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Planning a move to Japan from the UK? Read our guide on removals to Japan from the UK which has information on moving costs, great tips, an amazing checklist, and free removals quotes to help you on your way to the Land of the Rising Sun.
As a British citizen, you will require a visa if you plan to work, study or live long-term in Japan. Depending on your purpose – work, study, or family – you may need to follow different processes and requirements.
You will need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), a job offer from a Japanese employer, educational qualifications, and your documentation (valid passport and photo).
You may be eligible for a Highly Skilled Professional visa, for those with expertise in advanced fields, or a job-specific work visa, tied to a particular role or employer.
You will need a COE, an acceptance letter from a Japanese educational institution, a graduation certificate, financial proof, and your documentation (valid passport and photo)
If you are moving for family reasons, you will need to provide COE, evidence of marriage to a Japanese national or resident, financial documentation, and personal identification.
Learn more about it on the official page Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The final price will depend on a couple of cost factors, but the biggest factor is volume. Let’s look at some estimates for the cost of moving to Tokyo from the UK, by sea, for different household sizes to give you an idea of its effect:
| Size of Household | Shipping Time | Cost |
| 1-bed flat | 9-11 weeks | £3,000-£4,700 |
| 2-bed house | 6-8 weeks | £4,500-£7,200 |
| 3-bed house | 6-8 weeks | £7,000-£9,400 |
| 4-bed house | 6-8 weeks | £8,900-£10,900 |
| 5-bed house | 6-8 weeks | £10,500-£14,200 |
Disclaimer: The rates shown above are just estimates.
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The average cost of living in Japan can range from £800 to £1,100 without rent.
According to Numbeo, Japan is around 30% cheaper than the UK – Leisure and rent can be cheaper, and in combination with higher salaries, the country offers a good quality of life.
To give you a rough idea of living costs in Japan, below is a table with an average cost of living metrics across the whole country, compared to the UK.
| Japan | UK | |
| Milk (1L) | £1.12 | £1.25 |
| Eggs (12) | £1.67 | £2.94 |
| Restaurant Meal | £17.25 | £32.25 |
| 1L gasoline | £1.02 | £1.27 |
| Transport Ticket | £1.14 | £2.20 |
| Basic utilities/month | £133.30 | £245.31 |
Source: Numbeo. Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Japan.
The average rent in Japan for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £1,000.
For renting you might be asked for a guarantor. It’s usually expected to be a family member, landlords often accept employers, universities, or a specialised guarantor company (a hoshonin-giasha).
If you’re planning to buy a house, you will like to know that there are no restrictions for UK citizens looking to do so. Beware that you will have to consider mortgage and legal implications, so be sure to consult a local lawyer or real estate agent for guidance.
Some sites that you can use to find a home in Japan are Real Estate Japan, Gaijinpot Apartments, Housing Japan, Japan Home Finder, Real Estate Tokyo.
The Japanese unemployment rate is just 2.6% (Statista, 2023), so finding job opportunities won’t be difficult. There are many job opportunities for foreigners and English speakers, mainly in education (teaching English), IT, healthcare, hospitality, or manufacturing.
A good start is to check out the following online portals before moving to Japan such as: Bunac, Gaijin Pot Jobs, Daijob.
Of course, planning an international removal from the UK to Japan will be hard work, but there’s plenty to look forward to when you’re finally living in Japan.
Yes, Japan is consistently ranked as one of the countries with the best quality of life.
Here’s a list of pros and cons with the main advantages and some challenges as a foreigner you may encounter:
Living in Japan as a foreigner can be a fascinating and unique experience. The country is rich in every sense and known for its distinctive cultural norms. Each day is shaped by a culture of respect, harmony, and extreme politeness.
Adjusting to society can be challenging due to the language barrier, so learning Japanese will be a bonus to ease your day-to-day.
If you are moving to work in Japan, you should expect a hierarchical structure in your workplace and a significant dedication from the employees to the company. However, a sense of community and support is maintained.
As explained in the section above, if you plan to live in Japan, you must first apply for a visa for work, study, or family connections.
We’ve created a checklist so you can organise your move from start to bottom:
Set Up Your Finances: Opening an account with a local bank can be convenient, mainly if you’ll be receiving a Japanese salary. Fortunately, some banks offer services in English. Consider one of these options: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Japan Post Bank, Shinsei Bank, MUFG.
Of course, the insurance doesn’t stop at the public options, you can also avail of a private option for extra coverage.
To move to Japan with pets, it’s important to know that there are strict import guidelines that you must follow. So, to be able to bring your furry friend, they must:
Finally, you must warn the Japanese Animal Quarantine Centre of your pets’ arrival.
Japan offers a wide range of places and nice cities to live in. These are some of the best considered:
The direct flight distance between the UK and Japan is around 9,500 kilometers. A non-stop flight from London to Tokyo can take 12 hours, and the flights operate between major UK airports, such as Heathrow, and cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
Yatta (It’s done)! You’ve made it to the end. That was quite informative, wasn’t it? You’re probably almost ready to set sail to Japan yourself at this point with all the expert knowledge we’ve imparted.
Chotto matte kudasai (please wait)! Before you jump into planning a removal to Japan, we like to always recommend people read a little more, you can never be too prepared. So, you will find some useful articles linked below. Otherwise, sayonara
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