Moving to Japan from Laos
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Laos to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Laos 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 88°F in Vientiane, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Laos to Japan, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Laos to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Laos 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
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos 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
Laos 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 Laos 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Laos 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 performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.
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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Vientiane | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Vientiane | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos 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.
Laos passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Laos
Visa FreeData: 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 Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Laos?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 3.3 in Laos. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Laos?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Laos, the official language is Lao.
