Long Read
Relocating to Hiroshima: A Step-by-Step Expat Checklist (Because I’m Apparently Insane)
you know that moment when you're on google earth, scrolling through random cities like a digital psychopath, and suddenly-bam-you stop on a place that feels like it holds secrets? that was me, three months ago, zooming into hiroshima like a creeper, thinking, i wonder if i could actually live there.
fast forward to me standing in front of a vending machine at 2am, holding a can of boss coffee like it’s the holy grail of energy, and i realized: yeah, i did move here. here’s the checklist i wish i had, minus the bs and plus all the chaos.
1. the preflight mental breakdown
i’m a *freelance photographer, so hiroshima wasn’t a random pick. the light here is nuts. it hits different, especially in the mornings when the mist still clings to the riverside. but before the light struck me spiritually, i had to survive the logistics.
you’ll want to:
- 🔹 get your visa sorted before your brain does. look into the designated activities visa or the freelance work visa-paperwork feels like pulling teeth in japan, but it's manageable. i used this visa guide religiously.
- 🔹 book a temp apartment on airbnb. i stayed in minamiyamate for the first two months. cute, but slightly haunted with old japanese vibes.
- 🔹 brush up on train timetables like it's a religious text.
2. your wallet is already dry (let’s be honest)
here's the rub:
> "do not google ‘hiroshima rent’ at 3am. i cried and booked a one-way to bangkok.” -drunk karl from r/hiroshima
hiroshima’s rent isn’t tokyo-tier, but still-ballpark 50k-70k yen for a studio unless you want to live in a closet made of felt and anxiety. the good news: hiroshima is safer than most major cities. in fact, according to the 2023 global peace index, it ranked in the top 10 safest cities in asia. that's huge peace of mind for an expat freelancer like me.
| Expense Category | Cost (JPY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartment | 50,000-70,000 | Avoid central areas if you're broke |
| Monthly Pass (bus/train) | 8,000-12,000 | Get the hiroshima streetcar pass. easy life |
| Basic Groceries | 15,000 | Local markets = cheaper + more authentic |
| Basic Camera Gear Parts | 20,000 | Needed, because i am paranoid about backup |
3. the scene i didn’t expect
let me tell you about the neighbors. somehow i live in a block where everyone has a bike, a cat, or both. they've got a whole system of silent nods and seasonal socks. they’re also not even slightly surprised to see me hauling a tripod down the street at 5am. the proximity to osaka and fukuoka makes regional travel easy. got a weekend? you’re on the shinkansen before lunch.
> “those who move here and complain about the job market clearly never networked in a coffee shop. hiroshima is buzzing if you know where to look.” -meg, local writer. meetup in r/hiroshima every wednesday fyi
oh, and the job market? it’s not loaded with english teaching jobs like tokyo, but if you’re a freelancer, designer, or digital something-or-other? the creative scene is underground, still simmering, and full of collaborative chaos. loads of co-working spaces, indie galleries, and a surprisingly robust open mic circuit.
4. the weather - read it like a poem
right now it’s that last puff of humidity before autumn sticks its tongue out at you. everything shimmers slightly. i'm typing this in sleeveless regret and a hoodie half-zipped, which sums up hiroshima's fashion code in a nutshell. extreme unpredictability.
> “once i saw a guy wearing flip-flops and a parka in august. not a joke. local.” -the drunk guy at sarutahiko coffee
weather doesn’t just happen here; it lingers like a mood swing.
5. befriend a vending machine
honestly, tipping a vending machine a silent thank you is not unheard of. sometimes i leave cookies near mine. no complaints yet. but don’t sleep on the drinks-especially the boss brand energy drinks*, holy fuck. lifeblood of hiroshima’s undercaffeinated spirits.
bottom line: hiroshima doesn’t catch you-it holds you gently by the wrist and says, "chill. make tea. stay a while." and honestly? i’m kinda into it.
so, if you’re half-mad and half-hoping a city in japan low-key adopts you? here’s your ticket:
checklist:
- ✅ visa
- ✅ a place that doesn’t fall apart when you sneeze
- ✅ bike
- ✅ soul patch (optional)
- ✅ mental acceptance of riverside mists at 6am
find more stories @r/hiroshima
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