Your First 7 Days in Japan: Residence Card, Ward Office, Bank, SIM — In Order
Updated: 2026-08-22
Quick answer
Hi, I'm Miya. Your first week in Japan runs on one rule: some things only unlock after others are done, so order matters more than speed.
The sequence I always give friends is: get your residence card in hand, register your move-in at the ward office within 14 days, open a bank account, and get a Japanese mobile number and data. The number sits early on purpose — your bank, delivery apps, and account sign-ups all lean on it.
If you already have your residence card, an eSIM can activate the same day, often in about 15 minutes. So you don't have to wait to be reachable while you sort out everything else.
Step 1: Get your residence card in hand
Your residence card (在留カード, zairyu card) is the document everything else asks for. Depending on your visa and airport, you either receive it on arrival at a major airport, or you get a stamp in your passport and the card is mailed to your address later.
Keep it on you at all times — it's your legal ID in Japan, and the ward office, bank, and mobile shop will all want to see it. Snap a clear photo of the front and back so you have a backup while filling out forms.
If your card is being mailed, note that step 2 still starts counting from your move-in date, so don't sit idle waiting for it to arrive.
Step 2: Register your move-in at the ward office (14-day rule)
Within 14 days of settling into your address, go to your local ward or city office (区役所 / 市役所) to file your move-in notification (転入届). Bring your residence card, passport, and your address details.
This registration is what puts you into the resident system, and your address gets written onto the back of your residence card. It's also the gateway to health insurance enrollment and, later, a resident record (住民票) you may need for other paperwork.
Go early in the day if you can — offices get busy, and some services close earlier than the building itself. A little patience here saves you a second trip.
Step 3: Open a bank account
With your residence card and a local address on it, you can open a Japanese bank account. Many banks like to see that you've been resident for a short while, and having a mobile number ready smooths the process, since they often send confirmations by SMS.
A local account lets you receive your salary, set up automatic payments for rent and utilities, and link to the cashless apps everyone uses day to day.
Bring your residence card, passport, a personal seal (hanko) if you have one, and your Japanese phone number. Ask about English support in advance — some branches and online banks make this much easier.
Step 4: Get a Japanese mobile number and data
A Japanese number is the hinge the rest of your setup hangs on. Bank confirmations, delivery apps, ride and reservation services, and two-factor logins all expect one, and a foreign number often won't be accepted.
Get connected as early as you reasonably can. Once your residence card is in hand, you don't need to wait for the bank to be finished — data and a number let you navigate, translate, and receive messages while the rest of the week unfolds.
This is the piece that quietly makes the other three steps easier, which is why I nudge people to sort it right after the ward office.
A simple week-one timeline
Day 1–2: Secure your residence card (or confirm it's on the way) and settle into your address. Take backup photos of your documents.
Day 2–4: Sort your Japanese SIM and number so you're reachable, then head to the ward office for your move-in registration within the 14-day window.
Day 4–7: Open your bank account, enroll in health insurance if it wasn't handled at the ward office, and start linking your number to the apps you'll use every day.
Getting your number early — the easy way
Because so much of week one depends on being reachable, I like to sort the mobile piece right after the residence card. With Rakuten Mobile you can sign up online using just your residence card, without hunting for a shop counter during a busy week.
If you choose an eSIM, activation is usually same-day and takes around 15 minutes on a compatible phone — so you can be online almost as soon as you land the card. That means maps, translation, and messages are working while you tackle the ward office and bank.
Terms and available plans do change over time, so check the current details on Rakuten Mobile's page before you sign up. Get the number sorted early, and the rest of your first week falls into place. #PR
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