Solitude or Isolation? The Mental Health Landscape for Young Expats in Japan
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Solitude or Isolation? The Mental Health Landscape for Young Expats in Japan

By Elizabeth Webb for The J-Pop Exchange

Japan’s culture of quiet composure and self-reliance can feel like a balm for some but a burden for others.

For many young travelers, whether they’re students, teachers, or long-term visitors, Japan’s calm rhythm promises peace and independence. Yet beneath that serenity often lies an undercurrent of isolation that can take a toll on mental health.

For international students, the first couple of months in Japan are often described as a honeymoon phase. Everything feels beautiful and new, like the sound of cicadas in summer, the respectful bow of a cashier, the gentle silence of a morning train. But as the novelty fades, that same silence can begin to ache.

“Upon arriving in Japan … I was basically in a daze,” said Dalayah Baker, a student who wrote a post on San Diego State University’s study abroad blog in 2018. During her spring semester in Tokyo, she said, “I have always liked to figure things out on my own. I thought I would be perfectly fine being alone and relying solely on myself, but I quickly realized that living alone doesn’t mean doing everything on your own. People need other people in order to make it in life.”

Socializing in Japan often requires subtlety and patience, which are two traits that can be challenging for newcomers unfamiliar with unspoken cultural norms. Invitations to hang out may never come directly, and small talk, a social bridge in many cultures, is less common here. Living in a foreign land, you're bound to feel out of touch and miss familiar things you did in your home country.

“I felt lost and confused, as if I were just thrown into the ocean and expected to fend for myself with no tools to survive. I didn’t even know where to go to ask for help,” Dalayah said. “So even though it was very out [of] character for me to ask so many people for help, it was necessary for my survival, and I’m better for it.”

This sense of social isolation isn’t just unique to students. Young professionals working in Japanese companies often experience similar struggles. The workplace can be hierarchical and restrained, making it difficult for foreigners to form genuine connections. Group cohesion is valued over individual expression, and discussing mental health remains largely taboo.

According to a Japanese Foreign Ministry survey of 1.3 million nationals living abroad, nearly 45 percent reported feeling lonely at times. The top reasons were language barriers (31.6 percent) and cultural differences (27.9 percent).

Japan has made some progress toward mental health awareness, but stigma still lingers. Counseling services can be expensive or only offered in Japanese. Some universities and organizations now provide multilingual counseling or peer support groups, but access can vary from school to school.

Many young expats turn to online spaces (like Reddit or Discord) to find others who understand what they’re going through. Digital connections help, but they can’t always replace the grounding comfort of real-world friendship.

In the end, whether you find solitude peaceful or isolating really comes down to whether you feel connected and supported. Japan’s expat community is growing, and with it new ways of finding belonging in a culture that values quiet. The challenge is learning to embrace stillness without losing yourself to it.

In a country that prizes harmony, perhaps the most radical act for a foreigner can do is to speak openly about loneliness. And somewhere in that honesty, maybe one can find the start of a true connection.

More by Elizabeth Webb:

Silence Speaks: The Cultural Barriers to Talking About Mental Health in Japan

Spring in Japan: Chasing Cherry Blossoms and the Art of Floral Forecasting