New to Japan:
Your Survival Guide

These must be done within 14 days of arrival. Do them in this order: 1. **Register at your Ward Office (市区町村役所)** — Bring your passport and residence card. You'll get your My Number card application started here. This unlocks everything else. 2. **Get National Health Insurance (国民健康保険)** — Also at the ward office. Costs roughly ¥2,000–15,000/month depending on income. Covers 70% of medical costs immediately. 3. **Open a bank account** — Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) is the easiest for new arrivals with no job yet. Bring residence card + passport. 4. **Get a SIM card** — IIJmio, Mineo, or Rakuten Mobile are popular. Bring residence card + credit card. Data-only plans from ¥880/month.

Japan's rental system is famously difficult for foreigners. Here's what you're actually dealing with: **The problems:** Key money (礼金, non-refundable gift to landlord), guarantor requirements, and agents who won't rent to foreigners without a Japanese co-signer. **The workarounds:** - **Share houses** (Tokyo Sharehouse, Sakura House, Oak House) — no key money, no guarantor, move in fast. From ¥40,000/month all-in. - **Foreigner-friendly agencies** — Able, Minimini, and Real Estate Japan have English support and know which landlords accept foreigners. - **UR Housing** — Government housing, no key money, no guarantor. Slightly suburban but legitimate. Budget for initial move-in: 4–6x monthly rent (deposit + key money + agent fee + first month).

Japan is still largely a cash society. This surprises most new arrivals. **ATMs:** 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards 24/7. Japan Post and Lawson ATMs also work. Convenience store ATMs charge ¥110–220 per withdrawal. **Sending money home:** Wise (formerly TransferWise) has the best rates. Register with your residence card. For amounts under ¥100,000, it's fast and cheap. **Getting paid:** You'll need a Japanese bank account for salary. Once you have a job offer, banks become easier — some employers provide introduction letters. **Credit cards:** Not universally accepted. Always carry cash. Markets, small restaurants, and shrines are cash-only. Budget ¥30,000–50,000 cash as your emergency fund.

Japan's public transit is world-class — and complicated. The learning curve is steep for the first month, then becomes second nature. **IC Cards:** Get a Suica or Pasmo card immediately. Load it at any station. Works on almost all trains, buses, and convenience store payments nationwide. **Navigation:** Google Maps works perfectly for transit in Japan. Set language to English. Yahoo! Japan Transit is also excellent. **Bicycle:** In most Japanese cities outside Tokyo center, a bicycle is life-changing. Used bikes from ¥3,000–10,000 at local shops or Mercari. **Driving:** International driving permits are valid for 1 year from your home country license. Japan drives on the left. Parking is paid and scarce in cities — driving is for suburbs and rural areas.

National Health Insurance covers you from the moment you register — use it. **Finding English-speaking doctors:** AMDA International Medical Information Center (0120-56-2009) has multilingual support. Japan Healthcare Info maintains an English clinic database. **Prescription medicine:** Some common Western medications are not available in Japan or require different brand names. Bring a 3-month supply of any critical medication and the generic name (not brand name) to find Japanese equivalents. **Mental health:** Access to English-speaking therapists has improved significantly. TELL Lifeline (03-5774-0992) provides English counseling. Tokyo English Lifeline also offers crisis support. **Dental:** Covered by national health insurance. Routine checkups and cleaning are affordable (¥1,500–3,000 per visit).

Making friends in Japan as a foreigner is genuinely hard. Here's what actually works: **What doesn't work:** Hoping it happens naturally. Waiting for Japanese colleagues to invite you. Assuming your coworkers will become close friends. **What works:** - **Language exchange** — Find a Japanese person who wants to learn your language. You meet regularly, you both benefit, friendships form naturally. - **Hobby groups** — Sports teams, hiking clubs, cooking classes. Shared activity removes the awkwardness of "we're just meeting because we're both foreigners." - **Expat communities** — Other foreigners understand what you're going through. Build this network first, then expand. - **nowmate** — Match with people at the same arrival stage as you, or find locals who specifically want to meet foreigners. Plan to invest 3–6 months before you feel like you have a real social circle. That's normal.