u/Alexander0k

Hey,

So I'm moving to Fukuoka in July or August (still figuring out which, flexible) on a Working Holiday Visa. Planning to stay a year and then extend to two.

I was originally going to just get a 1LDK, but figured I'd ask around first — anyone keen on splitting a place together? If we both put in around ¥100,000–120,000 a month (that's my budget for rent, could be lower if we find something nice), we could probably get into a really nice 2LDK or 3LDK instead of each settling for something smaller on our own and have a large choice of apartments to rent from or even a house.

About me: I'm 29, from the UK. Spent most of my career in cybersecurity and also ran an online business that did pretty well. I'm a full-stack software engineer too, and was a police detective in my younger years investigating cyber crime in London(dw, I'm super chill). In Japan I'll either keep going with cyber stuff or start something new — still working that out.

I'm also going to study Japanese hard during these 2 years. Aiming for N3, maybe N2 if I can pull it off because I want to look into staying in JP for the long term. Right now my Japanese is pretty basic, I basically know Hiragana and Katakana and some basic sentences, but I already speak three languages (multi-national, grew up in Romania, spent all my adult life in the UK, also half german) so hopefully it clicks reasonably fast.

The main reason I'm posting is that sharing a place just sounds more fun and I know living alone I'll become a hermit especially with somewhat limited Japanese. Someone to grab food with, explore the city with, and improve our Japanese together sounds like a lot of fun :)

Ideally looking for another guy to live with but can consider females. Does not have to be a foreigner necessarily, also open to living with a Japanese person. Don't mind the age, or what visa you're on as long as you are going to be here for 2 years, because most apartments are 2 year contracts.

If any of this sounds like your vibe, shoot me a message!

Hi,

Will be coming to Fukuoka soon on a working holiday visa and plan to spend 2 years in Fukuoka and travel around Kyushu, and around Japan.

I've been to Japan 2 times and did the classic Golden Route but never really tried other places in Japan.

I keep hearing issues about foreigners getting English menu's with different prices and general hostility because of the tourism boom.

I did somewhat experience this in Osaka as well where a man was very rude to me when I asked for directions, and also I had been given an overpriced English menu.

It's not really an issue, I'm happy to pay the tourist tax whilst I was there but I want to possibly stay in Fukuoka long term due to the good things I heard about it.

Just wondering if this happened to any of you guys in Fukuoka - the general opinion about Kyushu people is that they are way friendlier than Tokyo people and more respectable. So just want to know what to expect so I can prepare beforehand and what is the sentiment against foreigners, for context, not sure if relevant but I am a white male in this late 20's, mixed UK/Romanian.

How are you finding cost of living in Fukuoka, is $2500 a month a good budget to live on?

I plan to possible try and get a job in Cybersecurity as I have 7 years in the industry but not sure if there is a big market here and my Japanese is quite basic - alternatively I am considering the startup visa later on after my 2 year WHV expires.

My goal is to reach at least N4 and maybe N3 JLPT level within this 2 years, fingers crossed that I make it.

Any tips for someone arriving in Fukuoka? What's the best place to rent an apartment in, do you reckon it's worth paying extra to live central or is living sub-urban and commuting in better?

Any insight will be appreciated.