For a US citizen leaving New York, the engine puts Tokyo first in Japan. Income tax on $1M there is 53% with the federal floor applied, against 43% in New York.
In short, current to September 2026
Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 48 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Moving to Japan from the US 2026: tax and the 2 addresses, patrician.ch/answers/moving-to-japan-from-the-us/, September 2026.
A single US citizen leaving New York, in the engine's order. The figure is the effective income tax on $1M with US federal tax included. New York on the same basis: 43% on $1M, 34% on $300K.
Business Manager visa or the Highly Skilled Professional route, which can lead to permanent residency in 1 to 3 years. Dual citizenship not permitted.
Income tax only, single filer, indicative 2026 headline rates, converted at the board's reference rates. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income and credits foreign income tax, so the model charges the higher of the local tax and the federal tax. The foreign earned income exclusion covers a capped slice of salary and none of the investment income, so it is left out. Published comparison research, not tax, legal or immigration advice.
Every place for a US passport: the best country for Americans to move to. Japan for any passport: Japan for high earners. Leaving New York: the US exit rules. Any income: the tax calculator.
On $1M of income, 53% in Tokyo with the US federal floor applied, against 43% in New York. On $300K, 45% against 34%.
The US taxes citizens wherever they live and credits foreign income tax, so the figure is the higher of the Japan tax and the federal tax.
Tokyo, number 81 of the 84 places outside the 50 states on the Patrician.ch engine's reading for a US citizen leaving New York on $1M.
Then Niseko.
Yes. For a US passport the route into Tokyo is an application with conditions.
Business Manager visa or the Highly Skilled Professional route, which can lead to permanent residency in 1 to 3 years. Dual citizenship not permitted.
13h to 14h by air from New York to the addresses on the board.
The engine takes what you earn and what you hold, then orders every address on the board against it.
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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator
Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.