My First Golden Week of Many: My Story from India to Japan

My First Golden Week in Japan  

People have this stereotype that Japanese work culture is all about overworking. Still, my experiences have so far been the opposite of that. It’s true, though, that Japanese work excellently, quickly, and efficiently, but part of those systems is clear boundaries between work and personal time. Perhaps the best illustration for this is the “Golden Week.”  

This year, I experienced my first golden week in Japan. Every year, sometime around April, workforces from all around the country take long vacations. Japan already has many holidays apart from Golden Week. Still, this long break enables the Japanese workforce to travel to farther places for longer, more meaningful experiences. During golden week, many local businesses may actually be closed, so it’s also important to plan your vacations with this in mind.  

For me, I planned my golden week a year ago with fellow friends from India. One of them was already working in Japan, two were scheduled to fly to Japan with a job offer, and I was the only one at that time who still hadn’t secure an offer. I called them all together to share good news: I finally got a job offer in Japan! We were ecstatic. We eventually realized that it would also be the first time the most of us would be in Japan during Golden Week. 

Here are my fellow Indian friends who went to work in Japan ahead of me:  

Stepping Into Japan and Experiencing Japanese Company Culture  

In truth, similar to the rest of the world, company culture greatly differs. Still, my experience with my company has been excellent. Perhaps partly because Japanese companies are globalizing and operating under tight government regulations that protect labor rights, my company was actively working against overworking. We have stringent rules on arriving on time, but restrictions on leaving on time were just as rigorous. We don’t bring home work or go beyond our work hours. When we talk to office mates after work hours, we never talk about work.   

And so the same thing applies to when I made plans for Golden Week. Even though company culture may vary, companies across Japan would try to observe the Golden Week. Observing Golden Week in a way shows the nationwide respect for a time to work, and a time to play and rest. During that time of leisure, you’re reminded of why you work.  

The Motivation Behind My Journey to Japan  

My journey as an Indian dreaming of working in Japan wasn’t problem-free. It took a lot of hard work and patience: I studied Japanese from scratch, I watched friends succeed ahead of me, and failed Japanese job interviews. Now that I’m living the dream, though, it’s all worth it! I’m happy I persevered through it all.  

I’d been dreaming of Japan since my first year in university, when I heard about a neighbor who successfully found a way to Japan. I immediately thought that if they could do it, I could do it, too! I started learning Japanese, but then the pandemic hampered those plans. I was able to resume studying Japanese after I graduated, and I was already working a full-time job.   

It was a challenge, but thankfully FAST OFFER International was there to support me. I also watched many videos on YouTube, and I was in awe of how interwoven technology and culture were in Japan. I admired their work ethic, job stability, focus, and all the undeniable excellent results seen in their society. While visiting centuries-old traditional temples, they crossed the street to one of the most hi-tech bullet trains. With every vlog and anime I watched, I gathered courage, considering why my efforts would be worth it. Two anime shows that really inspired me: Haikyuu!! and Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) focused on underdog heroes actively working on becoming their best versions.   

My Experience with Japanese Job Interviews  

After a year of studying Japanese, I finally got to fly to Japan for interviews. FAST OFFER International helped me prepare, guiding me along the intricacies of Japanese nuance and giving me a safe and constructive space to practice. Even though we, FAST OFFER International’s staff and I, worked extremely hard, I couldn’t land a job offer during that sponsored week-long trip.   

I was told it was a personality mismatch that was out of our control. My career advisor and mentor didn’t advise me to change my personality to fit the company. After all, that would only bite me back in the future if I shed that fake personality once I was working with them. Even though it was a difficult pill to swallow and all my hard work didn’t pay off, I decided to stick with FAST OFFER International. I reminded myself that even if I didn’t succeed, all my other friends had succeeded with them. I just hadn’t found my perfect match, yet!  

I’m so glad I stuck to it. They then connected me with a company that interviewed me online twice. For the third round, they wanted to meet me in person. They even sponsored my second trip to Japan! As rejected as I felt the last time, this company wanted me so much.   

Sweet, Sweet Success with the Japanese Company Perfect for Me  

At my final interview, I resonated powerfully with Hajime no Ippo’s titular lead, Ippo Makunouchi. Every episode saw Ippo get battered, and he felt, it seemed, eternally frustrated that he couldn’t perform at his 100%. After several matches and blows, Ippo could calibrate his performance to perfection–and that match was sublime, like all the pieces clicking together, like reaching the top of a mountain after a long, grueling hike. I was stunned and overwhelmed when I finally succeeded and got that job offer! Overjoyed! Every difficult step in the journey was a necessary chiseling down of a roughly hewn marble block to finally unveil the masterpiece, the vision I had held for so long in my mind was finally out in the world, to be appreciated by others.   

Today, working for the company I chose, which also chose me, feels like home.  

My Experience at My Japanese Company  

At the moment, I’m in my second month at my Japanese company. I’ve witnessed their impressive discipline and work-life balance in this short time. Their excellence, though, doesn’t sacrifice their kindness. As I try to adjust to everything, my workmates have been incredibly helpful, taking time to help me. My personality fits perfectly with the company. It took time because, almost like dating, you have to be patient while waiting for the right person, or in this case, company, to come along.  

Golden Week 2025: Just the Beginning  

A year after we made plans, my friends finally travelled around Japan together. The most unforgettable part was visiting the popular Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, one of the most visited spots in Japan.  

It starts with a long climb along the mountain. At the halfway point, a landmark stone has an interesting meditation practice attached. While looking at the stone, you’re supposed to think of a big task or goal. You imagine how difficult this goal would be to achieve, imagine all the things you must do to reach it, and connect it with how heavy the stone must be. Finally, you pick up the stone, and how it feels in your hand—whether surprisingly light or insurmountably heavy–is how complex your task will be.  

Following these steps, I considered my goal while looking at the stone: I wanted to meet many new friends and live for as long as possible in Japan. When I finally attempted to lift the stone, it was light as a feather!  

My Goals: From Golden Week to a Golden Life  

Every day feels like a dream in Japan. I’ve always dreamed of being close to the water, and now, when I look outside my apartment window, there’s a view of the sea. There’s still so much ahead of me, many more goals to work on and achieve, and ways life can improve. Aside from my short-term goal of enjoying a Golden Week with friends, here are the other goals I’ve set my sights on:  

• Helping My Company Innovate  
  • I’m passionate about my work and want it to pay off in the workplace. I hope my strengths eventually help me find a way to innovate something in the company that benefits us all.  
• Be the Healthiest I Can Be  
  • Since coming to Japan, I’ve lost 10 kilos. Where I live makes it easy to cycle a lot. A short distance away is a popular cycling route I go on as much as possible. In terms of food, eating out is easy thanks to labels indicating content and calories. Plus, healthy food in Japan is accessible, fresh, delicious, and affordable! As I always cook for myself, it’s great that fresh produce is easy to procure.   

FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Life as an Expat in Japan 101

Here are some tips for future Indian expats in Japan like me!   

Don’t forget to pack:  

1. Enough Money at the Start. Your first pay packet will arrive after a short period of work. While waiting, you need money for some basic necessities. Subsidized apartments will also be unfurnished, so you might need to buy essential furniture. You’ll probably also have to buy trash essentials due to the strict trash segregation laws that differ per area. If you’re coming from a hot country, you might also need to buy seasonal cold-weather clothes. Ideally, from my experience living and working outside of Tokyo, the target is 150-160 thousand yen, which should be enough until your first salary.    
2. Your Favorite Local Spices! Indian spices will be available in Japan, but they will cost a premium, which will matter in your first month. So pack up your favorite flavors of home to help you cope with the challenges of adjusting to a new country.   
3. Your Hobbies. Because I’m an avid gamer, I brought my gaming desktop. Your hobbies are an essential facet of rest and identity. Being a foreigner in a country comes with challenges, but having something comforting and familiar to come home to can work as a daily respite.  

Logistical Checklist before flying from India to Japan  

First and foremost, sign up with FAST OFFER International. That way, while adjusting to Japan, they can help you step by step on things you need to accomplish. All-Japanese forms can be overwhelming for foreigners, so their help during these parts was vital to my experience.  

1. Before Flying to Japan: COE & Japanese Work Visa  
   • With the company and FAST OFFER International’s help, getting my COE was a breeze. After getting my COE, I applied for my work visa, which arrived a week later. Later, your work visa will be exchanged for a residency card you’ll always have on you.  

2. Arriving in Japan: at the City Hall  
   • My Number ID – When you arrive in Japan, you can optionally sign up for My Number ID, making your other documents with the government easier.  
   • Pay your Pension—You must start paying your pension the moment you arrive in Japan. Your company will begin paying for your pension at your first salary, but it might not cover certain days before your start.   

Tips for Life in Japan:   

1. Pursue your hobbies with a community.  
   • Aside from the friends I had from India, with whom I celebrated Golden Week in Japan, I’ve also made friends through pursuing my hobbies. My company has clubs for different hobbies, including ones I’m interested in: motorcycles and badminton! Having friends and actively pursuing your social life in Japan is a must, especially for an expat plucked out of their comfort zone.   

2. Diet Restrictions in Japan  
   • There are so many options in Japan that folks with diet restrictions will undoubtedly find many that meet their criteria. Ensure you check the labels of packaged goods and know the Kanji for the ingredients you watch out for, such as beef, pork, etc. Surprisingly, Japanese Doritos use pork fat compared to the default vegan Doritos in India. Even restaurants will mark dishes with symbols to help you navigate their menus.   

3. Get an International License.  
   • You may need to get around by car if you’re not based in Tokyo or big cities. In that case, getting your local and international driving license will be easier before flying to Japan.  

Golden Week Tips  

1. Double-check if the venues will be open on specific dates. Most companies, even some tourist destinations, pause during Golden Week  
2. Align with your direct reports on the expectations that must be met before the extended break.  
3. Have fun!