Moving to Tokyo
A step-by-step guide for people who actually plan to stay in Tokyo, Japan. Not a vacation itinerary.
Monthly cost
$1,893
solo, city centre
Livability
68/100
decent
Safety
87/100
Boringly safe
PR timeline
5 yrs
citizenship: 10y
How to move to Tokyo
Visas, residency, and the paperwork you can't avoid
Japan Digital Nomad Visa
Some paperworkDuration: 6 months (no renewal)
Income ≥ ~$68,000/yr (¥10M). Health insurance required. From countries with tax treaties.
Visa difficulty by nationality
5 years
to permanent residency
10 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Interview conducted in Japanese. Must renounce all other citizenships.
Work permit accessibility: complex
What it costs to move to Tokyo
First-month sticker shock, decoded
Day-one setup cost
$1,359
1-bed, city centre / mo
Cheaper than 41% of 97 cities
$2,412
3-bed, city centre / mo
Monthly burn (solo)
$1,893/moRent + groceries + transport + utilities. No avocado toast budget.
Housing friction
Moderate2–4 weeks with guarantor company
- •Key money (reikin): 1–2 months' rent (non-refundable gift to landlord)
- •Guarantor company (hoshounin) fee: 50–100% of 1 month's rent
- •Security deposit (shikikin): 1–2 months
- •Some landlords refuse foreign tenants
First month in Tokyo
The to-do list nobody gives you at the airport
- ☐
Apply for Japan Digital Nomad Visa
6 months (no renewal). Income ≥ ~$68,000/yr (¥10M). Health insurance required. From countries with tax treaties.
- ☐
Open a local bank account
Bring a Japanese-speaking friend or prepare for mime-based banking
- ☐
Get a local SIM card
~$24/mo for 10GB+
- ☐
Find an apartment
Expect 2–4 weeks with guarantor company. Housing friction: Moderate.
- ☐
Have $6,924 ready for move-in costs
First month + 2mo deposit + furniture
- ☐
Register with local authorities
Most countries require address registration within 30 days
- ☐
Get health insurance
Private insurance ~$100/mo until residency kicks in
- ☐
Start learning basic Japanese
Not optional. Download Duolingo before the plane lands
Language in Tokyo
Can you order coffee without pointing?
Japanese
primary language
Low
English proficiency
English proficiency is low. Learning at least basic Japanese isn't optional — it's survival.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, freedom, and regime vibes
8.4/10
democracy index (EIU)
🏛️ Full democracy
regime type
#12 of 163
Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful)
Travel advisory: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions
Is Tokyo safe?
Crime stats for people who read footnotes
😴
Boringly safe
0.2
homicides per 100k
Crime index: 25/100
Low crime. You'll probably worry more about sunburn.
Weather in Tokyo
What the thermometer actually says
28°C
summer highs
4°C
winter lows
53 Mbps
average download speed
If you get sick
Healthcare access for new arrivals
System: Mandatory National Health Insurance for all residents; 30% copay, very affordable
Before residency: National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory for stays >3 months — covers 70% of costs from day 1 of residency registration. Tourist visa: private insurance needed (~$90/mo). Japanese healthcare is efficient, affordable, and slightly bewildering to navigate. (private insurance ~$100/mo)
Specialist wait time: 1–3 weeks
The honest take
What we'd tell a friend
Going for it
- ✓ Tokyo: 0.2/100k homicide rate. Boringly safe.
- ✓ 28°C summers plus Tokyo's coast. Not a drill.
- ✓ Japan: 96/100 Freedom House. Tokyo has real press freedom.
Think twice about
- ✗ $1359/mo rent in Tokyo. It keeps climbing.
- ✗ Damp coastal winters in Tokyo. 4°C feels colder inside.
- ✗ Japanese is essential in Tokyo. Factor in language school.
This is the settler summary. For the full data dump:
Full Tokyo profile →