Will Japan Pay You to Move There? The Complete Guide to Rural Relocation Subsidies

Will Japan pay you to move there? Yes, but mainly if you already live or work in Tokyo. The Japanese government pays relocation grants to people who leave the Tokyo area for rural areas facing population decline.

The national program is called the Regional Revitalization Migration Support Grant (地方創生移住支援事業, chiho sosei iju shien jigyo). In 2026 it pays:

• up to ¥600,000 for a single person

• up to ¥1,000,000 for a household

• up to ¥1,000,000 more per child under 18, set by each town

• up to ¥2,000,000 extra for entrepreneurs launching businesses

You must have lived in or commuted to Tokyo's 23 wards for 5 of the last 10 years. You must also stay in your new town for at least 5 years.

This guide explains who qualifies, how foreigners can apply, and how to check a town's 2026 rules. It also compares Japan with other countries that pay people to move.

Why is Japan paying people to move?

Japan's population is shrinking fast. The country recorded 705,809 births in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. That was the tenth record low in a row.

The 2025 census counted about 123 million people, down more than 3 million since 2020. Government forecasts point to about 87 million by 2070.

Where people live makes the problem worse:

• About 52% of Japan's population lives in the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya metro areas.

• The Tokyo area alone holds about 28%.

• In April 2024, the private Population Strategy Council warned that 744 of Japan's 1,729 municipalities could disappear by 2050.

That leaves small towns short of workers, tax revenue, and basic services. The regional revitalization program aims to breathe life back into these rural towns.

Local governments offer cash incentives, subsidized housing, and job matching to attract new residents from big cities. The initiative aims to combat population decline by moving younger populations, especially young families, out of Tokyo.

How much money can you get?

The national relocation grants set a ceiling. Each prefecture and town decides the final amount.

A couple with two children can get up to ¥3,000,000. The child amount rose from ¥300,000 to ¥1,000,000 in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2026, some towns, such as Azumino in Nagano, announced plans to cut it back to ¥300,000.

The entrepreneurship grant covers half of your startup costs. It is for starting a business that solves a local problem, such as tourism, farming, or community care.

Who pays for the grant?

The national government pays half of each grant. Your new prefecture and town split the other half. You apply to your new town, not to Tokyo.

Is the grant taxed?

Yes, but lightly. The grant counts as occasional income (一時所得, ichiji shotoku), a type of taxable income. You subtract a ¥500,000 deduction, then pay tax on half of the rest.

On a ¥1,000,000 grant, only ¥250,000 is added to your taxable income. These built-in tax breaks mean most households keep more than 90% of the money.

Local government top-ups

Many local governments add their own financial incentives on top of the national grant. These include renovation subsidies, rent support, and child-rearing bonuses. They vary widely, so always read the town's own page.

How to check a town's 2026 rules

• Open your target prefecture's migration portal (移住ポータル, iju portal).

• Search the town's website for 移住支援金 (iju shienkin).

• Check that the page title shows 令和8年度 (fiscal 2026).

• Note the deadline and whether the budget is still open.

How 2026 rules differ by town

• Okinawa: only five towns take part in fiscal 2026: Ishigaki, Kunigami, Higashi, Motobu, and Ie.

• Ueda, Nagano: accepts movers from Aichi and Osaka as well as Tokyo. Its fiscal 2026 intake has already closed.

• Kochi City: takes fiscal 2026 applications until 29 January 2027, while budget lasts.

Many small villages also run akiya banks with low cost homes and renovation grants. See our guides to akiya banks for foreigners and renovation costs in Japan.

What is the eligibility requirements for Japan's relocation grants?

The national program serves people who already live or work in the Greater Tokyo Area. People living overseas cannot apply directly.

Residency requirements

• You lived in Tokyo's 23 wards, or commuted there from Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, or outer Tokyo.

• You did so for at least 5 of the last 10 years.

• The last year before your move must be continuous.

• Students who went to university in the 23 wards, then worked in the 23 wards, can count their study years.

Some towns also accept movers from Aichi and Osaka. Check the town's page.

Work requirements

You must move by your own choice. Company-ordered transfers (転勤, tenkin) do not count. You also need one of these:

• keep your current job through remote work

• take a job listed on the prefecture's official matching site

• start a business that wins the local entrepreneurship grant

• qualify through the town's "related population" (関係人口, kankei jinko) route, such as past volunteering there

Timing and commitment

• Apply after living in the town for at least 3 months, and within 1 year of moving.

• Some towns simply allow any time within 1 year.

• You must plan to stay at least 5 years.

Is there an age limit?

The national program has no age limit. A few towns add their own conditions, so check the town's page.

Can foreigners apply for relocation incentives in Japan?

Yes, if you already live in Japan. The national rules set no nationality limit. A foreign resident who meets the residency requirements applies on the same terms as a Japanese citizen.

Each town decides which visa types qualify. Some, such as Sano City in Tochigi, accept only these statuses:

• permanent residency

• spouse or child of a Japanese national

• spouse of a permanent resident

• long-term resident

Other towns accept work visas such as the Business Manager visa. Confirm your visa with the town before you move.

Applications and town letters are almost all in Japanese. Language skills matter in rural towns where few residents speak English. Renovation loans are also harder to get without permanent residency.

Can you get paid to move to Japan from abroad?

Not directly. You first need a visa and a home in the Tokyo area. Common routes for people moving to Japan include:

• Working Holiday visa: a one year visa for a gap year, open to young people from 32 countries and regions. You need a valid passport from a partner country.

• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa: for skilled workers with a job offer, usually with a bachelor's degree.

• Business Manager visa: for entrepreneurs launching businesses. Since October 2025, it needs ¥30 million in capital and one full-time employee.

• Digital nomad visa: stays of up to six months for remote workers and digital nomads. It does not give you a registered address, so it cannot lead to a grant.

What about Japan's abandoned houses?

Japan has about 9 million vacant homes, according to the 2023 Housing and Land Survey. Many are abandoned homes, known as akiya (空き家).

Many rural towns list them in akiya banks: town databases of vacant homes at low prices, or sometimes for free. You can combine an akiya with the relocation grant if both sets of rules fit.

How families moving to rural Japan combine the money

• Find a home through a municipal akiya bank or akiya listings.

• Claim the national relocation grant: up to ¥3,000,000 for a couple with two children.

• Apply for the town's renovation subsidy, if it offers one.

• Add any local child-rearing bonuses.

The grant does not pay property purchase costs directly. Budget separately for agent fees, registration, taxes, and house renovation in Japan. Our guide to cheap houses in Japan shows a full cost example.

Buying a home does not give you a visa. See can I live in Japan if I buy a house? and how to buy a house in Japan as a foreigner.

How does Japan compare to other countries that pay you to move?

Japan is not alone. Several countries pay people to move to small villages and offshore islands with declining populations. Most programs want new residents to stay for years and help local economic growth.

Italy

Trentino, in the Italian Alps, pays up to €100,000 to buy and renovate a home in one of 33 mountain villages. That is €80,000 for renovation and €20,000 for the purchase. You must live there, or rent it long term, for at least ten years.

Several southern towns also sell abandoned homes for €1. Expect large renovation bills.

Ireland

Ireland's Our Living Islands policy covers about 30 offshore islands, home to about 3,000 people. A grant pays up to €84,000 to renovate a derelict home there, or €60,000 for a vacant one.

The home must be built before 1993 and empty for at least two years. You also need the right to live in Ireland.

Switzerland

The village of Albinen pays CHF 25,000 per adult and CHF 10,000 per child. You must be under 45, buy a home worth at least CHF 200,000, and stay at least ten years. Only Swiss citizens and permanent residents qualify.

Chile

Start-Up Chile gives equity free funding to tech founders from any country. Its Growth track pays up to CLP 75 million, about US$80,000. Foreign founders now get a two-year work visa. Earlier cohorts received a one year visa.

Greece

The Greek island of Antikythera, between Crete and the Peloponnese, offered families a €500 monthly stipend and a house. The local church runs the plan. In 2024, local sources said the new homes were not yet finished.

The island has stunning beaches and rich history, but only a few dozen year-round residents.

What makes Japan different?

Japan stands out because the national government funds half of every grant. Most prefectures take part, and each picks its own towns. You can stack grants with local subsidized housing and renovation help.

The tradeoff is that Japan wants movers who already live in Tokyo. Chile is the best choice on this list for people moving from abroad. For anyone already in Tokyo, Japan's financial assistance is among the most generous in the world.

How to apply for Japan's relocation grants: Step by step

Step 1: Check which towns take part.

The Cabinet Office publishes a list of participating prefectures and towns each fiscal year. Not every rural town is on it. Then read the town's own 2026 page.

Step 2: Contact the town's migration support desk.

Each town has a migration support desk (移住支援, iju shien). Staff explain grants, housing, and job options. Most will reply in Japanese.

Step 3: Confirm your eligibility in writing.

Check your Tokyo residency history, your work route, and your visa. Ask for the repayment rules in writing before you move.

Step 4: Move and register your new address.

Move to the town and register your change of address at the town office within 14 days.

Step 5: Wait three months, then apply.

Many towns accept applications from 3 months after your move until 1 year after it. Others accept them any time within 1 year. You usually need:

• proof of your Tokyo-area residency or commute

• proof of work, such as a job contract or remote-work letter

• your My Number Card and bank details

Unpaid local taxes can disqualify you, so clear them first.

Step 6: Receive the grant and stay five years.

The town pays the grant into your bank account. Some towns check in each year to confirm you still live there.

What happens if you move away?

The relocation grant comes with a few strings attached.

Repayment rules if you leave early

You must repay the grant if you move out within 5 years of applying. Towns set the exact terms. In Ishikari, Hokkaido, leaving within 3 years means full repayment, and leaving in years 3 to 5 means half.

You also repay in full if you quit the qualifying job within 1 year. False applications trigger full repayment too.

Municipal budgets run out

Each town has a fixed yearly budget. Ueda in Nagano had already closed its fiscal 2026 intake. Kochi City warns it may stop early when funds run out. Japan's fiscal year starts on 1 April, so apply as early in the year as your 3-month wait allows.

Local grants have their own rules

Each local grant you stack carries its own conditions. Renovation subsidies may require a local contractor. Akiya bank homes may need to be your main home.

Child-rearing bonuses may require local schooling. Qualifying for one grant does not mean you qualify for another, so read each set of terms.

Practical tips for managing your move

Once you have secured your relocation grant and chosen a municipality, the logistics of settling in require planning.

• Mail and documents: town letters, tax notices, and grant forms arrive in Japanese. MailMate's virtual mailbox scans, translates, and digitizes your Japanese mail, so you can handle it from anywhere.

• International shipping: compare door-to-door movers early. Check that they deliver to your town, since rural deliveries can take longer.

• Banking: you need a resident card and a registered address. Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行, Yucho Ginko) has branches in most small towns. See Japanese banks for foreigners.

• Healthcare: register for health insurance at the town office when you move. English-speaking doctors are rare in rural areas.

• Tax: report the grant as occasional income in your tax return. Japan taxes residents on worldwide income.

Is it worth moving to rural Japan for the money?

Not for the money alone. The grant rarely covers the cost of moving, a car, and a home. You must also stay 5 years or repay it.

It is worth it if you want a new life at a slower pace. Rural Japan suits young families who want space, remote workers who keep a Tokyo salary, and entrepreneurs launching businesses that serve local needs.

Living costs in the countryside are low. Compare them in our guide to the cost of living in Japan. Older movers can also read about retiring in Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Japan pay foreigners to move there?

Yes, if they already live in Japan. The national rules set no nationality limit, so foreign residents who meet the Tokyo-area residency requirements apply on the same terms as Japanese citizens. Each town decides which visas qualify. Some, such as Sano City, accept only permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, and long-term residents.

How much does Japan pay you to move to a rural area?

The national grant pays up to ¥600,000 for a single person and up to ¥1,000,000 for a household. Each child under 18 adds up to ¥1,000,000, though some towns announced cuts to ¥300,000 for moves from April 2026. Entrepreneurs can get up to ¥2,000,000 more. The grant counts as occasional income, so most households keep more than 90% after tax.

Do you have to speak Japanese to participate?

There is no formal language test. However, applications and town letters are almost all in Japanese, and few residents speak English in small villages. Basic Japanese language skills make the application and daily life far easier.

Can you get paid to move to Japan from another country?

Not directly. You must first live in or commute to Tokyo's 23 wards for 5 of the last 10 years. Common first steps are a Working Holiday visa, an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa, or a Business Manager visa. Chile's Start-Up Chile is a rare program that pays founders who move from abroad.

What happens if you leave before the five-year commitment?

You must repay part or all of the grant if you move out within 5 years of applying. Each town sets the terms. In Ishikari, leaving within 3 years means full repayment, and leaving in years 3 to 5 means half. Quitting the qualifying job within 1 year also means full repayment.

Are Japan's abandoned homes really free?

Some are. Japan has about 9 million vacant homes, and some town akiya banks list homes for ¥0. Most need major renovation, and the buyer still pays registration, taxes, and repairs. Buying a home also does not give you a visa.

Is Japan really paying people to move there?

Yes. The Japanese government runs the Regional Revitalization Migration Support Grant (地方創生移住支援事業, chiho sosei iju shien jigyo). The national government pays half of each grant, and prefectures and towns pay the rest. It is real but narrow, because it targets people already living or working in Tokyo. You apply to your new town within 1 year of moving, often after a 3-month wait.

Is there an age limit for Japan's relocation grants?

No. The national program sets no age limit. Applicants must meet the Tokyo-area residency, work, and 5-year stay rules instead. A few towns add their own conditions, so check the town page before you move.