Moving to Zimbabwe from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Zimbabwe — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Japan to Zimbabwe, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Harare averages 78°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

Get free moving quotes to Zimbabwe

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

Key Indicator Comparison

How Japan and Zimbabwe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
ZW
6.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
ZW
29.9

Japan performs better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
ZW
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
ZW
1.7

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe 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

JP
12.0
ZW
56.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
ZW
0.8t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Zimbabwe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
ZW
1.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
ZW
46.1%

Japan performs better than Zimbabwe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
ZW
8.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
ZW
$3,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
ZW
63.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
ZW
28.5

Japan generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Harare
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 75°/49°F (24°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 82°/59°F (28°/15°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Harare
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa on Arrival
Japan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Japan

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zimbabwe?

With 1.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe.

Is Zimbabwe safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zimbabwe is 6.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Zimbabwe compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Zimbabwe, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Zimbabwe scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Harare is 78°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Harare receives around 33.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Zimbabwe?

The official languages in Zimbabwe are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

Share this

At a Glance

JP ZW
Population 124,214,766 15,121,004
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL)
Languages Japanese Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +263
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 999