Moving to
Japan
Moving to Japan: one person needs about $1,900/month in Tokyo (a family about $4,500), the top personal income-tax rate is 43% — roughly $38,700 take-home on a $60,000 salary — and it offers a digital-nomad visa. Permanent residency takes about 10 years, and citizenship about 5.
Tokyo is astonishingly safe, clean and convenient, with world-class food and the best public transit on earth — but the nomad visa is only six months and non-renewable, so it's a taste rather than a base. Long-term life means grappling with the language barrier and a tough immigration ladder. People come for the safety, culture and sheer functional order of daily life.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Japan by the numbers
Relative scores across cost, safety, healthcare, quality of life and connectivity (higher is better).
Why move to Japan
- Extremely safe, clean, punctual
- World-class food and transit
- Rich culture, very low crime
The catch
- Nomad visa only six months, non-renewable
- Language barrier is real
- Long, hard path to residency
Take-home pay
Net salary in Japan on a $60k gross, after income tax and social security:
Brackets combine national income tax with the roughly 10% local resident tax; social insurance (pension, health, employment) is heavy.
Cost of living · Tokyo
Average all-in monthly cost in USD — estimates for guidance.
Compare cities →Visa & residency
Six-month digital nomad visa launched March 2024 requires ¥10M/year (~US$67k) in foreign income.
Typical income requirement: $5,600/month.
The nomad visa gives just six months (income ~¥10M, from a visa-exempt tax-treaty country, non-renewable). Real long-term stay means an employer-sponsored work visa (Engineer/Specialist or the Highly-Skilled Professional points track), a Business Manager visa (~¥5M capital), or marriage; permanent residency typically takes ~10 years, faster via the HSP route.
How can I move here? → Do I qualify? →Economy & everyday life
GDP-per-capita PPP of about $55,400 plus a historically weak yen means foreign earners get real bargains — Tokyo is cheaper than most global capitals right now. Inflation running 3.2% is high by Japan's long-deflationary standards, so locals feel the pinch even as your money goes further. Life expectancy is 84, the world's top tier; the mandatory national health insurance is excellent and affordable, so residents rarely need private cover on top.
Healthcare
World Bank data, most recent available — shows how well the system is resourced, not what you'll personally pay.
Safety
US State Department advisory level, country-wide — general guidance, not neighbourhood-specific. Full advisory →
Education
World Bank data, most recent available — learning score reflects harmonised international test performance.
Connectivity
World Bank data, most recent available.
Getting a passport
Compare all countries →Naturalisation only 5 yrs (faster than PR's 10); no formal test but basic Japanese assessed at interview; must renounce other citizenship.
By residence — confirm with the official authority.
Best time to go
Full climate →Average daily temperature by month · 2023 (Open-Meteo).
Where expats live in Japan
Cost of living by city
All cities →All-in monthly cost for one person — tap a city for the full breakdown. Figures are averages, for guidance.
Living in Japan
Healthcare
Excellent and affordable — national health insurance covers 70% of costs once you're a resident, but nomad-visa holders can't join it and must carry private insurance for their stay.
Money & banking
Notoriously hard for newcomers — banks usually require a residence card and often Japanese ability, so nomads lean on foreign cards, and the country is still surprisingly cash-heavy.
Internet
Among the world's fastest and most reliable fiber; coworking is abundant in Tokyo and Osaka, though some apartments and cafes still expect you to arrange your own line.
Etiquette & culture
Greetings, tipping and the taboos to dodge — fit in fast. Open the guide →
On arrival
Full essentials →Getting there
Flight distances →Tokyo's Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) plus Osaka's Kansai (KIX) give you dense long-haul and intra-Asia connectivity from one of aviation's best-run networks.
Among the safest countries worldwide, with very low violent crime.
Dial 110 for police, ambulance or fire.
Best for those craving safety, order and culture — with an employer lined up or a short-term taste in mind.
Your move to Japan — roadmap
Key terms
- Effective tax rate
- The share of your gross income actually lost to income tax and social contributions combined — almost always lower than the headline top tax bracket.
- Take-home pay
- What actually reaches your account after income tax and employee social contributions are taken off your gross salary.
- Tax residency
- The country entitled to tax your worldwide income — usually where you spend 183 days or more in a year, though the exact test varies by country.
- Permanent residency
- The right to live and work in a country indefinitely — the stage before citizenship, and those years usually count toward naturalization.
- Cost of living
- The all-in monthly spend for one person — rent, food, transport and bills — in the country's main relocation city.
Moving to Japan — FAQ
Is there income tax in Japan?
Yes. Japan taxes income on progressive brackets. On a $60,000 salary the effective rate is about 35.5%, leaving roughly $38,700.
Can digital nomads get a visa for Japan?
Yes — Six-month digital nomad visa launched March 2024 requires ¥10M/year (~US$67k) in foreign income.
How do you get residency in Japan?
The nomad visa gives just six months (income ~¥10M, from a visa-exempt tax-treaty country, non-renewable). Real long-term stay means an employer-sponsored work visa (Engineer/Specialist or the Highly-Skilled Professional points track), a Business Manager visa (~¥5M capital), or marriage; permanent residency typically takes ~10 years, faster via the HSP route.
How much does it cost to live in Tokyo?
A single person needs roughly $1,900/month in Tokyo, and a family around $4,500/month, all-in.
Is tap water safe to drink in Japan?
Yes — tap water in Japan is generally safe to drink.