulated allowed me to go into this with more realistic expectations.
From a career perspective, it didn't really impact me. I was able to pick up essentially where I left off when I took the hiatus. Financially, however... I always half-jokingly tell people that language school was a terrible financial decision, but an amazing life experience.
As someone that had been out of school for 10+ years, it was a somewhat nostalgic feeling being back in a classroom. Pretty much all of my classmates were younger than me, and had different motivations. The students from China were focused on getting into Japanese university, so were quite serious about their study. The students from Europe were mainly on a gap year (or two), so having fun was their priority. A couple others already had jobs lined up in Japan, and were being sent for language training by their employers.
At the lower levels, classes are in the afternoon. There were often impromptu after class group dinners organized by the English speakers. It's very easy to stay in that English bubble if you don't make an effort to break out of it.
When you're used to working 8+ hours a day, language school allows for a lot of free time. Class is only about 4 hours a day, and homework can be completed fairly quickly at the lower levels. If you're actually wanting to become proficient in the language, I'd recommend getting out and trying to speak with locals. I wish I had done more of this.
In the end, I really enjoyed the experience, but yeah... it's not a cheap endeavor, especially if you want to travel around and see the country during your stay. Didn't really impact my career though, as I was able to find work shortly after returning to my home country.
by Herno8 on Mar 27, 2026
Wow thank you so much for sharing your experience, i appreciate it!
The way you describe it sounds exactly how i pictured it would look like if I jump on to do the experience of a gap year learning at a school in japan.
I have the same concerns about later coming back to work and not being able to find a good job or such, and also the same concerns about being a terrible financial decision (no income for a year, paying a expensive school plus your daily expended for food and shelter). A very expensive investment, but certainly a great experience.
It’s great to hear that even though most of the other students were younger and with different purposes, it was still enjoyable experience T the classroom and the school overall.
Did you have to spend 4hs daily at the school? I imagine you become bound to the city and you are not really able to travel much while studying, so it’s like you live in the same city for the whole year.
by Rival360 on Mar 30, 2026
If your main goal is travel, then attending language school isn't the best option. Classes at language schools are usually around 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. Attendance is checked, and if you fall below a certain percentage, the school is legally required to notify immigration, which can (and likely will) result in your status of residence being revoked.
Does this mean you can't travel? No, but it does limit *when* you can travel to weekends and holidays.
If you're looking for an extended vacation above the 6 months per year you can visit Japan as a tourist, then your options are working holiday (if you're young enough), or designated activities (if you have the funds).
by Herno8 on Mar 30, 2026
Thinks very informative, thank you! Right I got the point that studying in Japan means you will mostly spend a long time bound to the same city and mostly the same space you will be living an attending school. But you still night have a chance to explore a bit during weekends a some other national holidays perhaps. Makes total sense
by Kitchen-Tale-4254 on Mar 24, 2026
Self doubt is natural anytime you are going to do something that will change you. You are at a good point in your life to do something like this.
I went to Japan at 49. I wish I had gone in my twenties. It would have been much easier.
Commit to your plan. Find out what is on the other side of your dream.
by StrengthInMind on Mar 24, 2026
Hey, I was in the EXACT SAME situation as you though I'll be moving to Japan next week for language school. I still doubt my decision honestly because I'm giving up my stable corporate job for a dream that might not work out. However, I would rather fail than wonder all my life what it could have been had I went to Japan when I could.
You're young, you have plenty of time to make mistakes and get your life together! Travel NOW because when you're older and have family commitments (aging parents, spouse, children, pets, etc), you won't be able to do something like this.
I'm rooting for you! Truthfully, many have said Language School was the best time of their lives.
by woofiegrrl on Mar 25, 2026
Moving around the world to a very different country where you don't speak the language is absolutely challenging, and many people struggle with homesickness at first. But big leaps like this also build your capacity to handle change and navigate difficulty. By doing something hard in your early 20s, you'll be improving your life path because you'll have built the muscles to try new things and face your fears. When stuff comes up in your 30s and 40s you'll have the resilience and capacity to handle it.
The only thing that might be worth staying for right now is your job - IF it is something with a career path. If it's not your future career, it's just a job you like, then I'd say it's still worth leaving it so you can get that valuable life experience.
Other than that, if you do language school in Japan for a year or two, you'll be able to go back home and slide back into life pretty easily. You'll be keeping up with your friends and family back home via the internet, and in job interviews you'll be able to talk about "a challenging problem you faced and how you solved it" with way more interesting answers than most young folks have.
It's worth conquering your fears to get that life experience. I'm in my 40s now, and the life skills I developed living solo in Tokyo in my 30s still come in handy.
by Visible-Perception40 on Mar 25, 2026
Same here but on week into Japan now, and I felt the same. Suddenly questioning it right before leaving but I feel like it’s an opportunity you take if you can and it’s better to go for it than regret not going !
by Fun-Kangaroo-9413 on Mar 25, 2026
You got this you only live once!
by MaverickOver on Mar 26, 2026
It doesn't matter, find a group in the place where you are living. This group can be all foreigners or mixed with Japanese, if you are going to Tokyo, I can introduce you to the group I had entered in, they are very helpful, you can share your stress, the things you are worried about, everyone will share the information they had or do something to help you. In addition, most of the people in this group are bilingual even trilingual. I myself can speak 3 languages, if you need help, you can dm me.
by Downtown_Basket_3315 on Mar 30, 2026
I can really relate to how you’re feeling. When something has been your dream for so long, it’s scary when it finally becomes real.
It sounds like your life has improved a lot recently, which makes this decision even harder. But at the same time, this opportunity isn’t just about studying Japanese — it’s about experiencing something you once truly wanted.
There’s a concept from the book “Die with Zero” that really fits here: the idea is to invest in experiences when you have the time, energy, and freedom to enjoy them the most. You can always build a new routine, find new friends, and even get another job. But the chance to take a year abroad at 22 is something that doesn’t come around easily again.
Of course, it’s completely normal to feel anxious. Going to a new country where you don’t know anyone or speak the language is a big step. But that’s also where a lot of growth and memorable experiences come from.
If this was something your past self truly wanted, there’s probably a reason for that. And if you don’t go, there’s a chance you might keep wondering “what if?”
Whatever you decide, make sure it’s a choice you won’t regret later. But from an outside perspective, this sounds like a rare opportunity worth taking.