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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 (25)
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
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The Certificate of Eligibility: The Paperwork That Happens Before Your Visa
A pre-arrival guide to Japan's Certificate of Eligibility: who applies, what you'll need to send, and how long to allow. #PR
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Reading Japanese Phone Numbers: What Those Prefixes Mean on a Form
How to read Japanese phone numbers: landline area codes, 070/080/090 mobiles, 0120 and 0570 prefixes, hyphens, and dialling +81. #PR
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Settling in Sapporo: City Life with a Real Winter
Settling in Sapporo: the grid address system, winter subway and underground walkways, apartments built for cold, and snow duty. #PR
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A Day at a Japanese Theme Park: Dated Tickets, Apps and Crowd Timing
How a park day in Japan works now: date-specified tickets bought in advance, the park's app, ride reservations and crowd timing. #PR
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When an Appliance Breaks in Japan: Warranties, Repairs and Extended Cover
When a home appliance breaks in Japan: the warranty slip, the maker's year, extended store cover, and how a repair goes. #PR
Read the guide →Typing Japanese on Your Smartphone: Adding a Keyboard and Using Flick Input
A hands-on guide to typing Japanese on your phone: adding a keyboard, romaji vs flick input, kanji conversion and form tips. #PR
Read the guide →Buying Secondhand in Japan: Flea-Market Apps, Recycle Shops and Safety
Where newcomers score cheap used goods in Japan: flea-market apps, recycle shops and real markets, plus judging condition and staying safe. #PR
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Putting Your Train IC Card on Your Phone in Japan: Mobile IC, Explained
How to add a transit IC card to your phone wallet in Japan, top it up, and tap through the gate with your phone. #PR
Read the guide →Permission to Work on a Student or Dependent Visa in Japan (Shikakugai Katsudo)
How students and dependents get permission for part-time work in Japan, at the airport or immigration. #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
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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 →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
Read the guide →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
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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
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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 →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 →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 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
Read the guide →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 (176)
Getting Foreign Documents Accepted in Japan: Translation, Apostille and Stamps
Hi, I'm Miya! How a foreign birth certificate, marriage record or degree gets accepted in Japan, plus apostille. #PR
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Internships in Japan for International Students: How They Actually Work
Hi, I'm Miya! Japanese internships are short, seasonal, and often an early screening step. Here is how they really work. #PR
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The First-Year Dip: Culture Shock in Japan and How People Come Out of It
The first year in Japan often dips before it lifts — what sets it off, what helps, and when to talk to someone. #PR
Read the guide →Settling in Okinawa: Island Life, a Car, and a Different Japan
Settling in Okinawa: why you need a car, how typhoon season really works, island shipping, and local customs. #PR
Read the guide →The Overnight Highway Bus: Japan's Cheapest Way to Wake Up Somewhere Else
How Japan's overnight highway buses actually work — seat types, terminals, the rhythm of the night, etiquette, and what to do when you arrive before the city opens. #PR
Read the guide →Buying a Used Car in Japan as a Foreign Resident
Buying a used car in Japan: the parking certificate first, seal or signature certificate, transfer of ownership and the plates. #PR
Read the guide →Shaken: The Vehicle Inspection Every Car in Japan Has to Pass
What shaken actually is, when it comes due, the glovebox papers, the routes to get it done, and what lapsing means. #PR
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Getting Tickets in Japan: Lotteries, E-Tickets and Convenience-Store Pickup
How ticketing works in Japan: advance lotteries, paying only if you win, convenience-store pickup and app-based e-tickets. #PR
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Cooking in a Japanese Kitchen: One Burner, No Oven, and How People Manage
One or two burners, a grill drawer, a rice cooker and no oven — a practical guide to cooking in a small Japanese kitchen. #PR
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Finding Hair and Skincare Products That Work for You in Japan
A calm guide to hair and skincare shopping in Japan: reading Japanese labels, textured-hair options and importing. #PR
Read the guide →Settling in Nagoya: The Big City Newcomers Overlook
What actually differs about settling in Nagoya: a grid city, its own IC card, the Tokai economy, and multilingual desks. #PR
Read the guide →What's in Your Postbox: Making Sense of Official Mail in Japan
A calm guide to the Japanese-language mail in your postbox: spot the sender, find the deadline and the payment slip. #PR
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Why Everything in Japan Starts in April (and What That Means for Your Move)
Why Japan's year starts in April: school and fiscal years, the March moving rush, and how to pick your arrival window. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving in Japan as a Researcher or Visiting Scholar: Lab, Campus and Life Admin
What your host lab and the international office usually handle, what stays yours, and how a one-year posting changes the plan. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving on a Highly Skilled Professional Visa: What Your Company Handles and What Doesn't
What the points-based highly skilled professional status changes day to day, what your employer files, and what is still yours alone. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving in Japan as the Spouse of a Japanese Resident: Your Own Setup
You moved because your partner is here. What the first weeks look like, and which things have to be in your own name. #PR
Read the guide →Caring for Aging Parents Overseas While You Live in Japan
Caring for parents overseas from Japan: a check-in rhythm, a sibling split, and being ready to fly at short notice. #PR
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Moving In Together in Japan: The Household Admin Nobody Warns You About
Moving in with a partner in Japan: the lease clause, two move-in notices, utilities in one name, and splitting the bills. #PR
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Settling in Fukuoka: A Compact City Newcomers Find Easy to Start In
Why Fukuoka is an easy first city: a small subway, an airport near the centre, multilingual help, and typhoon season. #PR
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Settling in Japan as a Nikkei Long-Term Resident: Community, Paperwork and Getting Set Up
Settling in as a nikkei long-term resident: multilingual city hall counters, community, mid-year school entry, and the admin order. #PR
Read the guide →Settling in Osaka: What a Newcomer Notices That Tokyo Guides Don't Tell You
What settling in Osaka is really like: the ward office, escalator etiquette, private railways, Kansai rental customs, Kansai-ben. #PR
Read the guide →Starting a Side Job in Japan While You Have a Full-Time Employer
Taking on paid work alongside your job in Japan? Check your company's rules, your residence status, and the tax side. #PR
Read the guide →Your First Business Trip in Japan: How Shucchou and Expenses Work
How a Japanese business trip works: approval before booking, who pays, nittou, receipts, the expense report and omiyage. #PR
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Donating Blood in Japan: Where to Go and What to Expect
What giving blood in Japan is like for a foreign resident: donation rooms, mobile buses, booking, ID and the screening. #PR
Read the guide →Your First Job Interview in Japan: What Happens in the Room
What a Japanese job interview is really like: the door, the seating, jiko-shoukai and shibou douki, the rounds, and the follow-up. #PR
Read the guide →Ordering from Overseas to Japan: Customs, Duty and Delivery
What happens when a parcel you order from abroad reaches Japan: customs clearance, duty notices and restricted goods. #PR
Read the guide →When Your Job Moves You Within Japan: Tenkin and Living Apart from Family
How a tenkin arrives, what to ask HR, moving the family or going alone, and the notifications a foreign resident still files after. #PR
Read the guide →Working Through a Temp Agency in Japan: How Haken and Contract Work Differ
How dispatch (haken) and fixed-term contract work differ in Japan: who employs you, registration, renewals, insurance and leave. #PR
Read the guide →Booking Your City's Gyms, Courts and Community Rooms in Japan
Japan's municipal sports centres and community rooms: user registration, the online booking system, lotteries and rates. #PR
Read the guide →Cycling in Japan: Road Rules, Where You Can Ride, and Parking Your Bike
Cycling in Japan day to day: riding on the left, when the pavement is allowed, lights, helmets, insurance and parking. #PR
Read the guide →Drinking in Japan: Izakaya Basics, Nomikai Etiquette and Getting Home
Drinking in Japan: how an izakaya works, the otoshi and the toast, nomikai etiquette, splitting the bill, and getting home. #PR
Read the guide →Posted Overseas? How to Keep Your Japanese Phone Number While You're Away
Leaving Japan for a posting but coming back: why your Japanese number is worth keeping, what it still does abroad, and what to set up before you fly. #PR
Read the guide →Managing a Chronic Condition in Japan: Prescriptions, Refills and Your Medicine Notebook
Ongoing treatment in Japan: finding a clinic, how the prescription slip works, the dispensing pharmacy and your medicine notebook. #PR
Read the guide →Training in a Japanese Dojo: Joining a Martial Arts Club as a Newcomer
How to join a karate, judo, kendo, aikido or kyudo club in Japan: trial sessions, dues, gear, grading and dojo etiquette. #PR
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Reading Japanese Food Labels: Expiry Dates, Allergens and Ingredients
How to read a Japanese food label: the two date words, the allergen kanji, ingredient order, origin marks and storage lines. #PR
Read the guide →Smoking Rules in Japan: Street Bans, Designated Areas and Indoor Rules
Smoking rules in Japan: city ordinances on street smoking, finding designated smoking areas, and the indoor signage to read. #PR
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Where Kids Play in Japan: Parks, Jidokan and Indoor Play Centres
Free everyday places for small kids in Japan: neighbourhood parks, the ward jidokan, toddler sessions and rainy-day indoor play. #PR
Read the guide →Disability Support in Japan: Certificates, Services and Where to Ask
How disability support works in Japan: the shogaisha techo, applying at your ward office, what it can open up, and where to ask for help. #PR
Read the guide →Moving to Rural Japan: How Daily Life Differs Outside the Big Cities
What really changes when you settle in a small Japanese town: driving, bus timetables, the town hall, and neighbours. #PR
Read the guide →Using Myna Portal: Japan's Online Government Services, Explained
A plain guide to Myna Portal: signing in by holding your My Number card to your phone, what you can check and apply for, and the PIN traps. #PR
Read the guide →Playing Golf in Japan as a Newcomer: Driving Ranges, Booking and Course Etiquette
Golf in Japan for newcomers: walk-in netted driving ranges, booking a tee time, the mid-round lunch, and course etiquette. #PR
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Losing Your Residence Card in Japan: Reporting It and Getting a Replacement
Lost or stolen residence card in Japan: the police report, the reissue application at immigration, what to bring, and how to get by. #PR
Read the guide →Riding the Shinkansen for the First Time: Tickets, Seats and Platform Basics
A first-ride shinkansen guide: why you hold two tickets, reserved versus non-reserved, platform car markers, baggage rules and seat etiquette. #PR
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The Invoice System (Inbois) in Japan: What Freelancers Need to Understand
A plain-language guide to Japan's qualified invoice system for freelancers: what it is, why clients ask, and how to decide. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving in Japan as an English Teacher (ALT or Language School): Your First Weeks
Starting as an ALT or language-school teacher? Orientation, your placement town, housing, registration and school life. #PR
Read the guide →Calling in Sick to Work in Japan: How to Tell Your Boss and What to Expect
Too ill to work? Who to contact, simple Japanese phrases, paid leave, doctor's notes and flu norms at Japanese workplaces. #PR
Read the guide →Carrying Your Residence Card and What Happens If Police Stop You in Japan
Why to carry your residence card, what a police stop or bike check involves, and what to do if the card is at home or lost. #PR
Read the guide →Choosing a Neighborhood to Live in Tokyo: Commute, Lifestyle and Budget Trade-Offs
Before browsing listings: work back from your commute, weigh central vs outer areas, family needs and hazard maps. #PR
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LGBTQ+ Life in Japan: Partnership Certificates, Community and Everyday Practicalities
How municipal partnership certificates work, what they can help with, and where to find LGBTQ+ community and support. #PR
Read the guide →Using a Japanese Bathroom: Bidet Toilets, Bath Reheating and Water Heater Panels
How the bidet toilet panel, unit bath, bath filling and reheating panel, water heater and bathroom fan work in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Applying to a Japanese University as an International Student: Routes and Timeline
The main ways into a Japanese university: EJU and school exams, English-taught degrees, the language-school path, and a timeline. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving in Japan on a Specified Skilled Worker Visa: Your First Weeks and Who Helps
Your first weeks on Specified Skilled Worker status: what your employer and support organisation do, and which steps are yours. #PR
Read the guide →Changing From a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Japan After Graduation
Graduating with a job offer? How the change of status works, matching the job to your studies, documents and timing. #PR
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Climbing Mount Fuji as a Newcomer: Season, Trails, Rules and Preparation
Planning a first Mount Fuji climb: the summer season, the four main trails, entry rules to check, huts, altitude and what to pack. #PR
Read the guide →Finding Clothes and Shoes in Your Size in Japan: Size Charts and Where to Look
How Japanese size labels and centimetre shoe sizes work, where to find larger or longer sizes, fitting-room etiquette and hemming. #PR
Read the guide →Lost Something in Japan? How Lost and Found Works (Wallets, Bags, Umbrellas)
Left a wallet, bag or residence card behind? How police reports, station lost-and-found and collecting your item work. #PR
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Scholarships and Tuition Support for International Students in Japan
How international students in Japan find study support: government, JASSO and private scholarships, tuition reductions and conditions. #PR
Read the guide →Shipping Your Belongings to Japan When You Move: Sea, Air and Customs Basics
How to get your things to Japan when you move: what to bring, sea vs air vs post, declaring unaccompanied baggage and timing. #PR
Read the guide →Student Dormitories and International Student Housing in Japan
Where students live in Japan: university and language-school dorms, private student residences, applying, house rules and moving out. #PR
Read the guide →Dealing with Household Pests in Japan: Cockroaches, Mosquitoes and Seasonal Bugs
A calm guide to bugs in Japanese homes: cockroaches, mosquitoes, centipedes and hornets, with prevention habits and where to get help. #PR
Read the guide →Getting ID Photos Taken in Japan: Photo Booths, Sizes and What Each Document Needs
Where to get ID photos in Japan, why each document asks for a different size, and the common reasons photos get sent back. #PR
Read the guide →Going to the Beach in Japan: Swimming Season, Local Rules and Staying Safe
A warm guide to beach days in Japan: how swimming season and umi-biraki work, common local rules, and staying safe. #PR
Read the guide →Hiring a House Cleaning or Housekeeping Service in Japan
A friendly guide to getting help at home in Japan: one-off deep cleans, regular housekeeping, booking, keys and English support. #PR
Read the guide →How Your Name Is Written on Japanese Documents: Alphabet, Katakana and Registered Aliases
Why your name can differ across your residence card, bank and contracts in Japan, and how to keep it consistent. #PR
Read the guide →What to Do After a Traffic Accident in Japan: Steps for Drivers, Cyclists and Pedestrians
Calm steps after a collision in Japan: stay safe, help the injured, call the police, see a doctor and tell your insurer. #PR
Read the guide →Working Remotely from Japan for an Overseas Employer: Visa and Admin Basics
What to check before working for a company abroad while living in Japan: residence status, the digital nomad option, tax and insurance. #PR
Read the guide →Finding Legal Help in Japan: Free Consultations and Where to Start (Houterasu)
Where residents in Japan turn for general legal help: Houterasu, bar-association free consultations, and multilingual advice lines. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Parking Space Certificate in Japan (Shako Shomei) Before You Buy a Car
How to get your parking space certificate (shako shomeisho) at the local police before registering a car in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Your Foreign Qualifications Recognized in Japan
A calm guide to getting a foreign degree or professional licence recognized in Japan, and who to ask. #PR
Read the guide →Returns, Exchanges and Warranties at Japanese Stores: How It Actually Works
How returns, exchanges and product warranties work at Japanese shops, and why keeping your receipt matters. #PR
Read the guide →How Ordering Works at a Japanese Restaurant: Ticket Machines, Call Buttons and Paying
A warm walk-through of everyday ordering in Japan: ticket machines, table call buttons, QR ordering, the otoshi, and paying up front. #PR
Read the guide →Using Foreign Electronics in Japan: Voltage, Plugs and Buying Appliances Locally
Will your devices work in Japan? Voltage, plugs, adapter vs transformer, and when to just buy an appliance locally. #PR
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Visiting Temples and Shrines in Japan: Etiquette, How to Pray and Goshuin
A warm, respectful guide to visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple: purifying, praying, omikuji, omamori and goshuin. #PR
Read the guide →Your Rights at Work in Japan: Paid Leave, Overtime and Where to Get Help
A friendly plain-language guide to worker rights in Japan: paid leave, overtime and break norms, unpaid wages, harassment, and free consultation lines. #PR
Read the guide →Canceling Services and Subscriptions in Japan: How Kaiyaku Actually Works
A calm guide to kaiyaku in Japan: auto-renewals, minimum terms, phone-or-mail cancellations, and keeping a record. #PR
Read the guide →City Gas or Propane? Understanding Your Apartment's Gas in Japan
A friendly guide to city gas vs propane in Japanese apartments: what they are, checking before you rent, the safety visit, and how to start service. #PR
Read the guide →Consumer Rights in Japan: Cooling-Off, Refunds and the Consumer Hotline
A calm, empowering guide to consumer rights in Japan: the cooling-off period, how refunds work, and the consumer hotline you can call. #PR
Read the guide →Dealing with Japanese Customer Support and Call Centers as a Newcomer
How to actually get help from a Japanese support line or chat: menus, opening phrases, and having your account details ready. #PR
Read the guide →Renting a Storage Unit in Japan: Trunk Rooms for Small-Apartment Living
A friendly guide to renting a storage unit or trunk room in Japan, so your compact apartment stays open and easy to live in. #PR
Read the guide →Taking the JLPT in Japan: Levels, Registration and Why It's Worth It
A friendly overview of the JLPT in Japan: what the N5–N1 levels mean, how registration works, and why the certificate helps. #PR
Read the guide →Going to a Concert or Live Show in Japan: Ticket Lotteries and Venues
A newcomer's guide to live music in Japan: lottery tickets, seat types, venue sizes, goods queues, and etiquette. #PR
Read the guide →Watching J-League Football in Japan: Tickets, Stadiums and Supporter Culture
A newcomer's guide to enjoying J-League football in Japan: the season, tickets, stadium food and passionate supporter culture. #PR
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Know Your Evacuation Shelter and Hazard Map in Japan Before Disaster Strikes
A calm, do-it-now guide to finding your evacuation shelter, reading your ward's hazard map, and making a family plan. #PR
Read the guide →Finding Parking in Japan: Monthly Spaces and Coin Parking, Explained
How residents in Japan actually find parking day to day: monthly spaces, coin car parks, payment, and the etiquette of tight lots. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Your Deposit Back When You Move Out in Japan: Genjo Kaifuku and Cleaning Fees
How your shikikin deposit works when you leave a Japanese rental — genjo kaifuku, normal wear, cleaning fees, and reducing disputes. #PR
Read the guide →Moving to Rural Japan: What Changes When You Leave the Big City
A warm, practical guide to settling into rural Japan (inaka): cars, community ties, akiya houses and everyday trade-offs. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Hiragana, Katakana and Survival Kanji in Japan
A beginner-first guide to reading hiragana, katakana and the survival kanji that unlock signs, menus and forms in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Going to a Baseball Game in Japan: Tickets, Stadium Culture and What to Expect
A warm newcomer's guide to Japanese baseball (yakyuu): tickets, seats, cheering culture, food and etiquette. #PR
Read the guide →Being a Guest in a Japanese Home: Etiquette, Slippers and Bringing a Gift
Invited to a Japanese friend's home? A warm guide to the genkan, slippers, a small gift, greetings and thanks. #PR
Read the guide →Camping and the Outdoors in Japan: Campgrounds, Gear and Getting There
How camping works in Japan: reserving a kyanpu-jo, renting vs. buying gear, seasons, manners, and getting to remote sites. #PR
Read the guide →Divorce in Japan as a Foreign Resident: The Procedure and What Changes
A calm, procedure-only guide to divorce in Japan for foreign residents: the routes, ward-office paperwork, and what changes after. #PR
Read the guide →Becoming a Japanese Citizen: How Naturalization (Kika) Broadly Works
A plain-language overview of naturalization (kika) in Japan: what it is, the general conditions, and where to apply. #PR
Read the guide →Shukatsu: How New-Graduate Job Hunting Works in Japan
A friendly guide to shukatsu, Japan's new-grad hiring cycle: info sessions, entry sheets, SPI, interviews and naitei. #PR
Read the guide →Starting a Business in Japan: Incorporation Basics and the Business-Manager Route
A friendly, high-level orientation to forming a company in Japan (KK vs GK) and the Business Manager status of residence. #PR
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Staying at a Ryokan in Japan: How a Traditional Inn Works for First-Timers
A cozy first-timer's guide to a ryokan stay: tatami rooms, futon, yukata, onsen baths, kaiseki meals, and booking tips. #PR
Read the guide →Understanding Japan's Residence Status Types: Which Category Fits Your Life
A plain-language map of Japan's status of residence system, so you can see which broad category fits your situation. #PR
Read the guide →Arriving at a Japanese Airport: Immigration, Customs and Visit Japan Web
What actually happens at arrival — the immigration and customs flow, residence cards, and how Visit Japan Web speeds you through. #PR
Read the guide →Attending a Japanese Funeral: Etiquette, Koden and What to Wear
A gentle, respectful guide to a Japanese wake or funeral: koden, the envelope, mourning dress and the shoko ritual. #PR
Read the guide →Bringing Your Medication into Japan: The Yakkan Shoumei and What's Allowed
A calm pre-arrival guide to bringing personal medicine into Japan: when a yakkan shoumei import certificate applies, and always verify current rules officially. #PR
Read the guide →Getting from the Airport into the City in Japan: Trains, Limousine Buses and Taxis
How to get from Japan's airports into the city with your luggage — airport trains, limousine buses and taxis, jet-lag and all. #PR
Read the guide →Karaoke in Japan: How the Box, Booking and Pricing Work for Newcomers
A warm, practical guide to karaoke in Japan for newcomers: how the private box works, how room-charge-plus-drinks pricing goes, free-time and nomihodai, and finding your songs. #PR
Read the guide →Skiing and Snowboarding in Japan for Newcomers: Resorts, Gear and Getting There
A warm, practical guide to planning your first ski or snowboard trip in Japan — regions, season, gear, lessons and getting there. #PR
Read the guide →Using Coin Lockers and Luggage Storage in Japan: Sizes, Payment and Finding a Free One
A hands-on guide to Japan's coin lockers: size tiers, paying by coin, IC card or QR, time limits, retrieving your bag, and what to do when every locker is full. #PR
Read the guide →Attending a Sumo Tournament in Japan: Tickets, Venues and What to Expect
How grand sumo works, from box seats to a full day at the venue, and how to actually get in. #PR
Read the guide →Buying a Home in Japan as a Foreign Resident: The Process and Mortgage Basics
A calm walk through the home-buying flow, what lenders look at, and up-front costs for foreign residents in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Registering a Baby's Birth in Japan: The Shussho Todoke and What Comes Next
New parents' warm guide to registering a birth in Japan — the shussho todoke, residence record, insurance, child allowance, and your embassy. #PR
Read the guide →Riding Local Buses in Japan: Front or Back Door, Fares and How to Pay
Which door to board, flat fare vs take-a-ticket, IC card or cash, and the stop button — a calm, hands-on bus guide for newcomers. #PR
Read the guide →Credit History and Loans in Japan: Why Newcomers Start From Zero
Why a newcomer has almost no Japanese credit history at first, how it affects card limits, phone instalments and loans, and how to build a steady track record over time. #PR
Read the guide →Moving to a Snowy Region of Japan: Winter Tires, Snow Removal and Yukiguni Life
What really changes when you settle in snow country: studless tires, snow removal duties, kerosene heat and heavy-snow days. #PR
Read the guide →Selling and Clearing Out Your Stuff in Japan: Flea Apps, Recycle Shops and Giveaways
How residents in Japan sell or pass on furniture, clothes and gadgets with flea apps, recycle shops and giveaways. #PR
Read the guide →The Japanese Era Calendar Explained: Reiwa, Wareki and Reading Dates on Forms
Why Japanese forms use Reiwa instead of the Western year, and how to convert your dates with confidence. #PR
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →
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 →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
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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 (23)
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 →Car Insurance in Japan: The Compulsory One and the One You Really Want Too
Japan's compulsory car insurance covers far less than newcomers assume. Here's how the second layer fits. #PR
Read the guide →Hurt at Work or on Your Commute: How Rosai Insurance Works in Japan
Injuries at work or on your ordinary commute are handled by rosai insurance, not by your health card — here is how that works. #PR
Read the guide →Receiving Money From Abroad in Japan: Inbound Transfers to Your Account
How residents in Japan receive money sent from overseas: what a sender needs, how funds arrive and convert to yen, and the records larger transfers bring. #PR
Read the guide →Understanding Money in Japan: Coins, Cash Culture and When You Still Need Notes
A friendly guide to Japan's coins, notes and still-cash-friendly moments — what to carry and where cash still rules. #PR
Read the guide →Getting Tax Certificates for Your Visa Renewal in Japan (Kazei and Nozei Shomeisho)
How to get the kazei and nozei shomeisho tax certificates for a Japan visa renewal, where to request them, and timing tips. #PR
Read the guide →Life and Private Insurance in Japan: Do Newcomers Need It Beyond National Coverage?
A calm, even-handed look at private and life insurance on top of public coverage — and how to think about it without over-buying. #PR
Read the guide →Choosing a Bank in Japan: Megabanks, Regional, Online and Japan Post
Before you open an account, choose the right kind of bank — megabank, regional, online or Japan Post — for your life in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Understanding Japan's Pension System: Kokumin Nenkin, Kosei Nenkin and Your Contributions
A calm guide to Japan's public pension: national vs employees' pension, insured categories, exemptions, and why paying in matters. #PR
Read the guide →Sending Money Within Japan: How Bank Transfers (Furikomi) Actually Work
A gentle guide to furikomi bank transfers in Japan — rent, deposits, splitting a bill, the details you enter, fees and timing. #PR
Read the guide →Earthquake Insurance in Japan: Why It's Separate From Your Fire Policy
Why earthquake damage usually isn't covered by standard fire insurance in Japan, what a jishin hoken add-on broadly covers, and how to weigh whether you need it. #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
Read the guide →
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 (16)
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 →Laundry in a Japanese Apartment: The Machine, the Balcony and the Rainy Season
Laundry in a Japanese apartment: reading the kanji control panel, drying without a dryer, balcony rules and rainy season. #PR
Read the guide →Moving Out of a Japanese Apartment: Notice, the Walkthrough and Your Deposit
Leaving a Japanese rental: giving notice on time, what restoration to original condition means, the move-out walkthrough, and how your deposit is settled. #PR
Read the guide →When Something Breaks in Your Japanese Apartment: Repairs and Who to Call
When the water heater, air conditioner, toilet or a lock fails in your Japanese rental: who to call first, who usually pays, and what to record. #PR
Read the guide →Monthly Mansions and Serviced Apartments in Japan: A Landing Pad Before Your Lease
Furnished monthly mansions and serviced apartments give newcomers a flexible, move-in-ready base while they hunt for a permanent home. #PR
Read the guide →Reading Japanese Apartment Listings: 1K, 1LDK, Jo, UB and the Layout Codes
Decode Japanese rental listings: 1K, 1LDK, jo tatami sizing, UB, genkan and more so you can picture a place from the shorthand. #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 (12)
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
Read the guide →Where to Park Your Bicycle in Japan (and How to Get It Back If It's Taken)
Bicycle parking in Japan: station no-parking zones, daily and monthly lots, and getting a removed bike back. #PR
Read the guide →Driving in Japan: Road Rules and Signs a New Resident Should Know First
Keep left, stop at every railway crossing, share narrow streets, read the signs, and park in a lot — the driving habits to learn first. #PR
Read the guide →When Trains Are Delayed or Stopped in Japan: Delay Certificates, Detours and What to Do
Your line stopped on a normal morning? How to read announcements, use transfer routes, get a delay certificate and tell work. #PR
Read the guide →Missing the Last Train in Japan: Your Options When You're Stuck Out Late
Missed the last train (shuuden) in Japan? Here are calm, practical options: taxi, capsule hotel, net cafe, or waiting for the first train. #PR
Read the guide →Surviving Rush Hour in Japan: Train Manners, Priority Seats and Women-Only Cars
How to ride Japan's packed commuter trains with ease: queuing, priority seats, phone manners and women-only cars. #PR
Read the guide →
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
Read the guide →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 (15)
Gomi Sorting in Japan: Moeru Gomi, Sodai Gomi and the 8am Rule, With a Real Ward's Rules (2026)
Not burnable-vs-non-burnable. The four categories a Tokyo ward actually uses, the 8:00am deadline, the 30cm cube test for sodai gomi, the 危険 label for anything sharp, and how to find the calendar for your own street. Worked from Shinjuku City's official guide. #PR
Read the guide →Grocery Delivery in Japan: Supermarket Delivery and Co-op Boxes
Two ways groceries reach your door in Japan: supermarket delivery you book by time slot, and the weekly co-op box. #PR
Read the guide →Finding International, Halal and Vegetarian Groceries in Japan
Where newcomers actually find food from home in Japan: import and international markets, halal and ethnic grocers, online shops, and reading labels. #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
Read the guide →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 (15)
Using Your My Number Card as a Health Insurance Card in Japan (Maina Hokensho)
A friendly, procedure-focused guide to using your My Number card as your health insurance card at clinics and pharmacies in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Online Medical Consultations in Japan: How Telemedicine (Online Shinryo) Works
A warm, practical guide to online doctor consultations in Japan — what online shinryo covers, how a visit flows, and how the medicine reaches you. #PR
Read the guide →Switching Health Insurance When Your Job Changes in Japan
A calm, step-by-step guide to moving between national and employees' health insurance in Japan without a gap. #PR
Read the guide →Referral Letters and the Large-Hospital Fee in Japan: See a Clinic First
Why Japan nudges you to a local clinic before a big hospital, the referral letter, and the extra fee to know about. #PR
Read the guide →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 (30)
Children's Lessons in Japan: Swimming, Piano, Soroban and the Narai-goto Habit
Swimming, piano, soroban: how Japan's weekly narai-goto lesson culture works, and how newcomer parents can join in. #PR
Read the guide →Inviting Your Family to Visit Japan: Invitation Letters and Guarantor Documents
Inviting family to Japan: whether a visa is needed, the invitation letter, schedule of stay, and guarantor documents. #PR
Read the guide →Applying to Graduate School in Japan: Research Students, Supervisors and Entrance Exams
How graduate admission works in Japan: contacting a supervisor first, the research plan, the kenkyusei stage, exams and realistic timelines. #PR
Read the guide →Raising Bilingual Children in Japan: Keeping Your Home Language Alive
Family language routines, books and media, weekend classes and grandparent calls to keep your home language alive in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Studying at a Vocational School (Senmon Gakko) in Japan: How It Works for International Students
What a senmon gakko is, typical fields, the Japanese level expected, the route from language school and life on the course. #PR
Read the guide →Choosing a Japanese Language School in Japan: What to Check Before You Apply
How to compare Japanese language schools that sponsor a student visa: recognition, intakes, location, housing and timeline. #PR
Read the guide →High School Entrance for Foreign Children in Japan: How Koukou Juken Works
A gentle guide to Japan's high school entrance: public vs private routes, naishinten, and support for newly arrived students. #PR
Read the guide →Finding a Babysitter or Family Support in Japan (Family Support and Sitters)
A warm guide to occasional childcare in Japan: the ward-run Family Support Centre, private sitters, and drop-in care, with how to register. #PR
Read the guide →Getting a Health Certificate for a Job or School in Japan (Kenko Shindansho)
Miya explains the kenko shindansho health certificate for a new job or school in Japan: tests, clinics, timing, and the form. #PR
Read the guide →Taking Your Pet to the Vet in Japan: Clinics, Costs and Pet Insurance Basics
Miya's plain guide to vet clinics, routine care and how pet insurance works in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Choosing a Regular Family Doctor in Japan: The Kakaritsuke-i and Why It Helps
How having a regular local doctor (kakaritsuke-i) in Japan helps continuity, referrals, and repeat prescriptions, and how to find one near home. #PR
Read the guide →Traveling Around Japan with Young Children: Trains, Facilities and Family-Friendly Stays
How families with babies and small kids get around Japan: stroller access, priority seats, nursing rooms, family stays and packing tips. #PR
Read the guide →Obon in Japan: The Summer Return, Grave Visits and What Newcomers Should Know
A warm newcomer's guide to Obon in Japan: the summer return home, visiting family graves, Bon Odori, and travel tips. #PR
Read the guide →When a Family Member Dies in Japan: Registration, Procedures and Inheritance Basics
A gentle, step-by-step overview of the death notification, funeral process and inheritance basics in Japan. #PR
Read the guide →Hosting Family and Friends Visiting You in Japan: Getting Them Connected and Around
Help visiting family and friends get online, plan meetups, and enjoy your home in Japan smoothly. #PR
Read the guide →When Your Child Is Sick: Byoji Hoiku and Emergency Childcare in Japan
What to do when your child is too sick for daycare: byoji hoiku, drop-in care, and ward family-support. #PR
Read the guide →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
Read the guide →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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