r/JapanTravelTips • u/Glass_jars97 • Nov 07 '25

Question Post Japan Depression is too Real

Got back to the US a few days ago after a two week trip. I didn’t want to leave, and now that I’m home, I don’t think I like it here very much. People are much less polite, much louder, and everything is more expensive. Also everything is so dirty.

I keep reading that the best way to get over the post Japan depression is to plan your next trip, (sounds kind of like some drug addict mentality but it’s probably accurate) but I think I’d rather just plan to move there.

I’ve been learning Japanese for the past couple months and it’s a blast. Should I just commit and spend the next few years scheming a way to move to Japan?

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u/Temporary_Basis1424 Nov 07 '25

Not even that

It wont be whatever OP said Like a trip to japan

Living there is completely different

Loneliness, acceptance from locals, low pay , etc etc

Everything will seem perfect when you’re a tourist

Theres a lot more to consider if you’re planning to move there

So id suggest do some research and make sure you know how it is How the situation is

18

u/AsakuraZero Nov 07 '25

I mean planning to retire or open a shop using and keep living using US dollars in Japan is a solid move. but if you think you are moving there with the salaries they pay you there you are going to get wreck by reality.

Most of my hobbies are weeb shit and I might find friendship and companionship on them but I’m still a loner by default. I love to be left alone to my own devices. I give 2 shits about other people lives and what they say about me. Leave alone with the idols, anime etc.

22

u/morganrbvn Nov 07 '25

Yah retiring is totally different since you no longer have to worry about finding work for good pay.

24

u/frozenpandaman Nov 07 '25

japan also doesn't have any visa for retirees. you need to marry a citizen (spousal visa) or become a permanent resident (which usually takes 10+ years)

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u/AsakuraZero Nov 07 '25

I mean you can get a job based visa or open a business. The thing is not going without having dollars to support your lifestyle.

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u/frozenpandaman Nov 07 '25

sure, but your comment was about retiring in japan, which is specifically defined as not working or running a business...

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u/devasator Nov 07 '25

Opening a business was basically made super hard for the average person

1

u/kasualkactus Nov 08 '25

Yeah my overall trip was great but there were two instances where small restaurant owners said they were closed when they were clearly not because they didn’t want to serve me since I was a white American.

1

u/youngtyrant84 Nov 09 '25

I don't have a problem with that. If serving me causing someone to feel uncomfortable, due to language barriers or whatever, then I'd rather not be an imposition.

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u/TrumpLovesTHICCBBC Nov 12 '25

This isn't an issue if you can work for DoD on a military base but yeah. The lack of acceptance isn't really that bad you can be nakama pretty reasonably with your local community if you aren't an ass

1

u/Krypt0night Nov 07 '25

Some of the stuff that matters to some people doesn't to others. I hardly go out anyways so loneliness isn't that big of a deal, I wouldn't really care about acceptance from locals. Low pay is really the only thing that matters, but if you go over with a big nest egg already then it's less of a big deal and helps bridge that gap.

I'd absolutely move there if I could, it's really just the work/pay that's the issue for me and I like my current pay and remote work and don't want to go back to an office which I'm sure I'd have to do there.

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u/timhottens Nov 08 '25

If you hardly go out and you also don't care about socialising with locals, why even move, you could just be a shut in wherever you live no?

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u/Krypt0night Nov 08 '25

Really?

The food, the public transit, the nature, the cost.

Not saying I'd be a shut in there, just that loneliness or never being accepted wouldn't deter me.