I'm heading back to Canada after living in Japan for a year. I'm excited to return, but there are a few things I'll miss.

I moved to Japan nearly a year ago, and now, I'm getting ready to head home. Alessa Hickman I'm a Canadian who lived in Japan for a year — and now, I'm getting ready to head home. I'll miss Japan's transportation system and how affordable it is to have a quality dinner out here. However, I'm excited to reunite with my friends and explore my home country like a tourist. When I moved to Japan in 2025, I knew I wouldn't be here forever — but having a full year ahead of me felt like an infinite amount of time. Now I'm getting ready to head back to my hometown in Canada , and I can't believe how quickly my year passed.