Meet Joanne, a veteran English teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching preschool to elementary school students in both Japan and the Philippines. She’s worked in international school settings and is known for creating learning materials and supporting students with careful, level-matched instruction. Today, Joanne works at an international school in Tokyo.
In this interview, Joanne shares why Japan felt like the right place to work, how the first move went smoothly with company support, and what became difficult once apartment hunting had to be done alone in Tokyo.
Interview
1. Could you share a little about your background?
I’m Filipino, and I came to Japan to work as a teacher. I’ve been teaching English for many years, mainly with preschool to elementary school students, and I’ve taught in both the Philippines and Japan. These days, I’m working at an international school in Tokyo, and I’m also the kind of teacher who likes to create materials and track students closely, so they can learn at a pace that actually fits them.
2. What made Japan the place to move to?
Japan felt like a safe country to work in, and that mattered to me. I was also genuinely interested in the culture. It wasn’t just “I want to live abroad.” Japan felt like a place where daily life would be stable, but also different enough to stay interesting.
3. What was the moving process like?
Honestly, the beginning went smoothly because my initial company handled most of the process. I didn’t have to figure out every step alone, and that support really reduced the stress. When you’re moving to Japan, there are so many details that can become overwhelming, so having a company guide the process made the transition feel much more manageable.
4. What difficulties came up when moving into an apartment in Tokyo?
The hardest part was when I had to find my own apartment in Tokyo. I was refused by some properties simply because I’m a foreigner, and that was discouraging. On top of that, the language barrier was a big hurdle. Apartment searching isn’t just “finding a room,” it’s contracts, rules, and lots of details, so it can feel heavy if you can’t communicate smoothly.
5. How did you overcome those difficulties?
What helped most was finding a real estate agent who speaks English. Once I had someone who could clearly explain the process, it felt like I could finally move forward without second-guessing everything. I could ask questions, understand the terms better, and make decisions without feeling stuck.
6. Were there any nice surprises after moving?
To be honest, there weren’t really any nice surprises in the housing part. Once I had to handle apartment hunting on my own, the process felt more taxing than exciting. It was something I just had to push through until I finally found a place and could start settling in.
7. What advice would you give to someone in a similar situation?
I’d say having Japanese friends helps a lot. Even small advice or recommendations can save you time and stress. Sometimes it’s not about someone doing everything for you, it’s just having someone you can ask when you’re confused, or someone who can point you to the right agent or the right direction.
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Final thoughts
Joanne’s experience shows the difference between moving with support and moving alone. The start can feel smooth when a company helps, but Tokyo apartment hunting can still be tough as a foreigner, especially with language barriers and refusals. The biggest takeaway is simple: support matters, and the right people around you can make the whole process much more manageable.
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