Hello everyone. I have been reading this forum for a short while and today I decided to take the plunge and subscribe.

I was born and raised in Switzerland, but have lived and worked in Japan for many years. So my wife and I are slowly beginning to think about where and how to spend that last batch of years of our lives. Switzerland would be an option. As I have not been there for a long time, I am not even sure, if it would be a "going back" or a "moving on" for me, if that matters at all (wifey and I would take a culture shock for granted, though ).

So, while googling up on our idea (not a full blown plan yet), I came across this forum and now I hope, that I can learn something about life in my old home from you lot.

Thanks!

Welcome Plau Deri!

I think it's very difficult to counsel you on such an important decision without knowing a bit what you're about, what you're looking for etc. Maybe state your expectations and we might be able to tell you more ?
Regards,

Simon

Hello and welcome to the Forum

Are you prepared to leave behind the cherry blossom?

And the 24 hour city madness, incredible food all to move to a country with only similar scenic countryside and efficiency.

McD has moved out of Switzerland?

As far as "city madness" is concerned, I am sure, Japan will cool down a bit as soon as the maddest has moved back to where he came from

But yes, apart from the cherry blossom, the 24 hour everything would be somewhat hard to lose. I admit, that even though my beard is white, heading out to the shops at 3am is one of those decadent things, that I like to do.

@Simon: We are still in the process of defining things like expectations, wishes, dreams, etc. So I guess, I'll just ask questions, whenever they come up as we go forward.

And thanks for the welcome everyone.

Fill up a suitcase with food, and come to Basel! Then go back. Get more food. Come to Basel! Go back. Get more food ....

Don't worry, I'll be here to eat it all.

That's good on.


Well, I am Japanese living in Switzerland for ten years. I also had a time to think when I should go back to Japan. But then I have made a decision to stay in Switzerland for a while.

First of all, what I analysed was what made me to think an option to "go home". Secondly IF I go back to Japan, what I could expect.

I was thinking to go back to Japan, because I seriously terribly painfully missed my home town Kyoto (friends, families, food, cherry blossoms, etc.). But IF I move to Japan, nearly 100% I HAVE TO live and work in Tokyo, which I am not belong to. With my profession, it is not easy to work in Kyoto unless I set up my own company. But if I became self-employed, then I have to work very hard, which I am not so keen. I need lots of free time in the evenings and weekends.

Now what I am doing is to keep a good relationship with people who have been offering me jobs (in Tokyo) and also to create an option to go back to Kyoto for the future.

Actually I am going to Japan from next week for business. If you were interested, please send me PM. We can probably find a time to meet up for coffee or so. I can give you my very honest opinion (pros and cons) of living in Switzerland as a Japanese.

Good luck!

So the supermarkets in Basel still do not cater for the international folks yet, thanks for the timely warning
Back in the day, there was only the excruciatingly expensive Japanese food shop "Nishi" in Zürich. I have no idea, if it is still there.

Hi Hitorikko

It would be real nice to have coffee and hear your story. We are in Nagoya, so likely a bit off the beaten path, but if you happen to get into town, my wife and I would love to meet up with you. I was in Kyoto only once, back in the 1980ies. It is such a beautiful place; I can easily imagine, how homesick you must have been, leaving it behind...

Hi Plau, Nishi-san is still there. They are still expensive. But now there are some more shops in town.

I thought you lived in Tokyo but you are actually in Nagoya! I will give you my mobile number when I get it in Japan.

It's still there. I stumbled upon it a while ago. I was so excited to find Japanese food (my wife and I lived in Kyoto for about a year - wonderful town, we still miss it) but were a bit put off by the price.

There's also a small store in the back of a Korean restaurant off Bahnhoffstr. that has lots of Japanese food.