Welcome to Tokyo, capital of the world’s third largest economy. This bustling city with a population of 37 million across the metropolitan area is consistently voted one of the most livable in the world. In addition to clean streets, safe neighborhoods, world-class healthcare, reliable public transport and a Michelin Star-studded culinary scene, the city is also an exciting and rewarding place for children, making it an excellent choice for financial professionals relocating with families.
Tokyo’s rankings in several of the latest livability indexes speak for themselves. In 2022, Tokyo ranked second on Global Finance Magazine’s Best Cities Index and sixth on Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey. In 2021, the city ranked fifth in the Economist’s Safest Cities index.
Taipei-born Kay Lin, Executive Officer at Japan Exchange Group (JPX), first came to Japan as a student. After some years in Taiwan and the US, she decided to settle in Tokyo in 2009. “The cleanliness and safety make it comfortable to live here and the infrastructure is very well developed,” she says, noting that the cost of living is low compared with other financial cities.
David Shirt, CEO of investment advisory firm Astris Advisory Japan, concurs. “Tokyo is clean and safe, with world-class education and lots of international schools. And it’s affordable. People talk about low taxes in Singapore where rents are sky-high. Here, on the other hand, rents are lower and you get a world-class city to live in.”
“The cleanliness and safety make it comfortable to live here and the infrastructure is very well developed.”
Kay Lin, Executive Officer, Japan Exchange Group
While reforms to bolster Tokyo’s attractiveness as a financial hub are under way, including in taxation, the big reason to relocate to Tokyo, say foreigners who have settled here, is that things just… work. The Japanese regard for rules, etiquette, cleanliness and respect for one another is evident in all aspects of daily life. You can go about your business with a minimum of hassle, while feeling completely safe.
The safety and organization are such that you often see young children travelling on the underground network by themselves: something that would be unthinkable in most other parts of the world.
This high level of safety and social consideration, particularly with regards to children, is one of Tokyo’s key attractions as a financial center as it motivates talented professionals to settle in the city for the long term.
Among many initiatives to ensure child-friendliness, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has launched a “Children’s Smile Movement” to ensure children’s perspectives are considered in the development of the city. Over 1,000 private and public organizations, non-profits and associations are part of this effort.
“I walk my six-year-old to a local school every morning, about 600 meters. Sometimes he wants to walk with a friend, without me. The fact that he can do that safely is extraordinary. In other countries, you’d be looking over your shoulder, but here the local network of parents and schools is extremely solid,” says David Shirt.
To continue to attract foreign professionals to this dynamic financial hub, the TMG is expanding its support for foreigners to help them relocate with their families. In addition to the wealth of information available online, Business Development Center TOKYO, a one-stop English-language support desk for foreign companies, provides comprehensive information on living in the city.
“I walk my six-year-old to a local school every morning, about 600 meters. Sometimes he wants to walk with a friend, without me. The fact that he can do that safely is extraordinary. In other countries, you’d be looking over your shoulder, but here the local network of parents and schools is extremely solid,”
David Shirt, CEO, Astris Advisory Japan
“For foreign professionals relocating to Tokyo with their families, everything is of course new. Our bilingual team is at hand with advice and information on daily living, including how to find English-speaking healthcare providers and how to enroll children in one of our city’s many international schools,” explains Fujita Megumi, Director for Attraction of Foreign Companies Strategic Projects Division, Office of the Governor for Policy Planning, Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Ms. Fujita adds that there are no less than 10,600 hospitals and clinics offering consultation in English in the city.
The wide-ranging living support available from Business Development Center TOKYO includes:
o Guidance with administrative procedures
o Information on healthcare providers, schools, and day-care centers that can accommodate multiple languages
o Information on translation and interpreting services
o Information on transportation within Japan
o Assistance with creating events for families
o Introductions to expatriate communities in Japan, and more
A thriving business ecosystem is driven by thriving people, who can capture opportunities while feeling secure for themselves and their families in an environment that continually offers stimulating discoveries. As the rankings show, Tokyo is recognized around the world for offering precisely such an environment.
For Kay Lin, Tokyo’s combination of modernity and tradition, vast arts and culture scene and fabulous food is simply unbeatable.
“I’m confident that Tokyo has a bright future as a financial center. It is such a livable city,” she says.
