Living in Japan

A comprehensive breakdown of living costs in Japan for expats in 2026 — housing, food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and more. With real numbers from Tokyo, Osaka, and beyond.

A comprehensive comparison of Japan's work-related residence statuses for expats, including the Gijinkoku visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務), Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能), Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職), and intra-company transfer — with eligibility requirements, ideal candidates, application processes, and fees.

A complete beginner's guide to income tax in Japan for foreigners in 2026 — how to read your payslip, understand income tax and resident tax, file your return, avoid the resident tax trap, and save legally with Hometown Tax Donation (ふるさと納税), iDeCo, and NISA.

Can't decide between Tokyo and Osaka? This honest, practical comparison covers cost, job market, lifestyle, transport, food culture, and what expats actually say about each city.

The complete moving-to-Japan checklist for expats in 2026 — from applying for your visa and preparing finances months before departure, to your first week of admin tasks, and settling into life in Japan. Everything in one place.

Everything expats in Japan need to know about My Number and the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) in 2026 — how to get your number, apply for the card, use it as your health insurance card (マイナ保険証), troubleshoot delivery issues, and what to do when you leave Japan.