When I moved from Canada to Japan, I traded the only place I’d ever lived for a country that couldn’t be more different.
So far, I’ve lived in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kumamoto, with more cities on the list before the year is over. Seven months in, I’m much happier than I was back home — but living abroad has come with its own set of adjustments.
These are some of the biggest pros and cons I’ve experienced since moving to Japan.
My day-to-day cost of living feels lower.
Here in Japan, I’ve found everyday expenses like groceries, rent, and eating out to be much more affordable.
In Osaka, a large pack of chicken that might have cost me over 20 Canadian dollars back home is closer to CA$10. Prices do vary by city and store, and conversion rates can change, too — but I’ve found staples like eggs, bread, and milk to be cheaper overall, while fruit can be more expensive.
Eating out has also been a major bonus. My husband and I have had some of the best meals we’ve ever eaten for around CA$20 combined. In Canada, similar meals would have easily cost twice that amount, and that’s before factoring in the tip.
Rent has been easier on my budget, too. While living in Osaka, I’ve been paying under CA$1,700 a month for a two-bedroom Airbnb with all utilities included.
Back in Ottawa, I was paying more than CA$1,900 for a two-bedroom apartment before adding expenses like heating, internet, and tenant insurance.
Public transportation makes everyday life easier.
Coming from Ottawa, I’ve found Japan’s transit network to be one of the biggest upgrades in my daily life. The trains are clean, quiet, easy to navigate, and most importantly, on time.
Compared to Ottawa’s flat-rate system, I like that fares here are based on distance, so shorter trips around the city cost less than they would back home.
Even day trips to nearby cities are pretty affordable. From Osaka, I regularly visit Kyoto and Kobe, and the cost for those trips is usually around CA$15 round-trip.
The mountain views from the train windows don’t hurt, either.
The food is one of my favorite parts of living here.
I’m a huge foodie, so that was always going to play a major role in how much I enjoy living here.
Since arriving, I’ve been everywhere from viral spots and popular chains to small local restaurants where my husband and I were the only customers inside. Some of my favorite Japanese foods so far have been tonkatsu, ramen, beef curry, and mini custard cream puffs.
I’ve also loved Japan’s versions of the foods I normally associate with home — like Indian food, burgers, and pizza. Some menu items from chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks are surprisingly even better than what I was used to in Canada.
Overall, I’ve really appreciated the variety, quality, and affordability of the food here.
On the other hand, being far from home isn’t always easy.
As much as I love living in Japan, being so far away from the people and places I know best has been one of the hardest parts.
I thought that video calls and text messages would help, but they’re not the same as being there in person — and the 13-hour time difference has made communication even harder.
It’s also been tough to miss out on exciting moments in my hometown, including new restaurant openings and a local music festival with a lineup full of artists I wanted to see. Ottawa even broke a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest shawarma.
As much as I miss Canada at times, having my husband here with me makes being away a lot easier.
I’ve had to adjust to different living spaces and products.
One of my love languages is cooking, and back home, I was used to having a full-size oven, four burners, a slow cooker, and plenty of kitchen space. Some of the apartments I’ve stayed in here have been much smaller.
So far, my kitchens have come with just one burner (or two, if I’m lucky), plus a microwave, rice cooker, and kettle, so I’ve had to get pretty creative with my meals. I’ve also had to put making a lot of my favorite recipes on hold because I just don’t have the setup to prepare them here.
I’ve struggled to replace a few everyday products I relied on in Canada, too, like my usual deodorant and the curly-hair styling product I’ve sworn by for years.
When I ran out, I asked family members to bring more when they visited because I couldn’t find alternatives that worked as well for me here.
Making friends has been harder than I expected.
In Canada, I was used to chatting with strangers, making small talk in line at a store, or meeting someone new and hitting it off enough to exchange numbers.
Here, people have been polite and welcoming, but spontaneous conversations happen significantly less than they did back home.
I know that this is largely on me: My Japanese is still a work in progress, and language barriers naturally make it harder to form deeper connections. Plus, since I’ve been moving between different cities, I haven’t had the long-term opportunities to build friendships through things like work, school, or hobbies.
I’ve had plenty of great interactions since moving here, but I wish it were easier to turn those moments into friendships. Moving forward, I’m going to try to be more intentional about starting conversations and putting myself out there socially.
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