Moving to Japan in 2026: visas, costs, and first 90 days

Japan's only purpose-built option for location-independent foreigners is the Digital Nomad Visa. It requires $5,350/month in income — the published bar is roughly ¥10M per year. Dependents are allowed. The permit runs 6 months, it's non-renewable, and it carries no path to permanent residency. If you want to reapply, you leave and wait 6 months before submitting again.

If your income clears the published bar and you want a structured half-year in Japan, the Digital Nomad Visa is a clean fit. If you're looking for something longer or a route toward permanent residency, check your own numbers against Japan's full set of routes — the employment and skilled-worker categories have different requirements and longer horizons.

Tokyo sits in the premium tier. A realistic monthly budget for a single person runs $2,000–3,500, with a one-bedroom apartment at $1,000–2,000 per month. The weak yen has shifted the math in favor of anyone earning in dollars — that's a real structural change, not a marketing line.

The bigger trap is move-in costs. Expect 4–6 months of rent upfront: security deposit, key money (a non-refundable gift to the landlord that's still common in Tokyo), agency fees, and a guarantor fee. Most landlords require a Japanese guarantor company rather than an individual. That means your first month in Japan can cost far more than the monthly figures suggest. See how Tokyo stacks up against other destinations before committing.

• Monthly budget (single person): $2,000–3,500
• One-bedroom rent: $1,000–2,000/month
• Move-in costs: 4–6 months of rent, paid upfront
• Most landlords require a Japanese guarantor company — budget for that fee

Japan runs a universal public system, and enrollment isn't optional. Any foreigner with a residence status longer than 3 months must join. Employees go onto employer-based Shakai Hoken; everyone else enrolls in the municipal National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. The state covers about 70% of costs, leaving a 30% patient co-pay on your side. The official enrollment details are published by JETRO.

Care quality is world-class — Japan consistently ranks among the top systems globally for outcomes and life expectancy. For a fuller picture of how expat healthcare works country by country, the comparison across destinations is worth a look.

Everything in Japan's administrative system starts at one place: the municipal or ward office, where you register your address (jūminhyō). You have 14 days from settling at an address to do this. Bring the residence card issued at the airport. That single visit typically bundles address registration, National Health Insurance enrollment, and pension enrollment in one trip.

After registration, a My Number (Individual Number) notification mails to your registered address in roughly 2–4 weeks. My Number is required by banks, brokers, remittance services, and payroll — it ties your tax and social insurance records together. There's no separate application; it's assigned automatically once you've registered your address.

Banking takes patience. Most traditional banks screen out new arrivals for the first 6 months under foreign-exchange rules. The standard workaround is Japan Post Bank or an online bank for day-to-day spending, bridged with Wise for international transfers, until you've been resident long enough for the major banks. You'll need your residence card, a registered address, and a local phone number as the baseline.

For driving, an International Driving Permit covers the first year after landing. Converting a US license (gaimen kirikae) requires a knowledge check and a practical test for most US states — multiple attempts are normal. A small number of states can swap without the practical test. Check which category your state falls into before assuming a quick conversion.

The Japan first-90-days playbook walks through each step in sequence with the specific offices and documents involved.

Japan's thin visa menu is its biggest structural weakness against regional competitors. If the Digital Nomad Visa's 6-month ceiling or income bar rules it out, the same part of the world offers meaningfully different options. Thailand vs. Japan and Japan vs. South Korea lay out the trade-offs side by side. Taiwan vs. Japan is worth a look if cultural proximity and a long-stay path both matter.

For people whose income clears the published bar and who want a defined, time-boxed stint rather than a permanent move, Japan's combination of safety, transit, food, and the current exchange rate makes a strong case. For everyone else, the visa math is the limiting factor — and that's worth knowing before you fall in love with the idea.