I never thought a $2 onigiri (basically, a rice sandwich) from a Japanese 7-Eleven could completely change my life direction.
This diabolical little konbini (convenience store) snack would cascade into a chain of events that could have me living in a completely different country by as early as next year!
Here’s what happened…
Life Before Japan
For the past few years, I’ve been in a comfortable routine. I had my super-chill day job as a project manager, I was steadily building the first demo release of my game, and I was really getting into my hobbies.
Life was good… but it got so boring.
Even though I was making steady progress in my career and personal life, every year would be more or less the same playthrough. Outcomes were predictable, and it didn’t really excite me anymore.
I wasn’t exactly unhappy, but I just wasn’t growing either.
Why I Went To Japan
When my employer told me I had too many vacation hours and that I’d have to “use it or lose it”, I decided to use all of it for a 1-month trip to Japan – backpacking in the rural countryside before returning to civilization in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
Japan had always been of interest to me – I thoroughly enjoy the country’s food, culture, and of course anime!
But more recently, I’d been trying to think up ways to accelerate financial independence. See, I’m a FIRE enthusiast, and I want to use my financial freedom to pursue more entrepreneurial and creative activities in the future without risking financial stability.
Though my plan was to do this in the US, I always had other countries in mind.
At this point in time, the dollar to yen conversion was at an all-time low, so I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to do my reconnaissance mission on a budget.
What I Realized in Japan
During my trip, I found myself marveling at the simplicity and affordability of things I had always taken for granted—like eating out, living well, and, most surprisingly, how I thought about my career.
Up until that point, life had started to feel like a game I’d already beaten – comfortable, predictable, and kind of boring.
But Japan?
It felt like a new game entirely! There were new rules, new rewards, and a completely different endgame.
That’s when the question hit me:
Why was I grinding so hard in the US if I could reach Financial Independence in Japan in just 5 more years?
At that moment, a new vision formed: Could I live in Japan, reach FI faster, and eventually use that newfound freedom sooner than I thought possible?
Analyzing My Decision to Move
While I was in Japan, I was constantly on the move — hopping between towns, navigating rural areas, and solving problems as they came up. That experience gave me a surprising level of confidence, and I realized I could live anywhere and make it work.
External Factors: Logistics & Finances
That realization became more than just a feeling once I ran the numbers. I did a full financial analysis – accounting for taxes, salary expectations, and living costs in Japan – and found that my savings rate could actually improve if I played it right!
In the U.S., I save about 50–57% of my income. But in Japan, that could jump to 72% or more, depending on how lean I choose to live.
However, the equation only works if I maintain at least 80% of my current income, but if I keep my existing salary or even get a raise, I could reach financial independence in under five years.
Cost of Living Comparison
Below is my estimate for the cost of living in Japan versus the US, validated by ChatGPT and my girlfriend who lives in Osaka.
| Expense (Monthly) | US | Japan (Osaka) | Notes |
| Housing | $2,000 | $500 | Small studio apartment |
| Utilities + Internet | $150 | $150 | May already be part of lease |
| Food | $250 | $250 | I’m including eating out more often in the Japan budget |
| Transportation | $200 | $100 | Trains / biking is way cheaper than owning a car |
| Hobbies + Subscriptions | $250 | $250 | Kickboxing gym + salsa dancing |
| Travel | $200 | $200 | Visit back home once a year |
| Gifts + Other | $250 | $150 | Should be cheaper in Japan |
| Monthly Total | $3,300 | $1,600 | |
| Annual Total | $39,600 | $19,200 | |
| FI Number (3% rule) | $1,320,000 | $640,000 | 10 versus 5 years |
As you can see, I can live the same (or better) life for a fraction of the cost in the US. This cuts my FI number and my time to freedom in half.
Japan’s Drawbacks
Of course, Japan isn’t a utopia. There are language and cultural barriers, the work culture has a terrible reputation, there’s much lower salaries compared to the US, taxes are about 10-15% higher, and there’s a level of social hierarchy that could be difficult to adjust to as a foreigner.
You’d also have to rebuild your social support systems from scratch when you move, leaving your family, friends, and communities back home.
However, the total lifestyle return such as safety, incredible public transit options, healthcare, and overall affordability still made a life in Japan worth exploring.
Internal Factors: Seeking Growth
What makes Japan especially appealing isn’t just the lifestyle or cost of living — it’s that it feels like a new challenge, something that pushes me out of default mode.
For me, Japan represents the next meaningful level: more autonomy, more growth, and a clearer path toward building something of my own — maybe even that indie game dev studio and coworking café in Osaka I keep dreaming about.
Once I realized this life was possible — and actually more aligned with who I am — the only question left was: How do I pull it off?
1-Year Roadmap for Japan
Big life goals can feel impossibly paralyzing if they’re not broken down. To do this move, I’d have to consider 4 major areas over the next year:
- Career Positioning & Unique Skills
- Language proficiency (Studying for JLPT N2)
- Legal & Immigration Logistics (Japan’s HSP Visa)
- Risk Planning (Exit Strategy)
Career Positioning
I recently wrapped up my master’s degree (which earns points towards a visa I’ll talk about later), and I’m currently studying for the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, which is globally recognized (confirmed Japan too) and signals reliability and competence across industries.
For me, this is part of maintaining a “highly skilled” status, which plays a big role in both remote work opportunities and Japanese visa pathways. If you’re considering a move abroad, especially Japan, tech-adjacent careers tend to be the most flexible.
Specifically, roles like software, IT, and design often translate well internationally. Teaching English, studying abroad, and transferring within a global company are also valid and popular options.
Language Proficiency
To build a life in a foreign country, you’ll have to speak the language – not just to make friends, but it could also be part of the job description.
Most of the jobs that I’m well-qualified for require a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) – typically at least N2 (business-level). I also have to submit my resume and interview in Japanese. However, I’ve also seen more technical engineering or IT roles that only require JLPT N3 (intermediate), or even English-speaking roles. It all depends on the job description.
Generally, the JLPT certification exam schedule has overseas exams only twice a year in July and December in select cities, so I have to be prepared.
The best strategy I’ve found to learn is to:
- Listen and repeat sentences you hear from a YouTube video or J-drama.
- Create your own sentences on flashcards (Anki can help, but I prefer handwritten).
- Use AI tools like ChatGPT to give you constant feedback.
Using this method, I achieved JLPT N5 (the lowest tier) by scoring a 93% on a practice test in about 3 months starting from zero Japanese. At my current pace, I’m expecting to be at N2 level in just under a year.
Legal & Immigration Logistics
The visa situation in Japan is surprisingly navigable — especially if you’ve considered the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa.
Japan uses a point-based system (points calculator here) where your education, salary, experience, and certifications all stack up. If you hit the threshold, the benefits are great: easier renewals, faster paths to permanent residency, and more flexible work options.
Even if you don’t qualify yet, knowing the system helps you reverse-engineer your way in. For many creatives — developers, designers, engineers — you might already be closer than you think.
Risk Planning
I’ve already covered the financial upside of moving, but the bigger takeaway here is about risk.
The worst-case scenario? I can move to Japan, and if it doesn’t stick, my exit strategy is to come back to the U.S. with more career capital than when I left. Global experience is still weirdly romanticized by a lot of hiring managers — especially in tech and creative fields.
In that sense, even failure would still move me forward.
Balancing Career and Passion
A lot of people feel stuck between the job that pays the bills and the work they actually care about.
That tension is real, and it’s okay to feel it.
I used to think of my day job as the enemy of my passion, but now I view it as an enabler. It’s given me the space and the financial flexibility to start moving my life in the direction I choose. I find myself thankful to be in a position that is overall fairly enjoyable. But if you’re miserable, I think that needs to change too.
Lastly, I think it’s ok to take your time, as long as you keep moving towards your goal. Finding meaningful work is slow, and it may take you a few years. And if you don’t know your goals yet, you have to give yourself permission to explore without pressure.
Two Life Lessons I Wish Someone Told Me
I want to end on two lessons I wish someone had told me when I was younger:
#1: Feeling stuck means you need to go after growth.
It’s a sign that you’re ready for more experiences, and you shouldn’t shy away from it in the name of comfort and stability.
#2: Don’t be afraid to be bold. It rewards you in strange ways.
I tried to start my own company when I was younger, and it ultimately failed. But thanks to that, I gained more experience than any of my peers at the time, and it catapulted me into the position I’m in today.
Making brave choices has historically rewarded me, even if I had no idea how it would all work out.
Conclusion
My trip to Japan made me realize that I could reach financial independence a decade earlier and use that freedom to contribute value to society on my own terms – not by leaving my career per se, but by building something of my own that feels more meaningful.
I encourage you to do your own analysis about the benefits of relocating to Japan and other countries where the cost of living is low and the quality of life is high. Of course, I would advise planning a trip there to experience it for yourself before making a commitment. Lastly, if you have programming or IT skills (as is common with game developers), consider researching Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa.
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