News Safety and affordability drawing Americans to Japan

[thomas]

Who would have thought so twenty years ago: more and more Americans are exploring their options outside the US, seeking affordability and quality of life. While countries like Mexico and Canada are more popular go-to's for American ex-pats, many say Japan is delivering on what they find lacking in the US. The number of Americans living in Japan has grown slightly from 2020 to 2022, from 57,214 to 60,804. Some Americans cite Japan's cheaper healthcare and greater affordability as reasons for moving.

Business Insider spoke with four relocators.

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." She is also a fan of Japan's commitment to tradition and the hospitality that comes with that. "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."

Americans are moving to Japan for its safety and affordability

Japan isn't a top destination for American expats, but it's a go-to for those seeking quality of life. Four relocators share their experiences.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[mdchachi]

I'd consider moving back post-retirement or semi-retirement. Or seasonally. We'll see.

 

[Majestic]

↑ Same ↑

 

[mdchachi]

↑ Same ↑

Weren't you there for decades until recently?

 

[Petaris]

I can see the appeal but for me there has always been the concern of the lack of job options and the much lower salaries. And frankly I'm just not good at learning languages. I know I would pickup more being surrounded by it on a daily basis but I'm not sure I would ever be good enough to have business level Japanese.

I could see moving there after retirement, but it will kind of depend on where the kids end up. I'm guessing it will be the US.

 

[Petaris]

@mdchachi I kind of like your seasonal migration plan. I might have to consider that as well.

 

[mdchachi]

@mdchachi I kind of like your seasonal migration plan. I might have to consider that as well.

A lot of people around here do that except instead of going to Japan they go to Florida every winter. They are called snowbirds.
When airbnb came to be a big thing we briefly toyed with buying a condo so that it would be available when we visit. And we'd rent it out most of the time but there was a big backlash against that kind of thing in Tokyo so we didn't pursue it.

 

[Majestic]

Weren't you there for decades until recently?

Yes - I'm enjoying life in the US right now. Great convenience, great weather, close to family, lots of things to explore, great environment for building a career, almost luxurious living space compared to Japan. I'm looking out my window at some greenery and a pool - going to see a movie later. Its a good life here in the States for me now.

But the crime situation here is a constant drain on mental energy. The healthcare system is abysmal. Public transportation is horrible. These are real weights that tip the scale in Japan's favor. I'm not in a high crime area, but every time you park the car you have to consider the possibility it could get broken into. Every trip into the big city is a lesson in public policy failure: freeway underpasses that have become homeless encampments, infrastructure wrapped in razor wire because if it isn't, it will get broken into, and every bus stop is a temporary shelter for drug addicts or the mentally ill.

For now, all things considered, the scale is still tipped in favor of the US for me and Mrs. Majestic. She doesn't like the heat and humidity of Japan, so she is totally happy here. She has also made many friends here. But I'd consider moving back to Japan if things changed.

I'm intrigued by these people who moved to Japan and are living in remote areas. I wonder if they don't feel any sense of isolation or inconvenience? I would love to live for a few months on an island off of Hiroshima, or some rural place in Shikoku ...but I think I'd worry about things like access to dental care, and having a variety of shops and restaurants around me. And, I'd like to be anonymous every now and again - which you can't do when you are a foreigner living in rural Japan.

And the family that lives in Tokyo...theirs is a very rarified existence, enabled by the wife's access to long-term residency through her Japanese grandparents, and their income which enables them to live in the middle of Tokyo in a 600,000/month apartment.

 

[mdchachi]

Yes - I'm enjoying life in the US right now. Great convenience, great weather, close to family, lots of things to explore, great environment for building a career, almost luxurious living space compared to Japan. I'm looking out my window at some greenery and a pool - going to see a movie later. Its a good life here in the States for me now.

But the crime situation here is a constant drain on mental energy. The healthcare system is abysmal. Public transportation is horrible. These are real weights that tip the scale in Japan's favor. I'm not in a high crime area, but every time you park the car you have to consider the possibility it could get broken into. Every trip into the big city is a lesson in public policy failure: freeway underpasses that have become homeless encampments, infrastructure wrapped in razor wire because if it isn't, it will get broken into, and every bus stop is a temporary shelter for drug addicts or the mentally ill.

For now, all things considered, the scale is still tipped in favor of the US for me and Mrs. Majestic. She doesn't like the heat and humidity of Japan, so she is totally happy here. She has also made many friends here. But I'd consider moving back to Japan if things changed.

I'm intrigued by these people who moved to Japan and are living in remote areas. I wonder if they don't feel any sense of isolation or inconvenience? I would love to live for a few months on an island off of Hiroshima, or some rural place in Shikoku...but I think I'd worry about things like access to dental care, and having a variety of shops and restaurants around me. And, I'd like to be anonymous every now and again - which you can't do when you are a foreigner living in rural Japan.

And the family that lives in Tokyo...theirs is a very rarified existence, enabled by the wife's access to long-term residency through her Japanese grandparents, and their income which enables them to live in the middle of Tokyo in a 600,000/month apartment.

That's more or less how I feel. We are in a pretty good situation right now in terms of living standards. I plan to stay here at least until the kids are out of school/college which will take another 8 years. My wife has taken to abandoning us for 4-6 weeks every November to go back to Japan. So she's been getting her Japan fix that way. And she has no desire at the moment to move back to live.

 

[Belkov]

I came across this article of an American residential real estate development company buying properties in a Scottish village to basically turn it into a gated community for wealthy Americans.

Please note it is a political blog and contains flowerly language but I think you get the jist of it.

The Scottish Ghost Town

Doing a Trump: Victorian Taymouth Castle built in 1842, under reconstruction The purchase of Scotland goes on unabated. The Grousist brought reader’s notice to this particular example of a co…

grousebeater.wordpress.com

It wouldn't surprise me that this isn't happening all over the world where wealthy individuals are escaping the crime and deprivation of their own countries for safer pastures.

 

[salyavin]

I'd consider moving back post-retirement or semi-retirement. Or seasonally. We'll see.

Same.

 

[salyavin]

Yes - I'm enjoying life in the US right now. Great convenience, great weather, close to family, lots of things to explore, great environment for building a career, almost luxurious living space compared to Japan. I'm looking out my window at some greenery and a pool - going to see a movie later. Its a good life here in the States for me now.

On family what is funny is my US family is much smaller and spread out in the US and my Japanese family is more warm and close to us. My kids love the kids in the Japanese family there are just more there age on the Japanese side and they live in one area. My house is huge in the US but the cost including property tax costs are large compared to Japan. I agree very much on salary. I agree very much on green. In Japan we have fun playing in rivers and ocean and in general just feels more fun. My wife would like to go back but she does not want to take the hit financially. I may inherit the jikka maybe. Japan is much more affordable. I cannot live where I live now when I retire it just costs too much. My wife does not like America very much but wants the money. Health insurance in the US is terrible. Dentists in Japan are cheaper but as I recall more visits to do a simple thing and more metallic look. I know so many people here I do not feel isolated at all but it has its downside everyone seeing what I do and making note which they also do with each other. Family will talk to me openly on family drama, their feelings on politics and in general include me. US I feel more isolated mostly work friends who rotate or Japan America Society who also sometimes moves or even moves back, family is rarified. So maybe I am the odd one feeling more isolated in the US. Wife says she does want to move back. We are talking about retirement as it would sure go farther in Japan.

 

[johnnyG]

As a retiree here, I guess I'm in the right place?

I've read in the past about japanese retirees in places like penang, maybe peninsula malaysia, and so on. Not sure if that lasted or has the appeal that it once did. An old friend just spent month or so in thailand (and some minor days in cambodia)--he's been a regular traveler there for many years. He said that this time it seemed less enjoyable. He's complained in the past about too many europeans there, this time he commented on chinese and russians. (I've heard similar things about some cities in vietnam.) Separately, I have read elsewhere that "thailand is more expensive now", but that's probably recent yen weakness rather than changes in thailand.

There are three phases of retirement: the go-go years, the slow-go years, and the no-go years. For everyone, those phases vary in length, and so on, so if someone is moving anywhere permanently, keep all three in mind when deciding.

 

[johnnyG]

A little tangential to what's in the OP--americans retiring/moving to japan--but this popped up in another forum, and it has some decent discussion:


Maybe those thinking of coming to japan should consider some of the comments there.

 

[Petaris]

@johnnyG It seems like most of the posters in that thread are younger. That's not surprising given that its Reddit and it mostly a younger crowd. I only saw a few posts from people purporting to be older. Very few of the posts I read, I admit I didn't read the thread down to its bones, gave any real suspected reasoning for it. Most of the posts were either "I've never seen any old gaijin here!" or "I know a few, so maybe there are some more?". Honestly I think the comments here are of a much higher quality in general. In the end it is just a personal decision based on, likely, quite a few personal factors.

In my case there are three main factors, Family, Language (my ability to communicate and understand information), and Finances, and numerous little factors.

The best thing ever would be cheap, fast, reliable travel between the areas in Japan where we need to go and the areas in the US where we need to go. Star Trek transporters would be really really handy!