🇯🇵 East Asia
Cities & towns in Japan
Where you land inside Japan matters more than the country itself. Browse the most popular cities for American expats, or take a 60-second quiz to surface the top 5 that fit your lifestyle.
Find your city in Japan
Answer 8 quick questions about pace, beaches, transit, and budget — we'll rank the top 5 cities.
Tokyo
Pop. ~14M
Mega-city with the world's best transit, food, and safety — language is the main barrier.
Walkability
9/10
Beach access
2/10
Expat community
8/10
Housing cost
7/10
Osaka
Pop. ~2.7M
Friendlier, foodie second city — cheaper than Tokyo with similar amenities.
Walkability
9/10
Beach access
3/10
Expat community
7/10
Housing cost
5/10
Fukuoka
Pop. ~1.6M
Mid-size southern city — startup-friendly, walkable, beach-adjacent.
Walkability
9/10
Beach access
7/10
Expat community
6/10
Housing cost
4/10
Kyoto
Pop. ~1.4M
Historic former capital — temples, walkable neighborhoods, slower than Tokyo.
Walkability
9/10
Beach access
2/10
Expat community
6/10
Housing cost
5/10
Sapporo
Pop. ~1.97M
Hokkaido's main city — cooler climate, snowy winters, more space than Honshu cities.
Walkability
8/10
Beach access
3/10
Expat community
5/10
Housing cost
4/10