Regional Revitalization Relocation Support Grant (地方創生移住支援金)
Swap Tokyo for a regional town & receive up to ¥1M, plus up to ¥1M more for each child who…
Record checked Oct 21, 2026 · official source confirmed 14 Nov, 06:01 UTC
Summary
National grant, administered by participating prefectures & municipalities, paying people who leave the Tokyo 23-ward area to live & work in a regional municipality: up to ¥1M per household (¥600k single) plus up to ¥1M per child under 18.
Dream spread
Swap Tokyo for a regional town & receive up to ¥1M, plus up to ¥1M more for each child who moves with you.
Relocation reality check
Only for people who lived in or commuted to Tokyo's 23 wards for 5 of the last 10 years (incl. the most recent year); you must stay 5 years, & leaving early triggers full or half repayment plus a 10.95%/yr surcharge. Foreigners qualify only with permanent/spouse/long-term resident status.
Your fit signals
The real program is below — the 0–100 scoring is a paid feature.
Full match score — Solo / Household
The 0–100 move-match score, quality score, and would-stay breakdown — with confidence and full reasoning — unlock on Solo and Household.
See Solo & Household plansCheck: Prior Tokyo 23-ward residence or commute
Must have lived in, or commuted to, Tokyo's 23 wards for 5 of the last 10 years, including the most recent year.
Check: Five-year regional stay
Leaving the destination municipality within 5 years triggers repayment of all or half of the grant, per municipal rules.
Reality engine
Four lenses on whether this move fits you — tap a panel to see the logic behind each signal.
Eligibility
Prior Tokyo 23-ward residence/commute of 5+ of last 10 years; move to a participating municipality outside greater Tokyo; local SME job, telework from previous job, or local startup grant; apply within 1 year of moving. Non-Japanese must hold Permanent Resident, Spouse of Japanese/PR, Long-Term Resident, or Special Permanent Resident status.
Conditions
The program's rules on record, blockers first. Confirm each on the official source.
Prior Tokyo 23-ward residence or commute
BlockerMust have lived in, or commuted to, Tokyo's 23 wards for 5 of the last 10 years, including the most recent year.
Five-year regional stay
BlockerLeaving the destination municipality within 5 years triggers repayment of all or half of the grant, per municipal rules.
The long game
If Japan becomes home, here is the road from first visa to a second passport.
Japan · residency → PR → citizenship
CuratedCosts & money
The amounts & terms on record from the official source. USD figures are estimates.
- Incentive
- 600,000 JPY – 1,000,000 JPYConditions apply — read the catch before counting on it.
- Income requirement
- No income floor — prior Tokyo residence & long-term Japan residency status are the binding gates.
- Duration
- 60 months (about 5 years)
- Property purchase
- Not required
- Tax
- Treated as taxable (temporary) income in Japan; confirm with the municipality / a tax professional.
True cost to move
Upfront cash, reimbursements, and net position after approval — not headline incentive amounts.
Application roadmap
A practical sequence — adjust for your consulate and timeline.
1. Confirm official eligibility
Read the primary government source.
2. Gather income & employment proof
Bank statements, contracts, or tax records.
3. Book consulate / immigration appointment
Slots vary by country and season.
4. Prepare health coverage
Meet minimum coverage rules before arrival.
Community & lifestyle
Lived experience signals — not a substitute for official rules.
Meet people before you go
Existing communities already talking about life in 🇯🇵 Japan. Lurk, ask, make a friend — before the flight.
- r/movingtojapan
Strictly moderated, extremely useful wiki — read it first.
- r/japanlife
Red flags
- 5-year Tokyo prior residence
- 5-year stay commitment
- Early exit = full repayment
- Taxable grants
- Foreigners need existing long-term status
Source trail
Rule changes
CasaSedora last checked the official source on 14 Nov 2026. Changes appear here once two independent automated checks agree on them, or a person confirms them.
No rule changes recorded since monitoring began.
Our summaries point you to what moved — always confirm details on the official source.