Moving to Japan from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Syria to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Syria 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 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Syria to Japan.

Moved in 2023
98 ↓ 2% vs 2022

people moved from Syria 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

The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Syria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
JP
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SY
$122
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
JP
26.1

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria 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

SY
83.0
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
JP
7.8t

Syria 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

SY
7.3
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
JP
36.0%

Japan performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
JP
$46,300

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
JP
1.9

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus Tokyo
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Damascus Tokyo
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria 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.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Japan passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.

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 Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Syria?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 11.9 in Syria. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SY JP
Population 21,563,800 124,214,766
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages Arabic Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +963 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110