It comes as no surprise that Japan has caught your eye. Not only are there plenty of job opportunities, but it is a country full of rich culture and history.
Tokyo is definitely a city to consider if you are thinking about living in Japan. However, there are many more places that you should think about too.
For example, Yokohama, which is only a few minutes away from the capital. It is also the second largest city within Japan. And then there is Osaka, another well-loved city of Japan with its wonderful nightlife and modern architecture.
If you do not mind commuting to somewhere like Osaka instead, then Nara might be a better choice. This area offers nature in abundance, as well as traditional sights.
If you are unsure about where you would like to live in Japan, then look no further. Here you will find out the best places to live in Japan.
Reasons That Make Places In Japan Great To Live As A Foreigner?
Before you pick out a place that you want to live in Japan, there are a few things to take into account as a foreigner.
These factors can help with your overall decision. It also means that you do not just pick a place because you like it – though that is always a great start.
Foreigners
An area that has a lot of foreigners means that services will cater towards you more. The reason this is great is because there will be lots of things written or said in English.
While you should always learn the language of the country that you live in, it does make it easier when you first move.
You may also find that there are clubs and groups to join too. This can make it much easier to make friends within a strange new city.
Attractions
Having local attractions is important when choosing a city to live in. It gives you a reason to explore the local area. It also means that you can take in the famous sights while also working or studying.
If you live in an area that is off the beaten track, or is not known for its attractions, then you are likely to feel lonely. You will need stuff to do to make the experience exciting!
Travel
Having the ability to travel easily is a must. Just like the above point, if you live in an area that is difficult to get to, then you will feel stuck.
Places in Japan have some of the best transportation networks, especially Tokyo. Making sure you can get from A to B easily means that you will have no trouble getting around the city. You can also travel further afield if you want to get away from the city, too.
You may also want to look at local bicycle lanes too, and whether local transport is convenient enough for you.
Tokyo
First up is Tokyo, and it is obvious why. While Tokyo is a popular place to live, it is also expensive. Having said that, there are many reasons people still want to move to such an amazing place.
Within the 23 wards that make up Tokyo, there are 10 million people. 450,000 of these people are foreigners. The wards that are the most common with foreigners to live in are Shibuya city, Setagaya city, and Minato city.
Tokyo is known for having everything you need. Not only does it have famous landmarks and attractions, but also great food and lots of opportunities to find work.
The transportation system is also one of the best in the world. It is also easy to navigate as a foreigner.
Yokohama
Located within the Kanagawa prefecture is Yokohama, which is around an hour away from Tokyo by train. Known as a port city, it inhabits around 3.7 million people, with 100,000 of them being foreigners.
The transportation within this area is just as good as Tokyo too, making it a great place to get around – as well as visit Tokyo. In fact, you can easily live in Yokohama and commute to Tokyo for work or study.
There are many attractions too, such as Landmark Tower and the Redbrick Warehouse. You may also want to visit the Cupnoodles museum if you are a huge fan of ramen.
Sapporo
While the above cities may be further up your own list, it is always great to look further afield too. Sapporo, which is located within Hokkaido, is said to be the largest city within the area.
With over 2 million people, it houses over 14,000 non-Japanese natives.
The area is famous for its amazing hot springs and places to ski, but also the volcanoes too. If you enjoy seafood, then Sapporo is also famed for its delicious seafood and tasty ramen.
Sapporo is located within the most northern part of Japan, where you will need a boat to get to the island.
However, you will find that the winters get very cold (great for skiing), and the summer’s have cooler temperatures in the morning and evening compared to Tokyo.
Nagoya
Located within the Aichi prefecture is Nagoya, another port city. It is well-known for housing Nagoya castle, and it has an extensive population of foreigners.
In fact, out of the 2.3 million inhabitants in Nagoya, 80,000 of them are foreigners.
It makes for a very interesting place to spend your time, because there are many different cultures present within this area. You will also find lots of opportunities to meet up with other Americans too.
The castle itself has a lot of historical importance within Japan. It was constructed back in 1609 when shōgun founder Tokugawa Ieyasu was in power. You will have plenty of chances to visit it too.
Sendai
Located within the Miyagi prefecture of the Tohoku region, Sendai is the biggest city based in the area. There are around a million people or so living within Sendai. 12,000 of them are foreign nationals.
People are drawn to Sendai for its rich history. It is where Date Masamune, a well-known Sengoku samurai, built a castle for himself.
Despite the city itself being very well-developed, it is also known to be affordable too. It has a lot of nature, and you are located around mountains and the sea. This makes it a wonderful place to live.
Osaka
Osaka is a very popular city when it comes to foreigners. It is considered to be a major city within Japan, with more than 2.7 million people living within Osaka city. More than 140,000 of those people are foreign citizens.
The transport system is fantastic, and the food is delicious. Some of the local treats include KushiKatsu, Okonomiyaki, and Takoyaki.
There are also lots of places to visit too, such as the Shitennoji Temple and Universal Studios Japan – to name just a couple.
Kyoto
While Kyoto is known for its geishas and tourist hot spots, it is also a really great place to live as a foreign native. While the area has a population of 1.5 million, there are around 44,000 foreigners living in Kyoto.
Due to being the past capital of Japan, there are many historical attractions within this part of Japan. For this reason, it is also highly populated with tourists.
The reason people like to live here is because it is still very traditional when it comes to the architecture. Even though it has been brought up to modern times, it still sometimes feels like you are in old-time Japan.
Nara
Nara is the kind of place to live if you want to be close to nature and out of the city. However, you can easily commute to Osaka if you need to for work. It is also a place very close to Kyoto too.
There are plenty of places to hike, as well as take in all of the gorgeous scenery. With an overall population of 360,310, with just over 3,000 being foreign nationals, it is still a great place to be.
Kobe
Located within the Hyogo prefecture, Kobe is a beautiful port city that has a wonderful view of the ocean.
Due to being on the coast, you will notice how the city has been influenced by the many cultures that surround Japan.
There are around 1.5 million people living in Kobe, and 48,000 of them are foreign. People like to live here due to the easy transportation links. You can also hop onto the Bullet Train to visit Tokyo in around 3 hours.
Final Thoughts
Living in Japan is a fantastic experience. However, you will want to choose wisely as a foreigner moving all the way to a place that has so much tradition and rich culture. This is because you may feel intimidated at first.
Fortunately, there are many places suited for non-Japanese natives. A lot of the cities in Japan have other people in the same boat. This means there are often English-speaking groups and clubs to join.
You may also find that bigger cities offer English signage too, making it easier for you to get around during the day.
Whatever the reason you are moving to Japan – studying, work, or getting married – Japan is a fantastic place to live.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
