Living in Japan, without getting lost
Visas, housing, driver's licenses, taxes, bank accounts — the most troublesome procedures for foreigners new to Japan, all sorted out in one place.
Free AI Visa Check →🗂️ Browse by topic
Status & Visas
Which status to apply for, how to renew, how to reach PR, how to work legally — 6 pages ordered by where you are now.
See the topic →Money, Tax & Insurance
What actually lands in your account, when you must file, what to do if your employer does not enrol you, the benefits around having a child, and what it costs to send money home — 8 pages.
See the topic →Housing
Finding a place and signing, setting up utilities, the moving paperwork, and the rubbish rules once you are in — 4 pages in order.
See the topic →Daily Life
What to get done at the city office in one trip, how to convert a foreign licence, what to do after a crash, and how to prepare for an earthquake — 4 guides for daily life in Japan.
See the topic →🧰 Tools & guides
AI Visa Diagnosis
Work visa, student visa, permanent residency, business manager visa, spouse visa — input your situation and get a material checklist and application process.
Free checkHSP Points Calculator
70 points for the Highly Skilled Professional visa, PR in as fast as 1 year. Check your score.
Check my pointsRenting in Japan Guide
Key money, deposit, guarantor, screening process — all explained. Recommendations for foreigner-friendly agents.
View guideDriver's License Conversion Assistant
Convert a foreign license to a Japanese one: material checklist, test process, and common failure reasons all compiled.
View processTax Return (Kakutei Shinkoku)
Have a side job or freelance work in Japan? Organize the required materials and process for filing a tax return.
Start organizingCity Office Procedures
Moving in, moving out, certificate of residence, seal registration, national health insurance — a complete checklist for your errands.
View checklistBank Account + SIM Card
How to open a bank account when you first arrive? Which SIM cards can foreigners get? Recommendations updated regularly.
View recommendationsTake-Home Pay Calculator
Gross → net: social insurance, income tax, resident tax in one estimate (2026 rates)
Estimate nowMore tools coming soon
Cost-of-living calculator, move-in cost estimator… on the way.
📖 Life in Japan Guides
Japan Garbage Sorting Guide
Burnable, non-burnable, recyclables, bulky waste — plus when, where, and how to put garbage out.
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2026 Residence Card Renewal Guide
Fees, documents, and the online application process — with a 2026 price-hike warning.
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HSP 80 Points Guide
The fastest 1-year track to permanent residency: score profiles, full perks, and J-Skip.
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Japan Business Manager Visa Guide
2026 new rules: JPY 30M capital, full-time staff, JLPT N2, experience requirements explained.
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Utilities & Internet Setup
How to set up electricity, gas, water and internet in Japan — why gas needs an appointment and how long fibre takes.
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NHI · Pension · Lump-sum Withdrawal
Medical, retirement and the refund when you leave Japan — three systems often confused by newcomers, explained in order.
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Seeing a Doctor in Japan
Clinic vs hospital, why skipping a referral costs you, and why medicine comes from a separate pharmacy — in 7 steps.
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Moving House in Japan
The departure notice goes in early, the arrival notice within 14 days — plus mail forwarding, utilities and your Residence Card address, in order.
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Part-Time Work in Japan
How to get the work permit, how the 28-hour cap is counted across all jobs, what is banned outright — plus tax and pension.
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Getting Medical Costs Back
The high-cost refund and the ceiling certificate on the insurance side, plus the medical expense deduction on the tax side — who applies and what combines.
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The childcare timeline
Pregnancy notification and the handbook, the childbirth lump sum and direct payment, birth registration, the child allowance, and the nursery application.
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Earthquake and disaster prep
A saveable go-bag checklist, what to do in the first seconds, warning levels 5/4/3 and how to find your nearest shelter.
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What remittances really cost
Three layers: fee, exchange-rate margin, correspondent bank deductions — plus what the ¥1,000,000 line actually means.
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After a crash in Japan
Five steps at the scene, the accident certificate, what compulsory cover actually pays for — and what only your own policy does.
Read guide →Why this site?
🤖 Japan's official systems are outdated
Immigration, tax office, and city hall processes still rely on paper and fax.
😵 Information is too scattered
To get one thing done, a foreigner has to check 5 official sites, 3 blogs, and 1 Facebook group.
💸 Agent fees are high
Administrative scriveners, tax accountants, and agents easily charge tens of thousands. Organize it yourself first, then consult someone — save money.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these tools paid?
Basic checks and life guides are completely free. Some AI-generated material packs may be pay-per-use in the future, but currently everything is free.
❓ Can I use the AI-generated materials directly?
The AI generates drafts, but you need to verify the facts and add your personal details. For important applications, we recommend having an administrative scrivener do a final review.
❓ I just arrived in Japan. What should I do first?
In this order: register your address at the city office → get a SIM card → open a bank account → enroll in National Health Insurance. See the City Office page for the full interactive checklist.
❓ Is the information here reliable?
All guides are compiled from official sources (Immigration Services Agency, National Tax Agency, MLIT), with links to the originals on every page. Policies change — always confirm with the latest official announcements before applying.
❓ Do I need to create an account?
No. Everything works instantly in your browser — no sign-up, no login, no personal data collection.
❓ I'm not Chinese — can I still use this site?
Yes. The site is available in Chinese, English, and Japanese, and the guides apply to all foreigners living in Japan.