I’m a caregiver at a dialysis hospital in Japan. I came from Nepal eight years ago, ended up in caregiving through a visa crisis, and started writing this blog because almost nothing honest about this work existed in English.
Everything here comes from my own experience — real payslips, real numbers, and the parts recruitment agencies leave out. Here’s where to start depending on where you are.
If you’re thinking about coming to Japan
Start with the honest financial picture before anything else.
Is this career actually worth it? Read Is Caregiving in Japan Worth It? My Honest Answer After 8 Years.
Want to see real numbers? Read Here’s My Actual Payslip as a Caregiver in Japan.
Wondering what life costs here? Read Cost of Living in Japan as a Foreign Caregiver — My Real Monthly Budget.
Worried you’re too old? Read Age Limit for Caregiver in Japan — Everything You Need to Know.
No university degree? Read Jobs in Japan for Foreigners Without a Degree — The Honest Truth.
Not sure what to pack or prepare? Read How to Prepare for Japan Before You Arrive — What I Wish I Had Known.
Want to know what the first year really looks like? Read My First Year in Japan as a Foreigner — What I Learned.
If you’re preparing to apply
The visa, the exam, the language, and finding an employer who won’t waste your time.
What do you actually need? Read I Applied for a Caregiver Job in Japan — Here Are the Real Requirements Nobody Lists.
Starting from zero? Read I Became a Caregiver in Japan With No Experience — Here’s Exactly How.
Preparing for the exam? Read How to Pass the SSW Caregiving Exam in Japan — My Real Study Method.
How much Japanese do you need? Read JLPT N4 vs N3 — Which Level Do You Really Need for Caregiving in Japan?.
Ready to find work? Read How to Find a Caregiving Job in Japan as a Foreigner.
Confused about the SSW visa? Read How to Apply for the SSW Visa in Japan — Step by Step.
Wondering about caregiver course vs SSW? Read Caregiver Course vs SSW in Japan — Which Path Should You Take?.
Worried about your agency? Read Caregiver Agency Japan — How to Spot a Scam Before It’s Too Late.
If you’re already working here
The parts nobody warns you about, and how to survive them.
Just arrived? Read How to Survive Your First Month as a Caregiver in Japan.
First year as a caregiver? Read My First Year as a Caregiver in Japan — What I Learned.
Body hurting already? Read Physical Demands of Caregiving in Japan — What Nobody Warns You About.
Thinking about night shifts? Read Night Shift as a Caregiver in Japan — The Honest Reality.
Working at a dialysis hospital? Read What It’s Really Like to Work at a Dialysis Hospital in Japan.
Feeling exhausted? Read Caregiver Burnout in Japan — How I Deal With It.
Struggling with Japanese at work? Read Japanese Vocabulary for Caregiving in Japan — Words You Must Know.
Want a higher salary? Read What is Kaigo Fukushi Shi? The Certification That Can Double Your Salary.
Wondering about haken vs direct employment? Read Haken vs Direct Employment in Japan — Which is Better for Caregivers?.
What benefits do you get? Read Caregiver Benefits in Japan — What the SSW Visa Actually Gives You.
Visa and long-term plans
Can you bring your family? Read Can I Bring My Family to Japan as a Caregiver?.
What happens when your SSW visa expires? Read SSW Visa Expires in Japan — What Happens Next?.
Can you get permanent residency? Read Can I Get Permanent Residency in Japan as a Caregiver?.
What about Japan’s pension system? Read Japan Pension System for Foreign Caregivers — What You Need to Know.
The personal side
Why I stayed, what this country cost me, and what it gave back.
Read 8 Years in Japan — What I Wish I Knew on Day One.
Read Why I Stay in Japan — The Honest Answer After 8 Years.
Read Nepali in Japan — What 8 Years Taught Me About Life.
Read What Japanese Elderly Patients Taught Me About Life.
Read I Almost Quit Caregiving in Japan — Here’s What Stopped Me.
Read My First Year as a Caregiver in Japan — What I Learned.
New posts every Wednesday and Saturday.