Moving to United Kingdom from Japan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to United Kingdom — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Japan to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 98.2% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly £88,220 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Japan to United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → £88,220
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more
Groceries
pay 7.3% less
Transportation
pay 44.9% more
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 3.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.2 times more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Japan to United Kingdom, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from Japan to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How Japan and United Kingdom stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
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 United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Japan Meteorological Agency
Met OfficeVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Japan
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than Japan?
Day-to-day costs in United Kingdom run about 58% higher than Japan on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a ¥11,948,175 comparable salary, that's around £22,055 in United Kingdom for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United Kingdom can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and United Kingdom.
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
Japan generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Japan?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 26.1 in Japan. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
