< See All PostsStaying In Japan After Language School
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
I'm kind of at a crossroads in my life right now. I'm a software engineer in my late 20s, and I've been seriously thinking about moving to Japan.
My current plan would be to first attend a language school and then hopefully find a way to stay long-term. I have a bachelor's degree, my English is officially C2, and I have a few years of experience as a software engineer.
The thing is, I honestly don't think I want to continue working as a software engineer. I'd be open to changing careers completely, going to a vocational school or doing something.
What I'm trying to figure out is how realistic this actually is. I know software engineering is probably one of the easier ways to get a work visa, so I'm wondering how much harder it becomes if I decide to leave the field.
I've talked to three people who moved to Japan for work, and all of them had relatively smooth experiences. However, two of the three are software engineers, so I'm guessing their experience isn't necessarily representative of everyone else.
So, based on my profile, do you think it's realistic to expect that I could eventually stay in Japan long-term, even if I don't continue my career in software? I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have taken a less traditional path or changed careers after moving.
Comments
by Trick-Drama9124 on Jul 4, 2026
You might find this post useful :) https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/s/vKt6f4f5zd
It’s going to be way tougher restarting a new career in your 30s as a foreigner (by the time you finish language school) and try to pivot to something new, how many years will you spend studying, 3-4?. You will be competing with locals who graduated at 22 that already speak the language, that don’t need a visa sponsorship, so keep that in mind. If you’re okay with taking a huge pay cut and career disruption, then by all means go to senmon gakko. Life is short, good luck.
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
yeah you are right my age really is an issue. i mean im gonna have to spend the time regardless so i ll be in my 30s when i become decent in my new profession regardless of the country. ahh i guess i am too late because i played it too safe for too long damn. thanks for the info appreciate it.
by 01jasper on Jul 4, 2026
Usually people here will discourage you, and I bet I will get many downvotes for this but, go for it man, life is short, at the minimum you get some pretty cool experience.
by itsaltarium on Jul 4, 2026
Are you eligible for a Working Holiday visa? If so I’d say that’s your best bet. You can still attend most language schools and you get a full year to see if Japan is really for you long term. You can even start networking/attending events and see if you can make any useful connections. Most companies won’t hire WHV holders for full time jobs because it’s technically against the visa rules to work full time (and because they know you’re a temporary resident) but it can’t hurt to try. I know several people who got hired on WHV and then went on to receive work visa sponsorship from the company (they had to return to their home country and re-enter Japan with the work visa). Unlikely but possible!
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
oh yeah i thought of that but unfortunately my country is not eligible for it. although it would ve been a super cool option
by beginswithanx on Jul 4, 2026
It is much easier to pivot your career in your home country and then apply to jobs in Japan after you’ve acquired some experience in your desired field than to try and pivot while in the country.
You can pivot your career and self study in your home country for a few years and then see about applying to jobs. Japan will still be there.
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
yeah i agree this seems to be both very financially and motivation wise safer option. but i assume only when im around 29-30 would i be at least average in my new career, and i wonder if thats a bit too late to try moving to another country, especially when it comes to japan. afterall wouldnt they want to hire a youngling? though i guess thats gonna happen regardless so no need to think about that ahaha. thanks for the reply appreciate it.
by Particular_Bad8025 on Jul 4, 2026
I moved to another country (China) in my 30's, spent a year learning the language and then went back to work. I was a software engineer but shifted to project management and found it a lot more suitable than coding (also multinational co.panies like people who speak English well). I was able to stay cause I got married over there though, that's always an option...
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 5, 2026
im hearing about people who managed to change countries in their 30s and it gives me hope ahaha. also yeah most of the people i know who stay in japan permanently are married as well. i would like to get married maybe in like 5 years but i dont really want to plan around it, it could be great if i can share my future with a like minded individual but its gotto be natural i feel like.
by beginswithanx on Jul 5, 2026
Many of the people who I know who have moved to Japan more permanently have moved in their mid 30s-40s (mid career moves).
Japanese companies have plenty of local “younglings” that are fluent in Japanese, don’t need visa sponsorship, etc. But mid career hires often have skills that are harder to find within the local talent pool.
I moved to Japan in my early 40s for a job.
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 5, 2026
you have no idea how happy that makes me, because improving and creating a business in the next 5-10 years and learning a language slowly in my own time and then moving seems to be both the most comfortable and the most reasonable way to approach this from what I see yeah.
by beginswithanx on Jul 5, 2026
The main thing would be to make sure you’re actually developing the in demand skills for a visa eligible job AND that you have the Japanese language needed to use those skills in a Japanese environment. I’ll be honest, for most people the second part is the hardest, especially if you’re in a “soft” field.
by Angle-Flat on Jul 4, 2026
How strong is your coding or technical skills?
If not great, change careers.
by etdev on Jul 4, 2026
> I'd be open to changing careers completely, going to a vocational school or doing something.
The first step is to decide what you want to do.
You've ruled out software engineering, that's great. But you need an alternate plan.
Once you decide that, your next steps will be a lot more clear. Maybe you need to go hard on learning Japanese. Maybe you need to look into continuing education. Maybe a vocational school or learning some kind of trade, but it just depends.
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
i was thinking of vocational school in japan after a year of language learning there. im currently around n4. just cant decide if a vocational school would be reasonable and enough. i do like japan but it could also be the honeymoon phase as well, maybe a year of lang school first could be a way to see how life truly is there and also the check if the country is right for me so perhaps going hard on learning the lang could be the ideal first step. worst case a new language from one of the world's biggest economies can definitely come in handy.
thanks for the reply btw appreciate it. maybe its gonna sound cringe but i wanna stay in the country through my own merit, i mean not like through marriage or smt but like through a profession etc. the reason im saying this is most people from my country who live in Japan apparently got their PR through marriage. i mean i dont judge more power to them and if there is true love there even better but i guess it really annoys me when they all jokingly say stuff like "went there for the world cup got maried you should do the same huehue" etc. its nice to get actual decent advice in this sub.
by jbondsr2 on Jul 4, 2026
You could try IT support in a regular gaishikei company, then go back to software engineering if you hate it.
But remember, engineering visa’s require N2 level certification now.
Vocational work is tough, long hours, and the pay is relatively low. There also isn’t much room for foreigners to get promoted to higher levels in vocational fields.
I’d recommend saving up your money so you don’t have to work in Japan for at least 2 years. Don’t cut your ties in your home country, keep your drivers license, and find somewhere to store your stuff if you can’t keep it at a family member’s place.
You may not even like living in Japan, so don’t be too hasty to change your whole life.
by Over_Tradition_5388 on Jul 4, 2026
true, also im trying to fully leave the tech scene. i really REALLY hate it. at least non freelance stuff. i still do the occasional web dev or minor stuff for relatives etc. maybe i will focus on myself for a few years in my home country first then consider foreign countries like japan again. though i still am having post japan trip depression ahaha but ofc a trip is different than living there i know that. thanks for the reply i appreciate it
by jbondsr2 on Jul 4, 2026
I think that’s a good idea.
I’m not trying to discourage you or anything, and I get the feeling of wanting to live here after some trips, but Japan is going through some changes right now that are making things harder and unstable for some foreigners.
You’re still under 30, so there’s less impact if you do decide to try life in Japan and it doesn’t work out, but I’d take the time to consider more options before making that final decision.
by Key-Mazaru on Jul 4, 2026
En vez de reiniciar tu campo laboral, puedes reorientarlo. Por ejemplo, ya no lo típico de *backend* o *machine learning*, sino que puedes automatizar procesos geoespaciales con GIS, hacer un posgrado en robótica o algo que realmente te interese y lejos de lo que no te gusta. O sea, hay opciones y no necesariamente significa abandonar todo. Eres joven, pero no lo suficiente para empezar de cero si ya tienes algo construido. Aparte, ¿por qué quieres cambiar de labor si ya tienes formación y experiencia consolidada?
by Own_Lychee1800 on Jul 5, 2026
First at least have an idea of what kind of career you want to go into. You might not even need extra schooling, SWE experience helps with a lot of different roles.
Also, depending on the career or what you’re planning on studying don’t forget you will need high level Japanese. I don’t mean passing a JLPT level, I mean convincing someone you can communicate and work at a business level. Vocational school also requires you to have advanced Japanese to complete the coursework in Japanese. After you finished you would be able to work anywhere but you would probably be making a lot less than you think.
I’m not saying don’t do it, just be realistic of the timeline and understand the financial reality. You are young, have a bachelors degree and good work experience already so don’t think you don’t have options.
