Moving to Japan from Cuba
What to Expect
Considering a move from Cuba to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Cuba to Japan, 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 84°F in Havana, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Cuba to Japan.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Cuba.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Cuba across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Cuba generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan generally does better on family life, though Cuba leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Havana | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Havana | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Instituto de Meteorología,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cuba 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.
Cuba passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Cuba
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Japan: 37.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Japan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Cuba across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Cuba?
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in adult obesity rate. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Cuba?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Cuba, the official language is Spanish.
