a river with a bridge over it surrounded by trees
Satellite image of Honshu, the biggest island of Japan. Taken f…
View from below onto the Tokyo Tower
Exterior view of the illuminated facade of the building Maison …
Burma, Japanese invasion currency,10 rupees (1942-44)
Satellite image of Japan in May 2003.
The islands of Japan are …
UN MemberVisa-free · 90 daysPop. 125.8M
82
NestFainder ScoreAI

Excellent destination

A−Cost
ASafety
AClimate
AHDI
Japan flag

Japan

East China Sea, Pacific Ocean, Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk · Japanese

Japan

Japan delivers high purchasing power at half the global cost—top-tier quality of life, flawless transit, and healthcare cheaper than your home gym.

See how Japan matches your profileComing soon — available in a future release
CLIMATE
East China Sea, Pacific …
28°C avg · 2500h sun/yr
CURRENCY
JPY ¥
LANGUAGE
Japanese
SAFETY
Very safe
#1 globally · Safety index 78/100
COST OF LIVING
Moderate
Cost index 47/100
TIME ZONE
GMT+9
UTC+9

What it's like to live in Japan

Japan is an island nation located in East Asia, comprising four main islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku) and thousands of smaller islands. Situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country is characterized by its mountainous terrain, with...


Cost of living
vs EU AverageSimilar cost of living
1-bed apartment, city
¥127,500Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Dinner for two
¥1,350Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Monthly groceries
¥238Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Public transit (month)
¥295One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide
★ Professional

Your Japan Roadmap

40+ page personal relocation analysis — visa path, tax strategy, neighbourhood guide, healthcare setup and more.

€29one-time report
What's included
  • Visa & residency path
  • Tax optimisation
  • Neighbourhood guide
  • Healthcare & schools
  • Cost breakdown

Healthcare

  • Japan operates a universal healthcare system, requiring all residents, including foreigners staying over three months, to enroll in public health insurance.
  • The public system, primarily National Health Insurance (NHI) and Social Health Insurance (SHI), covers 70% of most medical costs, with patients paying the remaining 30% out-of-pocket.
  • Expats must enroll in either NHI (for self-employed, students, unemployed) or SHI (for company employees) at their local city/ward office within 14 days of residence registration.
Healthcare guide →
Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Japan maintains a generous visa exemption system for citizens of approximately 74 countries and regions, allowing short-term tourism or business stays without a prior visa. Popular nationalities such as US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most EU citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days (30 days for some countries like UAE). Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay, and you should carry proof of onward or return travel. All visitors undergo fingerprinting and photography...

Visa-free entry: 90 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Read full guide

Travel advisories, hazards, and conflict indicators

Cost of living, housing, income, and purchasing power overview

Income tax, corporate tax, and fiscal overview

Job market, business environment, and work permits

International schools, universities, and curricula

Pension, retirement pathways, and financial planning

Seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours

Population, languages, and ethnic composition

Day-to-day expat life and practical tips

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Community, cultural integration, and expat life

Air quality, green spaces, and sustainability

Political system, government structure, and key policies

Location overview, cost of living index, and purchasing power

Economic and geographic overview at a glance

Community perspectives and expat experiences

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Coming soon — available in a future release

This content was generated using artificial intelligence based on publicly available information. It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or professional advice. Information may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.