Settling into Japan,
one step at a time.

The everyday admin of living in Japan — bank accounts, money and taxes, and the paperwork — explained in plain English, with the documents you’ll actually need and the order to do them in.

In this section

Getting a mobile phone plan

How residents get a monthly phone plan: the legal ID check, Residence Card and payment rules, big carriers vs budget MVNOs, and SIM vs eSIM. Based on carrier and MIC sources.

Sorting your garbage in Japan

Why garbage rules differ by city, the common categories, designated vs see-through bags, collection days/times, and oversized (sodai gomi) pickup. Based on the Ministry of the Environment.

The Residence Card (Zairyu Card)

What the Residence Card is and your legal duties — carrying it, the 14-day address-change rule, re-entry permits, and renewal. Based on the Immigration Services Agency.

Pension for foreign residents

Mandatory enrolment, National vs Employees’ Pension, and the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment you can claim after leaving — including the totalization trade-off. Based on the Japan Pension Service.

Permanent residency (eijuken), explained

The official ISA requirements: the 10-year rule and shorter paths, the 5-year-visa criterion, tax/pension duties, the 2026 changes, and how to apply. Plain-English explainer, not advice.

Opening a bank account in Japan

What documents you need, why timing matters for new arrivals, the Japan Post Bank route, and why many residents use a separate service to send money abroad.

Resident tax (juminzei), explained

The previous-year timing trap, the ~10% income portion plus per-capita amount, how it’s collected, and what to do when you leave Japan.

National Health Insurance

Who must enrol, the 30% counter payment, how premiums are set by your city, and the high-cost medical expense safety net.

Converting a foreign driver’s licence

The gaimen kirikae process — the 3-month condition, documents, and the tests that depend on your country. Plus JAF translations.

My Number & the My Number Card

The 12-digit number every resident gets (including foreign residents), what the optional card does — ID, Mynaportal, health insurance — how to apply, and renewal tied to your period of stay.

Income tax returns: do you file?

Most employees never file — the employer’s year-end adjustment settles income tax. When you must file (kakutei shinkoku), the Feb–Mar window, and leaving mid-year. Based on the NTA.

Renting an apartment

The up-front costs (deposit, key money, agency fee — MLIT’s 4–7 months rule), the guarantor / guarantee-company system, move-out rules, and UR’s no-key-money alternative. Based on MLIT.

Furusato Nozei (hometown tax)

Donate to a municipality, get almost all of it back off your resident and income tax minus ¥2,000, plus an optional gift and the one-stop exception. Based on MIC and the NTA.

Having a baby: birth & child allowances

The ¥500,000 birth lump-sum via health insurance (paid straight to the hospital), the monthly Child Allowance, and the 14-day birth registration. Based on official sources.

Marriage registration for residents

How marriage is made legal in Japan, the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, country-by-country documents, and why the spouse visa is a separate step. Based on MOJ.

Setting up electricity, gas & water

Choosing an electricity retailer and flipping the breaker, the in-person gas ‘kaisen’ safety appointment, and the municipal water start-of-use notification. Based on TEPCO, Tokyo Gas and official sources.

Enrolling your child in school

Compulsory education, free tuition and textbooks for foreign children, applying through the municipal board of education, and Japanese-language support. Based on MEXT and municipal sources.

The NHK receiving fee, explained

The Broadcasting Act contract obligation, terrestrial vs satellite rates, payment methods and discounts, and who qualifies for an exemption. Based on NHK’s official fee pages.

How we research this

We rely on official and bank sources — the banks’ own English pages, the Financial Services Agency and the Japan Bankers Association — and cite them. Rules vary by bank and can change, so we say where something is bank-specific and point you to the official page. About this site & disclaimer

Settling into Japan,one step at a time.