Americans are moving to Japan for its safety and affordability

• The number of Americans living in Japan has grown slightly from 2020 to 2022, from 57,214 to 60,804.
• Some Americans cite Japan's cheaper healthcare and greater affordability as reasons for moving.
• Four recent relocators share why they chose to move to the island nation, and how it's working out.

Veronica Hanson was ready to leave the US by any means necessary. 

Hanson, 37, was living in Lake Oswego, Oregon, but made plans to flee the US once she believed the country became too dangerous for her and her children.

"My children had to do active shooter drills," Hanson told Insider. "There were multiple times over a couple-year period where the air was unbreathable because of the wildfires. I just exploded and said we don't have to stay here, let's go."