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Move to Wild Japan

Determine the Where, How, and When of your Japan move.

6,400+
People using our tools
47
Prefectures covered
12+
Visa pathways mapped
1

Where Find your ideal location

Not all of Japan is Tokyo. Discover which of Japan's 47 prefectures matches your lifestyle, climate preferences, and goals. Takes 3 minutes.

Find Your Prefecture →
2

How Find your visa pathway

Work visa? Digital nomad? Working holiday? Business manager? Our diagnostic maps your situation to the right visa category with next steps.

Get Your Visa Path →
3

When Plan your timeline

Work backwards from your target arrival date. Get visa-specific milestones, document deadlines, and buffer time built in.

Build My Timeline →

Free 2026 Relocation Programs Guide

5 verified programs offering up to ¥5,000,000+ for families. Real government subsidies for moving to rural Japan.

Get the Guide →

Need Personalized Help?

Book a 1-on-1 call to discuss your specific situation, review your visa options, and create a concrete action plan.

45-minute video call
Review your situation
Personalized action plan
Follow-up notes
Book a Consultation →

$75 USD • Limited availability

Common Questions

Quick answers to what everyone asks in my DMs

Can I move to Japan without a job offer?

Yes, but your options depend on your situation. Working Holiday (if eligible), Student visa, Digital Nomad (if you earn ¥10M+), or Long-Stay Sightseeing (if you have ¥30M+ savings). Take the diagnostic to see your options.

I'm American - can I do Working Holiday?

No WHV, but Americans have plenty of other paths: Student visa (great bridge to work visa), teaching English (Instructor visa), Digital Nomad if you earn ¥10M+, Startup Visa through participating cities, or rural revitalization programs where towns actively recruit foreigners. Many Americans successfully move through these routes.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

Depends on your path. For work visas in international companies or teaching, often no. For SSW (Specified Skilled Worker), you need JLPT N4+. For daily life, basic Japanese helps but isn't required in major cities.

How much money do I need to move?

Budget ¥500,000-1,000,000 ($3,500-7,000) for initial costs: first month rent, deposits (2-3 months), furnishing, and buffer. Rural areas are significantly cheaper than Tokyo.

Can I work remotely from Japan?

The Digital Nomad visa allows up to 6 months if you earn ¥10M+ from non-Japanese sources and have proper insurance. For longer stays, you'll need a different visa category.

What changed with Business Manager visa?

As of Oct 2025, capital requirement increased from ¥5M to ¥30M. You also need a physical office and at least 1 employee. Startup Visa through participating cities is now the better path for most entrepreneurs.

Official Resources