Visa + Housing: Your Japan Entry Plan

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Foreign Professional
June 29, 2025

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SSW-2 + Regional Revitalization
How to Move to Japan, Stay Long-Term, and Build a Life Outside Tokyo

If you're living outside of Japan and looking for a realistic, stable path in, this is for you.

Most people think you need:

  • Fluent Japanese

  • A tech degree

  • A Tokyo job

But Japan's newest visa updates and rural relocation programs offer another path. One that:

  • Doesn’t require a university degree

  • Offers long-term residency and family sponsorship

  • And helps you settle down with affordable (or even free) housing

Let’s break it down.

SSW → SSW-2
The Visa You Should Be Aiming For: SSW → SSW‑2

Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program allows foreign workers to come to Japan for jobs in industries facing major labor shortages. These include agriculture, hospitality, food processing, logistics, construction, and more.

Most people start on SSW Type 1, which allows you to live in Japan for up to 5 years.

But the real goal is SSW Type 2:

  • No time limit

  • You can bring your spouse and children

  • It counts toward permanent residency

As of 2023, SSW‑2 has been expanded to 11 industries, making it much more accessible than before.

How it works from abroad:

  1. Apply for a job with a Japanese company that sponsors SSW visas (Type 1)

  2. Take the required Japanese language test (JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic)

  3. Pass a skills test in your industry

  4. Get hired, move to Japan under SSW‑1

  5. After gaining experience, pass the advanced test to upgrade to SSW‑2

You cannot apply for SSW‑2 directly from outside Japan, but you can start the journey from abroad through SSW‑1.

Exam & Skills Portal (JITCO):
https://www.jitco.or.jp/en/skill/

RRP
What is a Regional Revitalization Program?

Japan has a serious population problem. Rural towns are shrinking, and many are offering support to newcomers, including foreign workers.

These towns offer:

  • Relocation grants of ¥300,000–¥1,000,000

  • Free or heavily subsidized housing

  • Job placement and visa sponsorship (in some cases)

  • Japanese language classes and community mentors

You don't need to live in Tokyo to start a life in Japan. These local programs exist to help people, especially foreign workers, move in, work, and stay.

Examples:

  • Akiya Banks: listings of abandoned homes, some offered free if you agree to renovate and stay long-term

  • Prefectural job-matching programs: local governments working with businesses to bring in international hires

  • Combined job + housing packages: certain programs offer both employment and relocation assistance

English Akiya Listings (AllAkiyas):
https://www.allakiyas.com/

These Work!
Why These Two Paths Work Together for Foreigners Abroad

If you're outside of Japan, here’s how this all connects:

  • SSW‑1 is your way in. You can find a job that sponsors your visa, take the tests, and move to Japan, no degree needed.

  • SSW‑2 is your upgrade. Once in Japan, gain experience, take the higher-level exam, and transition to a visa with no time limit and full family rights.

  • Regional programs help you settle. Instead of trying to afford a small apartment in Tokyo, you can move to a town that helps pay your rent, or even gives you a house.

What You Do
What to Do Right Now (From Outside Japan)

Here’s a concrete action plan:

  1. Choose your industry
    Start with one of the 11 approved SSW industries, care work, food processing, agriculture, hospitality, logistics, etc.

  2. Study for the tests
    Take the JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 (language) and your industry’s skills exam.

  3. Look for jobs
    Use verified sites that focus on SSW sponsorship:

  4. Apply for SSW‑1 jobs
    Once accepted, begin the visa process and relocation to Japan.

  5. After arrival: plan your move to the countryside
    Once in Japan, research local revitalization programs and work with your employer or recruiter to explore relocation-supported jobs.

CONCLUSION
Final Thought

If you're dreaming of living in Japan but don’t have the “perfect” background, this is your path.

  • No degree? SSW doesn’t require one.

  • Don’t speak fluent Japanese yet? You only need N4-level.

  • Want to stay long-term? SSW‑2 is the most direct route to residency.

  • Worried about cost of living? Regional Japan is welcoming foreigners and offering real support.

This is your chance to start not just a job, but a life, in Japan.

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