Moving checklist for your first 90 days in Japan

Within 14 days of moving in

• Moving-in notification (tennyū todoke) at your local city/ward office. Miss the 14-day window and you risk a fine up to ¥200,000 - and in serious cases this has reportedly affected visa status. Don't treat this as optional admin.
• National Health Insurance enrollment at the same office, same visit if possible - unless your employer is enrolling you in employer-provided insurance instead.
• National Pension enrollment - same logic: skip this if your employer handles kōsei nenkin for you.

Within the first few weeks

• My Number card application - after your address registration, you'll get a mailed application form with a QR code for online application. The physical card itself takes 1-2 months to arrive after you apply, so do this early rather than when you actually need the card.
• Bank account - open this once you have your residence card and registered address; most banks won't open an account without both.
• Phone contract - similarly usually needs your residence card and sometimes a bank account or credit card already in place.

Within the first month or two

• Set up rent/utility payments - direct debit from your new bank account is usually simplest once it exists.
• Register with your country's embassy or consulate in Japan if you want to be reachable in an emergency.
• If you have dependents, start international school applications now - application windows fill up fast and overlap across schools.

Quick-reference order of operations

1. Moving-in notification (within 14 days - this unlocks almost everything else)
2. NHI and pension enrollment (same visit, if self-enrolling)
3. My Number card application (mailed form, apply online early)
4. Bank account
5. Phone contract

Official reference: Japan's official My Number pamphlet for foreign residents.