Living in Nagoya as a Foreigner
Last updated: March 2026
Nagoya is Japan's manufacturing heartland — home to Toyota, Denso, and nearly 600 foreign-affiliated companies. It offers big-city infrastructure at 20–25% less than Tokyo, with significantly more spacious housing. Centrally located between Tokyo (1h40m by Shinkansen) and Osaka (50 min).
Where to Live
Naka-ku (中区) — City Center
Central, convenient, close to Sakae entertainment district. Good transit connections. Most urban feel.
1K: ¥60,000–80,000 · 1LDK: ¥70,000–90,000
Chikusa-ku / Showa-ku — University Area
Near Nagoya University. Younger, international atmosphere. Affordable. Popular with students and researchers.
1K: ¥50,000–65,000
Meito-ku — Suburban Family Area
Spacious, quiet, family-friendly. Larger apartments at lower cost. Good for those with a car.
1LDK: ¥60,000–80,000
Practical Information
Nagoya International Center (NIC)
Multilingual support in 11 languages. Trio-Phone interpreter service. Free immigration consultations. The go-to resource for foreign residents.
Transportation — manaca Card
Nagoya's IC card (¥2,000 incl. deposit). 6 subway lines, Meitetsu trains, buses. Monthly pass: ¥8,000–12,000.
Immigration Bureau
Minato-ku, Shoho-cho 5-18. Mon–Fri 9:00–16:00.
Why Nagoya?
- Japan's automotive/manufacturing capital — Toyota, Denso, Aisin, ~600 foreign companies
- Strong aerospace, robotics, and machine tools industries
- 20–25% cheaper than Tokyo with 50–70% larger housing
- Central location — 1h40m to Tokyo, 50 min to Osaka by Shinkansen
- ~95,000 foreign residents (4.1% of population)