Move to Japan
Everything a future Japan settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Japan at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
10 years
to permanent residency
10 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Interview conducted in Japanese. Must renounce all other citizenships.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Dependents on the Digital Nomad (Designated Activities) visa cannot work. Standard dependent visa holders may work 28 hrs/week with permission, but that doesn't apply here.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Japan
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,359
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$52,039
GDP per capita
23.2%
Corporate tax
2.5%
Unemployment
2.7%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
8.48/10
🏛️ Full democracy
96
/100Freedom House score
#12 of 163
Global Peace Index
#66
Press freedom rank
Is Japan safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Boringly safe. Your biggest danger is cycling accidents.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Japanese
Primary language
Very Low
English proficiency (#96 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Japanese isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to Japan — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Japan?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Tokyo ranks #1 in Japan with a score of 68/100. City-centre rent starts around $1359/month.
How much does it cost to live in Japan?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1359 to $1359/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $1,893.
How do I get permanent residency in Japan?▾
The path to permanent residency in Japan typically takes 10 years. Citizenship is possible after 10 years. Note: Interview conducted in Japanese. Must renounce all other citizenships.
Is Japan a democracy?▾
Japan scores 8.48/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy." It ranks #12 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Japan safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.