Plain-English guides for Japan
Japan, figured out
in plain English.
The practical side of visiting and living in Japan — tax-free shopping, money and taxes, and the paperwork — worked out clearly and backed by official sources. No fluff, just the numbers and the steps.
Where to start
44 guides liveWhether you’re visiting or settling in, start here. Every guide is built from official, primary sources — and cited.
18 guides
Travel in Japan
Tax-free shopping, trip budgeting and getting around — the practical questions visitors actually have, worked out with the numbers. Start with how tax-free shopping works.
Explore →0218 guides
Living in Japan
Bank accounts, money and taxes, and converting a foreign driver’s licence — the everyday admin of settling in. Start with opening a bank account.
Explore →038 guides
Working in Japan
Your work residence status and changing jobs, social insurance (shakai hoken) on your payslip, and the safety net if you lose your job — the employment side, in plain English.
Explore →How Japan Harbor is made
Built on official sources
We rely on government, tax-authority and other primary sources — cited on each page — not second-hand blog posts.
Practical first
Every guide aims to answer a real question with the actual numbers and the concrete steps.
Honest about what changes
Where rules or amounts vary or are being revised, we say so and point you to the official body for the final word.