No matter where you go in the world, there are things that maybe aren’t for you. Japan is no exception. English is… it isn’t that no one speaks it- but overall most people living there will need to be fluent in Japanese.
Meat tends to be a bit scarce and expensive, energy costs are high, if you go to Japan from many western countries for example and plan to live like you are used to- it will likely be very expensive. If you are able and willing to adapt to living like a local, you can live even in some major urban areas for costs that are surprisingly affordable- but it isn’t going to be like living in parts of the US for example where you can afford a 2+ bedroom home by yourself on a relatively low wage job and eat out every night etc. credit and things like that work differently and Japan has come along but is largely “cash only,” so that’s something for a lot of people to adjust to- along with little differences like how SMS exchanges and such are often handled.
Japan is in a group of countries that are extremely homogeneous- the culture and many other things tend to not be extremely diverse. As is often the case, nations or cultures that have less diversity often are less equipped or able to deal with differences and tend to have different or less broad views and tolerances on such subjects. Coupled with a general cultural ideal seeking an equality through sameness and prizing social harmony through conformity- Japan can be a difficult place for “being different” or “standing out” and given that foreigners tend not to have the linguistic, cultural, historical, or other touchstones along with manners or often language skills or appearance to conform to the “norm” you may find Japan is not a place you feel comfortable- or perhaps you feel fine but others are not so comfortable or inclined to you
Japan is relatively small compared to many other countries like the USA for example- but it is still a pretty big place and has regional differences as well as being a place full of individual people who all have their own politics and experiences and such- so none of this is terribly universal. It is entirely possible to experience none of this or all of this of you stay or live in Japan- but these are some common things many people are unaware of or do not consider when contemplating an extended stay or a move to Japan. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people and culture. There are many more things that a person may love or hate about the cultural and geographic and other differences in Japan. The weather is not for everyone for example- and partially due to energy costs and an overall culture of conservation- climate control is not as common in general as in certain parts of the world with comparable weather.
But for all the things one might not like- there are lots of things to love! Lots of people- foreign or native to Japan- love living in Japan. Even if living there isn’t for you- visiting may be amazing for you.
What’s more- many or most of the things one can say to be “bad” about living in Japan aren’t exclusive to Japan. Does America not play selectively with our history and what we teach or believe or deny or try to sweep away? Are parts of America not expensive? Are all Americans and all parts of America inclusive and multi cultural? Are there not things in Europe or the USA or Mexico or any other country that are more expensive than in other places? Will you find your favorite brands or even certain types of products at all easily all over the world? Generally not right?
Japan isn’t perfect or some fantasy land- it’s a country in the real world full of real people. Leave your stereotypes behind when you travel- not all Japanese are polite or honest or clean or quiet like some stereotypes hold. Not all of Japan is so perfectly safe- though many types of crime tend to be lower than many other places in in many areas of Japan people feel safe to leave their phones or belongings sitting out in public unattended while they do other things even! The conviction rate in Japan is very high and trails and arrests do t work like they do in many western legal systems- this means that perhaps innocent people or minor offenders can end up in very bad positions. Laws are different too and how police services work etc. are different too! Some is pretty good and some maybe not.
Meat tends to be a bit scarce and expensive, energy costs are high, if you go to Japan from many western countries for example and plan to live like you are used to- it will likely be very expensive. If you are able and willing to adapt to living like a local, you can live even in some major urban areas for costs that are surprisingly affordable- but it isn’t going to be like living in parts of the US for example where you can afford a 2+ bedroom home by yourself on a relatively low wage job and eat out every night etc. credit and things like that work differently and Japan has come along but is largely “cash only,” so that’s something for a lot of people to adjust to- along with little differences like how SMS exchanges and such are often handled.
What’s more- many or most of the things one can say to be “bad” about living in Japan aren’t exclusive to Japan. Does America not play selectively with our history and what we teach or believe or deny or try to sweep away? Are parts of America not expensive? Are all Americans and all parts of America inclusive and multi cultural? Are there not things in Europe or the USA or Mexico or any other country that are more expensive than in other places? Will you find your favorite brands or even certain types of products at all easily all over the world? Generally not right?