Moving From America To Japan

4 Americans moved to Japan seeking a better quality of life. One said living there has been 'a series of delightful surprises.'

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Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Veronica Hanson and her family moved to Japan in 2022. Veronica Hanson

Americans Are Moving To Japan For Its Safety And Affordability

Hanson, 37, was living in Lake Oswego, Oregon, but made plans to flee the US once she believed the country became too dangerous for her and her children.

My children had to do active shooter drills, Hanson told Insider. There were multiple times over a couple-year period where the air was unbreathable because of the wildfires. I just exploded and said we don't have to stay here, let's go.

Hanson and her family are a few of the 6, 642 Americans who moved to Japan in 2022, according to the country's Ministry of Justice. The same source said the population of American expats in Japan grew slightly over the past few years, from 57, 214 in 2020 to 60, 804 in 2022.

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More and more Americans are exploring their options outside of the US, seeking affordability and quality of life. While countries like Mexico and Canada are more popular go-to's for American expats, Hanson — and three other recent movers Insider spoke with — said Japan is delivering on what she found to be lacking in the US.

Hanson and her family didn't immediately decide on Japan when it was time to move — she just knew she wanted to get out of the US.

I got a lot of flack for this when we left because people had this sentiment that I wasn't doing it for a positive reason, Hanson said. I wasn't doing it because I wanted to be somewhere specific. I just wanted to be anywhere else.

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Their first stop was the Dominican Republic in November 2020. Hanson's mother is Japanese, and said she would join in leaving the US if she could find a way to live in Japan. Hanson, her husband, and their children, who are now 11 and 9, arrived in Japan in March 2022. Because Hanson's grandparents are Japanese, she and her family are eligible for long-term resident visas.

Hanson kept her 1, 915-square-foot, three-bedroom house in Oregon, which she bought for $262, 000 in 2013, but lists it on Airbnb to help cover her rent in Tokyo. For a 1, 184-square-foot, three-bedroom home, she and her husband pay 600, 000 yen, or about $4, 321, a month.

She said a lot of the expenses in Tokyo, like groceries, are comparable to the US, but the safety — which was her number one priority — is priceless.

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One of my favorite parts about Japan is safety, she said.I am honestly so appreciative of the ability to be able to live in this safe community.

Along with the safety of Japan, Evans was also pleasantly surprised by the affordability. Evans, alongside his wife and son, moved to rural Mukaishima Island, 62 miles from the southern city of Hiroshima, in June 2022.

For a three-bedroom house, Evans pays 65, 000 yen per month. If he were in Hiroshima, Evans said, his rent would be more expensive.

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Evans owns a medical writing business, and was a pharmacist in the US, so he's well-informed on the ins and outs of the healthcare system. But it turns out that it's much simpler in Japan.

We have one insurance card and we go to the town hall and get it, he said. You basically just show that you're a resident of that town and you get handed your insurance card.

He recounted a minor surgery he had to remove a cyst on his face. He said all in all it took about 45 minutes and cost some 8, 500 yen.

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The doctor wanted to see me for a follow up six days later to check on the stitches — it was 380 yen each time, which is like $2 for my copay, Evans said. I was on a pharmacist salary in the US, and you always feel like you're just one car accident or major illness away from bankruptcy.

Anne Sutherland-Smith was born in Australia but was living as an American citizen in Austin, Texas, with her family when wanderlust overtook her. In May of this year, she decided to start a new chapter in Kyoto.

The decision to leave the US was not about escaping but about seeking, Sutherland-Smith told Insider via email. Japan had always fascinated me, with its seamless blend of the old and the new, its profound cultural nuances, and the kindness of its people. Other countries did pique my interest, but Japan, to me, felt like a calling.

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Sutherland-Smith, who runs a travel website, rents a 1, 000-square-foot, two-bedroom traditional home for 200, 000 yen per month — slightly less than the $2, 500 she was paying for a three-bedroom house in Austin.

Sutherland-Smith finds some of the day-to-day expenses more costly than in the US. However, groceries and transportation cost more because the experience is better, she said.

The quality of goods and services in Japan is exceptional, she said. Japan's public transportation system, in particular, is efficient, clean, and punctual.

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Living here has been a series of delightful surprises, she said. The warmth and hospitality of the Japanese people, their willingness to go out of their way to assist, has been incredibly heartwarming.

It was several years leading up to this moment where I was burnt out on corporate priorities and a focus on financial gain and competition, Nakamura told Insider.

Nakamura, 35, started the process of moving to Japan from her studio in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 2020. Because of the pandemic, she didn't get to Japan until October 2021.

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Nakamura lives in a rural seaside town on Shikoku Island, which is about 164 miles from Osaka. She lives in a formerly abandoned house that she acquired for free through word of mouth. There is, however, a government program selling vacant houses for cheap.

Nakamura was an interior designer in the US, but taught English when she first arrived in Japan. Having hit the reset button, she's now focusing on her YouTube channel where she explores the Japanese countryside. She's also doing freelance design work.

I had read that to get back in touch with yourself, you can think about what you liked as a child. I was so curious about Japan, and I loved Ghibli movies, she said, referring to the Japanese animation studio. I was thinking about 10-year-old Bethany.Moving to Japan from the US is not difficult if you are prepared. If you do not prepare for the move, living in Japan can be a major culture shock. The language barrier, different cuisine, and other cultural differences can be stressful. 

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Like you would need to do before any move, there are some hurdles you will need to take on to adjust to life in Japan. Here is what you need to know before moving.

Before moving to Japan from the US, it is essential to allow yourself enough time to get a visa. While going to Japan for tourism or if you are there for less than 90 days, you do not need a visa, just a passport, and a return ticket home. However, if you are moving to Japan permanently, you must apply for a visa. 

Getting a visa is not all that time-consuming, but getting your paperwork in order takes some time. While obtaining a visa in Japan is quicker than most countries, you should still apply for a visa at least two months before your move. There are different visa types, so you must apply for the correct one. 

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If you’re moving to Japan from the USA, you should apply for a work visa . A work visa in Japan allows you to stay there between four months and five years. Once the five years are up, the visa needs to be renewed. 

Work visas are becoming increasingly popular these days, as international recruiting is so common. Without a work visa, you will not be allowed to work in Japan. There are a number of professions that are acceptable for a work visa. To obtain a work visa, you must have proof of your career and job title. Job titles acceptable for work visas include:

Learning how to move to Japan from the US comes with multiple challenges, especially the language barrier unless you know Japanese. Unfortunately, there are not many accommodations in Japan for English speakers. 

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You will definitely run into Japanese citizens who speak good English, but you will not find that everywhere you go. Before you move, you should try to learn the basics of speaking Japanese. Try to learn simple phrases, such as “yes, ” “no, ” “I don’t know, ” and “bathroom.” Simple phrases and words can

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