In Japan, especially Tokyo, it might be tricky to find friends. And you’re not the only one struggling with this. loneliness is a huge problem in Japan. Even many restaurants are designed to have dinner by yourself, and no one bats an eye. If you’re coming to Japan for the first time, I strongly recommend starting your journey in a share house or guest house, where you can ease into socialising simply by living your life. After, you can join platforms like Meetup.com, where you can sign up for events specifically made for foreigners to meet. If you’re ready to take a step further, join a local (sports or other hobby) club.

Since we’re all humans here, there is no shame in dealing with mental struggles. We all feel lonely, scared or depressed sometimes. Although Japan still has a significant taboo going on when it comes to mental health, there are options when it comes to therapy, especially for foreigners, like Tokyo Mental Health or international online platforms like BetterHelp.