u/Certain-Pay6694

Currently a software engineer on J-Find arriving Tokyo July 2026. NYU MS CS, backend and AI systems background, basic conversational Japanese improving.

Specifically asking J-Find or other visa holders:
• How long did it realistically take to land a software engineering role from arrival?
• Which job platforms actually produced results - JapanDev, TokyoDev, Wantedly, LinkedIn, recruiters?
• Did speaking even basic Japanese make a noticeable difference during the search?
• English-first companies only or did you pursue Japanese-dominant companies too?

Not looking for generic Japan job search advice. Only responses from people who have done this on J-Find or Engineer visa preferred

Submitting J-Find application this week. Specifically asking J-Find holders only - not general visa questions.

My current intended activities form has three rows:
1. Settlement activities: city hall registration, accommodation, bank account, health insurance enrollment
2. Job-seeking activities: applying to software engineering positions at technology companies in Japan, attending interviews
3. Part-time employment to supplement living expenses during job-seeking period

Two specific questions nobody seems to have answered clearly:

•	Did you explicitly list part-time work in your intended activities or leave it blank given it is already permitted under Designated Activities status?  
•	Did the consulate ask any follow-up questions about your intended activities or was submission straightforward?

Just submitted my J-Find visa application and waiting for approval. Planning to arrive Tokyo around July 2026 as a software engineer.

Quick background: NYU MS CS graduate, spent the past year as a founding engineer at a US AI startup. Basic conversational Japanese and actively improving

Looking to connect with anyone currently on J-Find or who has gone through it recently. Specifically curious about:

•	What the first 2 to 3 months actually looked like practically  
•	Affordable share housing areas in or around Tokyo with reasonable commute and where to find one  
•	Job search experience on the ground

Happy to share my journey as I go through it. Drop a comment or DM

I was planning to visit RPNYC Saturday or Monday party
So wanted to know what approx number trans are there

Or is it full of old guys??

Thanks