Editor’s note: "Retire in Japan" is part of an ongoing series on retiring abroad. To see all the articles in the series, jump to the end.
Japan, with the world’s fourth-largest GDP after the U.S., China, and Germany (though if California were a country, it would beat out Japan for the No. 4 spot), is a highly developed nation with ultra-modern cities and excellent infrastructure. More than 60,000 U.S. expats live in Japan as of 2024, which represents nearly 2% of the country’s expat population. Japan appeals to retirees due to its relative affordability, as well as the world’s best sushi and fine dining restaurants.
