Moving to Japan from Belarus

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Belarus to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Belarus to Japan, you would find that Japan is 2.1 times more expensive than Belarus overall. A BYN216,756 salary in Belarus would need to be roughly ¥19,127,204 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 50°F in Minsk, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Belarus to Japan.

What does your salary buy?

BYN216,756 ¥19,127,204

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 40.5% more

Groceries

pay 2.7 times more

Transportation

pay 3.4 times more

Housing

pay 2.4 times more

Childcare

pay 36.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BYN = 56.21 JPY (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Japan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Belarus to Japan, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
113 ↓ 4% vs 2022

people moved from Belarus to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Belarus to Japan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BY
2.3
JP
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BY
7.4
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Belarus across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BY
$2,194
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

BY
44.7
JP
26.1

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belarus leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BY
68.0
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BY
5.9t
JP
7.8t

Belarus generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BY
32.8
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BY
4.7%
JP
36.0%

Belarus generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BY
3.6%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BY
$27,700
JP
$46,300

Belarus generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BY
74.3 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BY
3.3
JP
1.9

Japan generally does better on family life, though Belarus leads in education spending.

Data: Ministry for Taxes and Levies of the Republic of Belarus, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Minsk Rain: 26.7 in/yr (677 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Minsk Tokyo
Jan–Mar 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/51°F (20°/11°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Minsk Tokyo
Jan 24°/14°F (-4.2°/-9.8°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 28°/16°F (-2.5°/-8.9°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 36°/23°F (2.4°/-4.8°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 52°/35°F (10.9°/1.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 70°/52°F (21.3°/11.1°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 72°/55°F (22.3°/12.6°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.8°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 50°/38°F (9.9°/3.3°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.1°/-1.3°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 29°/21°F (-1.5°/-6.2°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and enviromental monitoring Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and enviromental monitoring, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belarus and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.

Belarus passport

Belarus passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Belarus passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Belarus

Visa Free
Japan passport holders can enter Belarus without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Japan than Belarus?

No — Japan is on average about 57% more expensive than Belarus. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥4,781,801 in Japan on a BYN216,756 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Belarus across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Belarus.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Belarus?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belarus leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 44.7 in Belarus. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belarus: 79).

What's the weather like in Japan compared to Belarus?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 50°F in Minsk. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Minsk gets 26.7 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Belarus, the official languages are Belarusian and Russian.

Share this

At a Glance

BY JP
Population 9,413,505 124,214,766
Currency New Belarusian Ruble (BYN) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages Belarusian, Russian Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +375 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110