Best Cities in Japan for Foreigners

(2025 Edition)

Author

Foreign Professional
July 20, 2025

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For Foreigners
Best Cities

Moving to Japan isn’t just about Tokyo anymore. Regional cities are offering realistic, supported pathways for international residents, including relocation subsidies, affordable living, and visa-friendly jobs, making them excellent destinations for anyone coming from abroad.

Quick Comparison Table

City

Monthly Cost (¥)

Job Sectors

Foreigner Support

Beppu

150,000–185,000

Hospitality, Tourism

APU housing help, local job boards

Sendai

175,000–220,000

Logistics, Care, Education

Subsidies, job fairs, language centers

Matsumoto

165,000–210,000

Tourism, Education

SSW visa jobs, international support

Oita

155,000–200,000

Manufacturing, Tourism

Business incentives, expat guides

Fukuoka

190,000–250,000

Tech, Startups, Remote Work

Startup visa, coworking networks

*Costs include rent, utilities, food, transport and are based on Numbeo, LivingCost.org, and local sources.

Oita Prefecture
Beppu

Beppu is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resort towns, but it’s also home to a surprisingly international community thanks to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU). Foreigners living in Beppu enjoy a low cost of living, frequent tourism-related job openings, and support systems aimed at international students and workers alike.

Housing is often shared or subsidized through local programs. You can find part-time work in the hospitality sector, especially during peak travel seasons. If you’re a student or considering a Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa in tourism or food services, Beppu is especially accessible.

Living cost estimate: around 150,000–185,000 yen per month (including rent and food).
Reference: https://livingcost.org/cost/japan/beppu

Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai

Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region, offering a blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. It’s one of the most forward-thinking regional cities when it comes to supporting foreign residents. The local government has been actively recruiting foreign workers, particularly for logistics, caregiving, and technical support roles.

Unlike some smaller cities, Sendai offers foreigner-focused resources such as language centers, free Japanese classes, subsidized housing for eligible workers, and multilingual municipal support. The city has hosted job fairs in Southeast Asia and has formal agreements with partner countries to welcome international labor through the SSW system.

Cost of living is reasonable, averaging 175,000–220,000 yen monthly depending on location and lifestyle.

Nagano Prefecture
Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a smaller but vibrant city surrounded by mountains, known for its historic castle, clean air, and strong tourist sector. While it has a relatively low percentage of foreign residents, it’s growing as a destination for those who want to balance work with lifestyle.

Many local employers, especially in tourism, agriculture, and F&B, are actively hiring foreigners through the SSW visa or designated activities programs. The city’s proximity to ski resorts and hiking trails makes it attractive for short-term workers and seasonal roles as well.

Several job boards list Matsumoto and Nagano-based openings, and some employers provide housing and language assistance to new hires.

Oita Prefecture
Oita City

As the capital of the prefecture that includes Beppu, Oita City offers similar affordability with a more urban feel. It’s a growing center for research, development, manufacturing, and tourism, and is known for offering generous subsidies for companies that relocate there. For foreign workers, this means more chances to find employers who are actively hiring and willing to sponsor visas.

In recent years, Oita Prefecture has promoted itself as an international business hub within Kyushu. Its regional business portal includes English information about incentives, which can directly impact job creation and local hiring for international candidates.

Monthly costs are estimated around 155,000–200,000 yen

Oita relocation incentive details: https://ritti-oita.jp/en/yugu/
Company-specific subsidy info: https://ritti-oita.jp/en/yugu/yugu_oita.html
Oita daily living guide for foreigners: https://www.city.beppu.oita.jp/doc/seikatu/gaikokujinmuke/ei/dailyliving.pdf

Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka City

Fukuoka is often called Japan’s startup capital, and for good reason. It’s one of the few cities offering a dedicated Startup Visa, support for remote workers, and a growing tech and creative economy. The city has invested in becoming a livable, future-forward location for both domestic migration and international talent.

With a relatively high percentage of foreign residents (about 3%) and plenty of coworking spaces, Fukuoka is well-suited for digital nomads, freelancers, or professionals in tech and design. It’s also a major transportation hub for all of Kyushu, with excellent access to the rest of Japan and nearby Asian cities.

While rent and food costs are higher than in smaller cities, the infrastructure, community, and opportunities often make it worth it.

CONCLUSION
Wrapping It All Up

If you’re outside of Japan and seriously considering moving here, these cities offer a more welcoming, more affordable, and more realistic path forward than what you’ll often find in Tokyo or Osaka.

Whether you’re looking for student housing, visa-sponsored jobs, or small-town stability, there’s never been more variety, and more local government support, than there is now.

Would you like me to expand this edition even further with individual city spotlight sections, add visuals or salary estimates by sector?

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