Feb 09 (News On Japan) - There is already a clear Asia relocation trend in 2026. Thousands of Brits and Americans are making the decision to live in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, including China, or picking a cultural hub like Japan.
This article covers the multitude of reasons that you might consider moving to Japan or China.
Relocation to China may require legal assistance from immigration lawyers. One leading option is Immigration Advice Service, which has helped many clients with visas for China and Japan. Get in touch today to begin your relocation process.
Why Move to China in 2026?: The Economy
China has a decent-sized British expat community at an estimated 30,000 people. Most of them are concentrated in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. This growing community eases the culture shock and difficulties that emerge from one of the world’s hardest languages to learn.
China is also a nation with incredible economic strength. Economic growth in 2025 was 5%. This means that it is still a nation in transition, despite a drop from the 8.7% average from 1989 to 2025. Its technological development and research sectors are areas of particular focus for the government. As a result, professionals from around the world are in incredibly high demand. At a time when finding work in the West can be challenging, you shouldn’t find too many difficulties getting work in China if you have desirable skills.
Much of the proceeds from this growth have gone into developing superb public transport systems that will be particularly enticing for prospective US expats coming from a nation with poor transport infrastructure. 25 Chinese cities are serviced by metro systems, with the best and longest being in Shanghai.
Why Move to China in 2026?: The Culture
The nation also has some of the world’s best high-speed rail, vital to exploring this incredibly vast nation. It’s easier than ever to visit famous sights in your free time, like the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army. China is also known for its fantastic cuisine, which is an essential aspect of Chinese culture. It is also such a large country that you will never run out of local delicacies.
The political aspects of Chinese culture can cause difficulties for Westerners. Americans and Brits enjoy extensive political freedoms while living in full democracies. If you aren’t happy about something in Britain or the USA, you are free to speak your mind, often disruptively. Article 35 of China’s constitution guarantees its citizens the right to freedom of speech. Yet, the reality is often far more restrictive. The British government notes that “the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] does not tolerate open discussion on sensitive issues or protests which challenge party leadership or contravene the interests of the state,” and that those criticising the state can attract attention from the authorities.
Why Move to Japan in 2026?: The Economy
Japan can’t get near China’s growth rate and is considered by some to be a nation on the decline. There was almost no growth in 2024, and the nation has averaged a growth rate of 0.42% from 1980 to 2025. While this may reduce the prosperity you can find in Japan, there are still plenty of compelling reasons to move to the nation in 2026.
Despite the lack of growth, approaching stagnation in some years, there are still fantastic economic opportunities if you choose cities wisely. There are almost 15 million people spread across the megacities Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka alone. With close Japanese ties to Western nations, many firms treasure those with native English skills. The boom in Japanese tourism will continue in 2026, indicating this could be a particularly high-demand sector.
Even in Japan’s most expensive city, Tokyo, the cost of living is significantly lower than in the US or the UK. When compared with London, the Tokyo cost of living is 40.4% lower, excluding rent, and 50.2% lower, including rent. That yields a purchasing power 4.2% higher than in London, showing that higher London salaries can’t keep up with the high cost of living.
Why Move to Japan in 2026?: The Culture
Economic opportunities in Japan are clearly not as enticing as in China. However, the nation’s culture will make up for this for plenty of people. The food culture is excellent, especially if you love fish, given the nation’s vast coastline. Ramen is also a popular comfort food.
Japan’s religious culture is also endlessly fascinating. The nation has a unique blend of Shintoism and Buddhism. Whether you go in the country, you will always be able to find stunning temples and shrines to visit.
Outside of the culturally rich cities, there is plenty of natural beauty to enjoy. Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak, is a relatively short distance from Tokyo. South of the mainland is Okinawa, Japan’s tropical island. The Japanese Alps are also popular for their snow sports.
All of this can be enjoyed comfortably, owing to the fact that Japan is one of the world’s safest nations. That is due to the well-organised police force and Japan’s rules-based culture.
How Can Immigration Advice Service Help?
Whether you decide to move to Japan or China, you will almost certainly require a visa. Seeking assistance from immigration lawyers, such as the experts at Immigration Advice Service, is a sound idea.
Our team can help you to navigate Japan and China’s complex visa system to understand which one is right for you. We can then guide you through the entire application process, ensuring that all of your documentation is in order. IAS can also help if your visa application has been rejected, guiding you through each nation’s appeals process.
Get help from IAS today by calling us. You can also visit us online for information on the range of services we offer for Chinese and Japanese visa applicants.
