It is my goal, to move myself and my fiancee out to Japan, after purchasing a foreclosed home and fixing it up.

Neither of us drink, and I'm not really into a lot of social involvement - I'd rather just stroll around and enjoy the scenery, maybe kick back and read a good book.

Rita, on the other hand, wants to be active, and I'm sure if we can make it there, she will have plenty of chances. She's been learning the language passionately for some time now, and practices often (I know just enough to state that I'm either hungry, fine, or that I don't understand -- I'll pick it up once immersed, I'm sure). She's interested in perhaps teaching English, which seems to be a highly sought after position amongst qualified westerners.

I might, once I'm there, consider some additional employment, to expose myself to more of the culture and stave off the boredem that comes with sitting around and doing nothing for the bulk of the day.

We've been thinking about this more and more seriously with each passing year and I hope it won't be too long before we can go. I'm sure it'll be an adventure, and I can almost promise I'll embarrass or shame myself at least once publicly (but at least now I know about the whole "blowing your nose in public" thing - I'll try and avoid that one).

I'd like to be there indefinately, and if fate would have it that Rita and I were to have a child, odds are it would be raised there for the first several years of its life. (I wonder if it'd be Japanese or American in terms of citizenship?)

Anyway...

With all of that having been said, if anyone has any helpful feedback at all: Cities they reccommend living in, Thoughts on the Cost of Living, Thoughts on Travel/Transportation, Things to Avoid, Ways to look like a complete idiot, etc -- I welcome the feedback.

I don't want to go to Japan knowing everything there is to know, nor trick myself into believing I do - where's the adventure in that? But any ammount of studying up I can do would be great help if I ever get to go.