Best cities to live in Japan (2026)
1 city ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Path to PR
Corporate tax
Tokyo
71/100❓ Living in Japan — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in Japan?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Tokyo ranks #1 in Japan with a score of 71/100, and city-centre rent from around $1359/month.
What is the safest city in Japan?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Tokyo is the safest city in Japan in our database, with a rate of 0.2 per 100,000 people.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Japan?▾
Japan offers the Japan Digital Nomad Visa (moderate process). Duration: 6 months (no renewal). Key requirement: Income ≥ ¥10,000,000/yr (~$70k). Health insurance required. From ~49 eligible countries (tax treaty + visa-exempt entry).. The process is moderate difficulty. Check individual city pages for full details.
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