Moving to Japan – An Easy Guide

Moving to Japan offers an exciting prospect with its delicious cuisine, beautiful natural destinations, modern cities, and captivating ancient culture. 

Many people worldwide choose Japan for retirement, careers, or their next adventure. Despite the challenges, armed with the right information, you’ll be enjoying life on this Asian island in no time.

Why Move to Japan?

Japan is recognized as one of the top countries in the world in 2023. This is because the majority of its residents live a comfortable lifestyle, as their basic needs are met. Here are just a few of the things that are being enjoyed by the residents in Japan:

• Universal Public Healthcare: Everyone is safely insured by its universal public healthcare system.
• Public Transport: Japan houses one of the world’s best public transport systems.
• Safety: Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.

Preparing your move

Fulfilling the Requirements for Moving to Japan

Japan is one of the few countries where the visa process is largely identical regardless of whether you’re British, Australian, American, or from the EU. It’s also one of the most straightforward. All you’ll need to do is apply for the relevant visa, depending on your reason for staying in Japan, at the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate General in your home country. The documents that you should bring with you are all listed and explained by the official government bodies.

Budgeting for Your Move

Before finalizing your move, create a realistic budget. Daily costs can vary widely depending on your lifestyle, so research is essential.

Here’s some key information to get you started.

Costs to start your life in Japan

Finances in Japan can vary depending on whether you immerse yourself in local life or seek imported goods. As an island nation, imported goods tend to be more expensive. More details on living costs are provided at the bottom of this article.

Moving Costs

Once you have your budget for daily life in Japan, you’ll also need to plan for the one-off moving costs you’ll run into. The cost of moving to Japan will vary a lot depending on whether you’re shipping all your things, moving to Japan with family, or even moving to Japan with your dog or cat. Important costs to think about include:

• Flight costs
• Visa and permit fees, which can include legal or translation costs
• Shipping of household goods
• Deposit on accommodation
• Extra charges if you’re moving with family or taking your pets along
• Temporary accommodation when you first arrive
• Daily living costs when you first arrive and before your first paycheck

Pet Import Rules: If you’re planning on moving to Japan with your pet, it’s important to check all the rules about importing animals to the country.

With preparations complete, you’re ready to fly!

However, a few more steps can ensure your arrival and initial setup go smoothly.

Setting Up Finances in Japan

Setting up your finances in Japan should be pretty straightforward, and you’ll have plenty of choices as you’ll be within one of the world’s best banking systems. 

The only part that may seem a little foreign is the process of opening a bank account. It’s not normally possible to open a Japanese bank account before you arrive in the country — and you may then need to wait a few days to get a cash card you can use to make ATM withdrawals. You’ll need to be prepared with ways to access your money while you wait.

To open a bank account, you will need:

• Your residence card (zairyu card)
• Your passport
• A valid visa
• Your Japanese address and phone number
• A hanko seal may be requested, but many banks which deal with foreign customers will accept a signature instead

Taxes in Japan

If you’re considered a tax resident in Japan, you’ll pay personal income tax on a sliding scale from 5% to 45% based on your income, plus local taxes which are around 10%. Non-resident taxes are set at a flat rate of 20.42% of income.

Cost of Living

One question that usually pops up when foreigners are planning to move to Japan is, “Are the living expenses in Japan high?” Depending on where you plan to reside in Japan, these estimates could go higher or lower. 

For instance, if you’re going to live in Tokyo, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world, expect that you might need to pay more for your apartment. On the other hand, if you’re going to live in the suburbs of Japan, then you might need to pay less. When you’re looking for accommodation in Japan, it’s important to keep in mind that it’ll take some time and you will need to prepare a chunk of money for the first month.

Here’s a small overview of the main monthly costs you could expect (in USD):