Ichinomiya, Japan

This city of 378,566 people may not be the tranquil countryside idyll some expats imagine. Ichinomiya is a regional commercial hub with a mixed economy, but the climate can be oppressively hot and humid in the summer. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city has expanded rapidly by annexing surrounding municipalities over the decades. Overall, Ichinomiya offers an authentic Japanese experience, but the realities of living there may not suit everyone seeking a peaceful life abroad.