It is officially less than 2 months until we get ourselves on a plane and fly across the Pacific Ocean. We will be visiting Thailand for a month and heading to Japan for a full year on a Working Holiday visa. The excitement is really getting real!
Sorry we have not been very active on the blog lately - we've been working to complete our applications to get our Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designations in British Columbia! Fingers-crossed that we will be able to get it before we leave!
It has been a long time coming for us - we both knew we wanted to travel, live elsewhere, and try new things. We basically started planning and budgeting for this adventure abroad soon after we started dating - which is about 2 years now. Not that we are entirely prepared, but we're beyond excited to transition our lives from Vancouver, Canada to Nagano, Japan!
With many to-do items crossed off, we still have many to go! Subscribe to our mailing list to keep updated on our journey!
Why Japan?
Both Chris and I have been to Japan a few times already and absolutely loved it. We chose Japan for a few reasons:
- Working Holiday Visa: As Canadians, there are quite a few countries that have reciprocal work and travel agreements for citizens aged 18-35. International Experience Canada (IEC) provides the opportunity to apply for these visas to over 30 countries. While sifting through the visa requirements, we found that some countries limit applicants at the age of 30 - Japan is one of these countries. Among all the countries with the age limit of 30, we were most interested in Japan.
- Food: This may not come as a surprise, but both Chris and I very much enjoy Japanese food. Living in Vancouver, we are already spoiled with a vast amount of sushi, and ramen but we couldn't be more excited about getting cheaper and delicious Japanese food in Japan. We've found that in Japan, delicious food can be found at a restaurant, from a convenience store or even from a vending machine! Though, the vending machine may be a hit or miss, the variety of things you can get from a vending machine in Japan is mind blowing.
- Culture & Technology: As one of the most developed and modern countries in the world, Japan functions very differently from the rest of the world. Chris and I are drawn to the cutting-edge technology as engineers and are excited to be challenged by the different social norms of the culture.
- Nature: Cherry blossom, Japanese gardens, Fall foliage, mountain ranges, and powdery snow. As avid hikers, skiers and photographers, we love the the nature scene in Japan. Japan is known for its powdery snow and that's one of the top reasons we are headed to Nagano!
- Living Costs & Standard: Affordable living is a popular topic among Vancouverites. The housing cost in Vancouver has risen over the years and has massively affected the affordability of the city. Chris and I love Vancouver and all that it offers, but want to seek other places that can offer a similar standard of living for a lower cost.
