Daily Life

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.

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.

A complete guide to Japan's Residence Card (在留カード) for foreign residents: how to get it for the first time, how to read the information on it, updating your address when you move, renewing before expiry, replacing a lost card, and how it differs from the My Number Card.

A complete 2026 guide for expats on getting a mobile SIM card in Japan: comparing major carriers vs. budget MVNOs, with detailed breakdowns of LINEMO, povo 2.0, IIJmio, Rakuten Mobile, and Nippon Communications SIM (日本通信 SIM) — plus required documents and eSIM options explained.