WFA × Life in Fukuoka

PayPay shifted to a “new workstyle” last September, allowing “Work from Anywhere, at Anytime” (WFA). Nearly six months after its launch, a number of issues associated with this work style have become apparent, and for this reason, we have decided to start a new series of articles featuring WFA to offer insight into solving the challenges of working remotely by sharing some creative and specific practices our colleagues have adopted. The backend engineer we’d like to introduce this time is Ville Misaki who’s once given up working at PayPay but has made his dreams come true later with WFA without losing anything. Please enjoy reading his story with the local scenery of Fukuoka.

Ville Misaki

Backend engineer

How long have you been living in Fukuoka?

It will soon be seven years since I moved to Japan and Fukuoka.

Why Fukuoka？

I did not specifically pick Fukuoka, as I just happened to land my first job in Japan there. But accepting the job offer was an easy choice since my wife’s family is living in the neighboring Yamaguchi prefecture. My Japanese wife and I used to live in the Netherlands but decided to give Japan a shot, then Fukuoka. Please read more in the Around the world with PayPay Vol. 5.

Panoramic View : Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Another Panoramic View: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

How is it like to be away from a big city like Tokyo?

While it’s small compared to Tokyo, Fukuoka is still actually a major city – by far the biggest I have ever lived in. The size seems perfect for me, as I can benefit from the convenience of living inside a city, while still being small enough that I can get away very easily. Having a car (or motorbike) will definitely help in exploring the surroundings, but public transportation within the city proper is as good as you would expect for a Japanese city.

For a family with small children, the slightly slower pace and extra breathing room are a huge benefit. Also, being able to use a car makes family life easier, including shopping, hobbies, and visiting anywhere during the weekends.

Ville and his family in the Fukuoka neighborhood

Living costs in Fukuoka are definitely lower than in Tokyo – I couldn’t dream of living in a place this close to downtown, including the shinkansen station and the airport, without paying a fortune in rent. The city is still rapidly growing, though, pushing the prices up little by little.

Was WFA one of the reasons to have joined PayPay?

Yes, I actually ignored headhunters trying to recruit for PayPay before WFA but here I am living in Fukuoka and working at PayPay thanks to the WFA!

Beautiful Beach of Fukuoka: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Many beaches along the long natural coastline.

The annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival ends in a hectic race that starts at sunrise on the last day, where teams carry one-ton floats through the streets of Hakata.

Dazaifu is a popular tourist destination for its shrines and temples, especially the Tenmangu, one of the main shrines for Tenjin.

Possibly the largest bronze statue in the world, depicting a reclining Buddha, lies in the mountains close to Fukuoka city, in Nanzo-in.

Tenjin, the business and shopping district, one of the main city centers along with Hakata

[Editor’s Note]
Fukuoka, a city with excellent urban functions and easy access to nature is accessible not only from all over Kyushu and Okinawa but also from Asian countries. Fresh food from the sea and the mountain, great local and global dishes are all delicious. More importantly, it may be close to the life of Finnish people who incorporate nature into everyday life.