Tokyo’s Public Transportation & Healthcare Delights
- You Don’t Need a Car for This Megacity
- Dining Options & Cultural Sights Abound
- Withdrawn Locals Difficult to Make Friends With
- Japanese Paperwork Can Be Impenetrable
- Inflexible & Tough Work Culture
- Decent Finances in the Capital
- Further Reading
Tokyo is 25th out of 53 cities in the 2024 Expat City Ranking, continuing to improve since seeing bottom 10 in 2022 (42nd out of 50). The Quality of Life Index (6th) has improved, yet the Working Abroad (42nd) and Expat Essential (42nd) Indices remain areas of concern. Overall, expats’ happiness with their life abroad ranks 14th, slipping from 9th place in 2023.
You Don’t Need a Car for This Megacity
From 15th place in 2023, Tokyo’s Quality of Life Index enters the top 10 (6th) in 2024. This is partly due to excellent Healthcare (5th) and Travel & Transit (3rd). In fact, the Japanese capital takes 1st place for the affordability of healthcare and the availability of public transportation.
“I don't need a car to get around Tokyo at all which is great.” – Italian expat
Expats also praise the availability (89%) and quality (84%) of healthcare (vs. 68% and 66% globally). Although they’re less impressed with getting equal access to all kinds of healthcare services — two-thirds of respondents (66%) are satisfied (vs. 60%).
In addition to the widespread availability of public transportation (99% positive ratings vs. 72% globally), expats there rate the infrastructure for cars positively (9th) and find it easy and safe to get around on foot or by bicycle (2nd).
And indeed, more than nine in ten respondents (94%) rate their personal safety positively (vs. 80% globally), ranking this factor 6th. However, there’s dissatisfaction with the ability to openly express oneself and one’s opinions, with expats in Tokyo less likely to give a positive rating (51% vs. 62% globally). Tokyo thus places 18th overall for Safety & Security.
Dining Options & Cultural Sights Abound
The remaining Quality of Life subcategories — Environment & Climate (17th) and Leisure Options (12th) — also perform well.
The climate & weather (12th) as well as the natural environment (15th) are pleasant, while the air quality is slightly above average (69% positive ratings vs. 64% globally). Expats, however, aren’t fully convinced with the availability of green goods and services (57% positive ratings vs. 64%).
What can make up for that is the culinary variety & dining options (4th): 92% of expats are satisfied (vs. 73% globally). And while culture & nightlife (12th) is also decent, there may not be many opportunities for recreational sports (40th).
“Living in a megacity makes life very interesting, there’s always so much to do, learn, and try. Here, I’m never bored. The security, the food, the public transportation, the convenience — I love everything.” – Portuguese expat
Withdrawn Locals Difficult to Make Friends With
Tokyo lands in 29th place for the Ease of Settling In. The index continues improving from its ranking of 39th and 34th in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The most significant change can be seen in the Culture & Welcome (36th) Subcategory, which escapes the bottom 10 after placing there in 2022 and 2023. The share of respondents that feel at home in Tokyo is about average (59% vs. 58% globally). However, nearly a third (32%) still find it difficult to get used to the local culture (vs. 21%).
The underlying factors of the Local Friendliness (24th) and Finding Friends (29th) Subcategories also show an average performance. For instance, 59% of respondents find that the locals are friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 61% globally), and 53% are happy with their social life in Tokyo (vs. 52%). Though similar to acclimating to the local culture, making local friends is difficult (52% say as much vs. 41%).
Japanese Paperwork Can Be Impenetrable
Despite the Expat Essentials Index performing poorly in 42nd, it at least improves slightly after placing in the bottom 10 for two years in a row.
Housing (20th) is the easiest aspect for expats when it comes to the essentials — relatively. It’s easier to afford accommodation (38% positive ratings vs. 34% globally) than it is to find (46% negative reviews vs. 34%).
In terms of Digital Life (39th) and Admin Topics (40th), more challenges begin to arise. For example, government services aren’t widely available online (43rd), and it’s difficult to pay without cash (47th) and open a local bank account (53rd). On the bright side, 90% of respondents say it’s easy to set up high-speed internet access at home (vs. 78% globally).
The biggest hurdle though is Language (52nd) — only the German city Cologne receives a worse result (53rd). Not even one in ten expats (9%) say that learning Japanese is easy (vs. 38% globally), with 29% giving this factor the worst possible rating (vs. 16%). And about half (49%) find it difficult to get by without speaking it (vs. 33%).
Inflexible & Tough Work Culture
Another index in 42nd place is Working Abroad. The two subcategories Work & Leisure (43rd) and Work Culture & Satisfaction (50th) perform poorly, while Career Prospects (27th) and Salary & Job Security (27th) are average.
Expats’ biggest complaints are their working hours (42nd) and work–life balance (45th). And more than a third (39%) rate the flexibility of the local business culture negatively, 20 percentage points higher than the global average (19%). In fact, expats in Tokyo work an average of 44.6 full-time hours per week (vs. 42.5 h globally).
“The work culture itself is extremely difficult, such as decision making, speed (or lack thereof), red tape, lack of women in executive roles (and lack of women altogether), etc. Japan is a very difficult place to work.” – US American expat
The silver lining is having job security (5th) and access to a decent job market (19th). Though the share of expats (56%) that say moving to Tokyo improved their career prospects is the same as the global average. Even fewer (48%) are happy with their personal career opportunities (vs. 53% globally).
Decent Finances in the Capital
Despite tough challenges with the essentials and careers, Tokyo’s Personal Finance Index at least ranks 14th. Nearly half of respondents are satisfied with the general cost of living (48%) and their financial situation (49%), though this share falls on either side of the global average (vs. 40% and 54%, respectively).
Overall, 75% of expats in Tokyo find that their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 70% globally).
