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When I moved to Japan in 2025, I knew I wouldn't be here forever — but having a full year ahead of me felt like an infinite amount of time.

Now I'm getting ready to head back to my hometown in Canada, and I can't believe how quickly my year passed.

Since moving here, I've been lucky enough to live in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kumamoto, visit more than a dozen cities and towns, and become a version of myself I really love.

I'm excited to go home and see the people I've missed, but saying goodbye to the life I've built here feels a lot harder than I expected.

I'm going to miss how affordable my life has felt here.

One of the biggest things I've noticed during my time in Japan is how much less financial stress I've felt on a day-to-day basis.

Before moving here, my husband and I paid almost 2,000 Canadian dollars a month for our apartment in Ottawa. In Japan, I've been living in Airbnbs and generally spending roughly 20% to 30% less on rent alone.

High-quality food has also been noticeably cheaper in Japan's major cities than in my home in Ottawa. Sure, some fruit, like apples and strawberries, can be pricey, but I've found basics like meat, eggs, milk, and bread to generally be more affordable.

Then, there's eating out. A nicer date-night meal that would cost us anywhere from CA$60 to CA$100 back home might be around CA$30 or CA$40 here. Since tipping isn't really part of Japanese culture, my meals are even cheaper.

I'm definitely looking forward to getting back into a bigger kitchen, but I've eaten very, very well in Japan, and I'll miss how easy and affordable it is to do so.

Japan has seriously spoiled me with convenience.

I've been surprised by how much you can actually do at a convenience store in Japan. At a 7-Eleven, you can find bathrooms and ATMs, order hot meals and smoothies, and even pay your bills.

In Ottawa, I was much more used to gas-station convenience stores where I could only go in to pay for gas, buy a lottery ticket, or grab a very overpriced snack. (And good luck finding a bathroom you're able to use when you're there, too.)

I've especially loved how easy it is to find a printer here. In Japan, I can walk just a few minutes to a convenience store whenever I need something printed; meanwhile, back in Canada, I used to have to make a special trip to Staples.

I don't think I'll ever get over how easy it is to travel.

I'll really miss having the freedom to hop on a train and spend the day in a new city whenever I feel like it. I don't think I would've explored nearly as much without Japan's great transportation system.

Unlike in Ottawa, the trains here are frequent, affordable, and make it easy to say, "I've never been there before. Let's go tomorrow!"

I'll even miss the little things, like the songs that play before the doors close, the art on some trains, and the cute deer-shaped handles on the Kintetsu line between Osaka and Nara.

I really like who I've become here.

Living in Japan has changed me fundamentally.

I've become a lot more comfortable doing things on my own, and I think the country's solo-dining culture has helped me get used to going somewhere because I want to, without needing someone else to go with me.

Beyond that, I feel so much more confident than I did before moving here. I've never been happier, and I really love the person I've become while living abroad.

I'm excited to bring that version of myself home, but I'm also a little nervous about returning to the life I had before Japan — worrying about the cost of living in Canada, feeling stuck in my hometown, and falling back into the same routines I was so eager to leave.

On the other hand, there are also things I'm excited to return to.

As much as I'm going to miss Japan, there are things I've been looking forward to.

Most importantly, I've missed my community. I've made a couple of wonderful friends here, but building a social circle in Japan has been difficult.

I've also missed so many moments back home, like my little brother's first day of high school. Texting and FaceTiming help, but nothing compares to sitting around a table with my family, and I can't wait to have a holiday dinner with everyone again.

I'm also looking forward to being a tourist in my own country. Back when I lived in Ottawa, I wanted to get away so badly. Now, I'll see photos or videos of Canada on my feed and catch myself thinking, "How have I never seen this?"

Ironically, living abroad has shown me that I've barely scratched the surface of my own country. After spending almost a year traveling around Japan, I'm excited to change that.

So, as bittersweet as it is to leave Japan, I'm trying not to think of going home as just returning to the life I left. I'm bringing a lot of new experiences, confidence, and curiosity with me, and hopefully, I'll use them all to see more of everything Canada has to offer.

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Alessa Hickman

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Alessa Hickman is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist working across lifestyle, travel, food, and career storytelling. Her work includes personal essays, travel writing, and reflections on life abroad, as well as digital resources and brand content. Connect with Alessa at https://www.alessahickman.com/ or on LinkedIn.

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