Editor’s Note: “Retirement Japan” is part of an ongoing series on overseas resignation. To see all the articles in the series, jump to the end.
Japan has the fourth largest GDP in the world after the US, China and Germany (if California is a country, it would beat Japan for fourth place) is a highly developed country with ultra-modern cities and excellent infrastructure. As of 2024, over 60,000 US foreigners lived in Japan, accounting for nearly 2% of the country’s population. Japan appeals to retirees for its relative affordability and its best sushi and fine dining in the world.
Furthermore, “Japan is well-known for being a safe country, and its reputation is well-founded and well-bred,” says Martin D. King, a registered US financial planner working in Tokyo. King is one of the founders and managing partners of Tyton Capital Advisor, an 11-year-old Tokyo-based company, specializing in internationally focused financial planning, investment and insurance.
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If Japan seems unlikely to leave due to geographical distance from the US, the country’s modern cultural and commercial connections are close. A huge number of American experts in the US, Asia and Europe enjoy careers in the US, Asia and Europe where Toyota works for Japanese companies where Toyota is the top of its list, followed by entities such as Mitsubishi, Sony and Nintendo. Compared to other US citizens, these experts will find it easiest and most natural to make a leap to relocate to Japan.
Furthermore, many white-collar experts who have never worked directly for Japanese companies are well versed in the country’s noble Japanese management and production principles, including Kaizen: the concept of continuous improvement that is strongly related to Toyota and its global success stories.
And there are widely traveled Americans who have visited Japan many times and are engrossed in civilized atmosphere, distinctive aesthetics and ancient history. Japan continues to be fascinated, as evidenced by the popularity of the highly acclaimed Shogun, one of 2024’s heavily streamed television shows.
The country that attracted the United States to World War II by attacking Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941 is now offering an immeasurable level of respect in American society to members of the largest generation of adolescence. Japan’s peace, technical achievements, capitalist victory and popular products are key to its respect, and even tribute. After all, Toyota’s Lexus RX crossover is the most popular luxury vehicle in the United States, with Toyota Camry all synonymous with wealthy retirees, and Americans are behind the wheels of Acura, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda and Infinity cars every day.
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Where to land
With over 14 million people, Tokyo, one of the world’s largest metros, is the obvious option. A humid, subtropical climate means that cities are at lower temperatures than typical Northeastern cities in the United States, and in winter they are rarely below 40 degrees Celsius. Tokyo is packed with many acclaimed museums, including Zoos (Think Pandas), theaters, concert halls and the National Museum of Western Art, designed by Le Corbusier.
As of 2025, Tokyo boasts 170 Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. One Michelin restaurant costs just $67 per person, but a three-star might command a price like Paris.
“Tokyo is usually a Japanese entrance drug,” King says. “However, the cost of living is higher than in rural Japan, and many people will retire in adjacent prefectures like Sato, Chidori and Kawagawa.” Okinawa is also a natural destination for foreigners in the United States, due to the American environment derived from the existence of US military bases. “Depending on which part of Okinawa you are in yourself, it may be difficult to believe that you are not actually somewhere in America,” King says. “There are strong foreign communities everywhere, but we can expect the largest community based in big cities, Osaka and the oldest-born metropolitan cities.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Visa and money are important
Japan does not make relocation easier, as foreigners place great points on it. “In short, there is no easy retirement visa option for foreigners in Japan,” King says. “Most of you have to qualify through work, family, or special skills.” In Japan, there are no so-called golden visas and no passive investment schemes through real estate.
“Japan does not provide direct citizenship or residence through investment programs like Portugal, Spain or Greece,” confirms King. “There is an investor/business manager visa category, but that is not a passive investment route. You need to actively manage or establish an investment of at least 5 million yen (approximately $34,000) and meet operational requirements such as employee employment and maintaining a physical office.”
Therefore, in general, moving to Japan will not result in a carefree life of tuna rolls and alcohol. You have to run a little business. “This makes sense when you think of Japan having a well-known demographic problem,” King says, referring to the country’s aging population. According to the World Economic Forum, one in 10 Japanese people are over 80 years old. “They haven’t fallen on themselves to import more old men,” King says honestly.
“Because Japan does not have a dedicated retirement visa for foreigners to stay for longer, most people must live for at least 10 years (at least five years on a labor or family visa) before applying for permanent residence,” King explains.
There are a few exceptions. A highly skilled professional can qualify for permanent residency in just 1-3 years, if they meet certain criteria, and Japanese citizen spouses can also qualify quickly. “Long-term residency visas are generally reserved for people with special families and humanitarian circumstances,” King says.
A certificate of qualification (COE) is required for most long-term visas, but there is no particular COE or visa for retirement. King says you can fill out your visa application for free or pay an immigration lawyer to do it.
Jumping over all these hoops, a two-bedroom apartment can get just $1,000 a month. Furthermore, “In Japan, medical costs cannot make you bankrupt and standard care is high,” King says.
Living in Japan: Take home
Retirements or others hoping to live in Japan should carefully look at whether they may qualify for one of the very limited categories of awarding long-term residence. You have to have family connections, luck in special circumstances, provide special skills, or prepare to launch a business in the golden age.
Those who have developed connections with Japan throughout their careers are in the best position to hear contacts and success stories that will help guide them down their paths.
