I moved to Japan in the waning days of 2020, but had pondered calling the country home (and, importantly, researched the ways I might make that happen) for years before that. Reality was not at all what I imagined—and not just because I entered the country during a pandemic.
I no longer live in Japan, of course, which is not unsurprising; it is almost 2026 as I write this, after all. However, I didn’t stay in Japan for nearly as long as I thought I might. And frankly, I didn’t enjoy the time I lived there all that much, in spite of how much I’ve always loved being in Japan as a tourist.
Now, I am not hear to dissuade you if you’ve already made a decision. I’m happy to tell you how to move to Japan! But I will be sharing my honest impressions as I go.
Why I Think Japan is a Better Place to Visit Than to Live
I started thinking about living in Japan back when I launched this site in 2018. I knew how (and why) I wanted to do it, too. Namely, that in order to expand my content and explore Japan as much as I wanted to, I’d need to dramatically increase my knowledge of the Japanese language. The only way to do this, I soon accepted, would be to study Japanese in Japan. I soon started researching my options for doing so.
The good news? Covid-related difficulties notwithstanding, the near-year I eventually spent living in Kyoto did improve my Japanese skills. The bad news? Although I made a lot of friends living in Japan, and appreciate how much easier it was to explore the country, I found that a lot of omotenashi disappears if people know you’re staying for a long time. Additionally, I’ve come to believe that being in Japan as a tourist makes me sharper and more aware of things.
Steps to Take Before Moving to Japan
Decide why you want to live in Japan
Unlike certain other countries, where you can just turn up, you really need a specific reason to live in Japan. This is true not just because the cost of living in Japan is inhospitable to “figuring things out,” but for specific practical reasons.:You usually can’t rent a proper apartment or other lodging in Japan without having a residence (zairyu) card.
Find a job (or school)
The topic of how to get a job in Japan probably deserves its own post. Still, whether you plan to study or work, you will need to find a job or a school, which you can generally either do on your own (applying with individual companies or schools) or with an agency such GaijinPot or Go! Go! Nihon.
Be patient with the visa process
My visa took a bit longer than usual due to covid-related days. Still, no matter when you expatriate yourself to Japan, you will not only need to complete the lengthy visa application process, but also wait for a certificate of eligibility (C.O.E.) to arrive in the mail, so that you can apply for your actual visa (which can take another couple of weeks to receive).
(And the bureaucracy that awaits you)
Deciding where to live in Japan, to be sure, is only the half the battle (and spoiler alert, the answer is usually “in or around Tokyo,” particularly for job seekers). The real war is the constant paperwork you need to fill out and maintain in Japan, whether when renting your apartment, getting health insurance or renewing your visa if you stay multiple years.
Give it time, but not too much time
I knew quickly that living in Japan was not my cup of tea—and not just because of covid-era hysteria about wearing masks outside, or the futile limits my school made to put on my weekend travel. Even as an obviously new resident, I found that Japanese people were much less welcoming of me and forgiving of my “flaws” than they’d been when I was a tourist.
Can You Live in Japan as a Digital Nomad?
Back when I first moved to Japan, it was effectively impossible to enter Japan for any reason, regardless of the visa. However, as its ill-advised covid-era border closures expired, the Japanese government soon realized it would need to expand options for migration to the country even further order if it wanted to recoup losses from more than two years with the drawbridges up.
The result? Another option for moving to Japan—namely, a digital nomad visa. Now, since this is Japan, there are some pretty big caveats. First, you can stay for a maximum of six months, which is not really the same as being a long-term expat. In fact, for many travelers, it’s only twice as long as the normal visa-free entry. Secondly, you need to prove income of at least ¥10,000,000 per year, which is much higher than most other countries require for similar visas.
Other FAQ About Living in and Moving to Japan
Can US citizens move to Japan?
US citizens can move to Japan for a variety of reasons, whether to study the Japanese language or at a Japanese university, to work or even to live temporarily as a digital nomad. Note that this is separate from entry and residence schemes for US military members, which are arranged entirely on the US side.
How difficult is it to move to Japan?
Moving to Japan can be a cumbersome process, requiring months or even years of lead time. In particular, it can take a long time to go through the visa process, as well as to coordinate entry according to the beginning of school terms or employment contract. For those who are willing to jump through a few hoops, however, moving to Japan is a pretty easy (if often tedious) affair.
Can I move to Japan without a job?
If you plan to reside in Japan on the basis of working for a Japanese company, it isn’t advisable to move to the country without a job. Even if you do find a job in Japan while visiting as a foreigner, you will generally need to leave (in some cases back to your home country; in others, to a foreign country where you hold residence) in order to complete the immigration process.
The Bottom Line
Curious about how to move to Japan? I trust you’ve found your answers here. Moving to Japan is pretty straightforward, presuming you don’t undertake the process when the country’s borders are closed like I did. Whether as a student, an employee or a digital nomad, Japan’s infamous reputation as being anti-immigration doesn’t really line up with reality if you have a legitimate reason to immigrate there—well, at least not as far as legal processes are concerned. Still, for reasons I’ve just explained, I much prefer visiting Japan a tourist, as opposed to living there. Want to leverage my experiences and insights as you plot your own course? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
