Moving to Japan is a Big Step – But One that is Getting Smaller

December 2023

“When my husband and I decided to move to Japan, one of the first things we had to figure out was where to live. What surprised us the most was the number of options that were available. There were a lot of choices available in terms of finding a place that fit our needs, and we were able to complete the house-hunting process quickly.”

-Sarah Pharathikoune, i-5O

Sarah Pharathikoune, a customer success manager with i-5O, moved to Japan with her husband and two dogs in May of 2023. Her company provides manufacturers with digital transformation (DX) and Internet-of-things (IoT) services that can help them streamline their production workflows, and they were looking to establishing a physical presence in Japan to better grasp and service the needs of their clients. Having previously lived there as students, she and her husband decided to pack their bags and take the plunge by moving overseas.

Once seen as a challenging place to work and live in due differences in language, culture, and business practices, Japan is now open, globalized, and hungry for international talent and investment. And the government is offering a range of services to help foreign companies incorporate in Japan, as well as to make it easy for workers to relocate, adjust, and enjoy life in the country.

Housing prices in Japan are surprisingly reasonable, to the point where people on even modest salaries can afford to live in downtown Tokyo. Living within a short distance of one’s workplace is far more affordable than in San Francisco, New York, London, or Hong Kong.

Pharathikoune works mostly from home, and she needed space for her two Labradors. “We decided not to live in downtown Tokyo, as we wanted more space for our dogs.” They found an attractively priced country house an hour away from central Tokyo. “Even though we’re some distance outside the city, I’m able to work remotely without any issues, and my husband can go by train to his office.”

Even outside of the bustling capital, her 5G internet is stable and the public transportation is ample and efficient, with information provided in multiple languages. Pharathikoune says that her husband can get around without any issues, even with only three months of Japanese under his belt.

While Pharathikoune and her husband don’t have children, as a young couple making a potentially long-term move, the environment for raising kids was a consideration—one that she says worked in Japan’s favor.

“I have to admit,” she says, “once I heard about the health insurance coverage for children, and thinking about safety and such, that raising children in Japan would be the way to go.”

Japanese hospitals are among the best in the world, and Japan’s comprehensive health insurance system is available to all residents, regardless of nationality, under certain requirements. Children’s healthcare and medication are lower, and some municipalities offer full coverage.

For Kim Youngmin, Managing Director for South Korea’s SBJ Bank, he knew he’d made a good decision to come to Japan with his wife and two daughters after he saw how passionate and sincere the local school was in helping his family prepared for this major transition.

Kim recently moved to Tokyo to head the bank’s Futures Lab, a business unit that specializes in supporting Korean firms expanding abroad and foreign startups moving into Korea.

“The principal and four or five other faculty, from the top down to the classroom advisor, came to greet me for the parent interview,” he says. “My daughter already enjoys going to school and the Shinagawa Ward provides foreign students with a Japanese language curriculum three days a week.”

Kim has also been impressed by the work-life balance he’s found in Japan. “Here in Japan, once I leave the office, I’m on my own time without being overwhelmed by work. This gives me more freedom to spend time with my family and enjoy my own pursuits.”

Another pleasant surprise was the abundant greenery and clean air. “There’s no need to worry about air pollution warnings.It’s refreshing to see the clear blue sky on the way to the office, or even from the windows while working.”

Japan also offers a wide range of readily accessible recreational activities for families. These include many of the same urban activities that can be found in cities around the world, in addition to festivals and cultural pursuits unique to Japan that take place throughout the year.

Outside the cities, Japan offers beautiful nature and trails for hiking and bicycling, as well as wilderness resorts and other destinations for adults and children. Sarah Pharathikoune of i-50 is looking forward to picking up her old hobby: camping.

“We’ve already tried glamping as a first step,” she says. “There’s just so much we want to do and so much available, the toughest part is actually deciding what to do.”

“One thing that my family and I were truly surprised by was how close we were to nature even living in downtown Tokyo,” Kim adds. “The air where we live is clear and clean, and there are hot springs and hiking trails just a short train ride away.”

Doing business overseas requires personnel who can adapt to life in a new country and new culture. And as global trade expands, Japan is continually looking for ways to increase the flow of international talent into the country by making it easier for companies to bring in experts from overseas, and to smooth their transition process in as many ways as possible. Support organizations such as JETRO can assist partners on both sides in taking their first steps in international business with Japan.