Pro GaijinGuides to life in Japan
Practical, step-by-step guides from people who've done it: the order things go in, the Japanese words you'll need, and the traps that cost a second trip.
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Getting set up
Your first two weeks in Japan: the order that actually works
Address, ward office, phone, bank: the order that breaks the chicken-and-egg loop.
9 min read
Making phone calls in Japan when your Japanese isn't there yet
Avoid the call, or survive it: the phrases, the structure, and when to get help.
7 min read
Driving in Japan: converting your foreign licence (after the 2025 changes)
International permits, the three-month rule, documents, and the tests since October 2025.
7 min read
Your home
Finding an apartment in Japan as a foreigner (and not getting turned down)
Why landlords say no, what makes them say yes, and the options that skip the hard parts.
9 min read
How to read a Japanese lease, and what every fee means
Key money, guarantors, renewal fees, move-out cleaning: what each line costs you.
10 min read
Moving house within Japan: every notice, in order
Same city or a new one: the ward office steps, mail forwarding and who else to tell.
7 min read
How garbage works in Japan (without annoying your neighbours)
Sorting, collection days, big items and the appliances you can't just put out.
6 min read
Earthquakes and typhoons in Japan: what to prepare and what the alerts mean
The first minute of a quake, what the alarms mean, where to go, and the kit to have at home.
8 min read
Lost something in Japan? How to get it back
Where to look first, the koban report, and what to do about a lost residence card.
5 min read
Putting your child in a Japanese school: enrolment, costs and the letters home
Enrolment, grade placement, what's free, Japanese support, and the letters home.
7 min read
Pets in Japan: bringing them in, renting with them, and the rules
The months-long import timeline, pet-friendly rentals, and registering a dog.
6 min read
Money, paperwork and visas
Opening a bank account in Japan as a foreigner
Which banks say yes early, what to bring, and the six-month rule nobody explains.
7 min read
That letter from the city: what it is and what to do
Tax, insurance, pension, overdue notices: which letters need you, and how to pay at the konbini.
8 min read
Japanese words on forms: a dictionary of the ones you'll actually meet
The words on ward office, bank and rental forms, and what to write in each box.
6 min read
Renewing your visa in Japan: timing, documents and the new 2026 fees
When to apply, what to bring, the new October 2026 fees, and what immigration checks.
8 min read
The Japanese pension for foreigners: pay, pause, or claim back
Which pension you're in, pausing it properly, the ten-year rule, and claiming it back when you leave.
7 min read
Sending money home from Japan: banks, apps and the paperwork
Banks vs transfer apps, the real fees, and why they ask for your My Number.
6 min read
Health
Seeing a doctor in Japan: clinics, hospitals and what you'll pay
Clinic or hospital, what to bring, what you'll pay, and who to call at night.
8 min read
Health insurance in Japan, explained: company plan or National Health Insurance
Company plan or National Health Insurance, what it costs, and the gap when you change jobs.
6 min read
A hospital stay in Japan: costs, the monthly cap, and what to bring
The monthly cost cap, what insurance doesn't cover, and the bag to pack.
6 min read
Having a baby in Japan as a foreigner: the paperwork timeline
Pregnancy notice to the baby's visa and passport: every deadline, in order.
8 min read