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Plain-English guides for every stage of life in Japan — from your first week to building a home. Written from experience, updated when things change.
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NewsStarting October 1, 2026, Japan will replace its flat ¥6,000 renewal fee with a tiered system. Permanent residency fees ma rise from ¥10,000 to ~¥200,000. Here is what to expect.
Your residence status comes with an expiry date, and renewing it before that date is not optional. This guide covers when to apply, what to…
From June 14, 2026, Japan is rolling out the Specified Residence Card — a single IC chip card that combines your residence card and My…
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…
Japan assigns every registered resident a 12-digit My Number. The physical card that carries it — the My Number card — is now essential for…
From collecting your residence card at the airport to opening a bank account — everything a new foreign resident needs to take care of in…
Everyone living in Japan is required to have health insurance. Which system covers you depends on how you work. This guide explains both options, how…
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