Japan govt to pay families upto 3 million Yen to leave Tokyo: Check reasons for relocation, scheme details

Japan is going to pay families 1 million Yen (or Rs 6,19,065) per child so they can move out of Tokyo this year to combat the rapid depopulation in the country's rural areas, stated reports. Thus, a household with two children could reportedly receive 3 million Yen if they choose to leave the capital city.  

The Japanese government aims to relocate 10,000 people from Tokyo to rural areas by 2027 under this scheme which began in 2019. Last year, the government supported 1,184 families, while 290 in 2020 and 71 in 2019.

The support for children comes on top of a flat 1 million Yen that families can already get for moving out of the metropolis, according to media reports. To meet the eligibility criteria for getting the support, the household must have been living in the central Tokyo metropolitan area for five years. And those that move out before five years and have been relocated, will have to return the amount.

As per the reports, the central government of Japan and local municipalities will be taking care of the cost of the funds. Additional support would also be provided if the families want to start a business in the local area.

In an attempt to disperse crowds from the central area, the government has been constantly encouraging the masses to shift and the advantages of being in towns and villages are being constantly highlighted. Among them is the availability of "eligible men", as in the case of Otari village, and easy access to childcare.

With more young people migrating to cities for better opportunities, Japan's rural areas have seen rapid depopulation in recent years. Officials hope that the enticing amount will encourage families to revitalize these regions and ease pressure on space and public services in greater Tokyo, The Guardian reported.

This is the latest attempt of the government to reinvigorate the regions amid yet another drop in Japan's population, and birthrate. In 2021, the number of births totaled 811,604, the lowest since records were first kept in 1899.