Hi everyone,

I’ve been seriously considering moving to Japan, as it's always been a country that has fascinated me although I’ve never been there. Right now, I’m torn between two options that keep circling in my mind:

• 🇯🇵 Japan
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

A bit of context about me:

• I'm 32 years old
• Male
• Single
• I don’t speak Japanese
• I don’t need to work (I recently sold my company, so the plan is to live off passive investment income)

What attracts me to Japan:

• The geek culture: anime, video games, the whole vibe really resonates with me
• Taxes: This is a big one for me. While Japan is often considered a high-tax country, I actually see it as a great opportunity. For the first 5 years, foreign-sourced income is tax-free, and after that, since most of my income comes from ETF capital gains, I'd only be taxed at around 20% which I’m totally fine with if the country offers enough in return. For example, Costa Rica offers 0% tax, but it’s a bit more “boring” for me.
• I'm curious to explore the country the infrastructure for travel looks amazing
• I appreciate the cultural respect for personal space, especially compared to Costa Rica or other Latin countries
• Punctuality is a big plus for me (this is actually one of the downsides I’ve experienced in Costa Rica)
• I could afford to buy a property in Tokyo in cash I know housing is expensive, but everything else seems fairly affordable in comparison

Regarding the visa which, alongside working for a Japanese company, seems to be one of the main reasons people eventually leave Japan…

I believe I could apply for a Designated Activities visa, which allows you to live in Japan for one year without needing to open a business (and doesn’t allow you to work either).

Another option I’m considering is opening a company and using the point-based system to eventually qualify for permanent residency… though I still need to think that one through carefully.

My biggest doubt about Japan really comes down to one thing:

Learning the language.
I mean, every country has its pros and cons, but for me, Japan’s only real “con” seems to be the effort and time I’d need to invest into learning Japanese.

How do those of you who've been living there for years feel about this?
I’d love to hear your experience.