Etik (left) from Indonesia and Khadka (right) from Nepal are foreign staff working at Karakami HOTELS&RESORTS Co., Ltd. at Wakayama Prefecture’s Shirahama. Although it hasn’t been long since their arrival in Wakayama, they are already demonstrating impressive performance at work. What is the appeal of working in Wakayama, Japan to foreign staff? We interviewed them about work and life in the prefecture. %3Ciframe%20width%3D%22560%22%20height%3D%22315%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FJ_uCDSKyz3c%3Fsi%3Dt7WvK3gsro1woPJz%22%20title%3D%22YouTube%20video%20player%22%20frameborder%3D%220%22%20allow%3D%22accelerometer%3B%20autoplay%3B%20clipboard-write%3B%20encrypted-media%3B%20gyroscope%3B%20picture-in-picture%3B%20web-share%22%20referrerpolicy%3D%22strict-origin-when-cross-origin%22%20allowfullscreen%3D%22%22%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3EOvercoming the Language Barrier to Becoming Recognized by Name in Guest Surveys── First, please share with us your reasons for deciding to work in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Etik: Since I was young, I often watched Japanese anime and grew to really love Japan. Because of that, I’ve always had a desire to go to Japan. While I was a student, I joined an internship program and came to Hokkaido. After returning to my home country, I returned to Japan again after graduating, and worked at a hotel in Hokkaido for several years, before moving to Wakayama. That was in January 2025.Khadka: A friend of mine was working at a related facility next to this hotel, and they invited me to come work with them. I already had the impression that Japan is a safe and comfortable country to work in, so I really wanted to give it a try, and came to Wakayama in 2024.Etik: I was already in Japan but chose Wakayama because the cold weather in Hokkaido was too harsh for an Indonesian native like me… (laughs). I thought about choosing somewhere warmer next time, so I ended up in Wakayama. Khadka: That’s true, Wakayama is nice and warm. It’s comfortable, with a temperature and climate similar to my home country, Nepal. ── What kind of work are the both of you doing now? Etik: I work at the hotel’s front desk. My main responsibilities are helping guests check-in and out, handling reservations, and providing hotel and tourist information. Khadka: I work at the hotel’s shop. I help guests who visit, work the cash register, clean, package sweets and snacks, etc.── What do you enjoy about your job?Etik: I really enjoy talking directly with guests. By talking to them, I get to learn various things about Japan, and I’m happy to meet all kinds of people. Khadka: Me too - I enjoy speaking to guests the most. I’m happy when they ask where I’m from, or tell me that my Japanese is good. ── On the other hand, are there any parts of your job that you find difficult?Etik: As one would expect, it’s the Japanese language. Especially when speaking to guests, it’s important to use the proper honorific and humble form of Japanese. But we don’t use the humble form very often in everyday life, do we? For example, “say” is 言う (iu) but おっしゃる (ossharu) in humble form, and “ask” is 聞く(kiku) but 伺う (ukagau) in humble form, so it’s really difficult to use completely different vocabulary for the same actions. Khadka: I also find it difficult to use honorific language when dealing with customers. In particular, I still have trouble understanding the polite form sometimes, so I receive support from my seniors during those moments. ── Honorific language can be difficult even for Japanese too (laughs). By the way, how do you study Japanese? Etik: If there’s something I don’t understand, I make sure to take notes. My seniors are always kind enough to teach me, so I write down what they’ve taught me and review it at home. I also buy commercially available Japanese language learning materials to study on my own. Honorific language was really difficult at first, but as I studied and used it everyday at work, I gradually started to get the hang of it. Khadka: I often study by using online video platforms. I study everyday by watching a channel where a Nepalese who works in Japan teaches Japanese. Also, I love anime, so a big part of my learning comes from watching anime as well. ── From your perspective as their boss, what do you think of their work?Hata: They are both very serious about their work. They have lovely smiles, and in fact, they are often named in guest surveys as staff members who provided excellent service. What’s important in hotel work is to be friendly and easy to talk to. In that sense, both Etika and Khadka have cheerful personalities and are very proactive in engaging with guests and staff, which is great. There are times when I feel they are better at dealing with guests than the Japanese staff. ▲Hata is the deputy general manager. He is in charge of the overall management of the hotel, including revenue management and human resource planning. He often shows up at the hotel himself to engage with the staff. Wakayama is a Comfortable Place to Live and Work. It Offers an Environment Where We Can Grow ── Let’s hear about your life outside work. How do you spend your days off? Etik: I often go out with my coworkers. We go to cafes and enjoy shopping at the shopping center in Tanabe City, which is next to Shirahama. We also went to a pottery experience together. We made cups and had a lot of fun. Khadka: I often go to Shirahama Beach with my friends. Nepal is land-locked and doesn’t border any seas, so seeing the ocean is always a fresh experience I can never get bored of.── Both of you seem to have many friends. Do you have any tips for making friends?Etik: Hmm… I don’t really do anything consciously, but I think it’s important to greet people with “Good morning” every day and try to be one to make the first move. As we talk, we naturally become closer, and often end up saying, “Let’s go out together sometime”. In my case, I don’t really think too much about it, but before I know it, we’ve become friends. Khadka: It’s a workplace that requires lots of communication, so it’s easy to naturally become friends. Also, the number of foreign nationals in Wakayama has been increasing recently, so it’s easier to find friends from the same country. At first, I was the only Nepalese person in this workplace, but now there are over 10 of us here. Even outside of work, such as when I go shopping at the supermarket and such, I feel like I’m seeing more fellow Nepalese. ── I see there’s no problem making friends. Moving on, what is it like living in Wakayama Prefecture?Etik: I’m not facing any big issues. I don’t eat pork, so I avoid dishes that contain it, but there are plenty of other things I can eat so I got used to it quickly.Khadka: I don’t eat pork or beef, so I was worried about food before coming to Japan, but it wasn’t a problem at all. I feel at ease because I can get Nepalese ingredients in Japan and cook for myself. I often make dishes that are popular in Nepal, such as Momo and Chow Mein. I order some of the ingredients from a store in Osaka, and cook with friends on my day off. ── I heard that even the employee cafeteria has a halal menu. It must be reassuring to be able to enjoy the familiar flavors of home in Wakayama Prefecture. Is there anything else about Wakayama that you find attractive? Etik: A good thing about Wakayama is the low cost of living. There are company dormitories, so rent is low, and food is relatively cheap. I cook for myself, so I’ve been able to save on food costs. Wakayama is very beautiful, rich in nature, has delicious food, and is a safe place. I would definitely recommend it to foreign nationals who are thinking about working in Japan. Khadka: I think so too! It’s a comfortable place to work, and people are kind; they are quick to provide me support when I’m in trouble, which makes me happy. For example, they helped me find a place to live, informed me where to buy clothes, how to prepare Wi-Fi and SIM cards, and many other things. They also helped me when the gas stove in my house broke, and even drove me to the hospital. I’m really grateful for their kind support. ── Lastly, please tell us about your future goals.Etik: For now, I want to learn more about hotel work, and plan to focus on that. I love showing guests around, and if possible, my dream would be to open a cafe in the future, as I’ve always loved making cookies. Also, while guiding guests, I’ve become interested in working as a tour guide. I have so many things I want to do that it’s a bit overwhelming (laughs). Khadka: The environment at my current workplace is great, so I want to continue growing through my current job. In the future, I hope to live happily in Japan with my family. Wakayama is a comfortable place to live and work, and I feel that if I work hard, I can get closer to achieving my dreams.※The information in this article is current as of the time of the interview (July 2025).Interview Cooperation: Karakami HOTELS & RESORTS Co., Ltd.© Wakayama Tourism Federation