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The practical guides that make daily life in Japan click — SIM, bank account, apartment, trains, and the small rules that trip newcomers up.
Phone & internet (32)
Rakuten Mobile for Foreigners in Japan: The 15-Minute Setup Guide (2026)
Get an unlimited SIM in Japan with just your residence card — set up by eSIM in about 15 minutes. #PR
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SIM vs eSIM in Japan: Which Should a Newcomer Choose? (2026)
A plain-English guide to eSIM vs a physical SIM in Japan — how each works, which fits your phone and timeline, and how to get connected fast. #PR
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How to Get Internet in Japan: Every Option Compared (2026)
Wi-Fi, pocket routers, SIM and eSIM, roaming and net cafes — what each really costs, and the fastest way to get online whether you're visiting or moving in. #PR
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How to Create a Rakuten ID in English — Free Online Sign-Up, Step by Step (2026)
How to create a free Rakuten ID online, in English: what a Rakuten ID is, why it matters, and a step-by-step sign-up walk-through. The single account behind Rakuten shopping, payments, points, and mobile. #PR
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The Apps Every Newcomer in Japan Actually Needs (2026)
The short list of apps that really run daily life in Japan — transit, translation, LINE, payments — and why getting connected comes first. #PR
Read the guide →Managing Your Money in Japan: The Kakeibo Habit and Household Budgeting Apps
A friendly guide to kakeibo, Japan's household-budget tradition, plus budgeting apps that sync cards, e-money and points, and a simple starter routine. #PR
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Applying for Permanent Residency in Japan: The General Path and What It Takes
A calm, plain-language overview of the general path to permanent residency (eijuken) in Japan: what it broadly is, the long timeline, and the kind of preparation it asks for. #PR
Read the guide →What to Check in a Mobile Phone Contract in Japan Before You Sign
A plain-language checklist for signing up for a mobile plan in Japan: contract terms, what's included, SIM type, and eKYC. #PR
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Recycling Electronics in Japan: PCs, Phones and Small Appliances
How Japan handles old PCs, phones and small appliances: the PC take-back mark, collection boxes and wiping data safely. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Online in Japan: Pocket Wi-Fi, Home Internet or Just Your Phone?
A calm decision guide to the three ways newcomers get online in Japan and how to pick the one that fits your life. #PR
Read the guide →Public Wi-Fi in Japan: Where to Find It and When to Rely on Your Own Data
A practical guide to free public Wi-Fi in Japan: where it turns up, the sign-in friction, and simple safety habits. #PR
Read the guide →Using Your Phone as a Wi-Fi Hotspot in Japan: Tethering, Explained
A hands-on guide to tethering in Japan: sharing your phone's connection with a laptop or tablet, and keeping battery and data in check. #PR
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Repairing a Broken Phone in Japan: Cracked Screens, Batteries and Your Options
Hi, I'm Miya — here's my calm guide to fixing a cracked screen or tired battery in Japan, backing up first, and staying connected. #PR
Read the guide →Taking Your Japanese Phone Abroad: Roaming, Data and Staying Reachable
Hi, I'm Miya. A calm guide to using your Japanese phone overseas: roaming vs a travel eSIM, keeping your number live for 2FA, and switching back on landing. #PR
Read the guide →How Much Mobile Data Do You Actually Need in Japan?
Right-size your mobile data in Japan: how much messaging, maps, social, music and video really use, and how home Wi-Fi changes the picture. #PR
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How to Choose a Smartphone in Japan: A Buyer's Checklist (No Ranking)
A brand-neutral checklist for choosing a smartphone in Japan: screen, camera, battery, storage, water resistance, and SIM-free vs a set device — matched to how you live. #PR
Read the guide →Moving Your Data to a New Phone in Japan: Contacts, Photos, Apps and 2FA
Changing phones in Japan? A calm, step-by-step guide to moving contacts, photos, chat history, apps, and the 2FA everyone forgets — with your number as the anchor. #PR
Read the guide →Reviewing Your Phone Bill in Japan: How to Rethink This Fixed Cost
A calm, practical guide to reviewing your mobile spending in Japan: match your plan to real data and call use, understand data-only vs voice, and know what to ask before switching. #PR
Read the guide →SIM-Free vs Carrier-Set Phones in Japan: Which Route Suits You
A plain, even-handed look at the two ways to get a phone in Japan — a SIM-free handset you pair with a plan, or a carrier's device-and-line set — and the everyday trade-offs. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Your Japanese Phone Bill: What Every Line Item Means
A plain-language guide to your monthly mobile statement in Japan: base plan, data, calls, the small mandatory levies, device instalments, and tax — so you know exactly what you're paying for. #PR
Read the guide →Using Dual SIM in Japan: Keeping Your Home Number While Adding a Japanese Line
Keep your home-country number for banks, family, and 2FA while making a Japanese line your everyday primary with dual SIM. #PR
Read the guide →Losing Your Phone in Japan: The Lost-and-Found System and How to Recover
Lose your phone in Japan? Here's how the lost-property system works, how to report at a koban or station, and why your number matters. #PR
Read the guide →Downloading Japanese Apps: Account Region and Payment, Explained
Why Japan-only transit, bank, and delivery apps won't install until your store region and payment are set — and how to fix it. #PR
Read the guide →LINE in Japan: The Main Messaging App, and How to Set It Up (2026)
LINE is the main messaging app used across Japan. A neutral how-to: what LINE is, making an account, adding friends by QR code or LINE ID, and how shops and wards actually use it. #PR
Read the guide →Unknown Calls, Voicemail and Spam: Handling Your Japanese Number
Living with a Japanese number: what common calls mean, how voicemail works, and handling unknown or spam calls calmly. #PR
Read the guide →Setting Up Home Internet in Your New Japan Apartment
How fibre home internet works when you move in Japan: contracts, the weeks-long install wait, and covering the gap. #PR
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Using a Travel eSIM for Your First Few Days — Then Switching to a Japanese Number
A two-phase connectivity plan for arriving in Japan: a temporary travel eSIM for day one, then a proper Japanese line once your residence card is in hand. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Connected in Japan: What to Sort Before You Fly vs. After You Land
A two-stage phone plan for moving to Japan: what to decide before you fly, and the residence-card-first steps to get connected after you land. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Online the Moment You Land: Bridging the Gap Before Your Japanese Number
How to stay connected from the airport until your residence card lets you open a real Japanese line. #PR
Read the guide →Why You Need a Japanese Phone Number (and What Quietly Breaks Without One)
A Japanese phone number quietly gates banking, housing, deliveries, apps and SMS logins. Sort it early. #PR
Read the guide →Why Japanese Apps Keep Asking for a Japanese Number (SMS Verification, Explained)
Hi, I'm Miya. Here's why Japan apps demand a Japanese number for the code, and how to clear that wall early. #PR
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Getting Around Japan with Transit Apps: A Newcomer's Guide (2026)
How to read routes, use your IC card and phone to tap through, and why live mobile data makes transit apps in Japan effortless. #PR
Read the guide →Paperwork & registration (70)
Autumn Leaves in Japan: A Newcomer's Guide to Koyo Season
When and where Japan's autumn leaves (koyo) peak, beginner train-reachable spots, and simple timing and etiquette tips for newcomers. #PR
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Gift-Giving in Japan: Ochugen, Oseibo, Omiyage and the Unspoken Rules
A warm, practical guide to Japan's gift culture: ochugen, oseibo, omiyage, host gifts, plus wrapping and price-range etiquette newcomers miss. #PR
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Living in a Share House in Japan: How It Works and Who It Suits
A newcomer-friendly guide to share houses in Japan: low-barrier sign-up, shared vs private space, house rules, and how they compare to a solo apartment. #PR
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UR and Public Housing in Japan: Renting Without Key Money or a Guarantor
How UR and municipal public housing let you rent without key money, agency fees, or a personal guarantor. #PR
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Seikotsuin, Acupuncture and Bodywork in Japan: What They Treat and How Insurance Applies
A plain guide to bonesetter clinics, acupuncture and massage in Japan: what each treats, when insurance may apply vs self-pay, and how to book. #PR
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Changing Jobs in Japan: How Resigning (Taishoku) Actually Works
Moving to a new job in Japan? Here's the resignation flow, notice norms, and the documents to keep for your next role. #PR
Read the guide →Renewing Your Driver's License in Japan: The Notice, the Lecture and Timing
A friendly walkthrough of Japanese license renewal: the postcard, eye test, safety lecture and how driving-record classes differ. Procedure only. #PR
Read the guide →Reviewing Your Electricity and Gas in Japan: Another Fixed Cost You Can Rethink
A calm guide to reviewing your electricity and city-gas plans in Japan, matching a plan to how you actually use energy. #PR
Read the guide →Hello Work and Unemployment Benefits in Japan: A Newcomer's Overview
What Hello Work does, how employment-insurance unemployment benefits broadly work, and the visit-and-report rhythm. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Around by Scooter or Moped in Japan: Licenses, Registration and When It Fits
A gentle guide to mopeds and scooters in Japan: the license, registration, light-vehicle tax and insurance in general terms. #PR
Read the guide →Attending a Japanese Wedding: Invitations, Goshugi and What to Wear
Invited to a Japanese wedding? A warm newcomer's guide to invitations, RSVPs, goshugi cash gifts, dress code and the nijikai. #PR
Read the guide →Avoiding Scams and Phishing in Japan: Fake Texts, Calls and Delivery Cons
A calm guide to spotting fake delivery texts, spoofed bank messages and phone-call scams in Japan, and where to report them. #PR
Read the guide →Dressing for Japan's Seasons: What to Wear and Where to Buy Clothes
A newcomer's guide to dressing for Japan's four distinct seasons and where residents actually buy clothes and find their size. #PR
Read the guide →Living in a Japanese-Style Room: Tatami, Futon, Shoji and Upkeep
New to a washitsu? Care for tatami, air your futon so it stays mould-free, and handle shoji and fusuma with ease. #PR
Read the guide →Streaming, Music and Entertainment in Japan: Setting Up Your Accounts
How a newcomer sorts everyday entertainment in Japan: signing up for video and music streaming, the region and payment method that gate some apps, and Wi-Fi versus mobile data on the go. #PR
Read the guide →Adult Vaccinations and Flu Shots in Japan: Where and How to Get Them
How adults get a flu shot, travel and catch-up vaccinations in Japan, where they're offered, and how self-pay works. #PR
Read the guide →Dealing with the Language Barrier in Japan: Translation Tools and Everyday Tactics
Practical ways to get by day-to-day in Japan before you're fluent: translation tools, menus, forms, and a few phrases. #PR
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Earthquake Preparedness in Japan: Early Warnings, Your Go-Bag and What to Do
How Japan's earthquake early warning works, the drop-cover-hold basics, packing a go-bag, and checking in with family. #PR
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Renewing Your Passport and Using Your Embassy in Japan
How residents can renew a passport, register, use document services, and handle a lost passport through their embassy in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Your Japanese Employment Contract: Terms to Check Before You Sign
A plain-language guide to the key terms in a Japanese employment contract and conditions notice to check before you sign. #PR
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Saving and Investing in Japan: NISA and iDeCo Basics for Residents
Hi, I'm Miya. A gentle, plain-language walk through Japan's NISA and iDeCo tax-friendly accounts, so you can plan long-term saving with confidence. Not financial advice. #PR
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Volunteering in Japan as a Newcomer: Finding Causes and Community
Hi, I'm Miya. Here's my warm guide to finding volunteer opportunities in Japan as a newcomer — and building real local ties along the way. #PR
Read the guide →Writing a Japanese Resume: The Rirekisho and Shokumu Keirekisho, Explained
Hi, I'm Miya! A friendly walkthrough of Japan's two job-hunting documents — the formatted rirekisho and the work-history shokumu keirekisho — plus photo, hanko, and the mistakes first-timers make. #PR
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How to Earn Rakuten Points in Everyday Life: A Practical Habit Guide
A practical guide to building a Rakuten points habit in Japan: earn through online shopping, code payment at everyday shops, and the card, with one connected ecosystem. #PR
Read the guide →Rakuten SPU Explained: How the Point-Multiplier Program Actually Works
A calm explainer of Rakuten SPU (Super Point Up): what the point-multiplier program is, how stacking qualifying services works, and how to choose what fits. #PR
Read the guide →Switching Carriers While Keeping Your Number (MNP) in Japan, Explained
How number portability (MNP) lets you keep your existing Japanese number when you change mobile provider: the one-stop flow, what to have ready, and roughly how long it takes. #PR
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Using Rakuten Pay in Japan: Setting It Up and Paying at the Register
A hands-on guide to Rakuten Pay in Japan: link a payment source, pay by QR or barcode at the register, put points toward a payment, and where it works day to day. #PR
Read the guide →Coworking Spaces in Japan: Drop-In Desks, Membership and Meeting Rooms
How coworking works in Japan: drop-in vs membership, hot desk vs fixed, meeting rooms, address and mail services. #PR
Read the guide →Finding a Place of Worship in Japan: Churches, Mosques and Faith Communities
A warm, respectful guide to finding churches, mosques, temples and faith communities in Japan, including English services and how congregations help newcomers settle. #PR
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Using Public Libraries in Japan: Getting a Card and What They Offer
How newcomers get a free local library card and use foreign-language books, study seats, Wi-Fi, and online reservations. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Around Japan with a Disability or Accessibility Needs
A respectful, practical guide to getting around Japan with mobility or accessibility needs — station help, barrier-free routes, and staying connected. #PR
Read the guide →Hobby and Culture Classes in Japan: From Pottery to Cooking to Calligraphy
Miya's warm guide to joining hobby and culture classes in Japan — pottery, cooking, ikebana, tea, calligraphy — and finding beginner-friendly, English-supported options. #PR
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Leaving and Coming Back: Re-Entry Permits for Residents Traveling Abroad
How the special re-entry permit works, when you need the full permit, and keeping your status active while you travel from Japan. #PR
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Running in Japan: Popular Routes, Running Culture and Entering a Marathon
How running works in Japan for newcomers: routes, clubs, and how city marathon entry and lotteries run. A warm, practical guide. #PR
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Using ATMs in Japan: Konbini Machines, Bank Hours and Foreign Cards
New in Japan? How to get cash: convenience-store ATMs that take foreign cards, choosing English, bank hours and after-hours fees. #PR
Read the guide →Booking Domestic Travel in Japan: Shinkansen, Highway Buses and Hotels
A friendly guide to booking a trip inside Japan: shinkansen seats, highway and night buses, hotels and ryokan, and how e-tickets work. #PR
Read the guide →Eating Out with Dietary Restrictions in Japan: Vegetarian, Halal and Allergies
A warm, practical guide to eating out in Japan with vegetarian, vegan, halal or allergy needs: phrases, menus and hidden ingredients. #PR
Read the guide →Leaving Japan: The Moving-Out Checklist Nobody Hands You
Your departure sequence for leaving Japan: move-out notice, utilities, resident tax, residence card return, bank, and closing your line last. #PR
Read the guide →Owning a Car in Japan: Shaken, Parking Certificates and Running Costs
A newcomer's plain guide to owning a car in Japan: shaken inspection, the parking certificate you need before buying, insurance and real running costs. #PR
Read the guide →Going Freelance in Japan: The Kaigyo Todoke and Self-Employment Basics
A calm, step-by-step guide to registering as self-employed in Japan: the kaigyo todoke, blue-return filing, invoicing, and setting money aside. #PR
Read the guide →Shopping Online in Japan: Setting Up Accounts, Payment and Delivery
A newcomer's guide to shopping online in Japan: making an account, paying, and getting things delivered to your door. #PR
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Using a Public Bath (Sento) in Japan: Etiquette and How It Works
A warm first-timer's guide to the neighborhood sento: shoe lockers, the wash-before-soaking routine, what to bring, and relaxed local culture. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Glasses or Contact Lenses in Japan: Eye Tests, Shops and Prescriptions
Hi, I'm Miya! Here's how to get glasses fast, why contact lenses often need an eye clinic, and the words you'll need. #PR
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Surviving Hay Fever in Japan: Cedar Pollen Season (Kafunsho), Explained
Hi, I'm Miya. Cedar and cypress pollen, when it peaks, and gentle relief so kafunsho doesn't blindside your spring. #PR
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Your First New Year in Japan: Nengajo, Hatsumode and Osechi
Miya's warm guide to joining your first oshogatsu: nengajo cards, hatsumode shrine visits, osechi food and otoshidama. #PR
Read the guide →Neighborhood Associations in Japan: The Chonaikai and Fitting into Your Block
Miya's warm guide to Japan's chonaikai and jichikai: joining, small dues, rotating duties, and staying looped into your neighborhood. #PR
Read the guide →Paying Your Bills in Japan: Payment Slips, Auto-Debit and App Billing
How to actually pay recurring bills in Japan month to month — konbini payment slips, bank auto-debit, card billing and paperless apps. #PR
Read the guide →Starting a New Job in Japan: Work Culture and Office Norms for Newcomers
Miya's warm guide to your first Japanese job: onboarding paperwork, meishi, hou-ren-sou, meetings and nomikai. #PR
Read the guide →The NHK Reception Fee: What the Door Visit Is About and Your Options
A calm, factual guide to Japan's NHK reception fee: what it is, the door visit, contracting, payment, and handling it online. #PR
Read the guide →Laundry in Japan: Coin Laundries, Dry Cleaning and Drying Indoors
How newcomers actually handle laundry in Japan: coin laundries and their apps, dry cleaners, and drying indoors when it's humid. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Official Certificates in Japan: Juminhyo, Seal Certificates and Konbini Issuance
How newcomers get the paperwork other procedures ask for: juminhyo, seal certificate, and konbini kiosk printing. #PR
Read the guide →Going to the Dentist in Japan: Finding a Clinic, Insurance and What to Expect
Hi, I'm Miya. Here's how dental care in Japan works for newcomers: finding a clinic, using insurance, and what to expect at the chair. #PR
Read the guide →Renewing Your Apartment Lease in Japan: The Two-Year Mark and Koushinryou
What surprises renters at the two-year mark in Japan: the renewal notice, koushinryou, and whether to stay or move. A calm guide from Miya. #PR
Read the guide →Making Restaurant Reservations in Japan: Apps, Phone Calls and Course Menus
A newcomer's guide to booking a table in Japan — when to reserve, how apps and phone bookings work, and what a course menu means. #PR
Read the guide →Registering a Marriage in Japan as a Foreign Resident
A calm, procedural walkthrough of marriage registration (kon-in todoke) in Japan for international couples, with links to official guidance. #PR
Read the guide →Staying Warm in a Japanese Winter: Cold Homes, Kotatsu and Heating Basics
Why Japanese apartments feel colder than expected, and how to stay cozy with a kotatsu, air-con heat mode and safe heaters. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Japanese Addresses: Why Streets Have No Names and How to Find Places
How Japan's block-based address system works, why buildings aren't in street order, and how to actually find a place. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Hanko (Personal Seal) in Japan: When You Still Need One
What a hanko is, when Japan still asks for one, the seal types, custom seals for foreign names, and ward-office registration. #PR
Read the guide →Finding Full-Time Work in Japan: A Newcomer's Job-Search Guide
A calm guide to the full-time job hunt in Japan: how the search works, the two résumés, agencies vs direct, and interviews. #PR
Read the guide →Finding a Part-Time Job as a Student in Japan (Arubaito Basics)
A gentle guide to student arubaito: the work permission you need, the weekly hour limit, where to look, and the interview. #PR
Read the guide →Renewing Your Residence Status in Japan: Timing and Documents
A calm, friendly walkthrough of renewing your status of residence in Japan: when to start, what to bring, and the office visit. #PR
Read the guide →The My Number Card: What It Is and Why Newcomers Should Get One
A plain explainer of Japan's My Number system and card — what it does for tax, insurance and digital services, and how to apply after you register. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving in Japan as a Student: A Pre-Departure & First-Week Setup Guide
A calm checklist for April/September study-abroad arrivals: paperwork, first-day connectivity, and your first week. #PR
Read the guide →The Documents to Prepare Before You Move to Japan
A pre-departure paperwork checklist for moving to Japan — passport, visa, proof of enrollment, ID photos and copies. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Japanese Address: How It Gates Your Bank, SIM and Deliveries
Register your address at the ward office within 14 days — it unlocks your bank, mobile number and reliable deliveries. Step order. #PR
Read the guide →Your First 7 Days in Japan: Residence Card, Ward Office, Bank, SIM — In Order
Your landing-week checklist in the order things actually unlock: residence card, ward office, bank, mobile. Do them in sequence. #PR
Read the guide →Relocating to Japan for Work: The Personal Setup Your Company Won't Do for You
Your employer handles the visa and flat. Here is the personal admin you still have to do yourself. #PR
Read the guide →Working Holiday in Japan: Getting Your Phone, Bank and Basics Sorted
Working holiday in Japan? Here is the first-steps order — residence card, phone number, bank — so you can apply for jobs and get paid fast. #PR
Read the guide →Registering at the Ward Office: A Newcomer's Walkthrough
Moving into Japan means one key errand at your local ward or city office within 14 days — here's exactly what to bring and what happens. #PR
Read the guide →Your Residence Card: The First Thing to Understand in Japan
Your residence card is the key that unlocks your SIM, bank account, and ward-office registration — here's what to do first. #PR
Read the guide →Money & banking (13)
Opening a Bank Account in Japan: What Newcomers Need (2026)
A calm, step-by-step guide to opening your first Japanese bank account — the documents, the right order to do things, and why your phone number comes first. #PR
Read the guide →Long-Term Care Insurance in Japan: Kaigo Hoken and Support for Aging Family
A calm, plain guide to Japan's long-term care insurance (kaigo hoken): who contributes, how the ward assessment works, and the home and facility services it helps arrange. #PR
Read the guide →Year-End Tax Adjustment (Nenmatsu Chosei) and Filing a Return in Japan
What the year-end adjustment does, the forms your employer asks for, and when you file your own return instead. #PR
Read the guide →Claiming Your Pension Refund After Leaving Japan (Dattai Ichijikin)
Miya walks you gently through the lump-sum withdrawal payment you may claim after you leave Japan, and why staying reachable matters. #PR
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Furusato Nozei in Japan: How the Hometown Tax Donation System Works
Hi, I'm Miya! Here's a calm, plain walk-through of Japan's furusato nozei hometown-tax donation system: the idea, one-stop vs. filing, and thank-you gifts. #PR
Read the guide →Renters Insurance in Japan: The Fire Insurance Bundled with Your Lease, Explained
Hi, I'm Miya. Let me walk you through the fire and contents insurance most Japanese leases attach, what it covers, and how renewals stay easy. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Your Japanese Payslip: Deductions, Insurance and Take-Home Pay
A friendly walkthrough of your Japanese payslip: attendance, payments, deductions and what actually lands in your account. #PR
Read the guide →Income Tax and Resident Tax in Japan: What Newcomers Should Understand
A calm guide to Japan's income tax and the resident tax that surprises people in year two, plus who files a return. #PR
Read the guide →Going Cashless in Japan: How QR and Mobile Payments Work
A newcomer's guide to QR-code and mobile wallet payments in Japan: scan-to-pay, topping up, and where cash still rules. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Your First Credit Card in Japan as a Newcomer
How a newcomer applies for a first credit card in Japan: what issuers ask for, the general steps, and why checks need a number. #PR
Read the guide →Sending Money Home from Japan: A Newcomer's Guide to Remittance
New to Japan and want to send money home? Miya walks you through documents, steps, fees, and channels for international remittance. #PR
Read the guide →Setting Up Online and Mobile Banking in Japan
Your account is open, so let's get the digital side working: banking app, online transfers, auto-pay, and mobile wallet. #PR
Read the guide →What Setting Up Your First Month in Japan Actually Costs
An honest, planning-oriented look at first-month setup costs in Japan — housing deposits, utilities, furnishing basics, and staying connected. #PR
Read the guide →Housing & utilities (11)
Finding Your First Apartment in Japan: A Newcomer's Walkthrough (2026)
How renting works in Japan — the upfront costs, the key terms, what agents ask for, and why a Japanese phone number comes first. A calm, practical guide. #PR
Read the guide →Kids' Phones and Online Safety in Japan: Filtering and Parental Controls
A newcomer parent's guide to filtering on minors' lines, screen-time limits, and healthy habits for a child's first phone in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Maternity and Parental Leave in Japan: Ikukyu and What Working Parents Can Take
How maternity leave (sankyu) and childcare leave (ikukyu) work in Japan, who can take them, and the leave benefits paid through employment insurance. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Your Japanese Apartment Lease Before You Sign: Fees and Key Terms
About to sign a rental lease in Japan? Miya walks you through key money, deposit, agency fees, notice periods, and move-out rules. #PR
Read the guide →When to Look for an Apartment in Japan: The Spring Rush and Timing Your Search
Timing your apartment search in Japan: the January-to-March spring rush, the quiet off-season, and how far ahead to start looking. #PR
Read the guide →Car-Share and Rental Cars in Japan: Getting on the Road Without Owning
How newcomers in Japan drive occasionally with car-share and rental cars: what to register, and how pick-up and return work. #PR
Read the guide →Apartment Living in Japan: Neighbor Etiquette, Noise and Building Rules
A warm guide to living considerately in a Japanese apartment: garbage days, thin walls, quiet hours and building notices. #PR
Read the guide →Rental Guarantors in Japan: Guarantor Companies and How They Work
What a rental guarantor is in Japan, how guarantor companies screen you, the emergency contact rule, and the cost structure. #PR
Read the guide →Moving House Within Japan: Address Change, Ward Notices and Transfers
Moving to a new home in Japan? Ward-office notices, the 14-day window, utility transfers and updating every account. #PR
Read the guide →Furnishing Your First Apartment in Japan on a Budget
Where newcomers actually get cheap furniture and appliances in Japan, plus delivery and disposal made simple. #PR
Read the guide →Turning On Electricity, Gas and Water in Your New Japan Apartment
How to start electricity, gas and water when you move into a Japan apartment — who to contact, timing, the gas open-valve visit, online vs phone. #PR
Read the guide →Getting around (7)
Trains and IC Cards in Japan: A Beginner's Guide (2026)
How to ride trains, buy and use an IC card, and put one in your phone — the newcomer basics that make getting around Japan effortless. #PR
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ETC Cards and Expressway Driving in Japan: Tolls, Service Areas and How It Works
A newcomer's guide to ETC cards, expressway tolls and discounts, using service and parking areas, and paying cashless as you drive in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Driver's License From Scratch in Japan (No License to Convert)
A warm walkthrough of learning to drive in Japan from zero: driving school, the tests, and a rough timeline. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Around by Bicycle in Japan: Buying, Registration and Bike-Share
How to buy a bicycle in Japan, do the anti-theft registration, follow the road rules, park legally, and use bike-share. #PR
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Commuter Passes in Japan: Getting and Renewing Your Teiki
What a commuter pass (teiki) is, how to buy and renew one at a machine or window, and loading it onto an IC card or phone. #PR
Read the guide →Converting a Foreign Driver's License in Japan (Gaimen Kirikae)
A warm, plain-language walkthrough of gaimen kirikae: the documents, the license-center visit, and rough timing to expect. #PR
Read the guide →Taking Taxis in Japan: How the Apps and Payment Work
When a taxi makes sense in Japan, how to hail one on the street, at a stand or by app, and how cashless payment works for newcomers. #PR
Read the guide →Daily life (13)
How Garbage Sorting Works in Japan (Without the Stress)
A calm, practical guide to sorting rubbish in Japan — the main categories, reading your ward's calendar, bags and collection days, and the recycling rules that trip up newcomers. #PR
Read the guide →Takkyubin: Sending Luggage and Parcels Ahead Across Japan
How takkyubin luggage forwarding works in Japan: airport-to-hotel suitcases, shipping bags ahead, cool delivery, and konbini drop-off. #PR
Read the guide →National Holidays and Opening Hours in Japan: Planning Around Closures
How holidays, Golden Week, Obon and New Year close banks and offices, plus everyday hours to time your errands. #PR
Read the guide →Surviving Japan's Summer Heat: Heatstroke, Air-Con and Staying Comfortable
Miya's warm guide to Japan's mid-summer heat: spotting heatstroke, hydration, air-con basics and heat alerts. #PR
Read the guide →Typhoon Season in Japan: Alerts, Train Suspensions and Staying Safe
How typhoon season works, reading warnings, planned train suspensions, and a calm home prep checklist. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Haircut in Japan: Booking, Vocabulary and What to Expect
A friendly newcomer's guide to booking a salon or barber in Japan, useful phrases, reference photos and what a visit includes. #PR
Read the guide →Joining a Gym or Sports Club in Japan: Membership and Sign-Up
How to join a gym, pool or sports club in Japan: sign-up documents, bank direct debit, cancellation notice and app entry. #PR
Read the guide →Throwing Out Big Items in Japan: How Oversized Garbage (Sodai Gomi) Works
How to throw out furniture and appliances in Japan: book a ward collection, buy a disposal ticket at a konbini, and the recycling exception. #PR
Read the guide →Surviving Japan's Rainy Season: Humidity, Mould and Staying Comfortable
Miya's practical guide to Japan's tsuyu rainy season: indoor laundry, mould prevention, gear and rain-radar apps. #PR
Read the guide →Ordering Food Delivery in Japan: How the Apps Work
A newcomer's guide to food-delivery apps in Japan: ordering, delivery to your address, cashless payment, and no-tipping etiquette. #PR
Read the guide →Using Japan's Post Office: Sending Mail, Parcels and Mail Forwarding
How to send letters and parcels with Japan Post, track them, and file a mail-forwarding request when you move. #PR
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Grocery Shopping in Japan: Supermarkets, Drugstores and Point Cards
Miya's warm guide to Japanese supermarkets, drugstores, discount stores, evening markdown stickers, labels and point apps. #PR
Read the guide →Deliveries in Japan: Redelivery, Konbini Pickup, and Delivery Boxes
How home delivery works in Japan — the missed-delivery slip, arranging redelivery, and picking up at a convenience store or locker. #PR
Read the guide →Health & medical (11)
Women's Health in Japan: Finding a Gynaecologist and Routine Care
A calm, practical guide to women's health in Japan: finding a fujinka clinic, routine checks, prescriptions, and English-friendly care. #PR
Read the guide →Being Admitted to Hospital in Japan: The Admission Process and What to Bring
A calm, practical walk-through of hospital admission (nyuin) in Japan: paperwork, the guarantor form, what to pack, meals, rooms, discharge and billing. #PR
Read the guide →The High-Cost Medical Benefit in Japan: How Kogaku Ryoyohi Caps Your Bills
A calm guide to Japan's high-cost medical benefit and the eligibility certificate that caps your hospital bills at the counter. #PR
Read the guide →After-Hours and Emergency Medical Care in Japan: When the Clinics Are Closed
Hi, I'm Miya! Feeling unwell at night or on a holiday in Japan? Here's a calm walk-through of holiday/night clinics, the #7119 and #8000 phone lines, and when to call 119. #PR
Read the guide →Mental Health Support in Japan: Counselling, Clinics and Consultation Lines
A warm, plain guide to mental health support in Japan: clinics, counselling, insurance and multilingual consultation lines you can call. #PR
Read the guide →Kenko Shindan (健康診断): Japan's Annual Health Checkup, Explained in English (2026)
Kenko shindan (健康診断) meaning, explained in English: what Japan's annual health checkup and the thorough ningen dock are, why they're arranged, how to book, and what the day involves. #PR
Read the guide →Pharmacies in Japan: Buying Medicine and Filling Prescriptions
How to buy over-the-counter medicine, fill a prescription, and use the okusuri techo at a Japanese pharmacy. #PR
Read the guide →Finding English-Speaking Medical Care in Japan
How to find doctors, hospitals, and phone lines that help in English when you are unwell in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Seeing a Doctor in Japan: Finding a Clinic and What to Expect
How to visit a Japanese clinic step by step: finding one, your insurance card, reception, the doctor, and the pharmacy. #PR
Read the guide →Emergency Numbers and Disaster Alerts: A Newcomer's Safety Basics
The safety basics for Japan: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, earthquake and weather alerts on your phone, plus a simple emergency kit. #PR
Read the guide →Health Insurance and Pension: What to Sort at the Ward Office
How to enroll in National Health Insurance and pension when you register your address in Japan — what to bring and why it matters. #PR
Read the guide →Family & kids (14)
International School or Local Japanese School? How Newcomer Parents Decide
A calm decision guide for newcomer parents weighing an international school against a local Japanese school in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Japanese School Life for Newcomer Parents: Kyushoku, PTA, Communication Notebook and Events
A warm, practical guide to Japanese school life: kyushoku and allergies, the renrakucho notebook, PTA duties and events. #PR
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Bringing Your Spouse or Family to Japan: Dependent Visa Basics
How the dependent (kazoku taizai) status and the Certificate of Eligibility route work when you want family to join you in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →After-School Care in Japan: Gakudo Hoiku for Working Parents
Hi, I'm Miya! A warm, practical guide to Japan's after-school care (gakudo hoiku) for working parents: what it is, how to apply, and the waitlist reality. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Pet in Japan: Adoption, Shelters and What Ownership Involves
A warm, practical guide to adopting a rescue dog or cat in Japan, screening, dog registration and pet-friendly rentals. #PR
Read the guide →Cram Schools (Juku) in Japan: What They Are and How Newcomer Parents Choose
A calm guide to juku for newcomer parents: exam-prep vs supplementary, group vs individual, trials, and when a child really needs one. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Phone for Your Child in Japan: Family Lines and Kids' First Number
A warm, practical guide for parents setting up a child's first phone line in Japan: contracts for minors, family lines, safety features, and why each child needs their own number. #PR
Read the guide →Children's Healthcare in Japan: Pediatric Clinics, Vaccinations and the Free Checkups
A warm guide for newcomer parents: finding a pediatric clinic, the child medical-subsidy card, infant checkups and the vaccination schedule in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Child Benefits and Allowances in Japan: The Jidou Teate and What Families Can Claim
A newcomer parent's guide to Japan's child allowance (jidou teate): who can claim, when to apply at the ward office, and how notices reach you. #PR
Read the guide →Bringing Your Pet to Japan: Import Rules, Vets and Pet-Friendly Life
Moving with a dog or cat? Research the import and quarantine steps early, then settle in with a vet and pet-friendly home. #PR
Read the guide →Pregnancy and Childbirth in Japan: The Boshi Techo and What Newcomers Do
A warm newcomer guide to reporting your pregnancy, getting the boshi techo, prenatal checkups and birth registration in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Daycare and Childcare in Japan: Hoikuen, Yochien and Waitlists
A newcomer parent's guide to hoikuen vs yochien, ward-office applications, and the taikijidou waitlist in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Enrolling Your Child in School in Japan: A Newcomer Parent's Guide
Register your address first, then the education board assigns a local public school. Here are the steps, papers, and April start. #PR
Read the guide →Moving to Japan with Your Family: Setting Everyone Up
Moving to Japan with a partner or kids? How family scale changes residence cards, school apps, family numbers and shared calendars. #PR
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