Moving to Japan from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Japan, you would find that Japan is 32.6% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly ¥7,662,436 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → ¥7,662,436
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 56.0% less
Groceries
pay 22.2% more
Transportation
pay 25.6% less
Housing
pay 48.2% less
Childcare
pay 56.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.3% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Japan cost about 33% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Japan, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Japan · OECD (latest data available)
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
- · · ·
-
12.18,205
United Kingdom
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate.
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
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
United Kingdom 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
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
share of people below the poverty line
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: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Met Office
Japan Meteorological AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Japan than United Kingdom?
Yes — Japan is on average about 37% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥1,915,609 in Japan on a £55,958 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
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?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 60°F in London. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
