Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Should you base here?
What this city's own numbers say about who it fits, how long you can realistically stay, and what to weigh before committing.
A good base for
- Heavy remote work — median internet is fast enough for calls and uploads
- Working out of cafés and coworking — there's a real scene here
- Travelers who prioritise feeling safe day to day
Less ideal for
- Tight budgets — this is a premium-priced base
- Treating it as a permanent base without tax planning — there's a residency-day threshold to watch
How long can you stay?
We don't have the visa window for this country on file yet — check the official source below before planning.
Stay past about 183 days in a year and you may become a tax resident here — get advice before you do.
What to weigh first
- BudgetPlan around it Monthly costs land around $3,500 — this is an expensive base.
- Tax residencyWorth a look Stay past about 183 days in a year and you may trigger local tax residency — plan before you do.
Before you commit
- See the arrival essentials above — eSIM, airport transfer, and where to stay.
This is a starting point, not legal or tax advice. Rules change — always confirm with official government sources before making plans.
Want this as a shareable brief — the trade-offs, a stay-length plan, and the checks to run? Generate a Decision Report (Pro).
Decision Report
A one-page brief for this city — your Fit Score, monthly cost, visa difficulty, tax-residency risk, best months, and the caveats to check first.
| Metric | Value | Score | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed | 190 Mbps | 10/10 | Estimated | |
| Cost of Living | $3,500 /mo | 3/10 | Estimated | |
| Rent 1BR | $1,500 /mo | 6/10 | Estimated | |
| Safety Score | 9.5 /10 | 10/10 | Estimated | |
| Coworking | 80 spaces | 10/10 | ||
| Avg Temperature | 16.7°C | 8/10 |
Rent: 1BR city-centre estimate (USD/mo) compiled from NomadList, Expatistan and public nomad guides. Not officially sourced — use as a comparison signal, not a quote.
Cost breakdown
Assumes a central, single-occupancy lifestyle with moderate eating out. The total includes rent; non-rent items are estimated from regional patterns.
| Item | Detail | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Central 1BR apartment | $1,500 | 43% |
| Food | Groceries + moderate dining out | $960 | 27% |
| Transport & comms | Local transit + mobile / internet | $440 | 13% |
| Other | Leisure, essentials, buffer | $600 | 17% |
| Total | Monthly estimate | $3,500 | 100% |
Rent is a published estimate (actual figure); other items are an estimated split of the total.
Climate Overview
Monthly temperature averaged from 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo archive). Humidity is an estimate from annual average.
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avg temperature | 16.7°C | 2015–2024 average |
| Warmest month | 31.24°C | Aug |
| Coldest month | -0.14°C | Jan |
| Humidity (annual) | 71% | Comfort range 40–60% |
| Sunshine | 2,968 h | Annual total |
| Precipitation | 1,615 mm | Annual total |
Air Quality
FairObserved: 2026-07-28 15:00
Visa Information
| N/A |
Tax Overview
| Income Tax | Japan uses a calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31). Residents for 5+ years may be subject to worldwide income taxation. |
|---|---|
| Residency | 183 days |
Next Actions
Everything you need to move here.
| Find a stay | Hotels & apartments via Booking.com | Browse stays → |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad insurance | Global health coverage from SafetyWing | Get insured → |
| Get an eSIM | Stay connected on arrival with Airalo | View eSIM plans → |
| Move money | Low-fee international transfers with Wise | Open account → |
Arrival essentials
What you need on day one — eSIM, airport transfer, and which neighborhoods to base yourself in.
eSIM
Asialink works but Moshi Moshi (Japan-only) plan often has better speeds. Coverage in subway tunnels is excellent.
Get an eSIM — AiraloAirport to city NRT
- Train — 60min / ≈ US$25 · Narita Express (N'EX) to Tokyo Station — most reliable
- Bus — 90min / ≈ US$25 · Limousine Bus to major hotels / Shinjuku — door-to-door with luggage
Where to stay
Recommended
- Shibuya / Ebisu — Central, tons of cafés and coworking, JR Yamanote line access
- Nakameguro / Daikanyama — Stylish, leafy, calmer than Shibuya, café-dense
- Shimokitazawa — Indie / vintage vibe, cheaper than central, easy access via Odakyu / Keio lines
Conditions change. Verify prices and routes locally before relying on them.
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