Japanese Phrases for Apartment Viewings in Japan
Practical Japanese questions to ask during apartment viewings in Japan, covering foreign-resident applications, move-in costs, guarantor companies, equipment, noise, internet, and payment.
Life Articles
Practical comparisons, checklists, and notes for life decisions in Japan.
Moving Out of an Apartment in Japan: What to Check Before You Leave
A practical moving-out guide for foreign residents in Japan, covering notice periods, contract fees, utilities, internet, oversized trash, handover inspection, mail forwarding, and address procedures.
Should You Buy a Commuter Pass in Japan? Suica, PASMO, and Route Checks
How to decide whether a commuter pass is worth buying in Japan, what route details to prepare, and what to check before using Suica or PASMO for daily commuting.
Shopping for Daily Life in Japan: Convenience Stores, Supermarkets, Drugstores, and 100-Yen Shops
A practical guide for deciding when to use convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores, 100-yen shops, or online shopping in Japan based on budget, hours, payment, and location.
Emergency and Disaster Basics in Japan for Foreign Residents
A practical guide to emergency numbers, disaster alerts, municipal evacuation information, go-bag basics, and contact plans for living in Japan.
How to Choose Family Restaurants in Japan: Denny's, Gusto, and Royal Host
A practical comparison of Denny's, Gusto, and Royal Host in Japan for foreign residents, focusing on solo use, price feel, non-smoking checks, payment, and everyday use cases.
Garbage Sorting in Japan: How to Start Without Getting Lost
A practical guide for foreign residents on how to check local garbage sorting, pickup days, trash bags, recycling, and oversized trash rules in Japan.
Move-in Costs in Japan: What to Check Before Renting
A practical guide to Japanese rental initial costs, including deposit, key money, agent fee, guarantor company fee, insurance, lock exchange, cleaning, and prepaid rent.
Before Working in Japan: Contract and Residence Status Basics
A practical pre-work checklist for foreign residents in Japan covering residence status, work permission, written conditions, wages, shifts, transport allowance, insurance, and resignation rules.
Residence Card, Resident Record, and My Number: What Foreign Residents Should Know
A practical explanation of the difference between a residence card, resident record, and My Number in Japan, and what to confirm after moving in.
What to Prepare Before Visiting a Ward or City Office After Moving in Japan
A practical guide for foreign residents preparing for ward or city office moving-in procedures in Japan, including address registration, residence card updates, health insurance, pension, My Number, and follow-up updates.
How to Choose a Mobile Plan in Japan as a Foreigner
A practical checklist for comparing Japanese mobile plans by documents, payment methods, coverage, data, and setup difficulty.
First Week in Japan: What to Set Up First
A practical first-week setup order for mobile service, address, commuting, daily shopping, banking, and stable routines in Japan.
povo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile, and ahamo: How to Compare Them
A decision-oriented comparison of povo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile, and ahamo for foreign residents choosing a mobile plan in Japan.