Moving to Japan from El Salvador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from El Salvador 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 87°F in San Salvador, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
94 ↑ 114% vs 2022

people moved from El Salvador 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 El Salvador to Japan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.8
JP
0.2
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

SV
38%
JP
83%

Japan performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SV
$1,176
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SV
15.5
JP
26.1

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SV
31.0
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
JP
7.8t

El Salvador 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

SV
10.6
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
13.2%
JP
36.0%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though El Salvador leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SV
2.8%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$11,300
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though El Salvador leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SV
75.4 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
12.1
JP
1.9

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

San Salvador Rain: 70.0 in/yr (1777 mm)
87° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Salvador Tokyo
Jan–Mar 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/68°F (31°/20°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month San Salvador Tokyo
Jan 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between El Salvador 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.

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Free
El Salvador passport holders can enter Japan without a visa.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
Japan passport holders can enter El Salvador without a 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?

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 El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.8 in El Salvador. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to El Salvador?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 15.5 in El Salvador. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (El Salvador: 78).

What's the weather like in Japan compared to El Salvador?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 87°F in San Salvador. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while San Salvador gets 70.0 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

SV JP
Population 6,568,745 124,214,766
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages Spanish Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +503 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 110