Japan pulls in a wide mix of movers: families relocating for corporate assignments in Tokyo or Yokohama, high-earning remote workers drawn by the country’s new digital nomad visa, and retirees who love the culture.
It’s a country of sharp contrasts: hyper-modern train networks running past centuries-old temples, one of the world’s oldest populations living alongside a young international workforce, and a cost of living that’s reasonable outside Tokyo despite the country’s reputation for being expensive.
Japan is also one of the safest, healthiest, and best-connected countries to live in, according to the Global Peace Index. But there are a number of things to consider before starting your international move; here’s what to expect.
Things to Know about Moving to Japan
Why Move to Japan?
Japan offers a winning combination. World-class infrastructure, exceptional food and healthcare, extremely low crime, and a culture that values precision and courtesy. It can also be more affordable than its reputation suggests. Numbeo’s 2026 cost-of-living index places Japan around the middle of the global pack. Tokyo, while the country’s priciest city, is cheaper than New York or London on most everyday expenses.
Families relocating for a corporate posting find strong public schools, low crime, and a concentration of international schools in Tokyo, Yokohama, and the Kansai region. Digital nomads are drawn by Japan’s new remote-work visa and a tech-friendly, English-navigable environment in major cities. Retirees are pulled by the culture, food, and healthcare system. Though, as covered below, Japan is one of the harder countries to retire to on foreign income alone, since there’s no dedicated path for it.
Cost of Living
Japan’s cost of living varies by city. Tokyo is the expensive outlier. A single person typically budgets ¥250,000–350,000 a month (roughly $1,700–2,400), including rent. A family of four in central Tokyo can expect ¥650,000–950,000 ($4,000–5,890) a month, according to Numbeo. Osaka’s cost of living is 20–30% cheaper than Tokyo for comparable housing. Cities like Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Kyoto offer significantly lower rent while still providing strong infrastructure and international communities.
Groceries, transit, and utilities are generally affordable by Western standards, and income in foreign currency travels further. The one area that surprises newcomers is the upfront cost of renting. Japanese leases often require a deposit and an agency fee that can add up to four to six months’ rent.
Taxes
Japan taxes residents on worldwide income once they’ve lived in the country for more than five of the past ten years. Before that, most foreign residents are classified as “non-permanent residents” and are taxed only on Japan-sourced income. National income tax is progressive, from 5% to 45%, with a flat 10% resident tax layered on top and a small national addition, pushing the combined rate to around 55%.
Employees also contribute to social insurance (health insurance, pension, and employment insurance), which is roughly 14–15% of gross salary and is matched by the employer. Foreign workers who later leave Japan permanently can claim a partial lump-sum refund of their pension contributions, though it’s subject to withholding tax and a strict two-year application window. Tax treaties exist between Japan and more than 75 countries, including the US, to reduce double taxation, but the interplay between the two systems takes planning.
Housing
Most newcomers rent, and the process is heavy on documentation. Japanese landlords typically ask for a guarantor (often satisfied through a paid guarantor company), proof of income, and sometimes a Japanese-speaking contact. A small one-bedroom apartment in central Tokyo averages roughly ¥130,000–180,000 ($800–1,120) a month. The same unit in Osaka, Fukuoka, or Sapporo runs 30–70% less.
Buying property is straightforward for foreigners in legal terms. Japan doesn’t require citizenship, a visa, or permanent residency to purchase real estate. However, most banks will only offer a mortgage to residents with a valid long-term visa and steady income. Bring a registered personal seal (hanko) for signing official paperwork, and budget for the fact that Japanese properties, particularly wooden houses, depreciate quickly in resale value.
Visas and Residency
Japan’s visa system is category-based, and matching your situation to the right one is an important planning step. The main routes:
- Work Visa: For people with a job offer from a Japanese employer, sponsored by that employer. This is the standard path for families relocating for a career move. It can lead to permanent residence after ten years of continuous residence, at least five of them on a qualifying visa.
- Digital Nomad Visa: Launched in 2024 for remote workers employed by or contracting with companies outside Japan. It requires proof of annual income of at least ¥10 million (roughly $67,000–70,000), private health insurance covering at least ¥10 million, and citizenship in one of around 49 eligible countries with a tax treaty and visa-exempt status. It’s capped at six months, cannot be renewed or extended, doesn’t issue a residence card, and legally bars you from working with Japanese clients or employers during your stay.
- Family Visa: For joining a Japanese national or a foreign resident who already holds long-term status.
- Permanent Residency: Generally available after ten years of continuous residence, with at least five years on a qualifying work or family visa. The requirements tightened in 2026, asking to max out the period of stay on your current visa before applying.
Japan has no retirement visa, no golden visa, and no investment-based residency program. Retirees generally have to build residence through a spouse visa, a long-term resident visa (often tied to Japanese ancestry), or by starting and maintaining a small business under a business manager visa. Simply having savings or a pension is not, on its own, a path to residency.
Work and Digital Nomads
Japan’s strongest hiring sectors for foreign talent include technology, engineering, finance, and English-language education, concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
For self-employed remote workers, the digital nomad visa is an option; however, the income bar is considerably higher than comparable programs in Portugal or Spain. The stay is capped at six months with no renewal. Holders don’t receive a residence card, which makes opening a bank account or signing a long-term phone contract difficult.
Many digital nomads enter Japan under the standard 90-day visa-exempt tourist rules, which permit remote work for foreign clients during a short stay.
Education and Families
Japan’s public schools are well-regarded and free for residents. However, instruction is entirely in Japanese, which works well for families planning a long-term move with younger children, as they tend to pick up the language quickly through immersion.
For families on shorter postings or who want continuity with an international curriculum, Japan has a strong international school sector, concentrated in Tokyo and Yokohama (the largest number of schools, spanning IB, American, and British curricula), the Kansai region around Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, and smaller but growing options in Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo.
Yokohama in particular has built a reputation as the go-to city for relocating families, thanks to its concentration of international schools, family services, and an easy 25–40 minute commute into central Tokyo.
Healthcare
Japan’s healthcare system is universal, affordable, and consistently ranked among the best in the world for outcomes and access. Every resident staying more than three months must enroll in either Employees’ Health Insurance (through an employer) or National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken; for the self-employed, freelancers, and anyone not covered through work), both of which cover 70% of most medical costs, leaving a 30% co-pay. Premiums are income-based and, for lower earners, modest; enforcement has tightened in 2026, with ward offices now cross-checking visa and residence records against insurance enrollment, so signing up within the required 14 days of registering your address is vital.
Digital nomad visa holders are the exception. They’re not eligible for National Health Insurance and must carry private international coverage for the full duration of their stay instead. Most doctors in major cities have at least basic English, and international clinics catering specifically to foreign residents exist in Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama, though they typically charge well above standard rates since they don’t accept national insurance.
Language
Japanese is the official language, and English proficiency is limited outside major cities and specific professional sectors. Daily life is manageable in English in central Tokyo, Yokohama, and parts of Osaka, particularly around international business districts. Government paperwork, tax filing, and most medical and rental processes assume Japanese, or require a translator or bilingual support service. Long-term visas, including permanent residency and citizenship, don’t have a hard language test requirement in most categories, but functional Japanese makes life easier and is essential outside the largest cities.
Places to Move to in Japan
Tokyo
Japan’s capital offers the largest job market, the widest range of international schools, and the biggest expat community in the country, with several hundred thousand foreign residents. It’s also the country’s most expensive city, but it offers unmatched infrastructure, culture, and direct international flight connections.
Yokohama
Just 25–40 minutes from central Tokyo by train, Yokohama has a quieter, residential pace with access to the capital’s job market. It’s become the default choice for relocating families, thanks to its concentration of international schools and family-oriented services.
Osaka
Roughly 20–30% cheaper than Tokyo with a comparably strong job market in manufacturing, commerce, and a growing startup scene. Osaka is also known for its food culture and a more outgoing, informal social atmosphere than the capital. It also sits close to Kyoto and Kobe for easy weekend getaways.
Fukuoka
A smaller, coastal city on Kyushu Island. It has a fast-growing international community, government support for foreign entrepreneurs, and some of the lowest costs of living among Japan’s major cities. It’s a strong option for remote workers and small business owners in particular.
Are You Ready to Move to Japan?
Japan offers what many international movers are looking for. It has safety, excellent healthcare, strong public infrastructure, and a culture and cuisine unlike anywhere else.
With over a century of experience helping individuals, families, and professionals relocate internationally, Arpin can handle the logistics for you. Read our resources and reach out for a free quote and consultation with our move coordinators.
