/jp/ - Otaku Culture

I lived there about three years total and really liked it.

The big downside from my POV is the big difficulty jump (and honestly, for me, a commitment hurdle) between normally temporary language work and something more permanent.

Can't relate to most of the complaints in this thread. If you're a gaijin (non-Chinese) in Japan and getting yourself locked into a death-by-work office you are indeed doing it wrong. I would go back if able to attain a relatively undemanding uni position or something similar, but I also think the anon's advice re: getting serious work at home and traveling whenever you can is wise.

Doing a year teaching English is not the worst thing, either, and can help you figure out if you even like the place. I really did, personally, but wouldn't want to do that kind of work permanently. /diary]