📖 In this guide
Budget reality check before you arrive
Moving to Japan costs more upfront than most people expect. Housing alone requires 4–6 months of rent paid upfront (key money + deposit + agency fee + guarantor fee). Minimum recommended savings: ¥700,000 for a solo mover, ¥1,500,000+ for a couple. Have this ready before you land.
✈️ Before You Arrive — Pre-Move Checklist
📋 Visa & Documents
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Confirm your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — your employer or sponsor should have this. You need it to get your visa stamped at a Japanese embassy.
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Get your visa stamped at the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. Processing takes 3–5 business days.
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Check the language expectations for your job — employers may set Japanese requirements for a specific role. N2 can also qualify for HSP points.
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Make copies of all documents — passport, visa, COE, employment contract. Store copies in cloud storage and email to yourself.
💰 Finance Preparation
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Set up a Wise account before arriving — gives you local bank details immediately. Use for receiving salary temporarily while waiting for your Japanese bank account. Open Wise free →
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Bring ¥300,000–500,000 in cash or accessible funds — many initial payments in Japan require cash. ATMs at 7-Eleven and Japan Post accept international cards.
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Notify your home bank that you're moving to Japan, so your card isn't blocked for overseas use.
📱 Digital Prep
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Set up a VPN before arriving — once in Japan, your home country's Netflix, banking apps, and streaming services will be geo-blocked. Get NordVPN (30-day guarantee) →
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Download Google Translate with Japanese language pack for offline use.
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Start basic Japanese study — knowing hiragana, katakana, and 50+ basic phrases makes the first weeks much easier. JapanesePod101 free trial →
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Download Suica or PASMO app — digital IC card for trains and convenience stores. Available on iPhone and Android.
🛬 Day 1 — Arrival at the Airport
AT IMMIGRATION
Receive your Residence Card (在留カード)
Issued automatically at major airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, etc.) for work and spouse visas. Check that your name, visa status, and period of stay are correct. This card is your most important document in Japan.
AT THE AIRPORT
Get a SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi
SIM card rental booths are available at all major airports. For a long-term stay, a monthly SIM (IIJmio, Rakuten Mobile) is better value than pocket Wi-Fi. You need a Japanese number within days for bank and admin tasks. IIJmio — foreigner-friendly SIM →
FIRST CASH
Withdraw cash at the airport ATM
Japan is still heavily cash-based. Airport ATMs (7-Eleven, Japan Post) accept international Visa/Mastercard. Withdraw ¥50,000–100,000 for initial expenses (transport, food, first payments). International card fees apply — use Wise or Revolut to minimize fees.
📋 Days 2–7 — Critical Administrative Tasks
Legal deadline: 14 days to register your address
Japanese law requires you to register your address at your local city hall (市区町村役所) within 14 days of moving in. Failure to do so is technically a violation of the Immigration Control Act. Do this in the first week — everything else depends on having a registered address.
⚠️ URGENT — Do within 14 days
① Register your address at city hall (住民登録)
Where: Your local 市役所/区役所/町村役場 (city/ward/town office)
Bring: Passport + Residence Card
Result: Your address is printed on the back of your Residence Card. You receive a Juminhyo (住民票) — proof of residence needed for almost everything else.
Bring: Passport + Residence Card
Result: Your address is printed on the back of your Residence Card. You receive a Juminhyo (住民票) — proof of residence needed for almost everything else.
Tip: If you're in temporary accommodation, you can register that address first and update it when you move to your permanent home.
⚠️ URGENT — Do within 14 days
② Enroll in health insurance
If employed: Your company will enroll you in Shakai Hoken (社会保険) — employer health insurance. Confirm with HR on your first day.
If self-employed/freelance: Enroll in National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) at city hall. Monthly premium based on your income.
Result: You receive your health insurance card (保険証). Carry this always — you pay 30% of medical costs (70% covered by insurance).
If self-employed/freelance: Enroll in National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) at city hall. Monthly premium based on your income.
Result: You receive your health insurance card (保険証). Carry this always — you pay 30% of medical costs (70% covered by insurance).
Important — First week
③ Set up pension enrollment
If employed: Automatically enrolled in Kosei Nenkin (厚生年金) via employer. Confirmed on your pay slip.
If self-employed: Enroll in National Pension (国民年金) at city hall. Monthly premium: ¥17,510 (FY2025).
Important: Keep all pension documentation. When you leave Japan, you can claim back up to 5 years of contributions. See our pension refund guide →
If self-employed: Enroll in National Pension (国民年金) at city hall. Monthly premium: ¥17,510 (FY2025).
Important: Keep all pension documentation. When you leave Japan, you can claim back up to 5 years of contributions. See our pension refund guide →
④ Apply for My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)
Your My Number is assigned automatically when you register your address. Apply for the physical card (マイナンバーカード) at city hall — it takes 1–2 months to arrive by mail.
Why it matters: Increasingly required for bank accounts (Wise, SBI Shinsei), tax filing, government services. Apply early — the wait is worth it.
Why it matters: Increasingly required for bank accounts (Wise, SBI Shinsei), tax filing, government services. Apply early — the wait is worth it.
🏦 Days 8–14 — Banking, SIM & Daily Life Setup
🏦 Open a Japanese bank account
You need a registered address first (done in Days 2–7). Best options for new arrivals: Japan Post Bank (easiest, no residency minimum) or SBI Shinsei Bank (full English app). Both accept most visa types.
While you wait for your account: Use Wise to receive salary and make transfers. Open Wise free →
Read our full bank account guide →
While you wait for your account: Use Wise to receive salary and make transfers. Open Wise free →
📱 Get a long-term Japanese SIM
If you got a temporary SIM at the airport, switch to a monthly plan. Most popular for foreigners: IIJmio (affordable, English support) and Rakuten Mobile (unlimited data option). You'll need your Residence Card and Japanese bank account.
Monthly plans start from ¥550/month for basic data.
IIJmio — foreigner-friendly SIM →
Monthly plans start from ¥550/month for basic data.
🚃 Set up your IC card (Suica / PASMO)
Your IC card is used for trains, buses, and convenience store payments everywhere in Japan. Get it at any train station ticket machine, or add it to your iPhone/Android wallet app. Load ¥3,000–5,000 initially.
💳 Set up payment apps
PayPay is the dominant QR code payment app in Japan — accepted at 90%+ of shops, restaurants, and vending machines. You can link your Japanese bank account or top up with cash at convenience stores. Download and set up as soon as you have a Japanese phone number.
💸 Day 1 essential
Receive salary and make transfers while waiting for your bank account
Wise gives you local bank details in Japan immediately — no waiting. Use it as a bridge until your Japanese bank account is ready.
🏠 Days 15–30 — Settle In
🏡 Housing setup
☐Set up electricity, gas, water (done online or at convenience store with your account info)
☐Set up internet (NTT, SoftBank, au — typically takes 1–2 weeks for installation)
☐Register for NHK (if you have a TV — technically required by law)
☐Learn garbage sorting rules — varies by municipality, often complex
💼 Work setup
☐Give your bank account details to HR for salary payment
☐Confirm your visa category matches your job role — especially if your job title or responsibilities changed
☐Check your job's language expectations and plan study if useful
☐Set a visa renewal reminder — critical so you don't miss the deadline → Set free reminder
🚗 Transport
☐If you plan to drive: your international license is valid for 12 months. Apply for a Japanese license before month 12
☐Set up commuter pass (定期券) at your nearest train station — saves money on regular routes
☐Download Google Maps and Yahoo! Transit for navigation
🏥 Health & Wellbeing
☐Find your nearest clinic and hospital that has English support
☐Carry your health insurance card (保険証) at all times
☐Register at a local pharmacy (薬局) — pharmacists are often helpful for minor health issues
💴 Budget Breakdown — First Month Costs
| Expense | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housing upfront (key money + deposit + agency fee) | ¥300,000–600,000 | 4–6 months rent. Key money (礼金) is non-refundable. |
| First month rent | ¥60,000–150,000 | Varies hugely by city and area |
| Furniture & appliances | ¥100,000–300,000 | IKEA, Nitori, or second-hand (ハードオフ) |
| SIM card setup | ¥3,000–5,000 | First month + setup fee |
| IC card | ¥500 | Deposit refunded when you return the card |
| Health insurance | ¥2,000–15,000/month | Depends on income and municipality |
| Living costs (food, transport, daily) | ¥100,000–150,000 | First month is typically higher |
| Total minimum budget | ¥600,000–1,200,000 | Have this ready before you arrive |
📱 Essential Apps for New Arrivals
🗺️ Navigation
Google Maps — walking and driving
Yahoo! Transit — train routes and fares
Navitime — detailed public transport
Yahoo! Transit — train routes and fares
Navitime — detailed public transport
💳 Payments
PayPay — QR payments everywhere
Suica/PASMO — trains and stores
LINE Pay — send money to friends
Suica/PASMO — trains and stores
LINE Pay — send money to friends
💬 Communication
LINE — messaging app used by almost everyone in Japan
Google Translate — offline Japanese
DeepL — better translations for formal text
Google Translate — offline Japanese
DeepL — better translations for formal text
🛒 Daily Life
Demae-can / Uber Eats — food delivery
Mercari — second-hand marketplace
Airbnb/Booking.com — while apartment hunting
Mercari — second-hand marketplace
Airbnb/Booking.com — while apartment hunting
📚 Japanese Study
Anki — vocabulary flashcards
JapanesePod101 — structured lessons
NHK Web Easy — reading practice
JapanesePod101 — structured lessons
NHK Web Easy — reading practice
💰 Money
Wise — international transfers
Revolut — multi-currency card
MoneyForward — household budget tracking
Revolut — multi-currency card
MoneyForward — household budget tracking