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Money & banking in Japan
Money basics for life in Japan — opening a bank account, cards, cashless and QR payments, sending money home, and understanding taxes.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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