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Japan is the second most popular destination for people looking to move overseas

According to global search data, Japan ranks just behind Canada as the place most people want to work and live

Kaila Imada
Written by
Kaila Imada
Associate Editor, Time Out Tokyo
Kiyomizu-dera Kyoto
Photo: Snitz/Unsplash
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Considering Tokyo is one of the top five cities in the world, we’re never surprised to hear people say they want to move to Japan. A recent ranking by Remitly, a global money transfer service, revealed just how many people around the world want to live and work here.  Interestingly, despite the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in online searches on how to move abroad. And based on that data, Remitly found Japan is the second most popular country people want to move to.

Out of search data collected from 101 countries, Japan comes in just behind Canada, followed (in order) by Spain, Germany and Qatar, making up the top five countries on the list. 

Japan is the most popular destination for people in 13 countries and regions. A closer look at the ranking shows that Japan is the first choice for people from the United States and Canada as well as Australia and most of Southeast Asia. Countries including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines all have Japan at the top of their list. As for Japan itself, it seems locals here would most like to move to the United Kingdom. 

Japan was also featured in the top ten on the 2020 Global Peace Index, for its safety, gorgeous scenery and culture, making it a clear choice for people looking to make a big move. If you ask us, the food and drink scene on its own is enough reason to live here.

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