Oct 10, 2025
If not Japan, where else?
Several of my expat friends here have also lived in other countries outside their passport country -- not just Japan! If you had to pick another country to be an expat in outside your home country (and not including Japan, of course), is there anywhere that sounds appealing? Let me know where and why! I'm personally really interested in Finland! I've heard that the work culture there is very good and there are lots of good social support programs, which I think make the integration process easier!
Best Answer
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on Oct 10
I get the appeal of Finland and have often thought it would be a good place for my family to emigrate to. When you can fly over Russia its 'only' about 10 hours flight to Japan and its only 3 hours to Ireland. Not sure I'd be able for their winters though. I spent a summer in Canada, Toronto, many years ago and I always thought if I were to live anywhere else it would be there, but a lot has changed since then, not just with me, but with the country, so it has lost its appeal! Right now, Spain would be my first choice, Italy my second and, if I pretend like I could afford it, Switzerland would be my third. Switzerland is like the Japan of Europe in terms of shared values such as societal harmony, punctuality, respect for authority, and cleanliness.
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on Oct 11
@BigfamJapan I also think I'd struggle with Finland's winters, my husband reminds me of that whenever I dream about moving there. I complain enough about Niigata's winters! Switzerland sounds nice with many of those shared values that Japan also has.
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on Oct 12
If I had to move on... I stayed in Glasgow, Scotland, for a month and job hunted during that time. It's replete with history, gorgeous landscapes, and cultural institutions. I have relatives there, so it felt like home. I enjoyed a few weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and fell hard for the city. It's easy to get around on foot, by bicycle, and songthaews (the ubiquitous pick-up truck buses). I also did some job-searching there - lots of opportunities for foreign workers. After learning Japanese, I'm not intimidated by learning Thai. Well, maybe managing the tones would break my brain!
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on Oct 13
@TonetoEdo I've seen a bit in the news about Australians going to places in SE Asia (such as Thailand) to try and escape the cost of living issues. I can see the appeal, especially for those who like the warmer climate. I've also read that some medical facilities in places like Bangkok are top-tier, which is one of the things I would want as I get older.
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on Oct 29
I haven't thought seriously about this, but we used to joke about Puerto Rico. Now I joke that my husband could enroll in cooking school in France or Italy. I think he's deterred by needing to learn a third language, but I wouldn't mind. I've spent a couple months in S. Korea and have considered working there more long term as it's similar to Japan, but the work culture is too intense for me. I have also spent some time in Hong Kong but wouldn't want to live in such a big city state. For now we have family in Japan and in the US so I'd prefer to be close to them rather than move farther away.
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