Where to Retire in Japan

Where in Japan do you want to live during your old age? That’s the question the All About News asked 500 Japanese citizens from their teens all the way into their 70s, to determine the most desirable region of Japan to retire to for your golden years. It turns out, many of the same places that appeal to young people looking to set out on their own are the very same areas that seem ripe for retired living, as seen in the top five ranking.

5th Place: Osaka

One of Japan’s largest metropolitan areas, Osaka is a bustling urban center, which means there’s plenty to keep you busy and entertained after retiring from your day job. Of course, it’s also well equipped with the infrastructure and facilities that become necessary as you grow old. The cherry on top? Osaka is known for amazing food like okonomiyaki and takoyaki – tempting at any age.

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4th Place: Kanagawa

Close enough to Tokyo to be extremely convenient, but with plenty of smaller communities that go at a more relaxed pace, ideal for anyone looking to slow down and enjoy their retirement. Major port cities like Kawasaki and Yokohama also offer unique cultural attractions, like Yokohama’s famous Chinatown. Plus, it’s all much cheaper than areas just across the prefectural border to Tokyo.

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3rd Place: Hokkaido

You might think that the inconvenience of Hokkaido’s snowy winters would be a hindrance for older, less mobile people, but it would seem the cool breezy summers, and the idyllic images of Hokkaido’s lavender fields and bucolic farms make the place seem like a great place to live once you’re no longer tied down to a big city with lots of office jobs. No one can deny that Hokkaido’s abundance of fresh produce, seafood, meat, dairy, and even local wine is appealing, and the availability might call out to home cooks looking to devote more time to their craft.

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2nd Place: Tokyo

You might say that Tokyo has everything, whether you’re a young whippersnapper or a retiree, and the infrastructure is no joke – but there’s more to this choice than the appeal of living in Japan’s capital city. Since 2013, Tokyo has also been pushing forward with “health promotion plans” that aim to extend healthy life expectancy and reduce health gaps with disease prevention efforts and programs that help improve healthy lifestyle habits. Tokyo is the place to retire if you want in on the government’s most proactive initiatives!

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1st Place…

Okinawa!

We should have known! Who doesn’t want to retire somewhere warm, sunny, and within view of a sandy beach? Okinawa is Japan’s very own subtropical paradise, and for locals, it offers all the charms of the world’s most popular resort destinations alongside Japan’s many conveniences. Of course, Okinawa isn’t just a little slice of paradise. Not only do the islands have their own unique culture and traditions, but past research has shown Okinawa to have one of the longest life expectancies in the world (never mind that this largely applies to locals eating a traditional diet). If you thought a retirement in Okinawa would let you live in an island paradise well into your 100s, why would you choose anywhere else?

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In the end, actual retirement destinations in Japan are probably most closely linked to where a person grew up or lived most of their life, but offering a choice of anywhere in Japan does make things interesting. It’s hard to say where the best retirement destination in Japan might be – but if you could spend your golden years anywhere in the land of the rising sun, where would you choose?

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