Be it for work or adventure, whatever the reason is, moving abroad from Japan is tough and requires planned moves. It will involve a whole lifestyle change which would seem like a bit of a hiccup initially. But with some good solid planning and knowledge you can make the most of it. While there is no exact checklist for what one should and shouldn’t do when moving overseas from Japan, there are a few things which must be kept in mind:
- Know your Area
No matter where in the world you are moving to, the country you plan to move in should not be alien to you. Take a little trip to that country beforehand to know more about it. Secondly, while you are at it, do a little housing research over there. This way you will know where you will be living and yes, finding a roof to live under will be a hard process in itself. After returning to Japan from your trip, keep researching on the internet. Hence, the little pre-trip will give you assurance in terms of your residence.
- No information is less information
The more information you have the more prepared you will be for your international move from Japan. For instance, do a little research and know what language the locals speak, how the health care sector is like, if there are any good hospitals near your residence, if they speak English or Japanese etc. If your moving destination country is America, you will obtain your social security number which will give you access to facilities like doctors, libraries etc. So once you have your social security number you will know where to go and what to do.
- Know what to carry with you
Packing for an international move is an over-whelming task, especially if you are moving to a completely new continent. When it comes to packing you will find yourself either under-packing or over-packing, both of which is not right. Take this opportunity to dispose of all the useless material and keep the updated and absolutely needed things with you. You will also have to hire international movers for shipping your stuff from Japan to abroad. Companies who offer the services of international moving from Japan can help you with pickup, customs clearance in Japan, shipping and some of them offer the services of packing as well. Also if you can afford, many moving companies in Japan can arrange customs clearance and delivery at the destination country although you will need to pay extra for such services. If you have only a small amount, postal service will also be your option. Be careful not to ship something that can cause customs or quarantine problems at the destination. Contact at least a few international movers with good reviews and get quotations for shipping your belongings.
- Be prepared for it
Moving abroad is a big decision. Especially it will be a big step for many Japanese people. Traveling and moving abroad will broaden your horizons but you might yourself feeling home-sick and the famous “culture shock” after sometime. In this whole journey there will be many emotional lifts and depressions but one should be mentally prepared for it so that once the moment strikes nothing will be unexpected. In no time you will be enjoying your new life in the country you chose to move to.
