Daily Life
Bureaucracy and practical day-to-day living.
Large expat community platform with regular social events, activity groups, and networking for foreigners living in Tokyo.
July 8, 2025 - For a more detailed understanding, ... as a foreigner is neither fantasy nor folly—it is a conscious shift into a culture that balances old-world discipline with futuristic dreams....
Getting accustomed to new systems and ways of doing things can be a trying and ongoing process for many foreign residents in Japan. It is especially true for families or couples planning to have child… ... This guide to living in Tokyo for expats.
Jul 19, 2026 · Practical guides for living in Japan — visa, housing, healthcare, and more.
Aug 20, 2025 · This guide covers the realities of visas, housing, living costs, and culture to help you make your move. at around 918,000.
How Japan's strict garbage sorting rules work: the four main categories, local schedule variations, oversized disposal (sodai gomi), and the clear-bag requirement.
Japan Dev's curated list of 20 essential apps for foreign residents: transport (Yahoo!乗換), maps, translation, payments, healthcare, and delivery.
Step-by-step guide to buying a teikiken (commuter pass): at the ticket machine, via IC card apps, available durations, and how to maximise savings.
Practical guide to Japan Post for residents: sending letters and parcels, using convenience-store drop-offs, redelivery, and handling mail while away.
Driving in Japan
(jp.usembassy.gov)
U.S. Embassy guidance distinguishing International Driving Permits (short-term visitors only) from converting to a Japanese license (required for residents), plus a warning about IDP scam websites.
Driver's License Centers in Tokyo
(keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
Tokyo Metropolitan Police's official list of the three driving license centers (Fuchu, Samezu, Koto) that handle gaimen kirikae appointments, with access directions and the English phone/fax line.
Applying for a Japanese Translation of Your Foreign License
(english.jaf.or.jp)
JAF issues the official Japanese translation of a foreign license needed for gaimen kirikae - where to apply and what JAF branches require.
Switching a Foreign Driver's License to a Japanese One
(english.jaf.or.jp)
JAF's official walkthrough of the gaimen kirikae process - required documents (residence certificate, passport entry/exit stamps proving 3+ months driving abroad), and which countries skip the written/practical tests entirely.
Getting Your Japanese Residence Card
(blog.gaijinpot.com)
What to expect when receiving and registering your residence card (zairyu card) as a new arrival.
First Things to Do After Arriving in Japan - International Student Center Guidebook
(yamaguchi-u.ac.jp)
A university international-student-center guidebook covering the first practical steps after arrival: residence registration, banking, and phone contracts.
How To Get Your “My Number” Card In Japan: A Foreigner's Guide
(japan-dev.com)
Walks through the actual application steps and timeline (1-2 months for the physical card) after you've registered your address.
For all Foreign Residents in Japan - About the My Number System
(kojinbango-card.go.jp)
The government's own explainer on what My Number is and why you need it - worth reading once instead of piecing it together from blog posts.
Understanding National Health Insurance and National Pension
(ritsumei.ac.jp)
Plain walkthrough of NHI and national pension enrollment from a university international office - the same basic process applies to non-students.