My wife and I are starting to seriously plan a move to Japan around 2034 and I’d love some reality checks from people who’ve done something similar.
By then I’ll be 44 and my partner 46. We currently work in senior digital/technology roles on the leadership/customer success/digital workplace/consulting side at large international companies. My wife already works with a Japanese automotive client through her consulting role, so Japan isn’t completely disconnected from our current professional world.
We’ll also have two kids who would be around 9 and 6 at the time of the move.
Financially, we’re targeting roughly £1.8m–£2.0m invested by 2033/2034, mostly in index funds, plus separate pensions that would become accessible later in life. The idea would be to live off a ~3% drawdown baseline if needed, but realistically we’d probably continue working in some shape or form (consulting, remote work, advisory, fractional leadership roles, etc.) rather than fully retiring. We’d have an income of around £4.5k per month without needing to work to start from. That is around ¥1M per month.
One thing I’m trying to understand honestly is how much the financial side actually changes things in Japan. Does having that level of assets materially improve feasibility, visas, housing, flexibility etc., or is the bigger issue simply employability and integration?
I’m also curious how realistic it would be for two foreigners in their mid-40s to still find meaningful work in Japan. We both come from large corporate environments rather than startups or English teaching. I speak Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish at workplace proficiency and I’m increasingly inclined to seriously study Japanese over the next years.
A few questions for people already there:
How realistic is this financially for a family of 4 in/around Tokyo?
Does wealth/investments materially improve the experience or visa flexibility?
How hard is it for experienced foreign professionals in their 40s to find corporate or consulting work in Japan?
Is international school basically mandatory initially for non-Japanese speaking kids?
Which areas around Tokyo tend to work best for families wanting a quieter life but still access to the city?
What do people underestimate most before making this move?
Would really appreciate perspectives from families, FIRE folks or long-term expats already living there.