What It Means To Be Wealthy In Japan

Japan is a place travelers yearn to visit and return to—here’s how far your money might go and what it means to be wealthy

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Japan is a fascinating destination for those seeking a blend of cultural heritage and modern innovation, and with the introduction of the digital nomad visa in 2024, Japan has become an attractive option for remote workers. From its lower cost of living to its world-renowned amenities, Japan is a destination where you can enjoy everything from bustling cities to tranquil onsens. Here’s what it means to be wealthy in Japan and how far your money might go.

Japan Is Welcoming An Unprecedented Number of Tourists

Japan was the ninth most-searched-for country by Americans in 2024 for information on either moving or traveling there, and likewise, Japan’s had a solid start to this tourist year. A record 3.7 million tourists visited in January 2025, and a favorable currency conversion made Japan more affordable than ever.

What’s more, with record snowfalls, many American tourists flocked to Japanese ski resorts in March, with some skiers from the U.S. reporting in The New York Times that it was cheaper to fly to Japan and ski than it was to spend the week in Aspen or Vail. For North American ski tour operators, this was their biggest Japanese ski season ever, with Ski.com reporting that reservations for Japan for the 2024–2025 season were up 600% year-on-year.

It seems like a good thing for the country, but Japan is one place that showcased the perils of overtourism in 2024. Fodor reported that the term’ Kankō kōgai,’ or ‘tourism pollution,’ entered popular culture to explain the unease over the unchecked rise of tourists to Japan, where numbers are at unprecedented levels, primarily due to tourists taking advantage of a weak yen. Kyoto and Tokyo were two of seven places identified on Fodor’s No List 2025, where travel is ill-advised because of overcrowding and accompanying issues. There are 40 million visitors expected in Japan in 2025.

That’s because Japan consistently hits the mark for the best places to travel or the best cities in the world. In 2024, Japan came 2nd in U.S.News’ Best Countries because it is one of the world’s most literate and technically advanced nations, and it ranks highly in terms of heritage, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, and quality of life.

Tokyo came 31st in Time Out’s Top 50 Cities 2025, not just because it has everything a city on this list should have—impeccably clean public spaces and efficient public transport, but because of its thirst for reinvention, whether in terms of architecture or digital art. It also offers the biggie tourist lure of cherry blossoms in late March. Moreover, a recent study on the World’s Smartest Places placed Tokyo in 4th place globally.

The entire country made the list of Bloomberg’s 25 places to go in 2025, although travelers should avoid August when it’s simply too hot. There are new, very cool hotel offerings from the Four Seasons and the Waldorf Astroia in Osaka to the Capella in Kyoto to explore and new art complexes like Tadao Ando’s Naoshima Island featuring all the big-name contemporary Asian artists. The BBC lists Naoshima Island on its 25 Places to See in 2025 list, citing the fact that what was once an area notorious for its highly polluting copper smelting industry is now known for its major museums and stunning site-specific artworks.

CNTraveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards placed Japan as the number one country in the world for the food, the onsens, the public baths, and the high-speed trains running the most scenic global rail routes. There are stretches of the archipelago in the southwest, as well as the Jomon Prehistoric sites in the north that are filled with endangered species and zero humans. Plus, in 2024, UNESCO added a new world heritage site in Japan, the Sado Island Gold Mines.

Bloomberg came up with a possible though unlikely solution. Considering the country appears to be suffering from a shortfall in government revenue, very high taxes for residents, and too many tourists, and with an expected 60 million visitors by the end of the decade to Japan each year, visitors could be charged a sort of tourist tax to plug the gap—through a combination of hotel taxes and a change in airport rebates that happen for tourists through duty-free shopping.

Being Wealthy In Japan–Japan’s Average Annual Salary

As per the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Better Life Index, Japan’s average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is $28,872 a year, which is a little lower than the OECD average of its 38 OECD member countries, $30,490 a year.

As a comparison, this figure is $51,147 a year in the U.S. and $16,269 in Mexico.

People in the U.S. earn $69,392 per year on average, which is the highest among OECD member states and higher than the OECD average of $49,165. In Japan, the average salary is $38,515.

Being Wealthy In Japan–Japan’s Cost Of Living

When taken globally, the cost of living in Japan is lower than it is in many other developed countries such as the U.S., the U.K., and France, where the cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is as follows:

Switzerland: $1,659.
France: $1,200.
U.S.: $1,166.
Germany: $1,139
U.K.: $1,095
Canada: $1023.
Japan: $927
Italy: $905.
Latvia: $874.
Greece: $832.
Malta: $801.
Spain: $731.
Thailand: $650.
Mexico: $637.
Portugal: $592.

In comparison, the cost of living in Japan is almost 22% less than in France.

When you factor in rent, it becomes clear that Japan offers more again for your dollar per square meter than in the U.S., for example. The cost of living in the U.S. is almost 30% higher than in Japan, not including rent, and including housing costs, it is 56% higher in the U.S.

Restaurant prices are 112% higher in the U.S., and groceries are 19% higher than in Japan.

Being Wealthy In Japan–Average Net Worth

The OECD Better Life Index reports that in Japan, the average household net wealth is estimated at $294,735, while the OECD average among its member countries, including many EU states, the U.K., Australia, Mexico, and the U.S., is $323,960.

In the U.S., the average household net wealth is believed to be around $684,500, one of the highest among OECD countries.

Being Wealthy In Japan—Obtaining A Digital Nomad Visa

Japan launched its digital nomad visa program in 2024, allowing residents of the EU, U.S., U.K., Australia, Singapore and South Korea to apply, as well as other countries on the borders of Europe, such as Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey.

Applicants must have a fixed annual income above 10 million Yen (roughly $63,000) plus their own private health insurance. Anyone meeting these conditions can stay in Japan on this visa for up to six months.

How To Behave When Visiting Japan

Lonely Planet offers 38 ways to avoid missteps and errors while visiting Japan. Most of them are advice that wouldn’t be out of place anywhere else—don’t jump the line, do wear a mask if you’re sick, don’t litter on the street—while others are a little more nuanced. Advice such as covering up tattoos while visiting bathhouses might not be as obvious; they are sometimes synonymous with gangs, so they could be viewed unfavorably.

Smokers beware—some cities have also completely banned smoking in public spaces. Osaka brought in a smoking ban in January in preparation for Expo 2025, which will include six months of exhibitions and festivals centered around the theme of sustainability. The World Health Organisation states that the number of Japanese smokers has almost halved over the past 20 years, and in 2022, just under 15% of adults smoked, and the government has a target of 12%. In contrast, in 2022, almost 20% of U.S. adults used tobacco products. You can instead smoke throughout Japan by seeking out dedicated smoking rooms and areas.

CNTraveler has other useful titbits to make life easier, such as arriving early for everything, using inside voices and keeping noise to a minimum when in public spaces such as railway cars, buses, or restaurants. It also advises that tipping is not customary and that shoes are mostly removed when in indoor spaces, so it’s a good idea to carry around a pair of clean socks.

If you’re looking for a hotel away from the masses, AFAR showcases some hidden gems far away from the megacities and more crowded sites, and there are always ways to ensure your money goes further.

So, if you’re considering visiting or relocating to Japan, the country offers a high standard of living combined with rich cultural experiences. The digital nomad visa has opened doors for remote workers, and Japan is more accessible than ever for those seeking a balance of affordability and luxury.

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