Tokyo —
Zen gardens, futuristic cityscapes and a vibrant food scene, combined with a favorable exchange rate against the yen, have turned Japan into a tourist magnet that has been drawing in record numbers of visitors in recent years.
The number of people settling down for longer-term stays, including work and study, also hit an all-time high last year, likely due to the reliable safety and convenient infrastructure the world’s fourth-largest economy has to offer.
But recently, a series of tightened immigration policies imposed by the government has made those who’ve come to call Japan their second home wonder: Is it time to say “sayonara”?
Japan has a long history of strict immigration policies and a homogeneous population. However, gripped by a spiraling demographic crisis, the country gradually opened up to foreign workers as well as seeking more international tourists.
