Nomae Expats
City Playbooks

Underrated performance city

Fukuoka

Japan's best-kept relocation secret. Compact, functional, affordable, and quietly building a startup ecosystem. The quality-of-life per yen ratio is unmatched.

¥250k–450k/mo

Monthly burn rate

1.6 million

Population

2h 30min (Flight) / 5h (Shinkansen)

From Tokyo

Best gym

GOLD'S GYM Tenjin / Hakata. Central Fitness Club.

Coworking

Fukuoka Growth Next, The Company Hakata, BIZ COMFORT

Golf access

Good. Multiple courses within 30–45 minutes. Lower cost than Tokyo.

Social density

Smaller pool than Tokyo, but tight-knit. International founders visible.

Why Fukuoka

Fukuoka consistently ranks as one of Japan's most livable cities — and is consistently underestimated by expats who default to Tokyo. It is compact enough to walk or cycle most places, has a serious food scene, faces the ocean, and is approximately 2h 30min from Tokyo by flight or 5h by Shinkansen.

The city made a strategic bet on international startups in 2012, becoming Japan's first National Strategic Special Zone for startups. The result is a genuine ecosystem — smaller than Tokyo, but more accessible.

The Startup Visa Advantage

Fukuoka offers a dedicated Startup Visa — a 6-month residence permit for foreign entrepreneurs planning to establish a business. It does not require an existing company, only a credible business plan reviewed by the city's Global Startup Center.

Members only

The strategy, sequencing, and optimization details below are available to members.

Get access

The Startup Visa Advantage

Fukuoka offers a dedicated Startup Visa — a 6-month residence permit for foreign entrepreneurs planning to establish a business. It does not require an existing company, only a credible business plan reviewed by the city's Global Startup Center.

  • Duration: 6 months, extendable to another 6 months
  • Requirements: business plan demonstrating innovation and Japan-market intent
  • Support: Fukuoka Growth Next provides incubation space, Japanese legal support, and business development assistance
  • After the visa period: transition to Business Manager visa once company is incorporated and operational
  • Key contact: Fukuoka City Global Startup Center (G-NET Fukuoka) — English-language support available

Who this is for

Pre-incorporation founders who want to test Japan without committing to a full company setup immediately. The 6–12 month window gives you time to validate product-market fit before the harder bureaucratic work.

The Real Burn Rate

  • Rent (1LDK, central Tenjin): ¥70,000–120,000. Same apartment in Tokyo: ¥150,000–250,000.
  • Food: ¥60,000–120,000/month. Fukuoka has arguably Japan's best ramen (Hakata-style tonkotsu) and excellent seafood at significantly lower prices than Tokyo.
  • Transit: minimal — the city is walkable and cycleable in a way Tokyo is not. ¥5,000–10,000/month.
  • Coworking: ¥15,000–40,000/month. Fukuoka Growth Next rates are subsidized for startups.
  • Total realistic range: ¥200,000–380,000/month — 35–40% less than an equivalent Tokyo setup.

Infrastructure Gaps

Fukuoka's limitations are real and worth naming. The international community is smaller — the English-language professional network is a fraction of Tokyo's. Major enterprise clients and most Japanese VCs are still based in Tokyo.

  • Fukuoka to Tokyo: approximately 5h by Shinkansen (Hakata to Tokyo station) or 2h 30min by flight. Monthly or weekly travel to Tokyo is viable and common among Fukuoka-based founders with Tokyo client relationships.
  • Airport access: Fukuoka Airport is inside the city — 5 minutes by subway from Tenjin. One of the most convenient airports in Japan. Direct flights to Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei.
  • International schools: available but limited compared to Tokyo. For families, research specific schools before committing.

Neighborhoods

Tenjin / Daimyo

City center, creative, walkable, cafes

¥70k–130k / 1LDK

Hakata

Transport hub, business, Shinkansen access

¥65k–120k / 1LDK

Members only

The strategy, sequencing, and optimization details below are available to members.

Get access

Tenjin / Daimyo

City center, creative, walkable, cafes

¥70k–130k / 1LDK

Hakata

Transport hub, business, Shinkansen access

¥65k–120k / 1LDK

Ohori Park

Premium, quiet, parkside living

¥90k–160k / 1LDK

Yakuin

Stylish, walkable, local feel

¥70k–120k / 1LDK

Nishijin / Akasaka

Mid-tier, family-friendly, good access

¥60k–100k / 1LDK

Best for

  • Founders wanting ecosystem access without Tokyo costs
  • People who need physical space and outdoor access
  • Those building Japan-facing businesses that serve Kyushu
  • Remote workers prioritizing quality of life over network density

Not for

  • People who need daily access to Tokyo's enterprise clients
  • Those requiring the deepest international community
  • Anyone who cannot function without extreme density

Other cities

TokyoOsakaSapporoNiseko