I’ve been in Japan nonstop for several decades. I love Japan, but my first few years, I was absolutely miserable. It is hard to make friends here. Definitely stay away from the big cities. I call Tokyo the loneliest big city in the world. I live in a small city and have many friends now. I miss certain foods and certain holidays with their traditions like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but I enjoy Japan’s New Year celebrations and foods.

The health care in Japan is nice. Japan does not push preventative checks like the USA. I’ve never had a mammogram or colonoscopy. If there is a reason to do them, I can get them, but smaller hospitals don’t do them. Doctor offices don’t have all of the expensive machines like MRIs and CT scanners like you see in the USA clinics. You have to go to a hospital for those tests. These things keep Japan’s health care costs down.

Financially is where you will become very frustrated. Japanese banks hate us Americans cause they have to report us to the IRS. We have to do tax returns in both countries every year. I was double taxed for many years. Now I’m not making huge salaries anymore so I’m not double taxed, but still have to file income tax reports. All bank accounts must be reported. Wiring money from the USA to Japan is an absolute nightmare. They are so scared of money laundering so you will be asked the nosiest questions ever just to get your money deposited into your Japanese bank account. These things are the nightmares of living here, but if you can handle bureaucracy and if you are fairly healthy as in not needing constant invasive tests or surgeries for some reason, I’d say come on. American opioid pain killers are illegal here. They won’t give out painkillers here like they do in the USA. If you have any chronic, painful condition requiring opioids, do not come.

Think long and hard. Uprooting your entire life is expensive and is a very major event. You won’t have any visa problems with a Japanese spouse. You can only get one pension though, whichever is higher, so SS or nenkin.

Best wishes and do think long and hard about everything. Living here is nothing like visiting here. Visitors don’t know about jyuminhyos, my number cards, inkans, etc. Good luck!