Guides
Practical, dated, and specific about what is law and what is only proposed.
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The 14-day city hall run: what to do when you arrive in Japan
You have 14 days to register your address in Japan. Here is exactly what happens at the ward office, what to bring, and what changed now that paper insurance cards are gone.
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Permanent residency in Japan: what actually changed in 2026
Separating the permanent residency rules that are already law from the income and pension requirements that have only been proposed — and what is worth doing either way.
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Renewing your residence card: when the window opens and what it costs to miss it
Japanese immigration accepts extension applications from 90 days before your period of stay ends. Here is how the renewal window works and why the first day of it matters most.
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Opening a Japanese bank account as a foreigner
Why banks refuse you in your first six months, which ones actually accept new arrivals, and what to bring so you are not sent away twice.
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Renting an apartment in Japan: key money, guarantors and why it costs so much upfront
What shikikin, reikin and a guarantor company actually are, why move-in costs reach five months of rent, and how foreign residents get around the guarantor problem.
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The Japanese pension for foreign residents: what you pay, and what you get back if you leave
Pension enrolment is compulsory, exemptions exist, and there is a lump-sum withdrawal if you leave Japan. What it is worth, and the deadline that catches people out.
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Getting a Japanese phone number when you have just arrived
You need a phone number before a bank account, but most carriers want a bank account first. How to break the loop, and which options accept new arrivals.