For Foreign Residents
Built by residents, for residents
Real, practical answers for foreign residents navigating life in Japan — from ward office visits to building a home. In plain English, from someone who's been doing it for nine years.
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Guides
8 yrs
On the ground
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Essential reading
From collecting your residence card at the airport to opening a bank account — everything a new foreign resident needs to take care of in Japan, in priority order.
Recently updated
From June 14, 2026, Japan is rolling out the Specified Residence Card — a single IC chip card that combines your residence card and My Number card. Here's what changes and what you need to know.
Registering your address at the ward office is the first thing you need to do after arriving in Japan, and almost everything else depends on it. Here is exactly how it works, what to bring, and what you get when you leave.
Japan assigns every registered resident a 12-digit My Number. The physical card that carries it — the My Number card — is now essential for hospital visits, online government services, and banking. Here is how to apply, what to expect, and what to bring when you collect it.
Our story →“I built Japan Simplified because I spent years searching for answers that should have been easy to find. Nine years later, I'm still learning — and sharing everything along the way.”
Destiny, founder & long-term Japan resident
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Japan Simplified
Real answers for foreign residents living in Japan. Built from years of experience as a long-term resident and parent.
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