Japan
JPNJapan holds the world's most powerful passport, granting visa-free access to 194 destinations. The country offers exceptional safety, healthcare, and quality of life, though naturalisation requires renouncing other citizenships, making it less suitable for those seeking dual nationality.
→ If you hold a Japan passport, see the Japan nationality guidePassport Rank
#1
Visa-Free
194
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Population
- 125,700,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Temperate / Subtropical
- English Proficiency Rank
- #87
Indices
Cost of Living
69
Safety
87
Healthcare
86
Quality of Life
193
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | $1,400 | $900 | $420 | $200 | $110 |
| Osaka | $900 | $650 | $380 | $180 | $95 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Tokyo
Rainfall range: 51–210 mm/month · Daylight 10h (winter) to 14h (summer)
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- Yes (Japanese (written + spoken basic))
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $0
- Processing
- ~12 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $17,000
- Transaction taxes
- 6%
Foreign buyers: No foreign-ownership restrictions. Freehold available. Tokyo 23-wards average JPY 1.2M/sqm (~USD 8,000); central prime JPY 2.5M/sqm (~USD 17,000). Acquisition tax (real-estate acquisition tax) ~3% + registration + stamp duty; annual fixed-asset tax 1.4%.
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| American School in Japan | Tokyo | US + AP | $28,000–$37,000 |
| St Mary's International School | Tokyo | IB | $25,000–$35,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
350 Mbps median
98% fibre coverage
eSIM: NTT Docomo, SoftBank, au KDDI, Rakuten Mobile
Driving
IDP required
Local licence required after 12 months
Exchange eligible: Most OECD countries with reciprocity + translation via JAF
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: 180 days
Rabies titre required
EU pet passport: not accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#9
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠taxi overcharging tourists from Narita
- ⚠izakaya bait-and-switch in Shinjuku Kabukicho
- ⚠romance scams on dating apps targeting foreign residents
Examples of areas to avoid: Kabukicho side streets late night, Airin-chiku in Osaka
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- No
- ILGA Rank
- #40
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Limited
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Limited
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. What is the name of the Japanese Emperor as of 2025?
Answer: Naruhito
Source: Ministry of Justice Japan
Q2. In which year did the current Japanese Constitution come into effect?
Answer: 1947
Source: Ministry of Justice Japan
Related Guides
Visa Programs
Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20
Japan Business Manager Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20
Japan Digital Nomad Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
1mo
Min. Income
$5,670/mo
Citizenship
No
Verified 2026-04-20
Japan Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa
Japan JPN
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
10y
Verified 2026-04-20