Article Updated: 2026-06-01
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.
- work
- working in Japan
- part-time job
- work conditions
- residence status
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical guide to emergency numbers, disaster alerts, municipal evacuation information, go-bag basics, and contact plans for living in Japan.
- daily-life
- disaster preparedness
- emergency numbers
- Japan life
- evacuation
Article Updated: 2026-06-02
A practical first-week setup order for mobile service, address, commuting, daily shopping, banking, and stable routines in Japan.
- setup
- first week
- Japan life
- moving
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical guide for foreign residents on how to check local garbage sorting, pickup days, trash bags, recycling, and oversized trash rules in Japan.
- daily-life
- garbage sorting
- oversized trash
- Japan life
- house rules
Article Updated: 2026-05-31
A practical checklist for comparing Japanese mobile plans by documents, payment methods, coverage, data, and setup difficulty.
- Mobile guides
- mobile plans
- Japan life
- foreign residents
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
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.
- food
- family restaurants
- Japan food
- solo dining
- places
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
Practical Japanese questions to ask during apartment viewings in Japan, covering foreign-resident applications, move-in costs, guarantor companies, equipment, noise, internet, and payment.
- language
- Japanese phrases
- renting
- apartment viewing
- Japan life
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical guide to Japanese rental initial costs, including deposit, key money, agent fee, guarantor company fee, insurance, lock exchange, cleaning, and prepaid rent.
- housing
- renting
- move-in costs
- Japan life
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
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.
- housing
- moving out
- renting
- Japan apartment
- Japan life
Article Updated: 2026-05-31
A decision-oriented comparison of povo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile, and ahamo for foreign residents choosing a mobile plan in Japan.
- Mobile guides
- mobile plans
- povo
- LINEMO
- Rakuten Mobile
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical explanation of the difference between a residence card, resident record, and My Number in Japan, and what to confirm after moving in.
- procedures
- residence card
- resident record
- My Number
- procedures
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
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.
- shopping
- shopping
- convenience stores
- supermarkets
- drugstores
Article Updated: 2026-06-01
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.
- transportation
- commuting
- commuter pass
- Suica
- PASMO
Article Updated: 2026-06-02
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.
- procedures
- ward office
- city office
- moving in
- Japan life
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
Practical Japanese phrases for apartment viewings, move-in cost questions, equipment checks, and rental application follow-up in Japan.
- Viewing appointment basics
- Fees and contract terms
- Room and equipment checks
- Application and follow-up
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for deciding whether to buy a commuter pass, preparing route and proof details, and avoiding common Suica/PASMO IC card commute mistakes.
- Decide whether it is worth buying
- Prepare purchase details
- Daily use checks
- Changes, loss, and refunds
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for choosing supermarkets, drugstores, convenience stores, 100-yen shops, and daily-goods stores, with payment, labeling, and budgeting habits for settling into Japan.
- Choose the right store type
- First-week shopping basket
- Payments and point cards
- Labels, dates, and safety
- Build a budget routine
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for identity documents, income or school proof, emergency contacts, guarantor-company checks, and submission hygiene before applying for an apartment in Japan.
- Identity and address documents
- Income, school, or employment proof
- Emergency contact and guarantor checks
- Before submitting
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for emergency numbers, alerts, supplies, communication, and evacuation basics for earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, fire, illness, and other urgent situations in Japan.
- Know emergency numbers and phrases
- Confirm alert and local information sources
- Prepare home and go-bag supplies
- Decide evacuation and communication steps
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for resumes, career-history sheets, residence status, identity checks, bank details, and pre-onboarding documents when applying for work in Japan.
- Resume and career history
- Residence status and work permission
- Interview and offer-stage documents
- Offer and onboarding basics
- Safe submission hygiene
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for moving out of a Japan apartment, covering notice periods, utilities, internet, trash, mail forwarding, address procedures, and handover checks.
- Check notice and contract terms first
- Stop utilities, internet, and subscriptions
- Trash, cleaning, and handover
- Address, mail, and after-move checks
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
Check common Japan rental move-in costs such as deposit, key money, agency fee, advance rent, management fee, guarantor company fee, fire insurance, and lock change before applying.
- Break down the core costs
- Separate one-time and monthly costs
- Ask before applying
- Decide whether the move-in cost is manageable
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A staged checklist for before arrival, the first week, and settling into life in Japan, covering mobile service, address, transit, daily shopping, and procedures.
- Before arrival
- First week in Japan
- Address and procedures
Tool Updated: 2026-06-01
A practical checklist for address, residence card, health insurance, pension, My Number, and follow-up updates you may need to confirm at a ward or city office after arriving or moving.
- Before visiting the office
- Address and residence card checks
- Insurance, pension, and My Number
- After the office visit
Mobile plan Updated: 2026-05-31
30GB base, 110GB with paid oomori option · ¥2,970 for 30GB; ¥4,950 with ahamo oomori 110GB option; confirm official latest price · medium data users, people who want a simple docomo-brand online plan, users who value short domestic calls and overseas data conditions
- ahamo
- ahamo
- 30GB base, 110GB with paid oomori option
- credit card
- bank transfer
Mobile plan Updated: 2026-05-31
3GB to 10GB tier; Best Plan V offers larger data · from ¥990; confirm current official price · light to medium data users, people who prefer online setup, users who want a SoftBank-brand option without full carrier pricing
- LINEMO
- Best Plan
- 3GB to 10GB tier; Best Plan V offers larger data
- credit card
- bank transfer
Mobile plan Updated: 2026-05-31
0GB base, add data toppings by period or capacity · base fee ¥0 plus paid toppings; confirm current topping prices · people with uneven monthly data use, dual SIM users, users comfortable managing plans through an app
- povo
- povo2.0
- 0GB base, add data toppings by period or capacity
- credit card
- Paidy
Mobile plan Updated: 2026-05-31
tiered by usage, with high-data/unlimited-positioning on Rakuten network · tiered from ¥1,078 to ¥3,278; confirm official latest price · heavy data users, people comfortable checking coverage, users already in the Rakuten ecosystem
- Rakuten Mobile
- Rakuten Saikyo Plan
- tiered by usage, with high-data/unlimited-positioning on Rakuten network
- credit card
- bank transfer
Mobile plan Updated: 2026-05-31
35GB with 10-minute domestic calls included on Komi-Komi Plan Value · from ¥3,828 for Komi-Komi Plan Value; discounts and plans vary, confirm official latest price · people who want carrier-sub-brand stability, users who prefer having store support, medium data users who also make short calls
- UQ mobile
- Komi-Komi Plan Value
- 35GB with 10-minute domestic calls included on Komi-Komi Plan Value
- credit card
- bank transfer
Area Updated: 2026-05-31
Akabane is a practical northern Tokyo base for JR commuters who want food options, shopping, and access toward both central Tokyo and Saitama.
- Tokyo
- Kita
- Akabane
- Akabane-Iwabuchi
- medium
Area Updated: 2026-05-31
Ikebukuro is a major Tokyo hub with strong transport, shopping, and food access, but daily comfort depends a lot on exit, street, and noise level.
- Tokyo
- Toshima
- Ikebukuro
- Higashi-Ikebukuro
- Kita-Ikebukuro
Area Updated: 2026-05-31
Itabashi can be a balanced choice for newcomers who want lower rent pressure than central hubs while keeping access to Ikebukuro and central Tokyo.
- Tokyo
- Itabashi
- Itabashi
- Shin-Itabashi
- Oyama
Area Updated: 2026-05-31
Kagurazaka and Edogawabashi offer a calmer central Tokyo lifestyle with cafes, small restaurants, and walkability, but rent and slopes need careful checking.
- Tokyo
- Shinjuku / Bunkyo
- Kagurazaka
- Edogawabashi
- Iidabashi
Place Updated: 2026-05-31
family-restaurant · Tokyo Multiple cities Multiple areas · Varies by branch
- family-restaurant
- Tokyo
- Multiple cities
- Multiple areas
- Varies by branch
Place Updated: 2026-05-31
family-restaurant · Tokyo Multiple cities Multiple areas · Varies by branch
- family-restaurant
- Tokyo
- Multiple cities
- Multiple areas
- Varies by branch
Place Updated: 2026-05-31
family-restaurant · Tokyo Multiple cities Multiple areas · Varies by branch
- family-restaurant
- Tokyo
- Multiple cities
- Multiple areas
- Varies by branch