Edmund Taylor
Tokyo has so much to offer and InterNations made it much easier to become acclimated to life in this bustling city.
Marina Salgado
In such a huge city, InterNations has created great events for expats to meet in Tokyo.
Americans Moving to Japan: Your Questions, Answered
If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in Japan, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in Japan. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.
What are the most common nationalities in Japan? As an expat in Japan, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in Japan currently are:
- Americans
- British
- Indians
- French
Which cities are most popular among expats in Japan? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in Japan:
- Tokyo
- Nagoya
- the Kansai Region
How much rent do expats pay in Japan? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 814 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.525 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within Japan.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in Japan.
Average rent in Tokyo
- Single expats: 1.240 USD
- Expat families: 1.915 USD
Average rent in Nagoya
- Single expats: 835 USD
- Expat families: 3.425 USD
Average rent in the Kansai Region
- Single expats: 415 USD
- Expat families: 945 USD
How safe is Japan?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in Japan as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.
How safe is Japan for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in Japan as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in Japan (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.
Meet other Americans at our events in Japan
Attend our monthly events and activities for Americans expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Why Americans move abroad … (and do they like it?)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.
Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join, including everything from sightseeing to hiking. These are run by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as dinners in the cities finest restaurants, sports or outings with other expats to explore all that your new home has to offer.
Find Tips and Advice on Japan from American Expats
Of course, expat living in Japan is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Japanese way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Japan, residing in Tokyo, Sapporo, the Kansai Region and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Tokyo or Americans in Osaka.
- Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in Japan.
- Obtain and share insider tips in our Japan Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get st￭ turkey in Sapporo.
- Search the InterNations Places database for Japan to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.
From Shikoku, the smallest island, famous for its 88-temple pilgrimage to the scenic Japanese Alps, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Japan.
Join Our Expat Activities and Mingle with Fellow Americans in Japan
Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Japan. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Japanese sushi and sashimi, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Tokyo’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the semi-tropical southern island of Okinawa as well as other beautiful landmarks in Japan.
Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Japan!