Find the prefecture
that actually fits
Japan has 47 prefectures. Most people pick one based on a travel memory or a recommendation from someone with completely different priorities. This tool helps you think it through properly — matched to your budget, lifestyle, and what you actually need in a place to live.
Four seasons in full force, mountain air, and akiya prices that still make sense. Space, nature, and a functioning local economy in the same place.
Three steps to a clearer picture
You don't need to know Japan well to use it. You just need to know what matters to you in a place to live.
Budget, climate, proximity to a city, disaster risk, public transit. Mark what's non-negotiable versus what's a preference — the tool weights them accordingly.
All 47 prefectures are scored against your inputs. The best fits rise to the top, each with real data on akiya prices, cost of living, climate, and connectivity.
Pin up to four prefectures and compare them side by side across every dimension. Export to PDF to share or keep a record of where your thinking landed.
Built for people making
a real decision
Not a travel guide, not a listicle. A tool designed around the questions that come up when you're seriously thinking about where to put down roots in Japan.
Mark criteria as "Must" to filter out prefectures that don't qualify before scoring begins. Adjust weights to reflect how much each factor actually matters to you.
Price ranges reflect actual akiya market conditions by prefecture — not general real estate averages, which tend to obscure more than they reveal.
Seasonal temperature ranges, snowfall levels, typhoon exposure, earthquake risk. The factors that matter most for long-term comfort and safety.
Distance to the nearest Shinkansen station, domestic airport, and major city. Relevant if you're working remotely or traveling regularly.
Pin your shortlist and compare prefecture by prefecture. Makes the tradeoffs concrete and the final decision easier to reason through.
Export your comparison to share with a partner, a visa consultant, or a local agent. Useful at every stage of the process.
Compare prefectures
side by side
Pin your top picks and view every dimension at once — price, climate, transit, risk. The tradeoffs become obvious.
Pin up to 4 prefectures · Export to PDF
Choose your plan.
The Prefecture Finder is part of the full Akiya Labs toolkit — alongside 6 other research tools, the Property Hazard Score, Neighbourhood Score, and the weekly newsletter.
1 week access to explore the toolkit.
- Prefecture Finder
- Budget Calculator
- Property Hazard Score
- Akiya Bank Directory
- Newsletter archive
Full access, renewed every quarter.
- Everything in Trial
- Weekly newsletter
- Neighbourhood Score
- Future Development Map
- All 7 research tools
Full year of access — save 50% vs quarterly.
- Everything in Quarterly
- Full year of access
- All 7 research tools
- Weekly newsletter + archive
- Priority support
- All future tools included
One payment, lifetime access.
- Everything in Premium
- Never pay again
- All guides included
- All future tools included
- All future updates included
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I'd been going back and forth between Kyoto and Fukuoka for months. Running this tool didn't make the decision for me — but it made the tradeoffs concrete in a way that finally moved things forward.
A few things people ask
Can I use the tool more than once?
Yes — all plans give you unlimited use during your access period. Run it with different inputs, adjust your priorities, revisit it months later as your research evolves. No usage limits.
Why not buy tools separately?
If you're seriously researching a move to Japan, you'll use the Prefecture Finder, Budget Calculator, Hazard Score, and Neighbourhood Score at different stages. Every plan gives you access to multiple tools — and Premium or Lifetime includes all 7 plus the weekly newsletter. One decision, everything covered.
How current is the data?
Prefecture profiles are reviewed and updated regularly. Akiya price ranges are regional estimates based on available market data — useful for comparison, but actual listings vary. The last update date is shown inside the tool.
Does it work if I don't speak Japanese?
Entirely. The tool is in English, and prefecture profiles include notes on English accessibility, expat infrastructure, and international communities where relevant.
I already subscribe — do I have access to the tool?
The Prefecture Finder is included in all plans — Trial, Quarterly, Premium, and Lifetime. If you have an active membership, you already have access. Log in at akiyalabs.com/login.