10 Best Places to Retire in Japan

Kindness, hospitality, a large number of ancient temples, mystical mountains and futuristic cities are just a few of the many characteristics that determine the best places to retire in Japan. These attributes make Land of the Rising Sun recognizable everywhere in the world. Enchanting beauty and culture of this country are really worth seeing and experiencing.

The country is mostly mountainous, with around 80% of the mountainous surface, and about 66% covered by woods. Main features of this turbulent area along the coast of the Pacific Ocean are frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The most famous volcano in Japan is, of course, Mt.Fuji, whose last eruption was back in 1707, but despite this geologists still classify it as active. Fuji represents the holy mountain and a symbol of Japan, and it is also an endless source of artistic inspiration, as well as the object of pilgrimage.

The fact, that Japanese cities do not belong to the list of 20 most affordable international cities to retire, should not be the obstacle for you to spend your golden year in one of them, because they offer ideal conditions for life, which include acceptable costs of living, the quality system of health care and various sources of entertainment. Openness to new ideas, as well as to everything that is modern and new, is felt at every step. The newcomers will feel welcome here, and they will meet the kindness and respect wherever they go.

To find the absolute best places to retire in Japan we searched and searched for hours on the internet. And finally took the most recommended places by a plethora of web portals such as Investopedia, Japan today, Insidetale, Gogonihon, to name a few, who conducted similar research.

Let’s check out those amazing destinations in this unique country called Japan.

10. Tokyo

This metropolis is the capital of Japan, and its appearance inspires every visitor. The most popular part of the city is Ginza neighborhood, which is known for its many shops and nightclubs. This part of the city has been turned into commercial quarter after the devastating earthquake that occurred in 1923. The average costs of living in the city require about $2,500 every month. The quality of health services is at a very high level.

9. Nara

This Japanese city is located near Kyoto and is specific for its numerous temples and archaeological sites. In the 7th century, it was a capital of the Japanese Empire. Todai-Ji Temple is known around the world as the largest structure made of wood, and at the bottom of its pillars are holes, and local people believe that it will bring happiness in the next reincarnation to anyone who manages to pull through one of them. Also, Nara is famous for its so-called deer park where the temple is located. The average costs of living in this city are about $3,000 per month.

8. Hiroshima City

Our countdown of the best cities for retirement in Japan continues with Hiroshima City, which is, unfortunately, most known for being bombed in WWII with the atomic bomb called “Little Boy”. The largest city in the province, Chugoku, is rich with natural resources and architectural wonders. For a quiet and dignified retirement life in this city, you need around $1,500 per month.

7. Sapporo

The 7th place on our list belongs to the so-called Ice Empire of Japan. Every year more than 2 million visitors come to this town to attend one of the biggest festivals in the country, known as “Sapporo Snow Festival”, where artists compile amazing sculptures made of ice and snow. Considering the amount of sculptures that are made, every year in the winter season in Sapporo is imported 6.5 tons of snow, all for the needs of the festival. Costs of living in the city are about $3,500 per month.

6. Kobe

This city is located in the province of Hyogo. It is known for its extremely beautiful and most impressive bridge that connects the islands of Honshu and Awaji, so-called, “the Pearl Bridge.” Average living costs per one month are around $3,300.

5. Chiba

For a decent life in this city with almost 1 million residents, you will need around $2,500 for the monthly cost of living. Chiba, which is the capital of the Chiba Prefecture, is a beautiful city world known for having the longest suspended monorail in the world, Chiba Urban Monorail. Besides this monorail, other tourist attractions include Chiba City Zoological Park, the first artificial beach in the country, the largest shellmound ( archaeological feature consisting mainly of mollusk shells) in the world, etc.

4. Yokohama

A city which was completely destroyed two times, for the first time during the earthquake in 1923, and the second time during the American bombing in 1945, today with its 3.50 million residents is the biggest city in Japan. The most famous part of the city represents the neighborhood “Minatomirai 21” that arose in the 80s as a result of urbanization plan for the city. The main feature of the city is the tallest building in Japan, “Land Mark Tower”, which also has the fastest elevator. For the costs of living in this city, it is necessary to extract an average of $3,650 per month.

3. Osaka

This city is located in the Kansai region on the Japanese island of Honshu. It is the third largest city and has about 2.70 million residents. It was founded on the ruins of a Buddhist temple. On these ruins was built a castle that still dominates the industrial center. The most famous neighborhood in the town is Shinsekai, which is built on the model of New York and Paris. The central part of the city is more modern and brighter part of Osaka, where museums, theaters, shopping centers and commercial buildings are located. The nightlife of Osaka is happening along the Dotonbori canal which is a place where you can go out to dinner or a drink in the many bars under the glittering lights of neon signs which reflect on water channels. Costs of living in Osaka are around $1,500 per month.

2. Fukuoka City

This city is located in the west part of Japan and many say that it is a true paradise for gourmets but only if they are not vegetarians. Fukuoka City has a little more than 2.50 million residents. Costs of living in this city are around $1,400 per month.

1. Kyoto

Our countdown of the 10 best cities to retire in Japan, ends with an old and idyllic city of Kyoto. The city has about 2.00 million residents, and the entire city is surrounded by mountains. Kyoto is a much quieter in comparison to other cities, and its special beauty lies in parts of the city where typical Japanese architecture from the old days is preserved. District Gion belongs to the old part of the city and is distinguished by the fact that it kept original shape and architecture and is a place where you can still see the girls dressed in traditional Japanese kimono. Average monthly cost of living in this city amounts to about $2,100.