For a fun, animated look at Japans History, check out my History of Japan vlog. Enjoy! History of Japan (Short and Animated) FULL version - ua-cam.com/video/hXWehDBg3tg/v-deo.html
I'm probably not going to wait until actual retirement. I lived on Okinawa for 13 years, took a "better" job to make more money for the family and am now relatively miserable. I'd rather be poor in Okinawa than middle-class in the US. The stress of the rat-race isn't worth the paycheck anymore.
Thanks for your opinion, I'm 18 and I'm going to retire at okinawa, I've saved up enough money to do so, and I heard they give free or very cheap houses out on sale to help their rural population.
Curious, how does one retire there? It seems Japan allows US citizens in for a 3 month visa free period. Do you just have to leave and return every 3 months, or is there a more convenient way to settle there?
Spent year in Okinawa while in the Marine Corps. The weather is much like the weather on the Southeast Texas weather which is where I'm from. It is absolutely beautiful there and the people are wonderful once they know you respect their culture. I had an amazing time there and made many local friends. The food is amazing. I would give anything to visit there again.
I live on east Tezas - I haven’t lived there in Okinawa since 1975 at camp hansen- what part of texas in the south east are you comparing it too - I know in the winter I saw it sometimes get up to 68 (sub tropical) days - I’m tho king of going back - what cities are near camp hansen (kin like) thanks
@@relsongraciejiujitsutylert1733 I was stationed on Hansen TAD, from camp Pendleton CA in 1979. Swiming with sea snakes in the day & partying with bargirls at night. Very enjoyable 6 months.
I am a citizen of Okinawa. I like all the Marines. I was so happy that we got together at the festival of Naha city and everyone's cooperation at the Otsunahiki tug-of-war of Naha!💪
I lived in Okinawa for 7 years and intend to retire to Okinawa with my Okinawan wife. The pace of Okinawa and the beauty of the people and environment are second to none!
I loved the Suicide Boat diving area, and every dive site was different Beautiful water and Jungle scenery Driving on the left side of the road takes a couple of weeks to feel safe to others, plus crossing the street you can get hit by traffic because you need to get use to looking in the opposite direction first than what we do in the States
I lived a total of eight years in Japan, mostly in the Tokyo region, with three months in Okinawa. I found the Okinawans far more open, friendly, accepting, kind and just plain real than are the mainland Japanese. If I were to live in Japan again, Okinawa would be at the top of my list.
I still have a jean jacket I bought off base (Kadena) in 1976. Not even a pin hole and the chinese style buttons are still perfect. My now deceased mother loved wearing it in fall.
Lived in Okinawa in 1970. Lot better then. Than it is now. The reefs were full of color. Now the coral is bleached from the high water temps. Not as pristine as before.
I watched this video online, and it was very good. From 1957-1959, I lived on Kadena AFB as an AF wife. We loved Okinawa, and three years later,we lived in Japan from 1962-1965 near Zama. Your video took me back 67 years. I loved it there. Thank you. 😊
Great video. Thank you. I lived in Okinawa with Air Force military assignments in 1972-1973, 1983-1991, and 1994-1997. My favorite place in the world. We have thought going back to Okinawa for retirement, but that is probably not in the cards for us. Great dream, probably won't happen. We still go back to Okinawa for visits with family. I guess that will be our destiny, which isn't so bad. Still, I could picture myself waking up every morning in Okinawa with a big smile on my face.
I was stationed at Kadena from 1975 to 1981. When I think back on it the song Blue Bayou comes to mind. LOL That was the best place I ever lived in my life. Our children remember it as their second favorite next to Texas. LOL
Being half Filipino-Okinawan, I have been doing my research on whether to go back to Okinawa (or the Philippines) w my American husband for retirement. As I dig deeper, I am realizing that this is the place for us. I have always loved Okinawa and my husband loves Hawaii, but having lived in the States for 30 yrs, I hope that the Okinawa island life wouldn't shock us so much! Thank you for this beautiful video.
Did you be able to come back? I’m Okinawan born in Latin America. My husband has another nationality, I fell in love with Okinawa when I went there for studying, now i just want to come back to the motherland. Could you please help me with information? 🙏🏽
@@lalahana111 Hi, there! I am in Okinawa now for the Uchinanchu Taikai w my family. I will try to see if I can get some kind of residency so it will be easier to come back and stay longer, then I will open up a Japanese bank account. I can't tell you much information right now bc I just got here a week ago doing nothing! lol. But being half Okinawan, I can assure you that they will give you leniency and assist you in every way they can. I applied for a visa as daughter of a Japanese citizen before the country lifted the travel ban but they allow American citizens to come now without visa. I do not know how the policy is for people coming fr Latin America but if you have family here, they can get your parent's original copy of birth certificate fr the municipal office. That document can give you a good chance of getting residency. You can go online for information on how to enter Japan or get a status. I am still in a search mode myself, but this link might help you get started. www.japan.travel/en/plan/visa-info/visa-immigration
Great video RoninBlue! I am retired in Okinawa and your information is very accurate. Great work! Thank you again for your efforts producing this. Well done!
How is it possible to retire there, if you could clarify? Japan seems to allow US citizens in for 3 months at a time only. Do you leave and return every 3 months? Or is there a way to apply for residency?
A great video, such a professionally made documentary, thank you! My daughter really wants to go to Okinawa, I should make it happen as soon as the borders open!
I have already decided to move in Okinawa from Finland someday. Either to work there or at least if and when i get to retire.. small second home in Okinawa sounds quite nice. Thank you for your video
@@shannonsmith6806 How so ? If i am already retired when i buy second home from Okinawa i dont have any need for Japanese pension as i would live on my Finnish pension plus investments . Obviously citizenship is a well lost cause on that point but honestly the most likely scenario is to have my current house as my main residence and live on Okinawa as much legally possible
Thank you very much for sharing this video. I love Japanese people and have a number of friends. I have been to Tokyo a few times but enjoy a quiet life instead a big city. I will visit Okinawa next year to find out more about the people the culture and the surrounding nature.
Seen a lot of places around the world, two places I'd risk everything to retire at are Hualien on Taiwans east coast and Okinawa, easily my top two destinations, trapped in the past is a good thing in these destinations.
I've lived in a shoe box in Sydney australia that was 4x that amount, expensive is a whole other class, but yeah id trade rent in okinawa as a nomadic employee in a heartbeat.
average size in my area in Tokyo is 12 sqm for office workers . Which makes Sydney flat size seem huge!! Unless you have a high salary or lots of cash. Okinawa is much better . There is always a way in Japan to reside , so if your serious just do it . Take a chance life is short .
I lived in Koza City, and Naha in 1970/72. Started 9th grade at Kubasaki 9. Offbase was a blast. Tori Station was nearby. Fantastic food! And people were very nice to young Americans. I saw and experienced many things. But that was 50 yrs ago. It appears to have changed alot. Just like San Antonio. Will always have fond memories.
Okinawa is really nice, not sure if I might not get Island sickness after a while but at least for holiday its awesome ! I have been to 6 or 7 Islands in Okinawa already and it was really nice most of the time even though withouth a Car it is really hard on most of the islands, even Honto isn't that great to get around withouth a car but at least the do have lots of busses so it is possible.
You cannot retire in Japan unless you have a Japanese spouse or permanent residency! Great video though. I am retired in the ShonanBeach area, am American, speak the language, and love the place.
Right. My understanding is that it is very difficult to get what I guess would be a retirement visa, unlike places like Thailand where it is very common. And for retirees, having easy access to good medical care is a must so I guess that's another concern. Anyway, thanks for bringing up the subject because it's certainly something many people contemplate.
Yes, I find it odd that all these people talking about retirement don't mention that. Do you know what the process is to get residency if you are not married? Is it difficult? I guess one could exit Okinawa every three months and return. But I don't know if Japanese immigration officials take a strict stance on visa runs or not. They are pretty common in most Asian countries and no one seems to care, but I've never tried it in Japan.
@@samuraishonan4706 that's good to know. and technically i don't need a visa because I get 90 day visa exempt status each time I enter. It seems like I'd be able to rent a place there then. That's what I did when I was living in Taiwan: just did visa runs every 3 months, going o HK and returning to Taiwan same day. Immigration officials never cared, and I know many people do that there. I was a bit concerned about Japan though because I'd read some reports of people trying to come back in on a visa run and immigration telling them: you can't do that again. And some people said immigration officials told them "you can't spend more than 6 months a year in Japan." Would you say that is uncommon and just happened to these people for some strange reason? I am not familiar with Japanese law but I'd be surprised if legally immigration would be able to forbid someone to enter unless that person was wanted for a crime or something.
@@Chris-dw6cu They want you spending in Japan. As long as you look respectable and polite should be no issues. And if you show rent receipts etc for utilities as well they should let you come back and forth. It is a great place.
Are you a US citizen? If yes then it will be difficult because Japan doesn’t allow dual citizenship. That means you need to get married with a local and give up your US Citizenship to become a Japanese citizen. Once you do that you will not receive any retirement checks from the United States 😩
In the video you mention being able to find single rooms in Naha starting at $450. How does one go about locating rooms in that price range? Webpages for shorter term or monthly housing that have English options, are advertising much higher prices for their short term rentals in Naha - around $2000-$4000USD.
Unfortunately the visa for foreigners is a gray area in Japan... They are luring people to buy their abandoned houses but don't offer a clear path to get a residence visa. So if you do it and will have troubles to manage it from overseas.
It seems strange to allow people to buy houses, but then not give them a way to live in the country? Does owning property give you any legal standing at all? What about doing visa runs every three months? Does Japanese immigration accept this or will they start to hassle you if you keep coming back?
Is there any way for an American to retire in a village on one of the smaller islands? Can one get a visa to study Uchinanguchi? Are there ways to volunteer (teach) to get a visa? I'm seeking info on steps toward putting down roots. I lived on Okinawa in my teens; my father taught us some Japanese -- and then some Okinawan phrases. Also - I sought out Okinawans in Hawaii while living there (favorite time of year is Obon.)
Great video Ronin. You put a lot of work into it. Very high quality and interesting to watch. Okinawa is added to my list! Which country and you currently in now?
Thank you, we appreciate it. For now, we are hiding from the invisible enemy back home but are waiting for the green light to go directly to Japan, so we could start some vlogging there. Can't wait!
How can a former U.S. Army NG Soldier with VA Benefits can retire in Okinawa when I’m 62 yo? I need to get married there and renounce my U.S. citizenship to become a Japanese citizen. Japan doesn’t except dual citizenship. Either your an American citizen with a visitation visa or a full pledge Japanese citizen living with your spouse. Once I renounce my U.S. citizenship, I will loose my monthly retirement checks and my VA benefits. So how can I retire there without loosing my retirement checks from the United States?
I wouldn't even mention working with the military in this video. If you are retired and not working, it is a moot point to be SOFA since having that status means you are employed by the US military in some fashion. I've seen people here work a NAF job as late as their 70s but because their spouse wasn't Japanese they had to eventually leave when they actually wanted to stop working.
Your Mom can retire there but it's involved. First, she would need to comply with Covid requirements - this could be the deal breaker if travelers from your country are banned due to Delta variant. Next, she should get tourist visa for 90 days. 45 days after arrival, apply to extend the tourist visa to 180 days. During this time, she should network to develop friendships with locals or find an American-born immigration lawyer - she needs a local person to vouch for her and sign a document to that effect. Then she'll be ready to apply for Temporary Resident Visa. If she is or becomes fluent in Japanese, she can apply to become permanent resident. Quite involved and possible.....
@@lillyrice2241 can all nationalities apply to extend the 90 day visa to 180 days? Does this mean you need to come into Okinawa on a visa you got in your home country, rather than coming in on the 90 day visa free period? I have always entered Japan on the 3 month visa waiver, as an American citizen
A simple question: Why do people are so obsessed by Tokyo? That place is fully crowded, and I do hate agglomerations... I totally would retire to Okinawa, the birthsite of my beloved Karate Do 🥰
Amazing video, A friend of mine referred me to a financial adviser sometime ago and we got talking about investment and money. I started investing with $120k and in the first 2 months , my portfolio was reading $274,800. Crazy right!, I decided to reinvest my profit and gets more interesting. For over a year we have been working together making consistent profit just bought my second home 2 weeks ago and care for my family.
I’ve been forced to find additional sources of income as I got retrenched. I barely have time to continue trading and watch my investments since I had my second daughter. Do you think I should take a break for a while from the market and focus on other things or return whenever I have free time or is it a continuous process? Thanks...
@@BennettElizabth Quitting may not be the best approach if you ask me. This is where an AI comes into the picture. I barely have time to trade myself as my job swallows up most of my time. *MARGARET MOLLI ALVEY*
For me good thing to live in Okinawa and own properties number one reason is Okinawa will entually Chinese , because it’s people were sympathetic to Chinese !
Ronin, I haven't watched this one yet, but generally wondering regarding your videos, are you taking climate change into account? Very important factor, esp. if one plans to purchase a property.
First thing first. This video can be misleading for many including myself. To retire meaning your getting your retirement checks from the country you’re from while living in Okinawa right? Being a retired person of the age of 62 or above must get married to stay in Okinawa then you must renounce your country’s citizenship to become a Japanese citizen then when you do that you will not get your retirement checks from your country anymore. So you need to go back to work and obviously learn the language to get a job there. So you need go back to work again? What kind of retirement is that?
The lack of public transportation in Okinawa makes it impossible to get around without a car. It also causes terrible traffic in the populated and popular tourist areas. If Okinawa had trains and bike paths, it would be so much nicer. Unfortunately, the government seems more interested in building more shopping malls and hotels, which makes the traffic even worse.
Oki sounds delightful, but what are immigration requirements for retirees who are not affiliated with the military? What kind of hoops does an American retiree have to jump through to be able to stay there?
@@shannonsmith6806 Thank you, Shannon. Ronin, if this the case, perhaps you ought to give this video another title since most of your audience will not have Japanese ties and won't meet immigration requirements.
Sadly the big Ferris Wheel has been torn down. I proposed to my Okinawan wife at the highest point of the wheel (Jan 2006). It was perfect the wheel moved so slow, that I was able to get my small speech in followed by the "will you marry me"? They are putting new buildings in the spot where the ferris wheel was.
....450 a month?!?! omg .. my only hiccup is my lack of understanding with the japanese language, i've taught myself hiragana and katakana but im nowhere near close enough to pass any test to get a work visa 😅
How do you get a house in Okinawa without worrying about rent? I want it just outside of the city area, but close enough my wife feels safe knowing medical facilities is nearby and somewhat close to shopping.
I feel deep sympathy for Okinawan people for having to endure many decades of forced U.S. military presence. Just ask a local how they feel about that. I'd look for islands other than Okinawa though. There are many to the north, some of them are hardly inhabited.
You will get mixed replies, but the ones that say they do not want US there make sure they are Uchinanchu. Most of the people who organize the protests are either Naicha who want to buy the Okinawa land when the bases are given back look at the majority of land owner of Makiminato area they are not Uchinan they are Naicha. Or they are Chugokujin who want to put a wedge in relations
@@kuririn1975 this is pretty accurate. My wife and her family have no issues with the presence itself. Obviously the occasional fool who does something terrible is not welcome, but overall the uchinanchu aren't that hostile towards the military being there...
I've actually watched quite a few videos on the subject. It's mostly older resident who have an opinion against it. And I find younger ones actually WANT it there. So no, that's really not the sentiment there at all. Plenty of youtube interviewing the public go and watch them.
The military bases are predominantly established as a dispatching point in the Far East in case of a war outbreak, not only off the coast of Japan and the Okinawa islands of Japan, but also the surrounding neighboring countries close to Japan like Taiwan, the Philippines, and Guam.
I live here and it so boring! There aren’t any good restaurants and nothing to besides beaches but there are no public showers on any beach. You have to go to beach and pay a fortune. The people are friendly but are terrible drivers.
Thank you from an ex-resident of Okinawa for a thorough and thoughtful blog. Also thank you for an accurate history… and for not white-washing. And thanks for the shout out to Yomitan!!!
Okinawan was the official language of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Most older Okinawans speak Okinawan while younger Okinawans speak Japanese. This is why UNESCO lists Okinawan and the other Ryukyuan languages as “endangered”, meaning it’s possible for the language to die out in the future.
Ryukyu island is paradise in earth, it is most unforgivable to dump militants and their killing machines all over this suppose paradise by japanese and American occupiers.
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For a fun, animated look at Japans History, check out my History of Japan vlog. Enjoy!
History of Japan (Short and Animated) FULL version - ua-cam.com/video/hXWehDBg3tg/v-deo.html
Found a mistake in your video:
Con: Island Life that should read "PRO"
I'm probably not going to wait until actual retirement. I lived on Okinawa for 13 years, took a "better" job to make more money for the family and am now relatively miserable. I'd rather be poor in Okinawa than middle-class in the US. The stress of the rat-race isn't worth the paycheck anymore.
Yup. See you on the beach at Chatan, Araha Beach Park!
I loved that there were really no "bad neighborhoods" on Okinawa when l was there.
Thanks for your opinion, I'm 18 and I'm going to retire at okinawa, I've saved up enough money to do so, and I heard they give free or very cheap houses out on sale to help their rural population.
where did you find info on free or very cheap housing? I would like to learn more about this
Curious, how does one retire there? It seems Japan allows US citizens in for a 3 month visa free period. Do you just have to leave and return every 3 months, or is there a more convenient way to settle there?
I lived on Okinawa and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I want to go back once more.
Hi Iam planning a trip to Okinawa. When should I go what is the best time? And where should I stay?
Lucky you got to live there. I only visit every year or so to visit family.
@@mattiasjonsson4664 it has been many years since I have lived there. But try to drive up in the mountains and see the beautiful view of the China sea
I have ben to Okinawa, too. I loved it. But there are so many more beautiful islands in the world. I couldn’t even begin to list them.
@@mattiasjonsson4664 I would say Oct to April, stay away from summer unless you like heat and high humidity.
Been in Okinawa for over 42 years. People are welcome, but be patient, we wait, watch and listen to get to know you.
Spent year in Okinawa while in the Marine Corps. The weather is much like the weather on the Southeast Texas weather which is where I'm from. It is absolutely beautiful there and the people are wonderful once they know you respect their culture. I had an amazing time there and made many local friends. The food is amazing. I would give anything to visit there again.
I live on east Tezas - I haven’t lived there in Okinawa since 1975 at camp hansen- what part of texas in the south east are you comparing it too - I know in the winter I saw it sometimes get up to 68 (sub tropical) days - I’m tho king of going back - what cities are near camp hansen (kin like) thanks
@@relsongraciejiujitsutylert1733 I was stationed on Hansen TAD, from camp Pendleton CA in 1979. Swiming with sea snakes in the day & partying with bargirls at night. Very enjoyable 6 months.
what part of southeast texas? im from beaumont
I am a citizen of Okinawa.
I like all the Marines.
I was so happy that we got together at the festival of Naha city and everyone's cooperation at the Otsunahiki tug-of-war of Naha!💪
@@relsongraciejiujitsutylert1733 I live in Orange County area.
I was stationed in okinawa in 01 to 02 in the marine corps, and it's a beautiful island,and culture. I would love to go back and visit again.
I lived in Okinawa for 7 years and intend to retire to Okinawa with my Okinawan wife. The pace of Okinawa and the beauty of the people and environment are second to none!
The infrastructure though is dire. Need a car.
@@samuraishonan4706 It certainly isn't dire and having a car there is quite normal.
I was stationed in Okinawa in 1979-1981 with the Marines. I loved it. I went back to visit in 2017. I would love to go back and visit again
Its beautiful & I miss the culture & the people of Okinawa.
The best scuba diving in the world. I try to tell ppl, visit the oki's rather than hawaii, its safe, fun, and just amazing...
I loved the Suicide Boat diving area, and every dive site was different
Beautiful water and Jungle scenery
Driving on the left side of the road takes a couple of weeks to feel safe to others, plus crossing the street you can get hit by traffic because you need to get use to looking in the opposite direction first than what we do in the States
I wish i can retire to Okinawa, but know it’s difficult for foreigners. But I definitely will ll come for a visit one day.
Okinawa is truly a beautiful country
RIP Ronin, you left a wonderful youtube legacy
When did he pass away? 😕
I was a kid on that island a long time ago, for 6 yrs and boy was it a great place to live and explore. Gosh has Naha grown.
I lived a total of eight years in Japan, mostly in the Tokyo region, with three months in Okinawa. I found the Okinawans far more open, friendly, accepting, kind and just plain real than are the mainland Japanese. If I were to live in Japan again, Okinawa would be at the top of my list.
Tokyo is a big no. Osaka people are friendlier as well
@@ahabrawgaming1289 Need to hang with the surfing and beach crowd. Great people in Shonan
Okinawans say that the Tokyo crowd is uptight and time centric.
I still have a jean jacket I bought off base (Kadena) in 1976. Not even a pin hole and the chinese style buttons are still perfect. My now deceased mother loved wearing it in fall.
Great video - straightforward, "just the facts" free of goofy irrelevant narrative. Thank you!
Lived in Okinawa in 1970. Lot better then. Than it is now. The reefs were full of color. Now the coral is bleached from the high water temps. Not as pristine as before.
I watched this video online, and it was very good. From 1957-1959, I lived on Kadena AFB as an AF wife. We loved Okinawa, and three years later,we lived in Japan from 1962-1965 near Zama. Your video took me back 67 years. I loved it there. Thank you. 😊
Ronin had a gift to put travel shows together. I wish he were still here.
Great video. Thank you. I lived in Okinawa with Air Force military assignments in 1972-1973, 1983-1991, and 1994-1997. My favorite place in the world. We have thought going back to Okinawa for retirement, but that is probably not in the cards for us. Great dream, probably won't happen. We still go back to Okinawa for visits with family. I guess that will be our destiny, which isn't so bad. Still, I could picture myself waking up every morning in Okinawa with a big smile on my face.
I was stationed at Kadena from 1975 to 1981. When I think back on it the song Blue Bayou comes to mind. LOL That was the best place I ever lived in my life. Our children remember it as their second favorite next to Texas. LOL
I worked in Okinawa back in 1994
I loved it
Diving
Peaceful
Friendly
Very Beautiful Place
Being half Filipino-Okinawan, I have been doing my research on whether to go back to Okinawa (or the Philippines) w my American husband for retirement. As I dig deeper, I am realizing that this is the place for us. I have always loved Okinawa and my husband loves Hawaii, but having lived in the States for 30 yrs, I hope that the Okinawa island life wouldn't shock us so much!
Thank you for this beautiful video.
Did you be able to come back? I’m Okinawan born in Latin America. My husband has another nationality, I fell in love with Okinawa when I went there for studying, now i just want to come back to the motherland. Could you please help me with information? 🙏🏽
@@lalahana111 Hi, there!
I am in Okinawa now for the Uchinanchu Taikai w my family.
I will try to see if I can get some kind of residency so it will be easier to come back and stay longer, then I will open up a Japanese bank account. I can't tell you much information right now bc I just got here a week ago doing nothing! lol. But being half Okinawan, I can assure you that they will give you leniency and assist you in every way they can.
I applied for a visa as daughter of a Japanese citizen before the country lifted the travel ban but they allow American citizens to come now without visa. I do not know how the policy is for people coming fr Latin America but if you have family here, they can get your parent's original copy of birth certificate fr the municipal office. That document can give you a good chance of getting residency.
You can go online for information on how to enter Japan or get a status. I am still in a search mode myself, but this link might help you get started.
www.japan.travel/en/plan/visa-info/visa-immigration
Try the Philippines too.... it is a nice place to live too and everything here is cheap as well. =)
@@lalahana111Try the Japanese consulate.
I was born on Okinawa, shuri. Been back several times and each time I have a hard time going back to the states.
Great video RoninBlue! I am retired in Okinawa and your information is very accurate. Great work! Thank you again for your efforts producing this. Well done!
Did u marry a japanese??
How is it possible to retire there, if you could clarify? Japan seems to allow US citizens in for 3 months at a time only. Do you leave and return every 3 months? Or is there a way to apply for residency?
A great video, such a professionally made documentary, thank you! My daughter really wants to go to Okinawa, I should make it happen as soon as the borders open!
You should!
I have already decided to move in Okinawa from Finland someday.
Either to work there or at least if and when i get to retire.. small second home in Okinawa sounds quite nice.
Thank you for your video
@@shannonsmith6806 How so ?
If i am already retired when i buy second home from Okinawa i dont have any need for Japanese pension as i would live on my Finnish pension plus investments .
Obviously citizenship is a well lost cause on that point but honestly the most likely scenario is to have my current house as my main residence and live on Okinawa as much legally possible
@@jonde_o its a little tricky without a japanese spouse to get a retirement visa , however good luck and welcome to Japan
@@seandownes1734 indeed.
Thank you very much for sharing this video. I love Japanese people and have a number of friends. I have been to Tokyo a few times but enjoy a quiet life instead a big city. I will visit Okinawa next year to find out more about the people the culture and the surrounding nature.
Seen a lot of places around the world, two places I'd risk everything to retire at are Hualien on Taiwans east coast and Okinawa, easily my top two destinations, trapped in the past is a good thing in these destinations.
Japan??? Looks like a tropical place. Wow.
My Japanese wife and I are planning to retire in Okinawa. Will be a big change from Switzerland where we live right now. Especially the climate.
My soul aches to get back there but don't know how it's possible 😭
This video has been very informative, thank you.
One question that comes to mind is what is Okinawa's policy on the covid vaccines?
I've lived in a shoe box in Sydney australia that was 4x that amount, expensive is a whole other class, but yeah id trade rent in okinawa as a nomadic employee in a heartbeat.
I also lived in Sydney. Paddington, paid triple for a dog box. Don’t miss it at all…
average size in my area in Tokyo is 12 sqm for office workers . Which makes Sydney flat size seem huge!! Unless you have a high salary or lots of cash. Okinawa is much better . There is always a way in Japan to reside , so if your serious just do it . Take a chance life is short .
Amazing work! Full of great info and so well put together.
I lived in Koza City, and Naha in 1970/72. Started 9th grade at Kubasaki 9. Offbase was a blast.
Tori Station was nearby. Fantastic food! And people were very nice to young Americans. I saw and experienced many things. But that was 50 yrs ago. It appears to have changed alot. Just like San Antonio.
Will always have fond memories.
very interested to watch your blog and thank you for the introducing about Okinawa , seeing or experiencing is believing .. anyhow thanks
Okinawa is really nice, not sure if I might not get Island sickness after a while but at least for holiday its awesome !
I have been to 6 or 7 Islands in Okinawa already and it was really nice most of the time even though withouth a Car it is really hard on most of the islands, even Honto isn't that great to get around withouth a car but at least the do have lots of busses so it is possible.
You cannot retire in Japan unless you have a Japanese spouse or permanent residency! Great video though. I am retired in the ShonanBeach area, am American, speak the language, and love the place.
Right. My understanding is that it is very difficult to get what I guess would be a retirement visa, unlike places like Thailand where it is very common. And for retirees, having easy access to good medical care is a must so I guess that's another concern. Anyway, thanks for bringing up the subject because it's certainly something many people contemplate.
Yes, I find it odd that all these people talking about retirement don't mention that.
Do you know what the process is to get residency if you are not married? Is it difficult?
I guess one could exit Okinawa every three months and return. But I don't know if Japanese immigration officials take a strict stance on visa runs or not. They are pretty common in most Asian countries and no one seems to care, but I've never tried it in Japan.
@@Chris-dw6cu You can come and go and they will keep issuing the visas. Permanent residency is a chore, but you can look it up.
@@samuraishonan4706 that's good to know. and technically i don't need a visa because I get 90 day visa exempt status each time I enter.
It seems like I'd be able to rent a place there then. That's what I did when I was living in Taiwan: just did visa runs every 3 months, going o HK and returning to Taiwan same day. Immigration officials never cared, and I know many people do that there.
I was a bit concerned about Japan though because I'd read some reports of people trying to come back in on a visa run and immigration telling them: you can't do that again. And some people said immigration officials told them "you can't spend more than 6 months a year in Japan."
Would you say that is uncommon and just happened to these people for some strange reason? I am not familiar with Japanese law but I'd be surprised if legally immigration would be able to forbid someone to enter unless that person was wanted for a crime or something.
@@Chris-dw6cu They want you spending in Japan. As long as you look respectable and polite should be no issues. And if you show rent receipts etc for utilities as well they should let you come back and forth.
It is a great place.
I really want to live in Okinawa, I read a book about it ❤
I've been talking to my mom about this but I really want to move to Okinawa when I retire.
Are you a US citizen? If yes then it will be difficult because Japan doesn’t allow dual citizenship. That means you need to get married with a local and give up your US Citizenship to become a Japanese citizen. Once you do that you will not receive any retirement checks from the United States 😩
@@orlandoperez2156 I was born in Naha and raised in the US. I still have family living there.
great video, I am thinking of retiring to Okinawa from Mie ( originally from the UK ) - 007
In the video you mention being able to find single rooms in Naha starting at $450. How does one go about locating rooms in that price range? Webpages for shorter term or monthly housing that have English options, are advertising much higher prices for their short term rentals in Naha - around $2000-$4000USD.
and a great place to take a world class surfing lesson with us!! :)
Unfortunately the visa for foreigners is a gray area in Japan... They are luring people to buy their abandoned houses but don't offer a clear path to get a residence visa. So if you do it and will have troubles to manage it from overseas.
It seems strange to allow people to buy houses, but then not give them a way to live in the country? Does owning property give you any legal standing at all?
What about doing visa runs every three months? Does Japanese immigration accept this or will they start to hassle you if you keep coming back?
Waiting for my investments to go up to retire in Oki
Sounds like a plan!
Is there any way for an American to retire in a village on one of the smaller islands? Can one get a visa to study Uchinanguchi? Are there ways to volunteer (teach) to get a visa? I'm seeking info on steps toward putting down roots. I lived on Okinawa in my teens; my father taught us some Japanese -- and then some Okinawan phrases. Also - I sought out Okinawans in Hawaii while living there (favorite time of year is Obon.)
YOU CAN NOT Legally retire in Okinawa.What's the point of the Video? It has 0 retirement visa
Oh you are updated
I did 1971-1972 USAF.
You cannot retire in Japan unless you have a Japanese spouse, or permanent residency. There is no retirement visa.
Great video Ronin. You put a lot of work into it. Very high quality and interesting to watch. Okinawa is added to my list! Which country and you currently in now?
Thank you, we appreciate it. For now, we are hiding from the invisible enemy back home but are waiting for the green light to go directly to Japan, so we could start some vlogging there. Can't wait!
I'd argue that Taiwanese indegenous pork belly is just as good, but I think there was shared culture when it comes to pork belly.
The philipinos can crack out baboy like no other..
I as an American retiree who get SS good enough to survive,
want to live there but any visa available for me?
Fishing is Excellent!
How do I go about applying to retire there
How can a former U.S. Army NG Soldier with VA Benefits can retire in Okinawa when I’m 62 yo? I need to get married there and renounce my U.S. citizenship to become a Japanese citizen. Japan doesn’t except dual citizenship. Either your an American citizen with a visitation visa or a full pledge Japanese citizen living with your spouse. Once I renounce my U.S. citizenship, I will loose my monthly retirement checks and my VA benefits. So how can I retire there without loosing my retirement checks from the United States?
Short answer, get a job with AAFES. It'll grant you SOFA status and you won't have to get rid of your citizenship.
@@SS-es4ek thanks but I’m already planning on moving to an island close to Japan. Guam 🇬🇺
Majority of the people commenting and having lived in Okinawa were former military.
I wouldn't even mention working with the military in this video. If you are retired and not working, it is a moot point to be SOFA since having that status means you are employed by the US military in some fashion. I've seen people here work a NAF job as late as their 70s but because their spouse wasn't Japanese they had to eventually leave when they actually wanted to stop working.
My mom wants to retire there since we lived there for so long but she said according to legal stuff she can't
@@shannonsmith6806 yea
Your Mom can retire there but it's involved. First, she would need to comply with Covid requirements - this could be the deal breaker if travelers from your country are banned due to Delta variant. Next, she should get tourist visa for 90 days. 45 days after arrival, apply to extend the tourist visa to 180 days. During this time, she should network to develop friendships with locals or find an American-born immigration lawyer - she needs a local person to vouch for her and sign a document to that effect. Then she'll be ready to apply for Temporary Resident Visa. If she is or becomes fluent in Japanese, she can apply to become permanent resident. Quite involved and possible.....
@@lillyrice2241 can all nationalities apply to extend the 90 day visa to 180 days? Does this mean you need to come into Okinawa on a visa you got in your home country, rather than coming in on the 90 day visa free period? I have always entered Japan on the 3 month visa waiver, as an American citizen
A simple question: Why do people are so obsessed by Tokyo? That place is fully crowded, and I do hate agglomerations...
I totally would retire to Okinawa, the birthsite of my beloved Karate Do 🥰
Job
How much to rent a place on Okinawa in usa dollars
Amazing video, A friend of mine referred me to a financial adviser sometime ago and we got talking about investment and money. I started investing with $120k and in the first 2 months , my portfolio was reading $274,800. Crazy right!, I decided to reinvest my profit and gets more interesting. For over a year we have been working together making consistent profit just bought my second home 2 weeks ago and care for my family.
I’ve been forced to find additional sources of income as I got retrenched. I barely have time to continue trading and watch my investments since I had my second daughter. Do you think I should take a break for a while from the market and focus on other things or return whenever I have free time or is it a continuous process? Thanks...
@@BennettElizabth Quitting may not be the best approach if you ask me. This is where an AI comes into the picture. I barely have time to trade myself as my job swallows up most of my time. *MARGARET MOLLI ALVEY*
@@IfranReinfeld Oh please I’d love that. Thanks!
@@BennettElizabth *MARGARET MOLLI ALVEY*
Lookup with her name on the webpage.
Excellent and informative video! Can foreigners buy land in Okinawa?
No BC street?
For me good thing to live in Okinawa and own properties number one reason is Okinawa will entually Chinese , because it’s people were sympathetic to Chinese !
Ronin, I haven't watched this one yet, but generally wondering regarding your videos, are you taking climate change into account? Very important factor, esp. if one plans to purchase a property.
That's a good point.
I want to but I'm not military or Japanese, so how can I retire there?
First thing first. This video can be misleading for many including myself. To retire meaning your getting your retirement checks from the country you’re from while living in Okinawa right? Being a retired person of the age of 62 or above must get married to stay in Okinawa then you must renounce your country’s citizenship to become a Japanese citizen then when you do that you will not get your retirement checks from your country anymore. So you need to go back to work and obviously learn the language to get a job there. So you need go back to work again? What kind of retirement is that?
What about the taifuns?
OKI is from Oklahoma ( wiskogi)
But does Japan jas a retirement visa ?
No retirement visa
Just watched karate kid 2 and really want to go
Karate kid 2 was filmed in Hawaii. Cobra Kai season 3 was filmed in Okinawa
no visa info
The lack of public transportation in Okinawa makes it impossible to get around without a car. It also causes terrible traffic in the populated and popular tourist areas. If Okinawa had trains and bike paths, it would be so much nicer. Unfortunately, the government seems more interested in building more shopping malls and hotels, which makes the traffic even worse.
Oki sounds delightful, but what are immigration requirements for retirees who are not affiliated with the military? What kind of hoops does an American retiree have to jump through to be able to stay there?
@@shannonsmith6806 Thank you, Shannon. Ronin, if this the case, perhaps you ought to give this video another title since most of your audience will not have Japanese ties and won't meet immigration requirements.
It should be noted even if you own property here you are not entitled to a permanent visa.
Thank you. Well explained!
Sadly the big Ferris Wheel has been torn down. I proposed to my Okinawan wife at the highest point of the wheel (Jan 2006). It was perfect the wheel moved so slow, that I was able to get my small speech in followed by the "will you marry me"? They are putting new buildings in the spot where the ferris wheel was.
....450 a month?!?! omg ..
my only hiccup is my lack of understanding with the japanese language, i've taught myself hiragana and katakana but im nowhere near close enough to pass any test to get a work visa 😅
So, teach English!
That's my plan :)
Can Europeans retire there? I would die to live in a blue zone and love Japanese Food and culture xxxx
Can you up date this ?
Sure, if without the issue of contaminated water and the military bases
What hhs happened to the water, and what is the contamination? Are you referring to drinking water?
How do you get a house in Okinawa without worrying about rent? I want it just outside of the city area, but close enough my wife feels safe knowing medical facilities is nearby and somewhat close to shopping.
Had my kids in Naha lol
I feel deep sympathy for Okinawan people for having to endure many decades of forced U.S. military presence. Just ask a local how they feel about that. I'd look for islands other than Okinawa though. There are many to the north, some of them are hardly inhabited.
You will get mixed replies, but the ones that say they do not want US there make sure they are Uchinanchu. Most of the people who organize the protests are either Naicha who want to buy the Okinawa land when the bases are given back look at the majority of land owner of Makiminato area they are not Uchinan they are Naicha. Or they are Chugokujin who want to put a wedge in relations
@@kuririn1975 this is pretty accurate. My wife and her family have no issues with the presence itself. Obviously the occasional fool who does something terrible is not welcome, but overall the uchinanchu aren't that hostile towards the military being there...
Never had a problem was there 10 years
I've actually watched quite a few videos on the subject. It's mostly older resident who have an opinion against it. And I find younger ones actually WANT it there. So no, that's really not the sentiment there at all. Plenty of youtube interviewing the public go and watch them.
The military bases are predominantly established as a dispatching point in the Far East in case of a war outbreak, not only off the coast of Japan and the Okinawa islands of Japan, but also the surrounding neighboring countries close to Japan like Taiwan, the Philippines, and Guam.
Ferris Wheel... Gone!
I live here and it so boring! There aren’t any good restaurants and nothing to besides beaches but there are no public showers on any beach. You have to go to beach and pay a fortune. The people are friendly but are terrible drivers.
Thank you from an ex-resident of Okinawa for a thorough and thoughtful blog. Also thank you for an accurate history… and for not white-washing. And thanks for the shout out to Yomitan!!!
Please don't refer to the Okinawan language as a "dialect". It has ALWAYS been an OFFICIAL language, not a dialect.
Okiawan language is a dialect
@@ivanmartinez7136 I beg to differ, sir. Check out Rob Kajiwara YT channel. History you never knew about Okinawa.
@@mimisam18 I’m just fucking with u
How come oki's say they speak okinawan dialect...not japanese🤔
Okinawan was the official language of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Most older Okinawans speak Okinawan while younger Okinawans speak Japanese. This is why UNESCO lists Okinawan and the other Ryukyuan languages as “endangered”, meaning it’s possible for the language to die out in the future.
あり てぅい やいびん。
Other reason is Okinawa hate Us bases that creat animosities among locals and Us soldiers that have history of abusing Okinawan women
So, it sounds like I need to find a Japanese wife.
Find an Okinawan wife! Had a friend married one and she came with an island (her father owned) they inherited.
Yes and also give up your country’s citizenship as well
This video is apparently promotion purposes.
I do not buy it.
IT’S ALL HOLLYWOOD….HAVE A TOKYO….GET “HAII”
Ryukyu island is paradise in earth, it is most unforgivable to dump militants and their killing machines all over this suppose paradise by japanese and American occupiers.
Pork Is NASTY,do you know that pigs will LITERALLY Eat ANYTHING and i do mean ANYTHING including human flesh
The main reason NOT TO RETIRE to Okinawa is the US military. Even the locals don't like them. The Yanks based there have a bad reputation.
Okinawa is not even Japanese. It's an occupied territory...Just like Hawaii🤣🤣🤣
Okinawa is one of the prefectures of Japan. It is definitely part of Japan, NOT an occupied territory.
@@奥津勝平 "Okinawa was once an independent country which was ruled by the Ryukyu Kingdom" - Okinawans are not even Japanese, what are you talking about?
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