Visa to live in Japan 12 months without working or formal study

My wife and I want to move to Japan for a year to study Japanese and culture, but not in a formal school setting, but instead by living in Japan, hiring a private tutor on our own schedule, and traveling a bit. We also have small kids, so they would either need to be enrolled in a school or we could home school them for a year. We have saved for several years to do this, so could demonstrate to immigration that we don't need jobs to sustain ourselves while there.

What kind of visa could a family apply for in this situation? I've looked at various websites but our situation isn't that typical. We are not English teachers, we won't have or want jobs, we have savings to live on for the one year, and we don't want to have to renew a three month visa repeatedly, ESP. If the children are going to try to attend school.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Immigration typically wants 'reasons' why people are coming to Japan, which is what each visa is for. Unfortunately as a non-Japanese, it means you can just wander in and do what you want, regardless of how much money you have (I know, it doesn't quite make sense, as the government will be getting tax money from you that they wouldn't before anyway).

Your situation would be classed as study, so you would need a student visa for yourself and your wife, and your children will need dependancy visa's. I'm sure you've researched that you need a school to sponsor that though, which means formal attendance (or at least paying for it).

The only self-sponsored visa's available (that I am aware of) are the 3 month tourist visa (extendable sometimes) and the working holiday visa, which sounds ideal although I suspect you maybe over 30, and your children under 18 which makes that a instant no-go. Everything (again, that I'm aware of, happy to be corrected) requires a guarantor in Japan. Be it a company, a school or a (usually related) person.

Thanks Xaero,

I found something about a cultural visa for 6 or 12 month stays but it is vague. Link is below.

MOFA: General visa: Cultural activities [Guide to Japanese Visas]

The link also refers to needing a Certificate of Eligibility to apply for a Cultural Visa, which is also only vaguely defined. Any ideas on either the cultural visa or certificate?

It doesn't matter if you have a billion dollars, you need a proper immigration reason to stay. You cannot just come here and live without a proper visa.

The COE is a formality to most visas, and it is NOT vague. Application for Certificate of Eligibility

Don't want a job? You are limited to 2 options: student visa or cultural activities visa (unless you want to start your own business, in which case you need an investor/business manager visa, but that involves far more than you are willing to put out; see the bottom link within the link I just provided on COEs).

Don't want to attend any kind of language school? You're down to one option. And, even then, you usually have to prove you have already done some studying of that cultural activity (martial arts, pottery, flower arranging, swordmaking, etc.).

In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in the academic or artistic activities, or to engage in specific studies on Japanese culture or arts; the following materials are required.
Documents certifying the activity and its duration of the person concerned, and the outline of the organization where he or she intends to engage in the activity concerned.
Documents certifying the academic career, professional career and other career regarding the activity of the person concerned.
Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all the expenses incurred during the stay in Japan.
In cases where the person concerned intends to learn Japanese culture or arts under the guidance of the expert.
Additional materials showing the career and the achievements of the expert, besides the documents mentioned above are required

Click to expand...

Your avatar says you are from Taiwan, and that does have a working holiday visa option, but the idea is to be traveling, not living here with kids attending school. Look into it, but I have my doubts.
MOFA: The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan

I think your options just went to zero.

What is the reason you want to be here that long and drag the kids along? That is, why won't a few weeks on vacation do? (You get 90 days as a tourist.) MOFA: Exemption of Visas [Guide to Japanese Visas]