Moving to Japan: The Complete Expat Checklist (2026)

Moving to Japan: The Big Picture

Moving to Japan is one of the most life-changing decisions you'll make — and it rewards those who prepare well. This guide breaks the entire process into four phases:

1. 3+ months before moving — visa applications, financial prep, research
2. 1 month before moving — practical logistics, packing, saying goodbye
3. Your first week in Japan — the critical admin sprint
4. Your first month — settling in and building your life

Each phase has a dedicated checklist below. Bookmark this page and work through it in order.

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Phase 1: 3+ Months Before Moving

🛂 Visa

• Determine which visa type fits your situation — Japan Visa Types Guide
• If applying for a Working Holiday Visa: Check eligibility (age 18–30, some countries allow up to 35) and apply at your country's Japanese embassy or consulate — Working Holiday Visa Application Guide
• For work visas: Confirm your employer in Japan has filed your Certificate of Eligibility (COE / 在留資格認定証明書) application with the Immigration Bureau
• For spouse visas: Begin gathering required documents — Spouse Visa Guide
• Passport validity: ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival; allow 2–6 weeks for renewal if needed

💴 Finances

• Notify your home country bank: Let them know you're moving abroad to prevent card blocks; ask about international ATM fees
• Set up a Wise account (or equivalent multi-currency wallet): Essential for receiving money from home and sending money back
• Research: How much money do you need to move to Japan? (Upfront rental costs alone can be ¥300,000–¥500,000)
• Set a monthly budget: rent + utilities (¥70,000–¥120,000), food (¥30,000–¥50,000), transport (~¥10,000–¥20,000), miscellaneous
• If employed: confirm when your first Japanese salary arrives — there is often a 1–2 month delay. Plan cash reserves accordingly

🏠 Housing Research

• Decide: Tokyo? Osaka? Other cities? — Tokyo vs. Osaka comparison
• If arriving without pre-arranged housing: Book a short-term share house or serviced apartment for the first 2–4 weeks while you search for a long-term place — don't arrive without accommodation
• Research: Apartment vs. Share House in Japan
• Read: How to Find an Apartment in Japan as a Foreigner

🏥 Health & Insurance

• Check your home country's health insurance situation — do you need to suspend, cancel, or continue it? — Home Country Health Insurance Guide
• Purchase travel insurance for the first 1–3 months in Japan (before your Japanese health insurance card arrives) — Travel Insurance for Working Holiday in Japan
• If you take prescription medication: bring a 3–6 month supply and a doctor's letter; some medications available abroad are restricted or unavailable in Japan
• Get a general health check-up before leaving — treat any pending dental or medical issues while in your home country's system

📋 Documents to Prepare

• Passport (valid 6+ months)
• Visa documents (Certificate of Eligibility or visa sticker)
• 5–10 passport-sized photos (needed for various applications in Japan)
• Academic certificates / employment records (may be required for visa renewals or job applications)
• International driving permit (if you plan to drive in Japan)
• Birth certificate / marriage certificate (if relevant)
• Store digital copies of all documents in cloud storage

🌏 Learning and Research

• Start learning basic Japanese — even hiragana/katakana recognition makes daily life much easier
• Join expat communities: Reddit r/japanlife, GaijinPot forums, Facebook expat groups for your city
• Research your target neighborhood in depth — what's the nearest ward office, supermarket, hospital?

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Phase 2: 1 Month Before Moving

Logistics

• Book your flights: Leave enough buffer time at the airport — allow 3 hours for international departures
• Shipping belongings: Sea freight takes 4–8 weeks (¥50,000–¥150,000 for a small shipment); air freight is faster but expensive; Japan's baggage rules for excess luggage are strict
• If shipping by sea: pack and send now so it arrives near your arrival date
• If using a Japan moving service (引越し): get quotes from Yamato Transport (ヤマトホームコンビニエンス), Nippon Express, or ART moving services

Notify and Close Out

• Notify your current landlord (check your notice period — usually 1–2 months)
• Cancel or redirect subscriptions, memberships, and bills
• Notify government agencies (tax office, pension, etc.) of your move
• Sort out your home country tax situation — do you need to file a departure return?

What to Bring

Bring:

• Enough cash in JPY for the first 2 weeks (¥150,000–¥200,000 minimum)
• All original identification documents
• 1–2 universal power adapters (Japan uses US-style plugs / 100V — most modern devices work fine)
• Any prescription medication (3–6 month supply)
• Comfortable clothes for all seasons (Japan has distinct summers and winters)
• Small daily items that are cheaper at home (shoes in large sizes are limited in Japan)

Don't overpack:

• Clothing, books, furniture — Japan has excellent second-hand stores (2nd Street, BOOKOFF)
• Japan's convenience stores and 100-yen shops cover most household basics cheaply on arrival

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Phase 3: Your First Week in Japan (Core Admin Sprint)

Overview: Your First Week Timeline

The first week after arriving in Japan is both the busiest and the most important. Getting all your administrative tasks done in the right order sets the foundation for a smooth life in Japan. Here's the recommended timeline:

Day	Task	Time Required
Day 1	Collect Residence Card, settle into accommodation	—
Days 1–2	Ward office: resident registration + National Health Insurance	1–2 hours
Days 2–3	Get a SIM card or mobile plan	30 min–1 hour
Days 3–4	Open a bank account	1–2 hours
Days 4–5	Set up IC transit card, get familiar with your commute	30 minutes
Days 5–7	Check My Number notification status, buy daily essentials	As needed

💡 This is the ideal flow — in practice, things may shift depending on your location and ward office hours. The key priority is completing your resident registration within 14 days of arrival.

Day 1: Arrival Procedures

Collecting Your Residence Card at the Airport

After flying in, your Residence Card (在留カード) is issued on the spot when you pass through immigration. The officer stamps your passport and hands you your card at the following major airports:

• Narita International Airport
• Haneda International Airport
• Chubu Centrair International Airport
• Kansai International Airport
• New Chitose Airport
• Hiroshima Airport
• Fukuoka Airport

Check your Residence Card immediately:

• ✅ Name spelled correctly
• ✅ Correct status of residence (e.g., "Specified Activity (Working Holiday) — 特定活動（ワーキングホリデー）")
• ✅ Correct period of stay
• ✅ Correct date of birth

⚠️ At this point, the address field on the back of your card is blank — it will only be filled in after you complete your resident registration at the ward office.

Customs Declaration

If you are carrying more than ¥1,000,000 in cash or equivalent foreign currency, you'll need to complete a customs declaration form. Most travelers can proceed through the green channel.

Getting from the Airport to Your Accommodation

Main options:

• Narita → Tokyo: N'EX (Narita Express, ¥3,000), Keisei Skyliner (¥2,520), Limousine Bus
• Haneda → Tokyo: Keikyu Line (~¥300–¥500), Tokyo Monorail
• Kansai Airport → Osaka: Nankai Electric Railway (~¥930), JR Haruka Airport Express

Days 1–2: Resident Registration (転入届)

What Is Resident Registration?

Resident registration (転入届) is how you officially register your address with the local government — it's the foundation for every other task. Once completed:

• Your address is printed on the back of your Residence Card
• You officially become a resident of that ward
• You can proceed with all other tasks (bank, health insurance, phone, etc.)

Where to Go

Head to the ward office (区役所) or city hall (市役所) for the area where you live.

What to Bring

1. Residence Card
2. Passport
3. If family members are moving in with you, bring their Residence Cards and passports too

Process

1. Go to the Residents' Affairs (住民課 / 住民登録窓口) counter
2. Fill in the registration form (one A4 sheet — name, address, nationality, etc.)
3. Submit your Residence Card
4. Staff will print your address on the back of your card
5. Total waiting time: approx. 30 minutes–1 hour

💡 While at the ward office, staff will often ask at the same time if you'd like to enroll in National Health Insurance and the National Pension — take care of both while you're there.

While You're There: National Health Insurance

Right after registration, head to the National Health Insurance counter in the same building to enroll. First-year premiums are typically low since you had no Japanese income the prior year. For full details, see Do I Need National Health Insurance in Japan?.

While You're There: National Pension

If you're not covered by employee social insurance through a company, you'll also need to enroll in the National Pension (国民年金). The monthly premium is approximately ¥16,980 (2026 rate). Working holiday participants are required to enroll but can apply for an exemption or deferral.

💡 Japan has social security agreements with a number of countries — check whether your home country has such an agreement in place. If no agreement exists, when you leave Japan you may be eligible to apply for the lump-sum withdrawal payment (脱退一時金) to recover a portion of the pension premiums you paid. See the Japan Pension Service website for the list of agreement countries.

Getting a Phone / SIM Card

Why You Need This Early

A Japanese phone number is required for many services:

• Opening a bank account
• Verifying online shopping accounts
• Work communication
• App registrations

SIM Card Options

Type	Monthly Cost	Pros	Cons
Budget SIM (MVNO)	¥1,000–¥3,000	Affordable, no lock-in	Requires a credit card or bank account to apply
Major carrier (docomo/au/SoftBank)	¥3,000–¥8,000	Strong coverage, many stores	More expensive, often requires a contract
Prepaid SIM	¥3,000–¥5,000/month	No credit card needed, works immediately	Limited features

Recommended Budget SIM Options

• LINEMO: SoftBank subsidiary, from ¥990/month, LINE calls don't count toward your data
• povo: au subsidiary, ¥0 base fee, add data as needed
• Nippon Communications SIM (日本通信 SIM): From ¥290/month, great value
• Rakuten Mobile: Unlimited data plan ~¥3,278/month

💡 Pro tip: If you don't have a bank account or credit card yet, start with a prepaid SIM (available at convenience stores and electronics stores), then switch to a monthly plan once you're set up.

Opening a Bank Account

Once your Residence Card has your address on the back and you have a phone number, you're ready to open a bank account.

Best First Choice: Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行)

For expats new to Japan, Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) is the easiest bank to open an account with. Just bring your Residence Card and passport to the nearest post office (郵便局).

For a full walkthrough → How to Open a Bank Account in Japan as an Expat

Required Documents

• Residence Card (with address on the back)
• Passport
• Personal seal (hanko) or signature
• Japanese phone number

Applying for My Number (個人番号)

What Is My Number?

My Number (マイナンバー) is a 12-digit personal identification number assigned by the Japanese government to every resident — similar to a national ID number in many countries. It's used for:

• Tax filing (year-end tax adjustment (年末調整) and final tax return (確定申告))
• Social insurance procedures
• Bank account registration (some banks require it)
• Government administrative procedures

How You Get It

After completing your resident registration, the ward office registers you in the My Number system. Roughly 2–3 weeks later, you'll receive a notification letter (マイナンバー通知書) by mail at your registered address.

My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)

The number in the notification letter is already valid to use, but we strongly recommend applying for the physical My Number Card:

• Can be used as photo ID
• Functions as your health insurance card (from 2026)
• Enables e-Tax online filing
• Makes government procedures significantly easier

How to apply:

1. Scan the QR code on the notification letter to apply online (easiest)
2. Apply in person at the ward office
3. Apply by mail

After applying, allow about 1–2 months before receiving a pickup notice — then collect your card in person at the ward office.

Setting Up Your Transit Card (SUICA / PASMO)

IC Transit Cards

Japan's urban public transport mainly uses IC cards (electronic transit passes) — similar in concept to transit cards used in cities worldwide (Oyster in London, Octopus in Hong Kong, etc.):

• SUICA: Issued by JR East, penguin logo
• PASMO: Issued jointly by private railways and buses in the Kanto area
• ICOCA: Issued by JR West (Kansai region)

All three work interchangeably at major transit networks nationwide and can also be used at convenience stores, vending machines, and more.

How to Get One

Mobile version (recommended):

• iPhone users can add SUICA or PASMO directly to Apple Wallet
• Android users can use Google Pay or the card's dedicated app
• No deposit required, no queues, top up online anytime

Physical card:

• Physical SUICA and PASMO are currently in limited supply due to a chip shortage — you may not be able to buy one at a station
• Ask at the JR Midori no Madoguchi (みどりの窓口) desk to check availability
• Alternative: just use the mobile version

💡 We recommend using mobile SUICA — no deposit required, and you can top it up anytime with a credit card or Apple Pay.

Commuter Pass

If you have a fixed workplace, you can get a commuter pass (定期券) for unlimited rides on a specific route. Commute costs are typically covered by your employer as a commuter allowance (通勤手当).

• 1-month pass: roughly 20–30% off vs individual fares
• 3-month pass: another ~5% savings vs 1-month
• 6-month pass: best value at about 5.5x the 1-month price

Complete First-Week Checklist

✅ Arrival Day

• Pass through immigration, collect your Residence Card
• Check all information on your Residence Card
• Travel from the airport to your accommodation
• Check in, receive your keys

✅ Days 1–2 (Ward Office)

• Complete resident registration (転入届) at the ward office
• Confirm your address is printed on the back of your Residence Card
• Enroll in National Health Insurance
• Confirm National Pension enrollment
• Request a copy of your resident certificate (住民票) for future use

✅ Days 2–3 (Communications)

• Purchase a SIM card or set up a mobile plan
• Confirm you can make and receive calls and texts
• Download essential apps (Google Maps, Norikae Annai, PayPay)

✅ Days 3–4 (Banking)

• Open a Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) account at a post office
• Note your account number to give to your employer for salary transfers
• Set up online banking (if applicable)

✅ Days 4–5 (Transit)

• Set up mobile SUICA or PASMO
• Top up your IC transit card
• Do a test run of your commute and confirm transfers
• Note your last train times

✅ Days 5–7 (Settling In)

• Check the status of your My Number notification letter
• Set up utilities — electricity, gas, water (if not in a share house)
• Set up home internet (if needed)
• Shop for daily essentials (100-yen stores, drugstores)
• Locate your nearest supermarket, convenience store, and clinic
• Find your nearest police box (交番)

✅ Follow-Up

• Once My Number letter arrives, apply for your My Number Card
• Test ATM withdrawal once you receive your bank card
• Confirm any additional documents your employer needs
• Read up on Japan Tax Basics

Recommended Apps

Download these in your first week — they'll make daily life in Japan much easier:

App	Purpose	Note
Google Maps	Navigation, transit routes	Very accurate in Japan
Transit Lookup / Yahoo! Transit (乗換案内 / Yahoo!乗換案内)	Train transfer lookup	More precise than Google Maps for trains
PayPay	Mobile payment	Japan's most widely used mobile payment app
LINE	Messaging	The dominant messaging app in Japan
SUICA App	IC transit card	Mobile SUICA
Google Translate	Translation	Camera mode is incredibly useful
Japan Post Bank passbook app (ゆうちょ通帳アプリ)	Banking	Check your Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) account balance
tenki.jp	Weather forecast	Japan's most accurate weather app

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Phase 4: Your First Month

Once the first-week admin is done, use your first month to build the infrastructure of your daily life.

✅ First Month Checklist

Home Setup

• Set up home internet (fiber optic (光回線) typically takes 2–4 weeks to install; in the meantime, a mobile Wi-Fi router is useful)
• Set up utilities if not in a share house: electricity (電力会社), gas (ガス会社), water (水道)
• Visit the nearest 100-yen store (Daiso, Seria, Can★Do) for household basics
• Organize your home: Japan's compact living rewards smart storage — visit IKEA or Nitori (Japan's IKEA equivalent)

Tax & Employment

• Give your My Number to your employer (required by law)
• Set up your Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) account for salary transfers and confirm account details with HR
• Understand your first payslip: Japan Income Tax for Foreigners Guide
• Start noting your commuter route for the commuter pass (定期券)

Healthcare

• Receive your National Health Insurance card (保険証) by mail
• Apply for your My Number Card (if not done yet) — it becomes your health insurance card in 2026
• Locate the nearest clinic (クリニック) and pharmacy (薬局)
• Find an English-friendly doctor if needed: apps like Medicall and services like AMDA provide English medical support

Community & Life

• Register at your ward office as a National Pension (国民年金) enrollee and check if a deferral/exemption applies
• Find your nearest post office — you'll use it for Amazon packages, tax documents, bank cards
• Download and explore Japanese apps: Mercari (second-hand marketplace), Rakuten Ichiba, Amazon Japan
• Try your local public bath (銭湯) or hot spring / onsen (温泉) — a great way to meet neighbors
• Explore your neighborhood on foot — Japan rewards people who wander

Admin Follow-Ups

• Wait for your My Number notification letter (arrives ~2–3 weeks after registration)
• Wait for your National Health Insurance card (arrives ~1–2 weeks after ward office enrollment)
• Receive your bank card from Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) (usually arrives within 1–2 weeks)

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Quick Reference: Key Ward Office Documents to Request

Document	Japanese	When You Need It
Resident certificate	住民票	Bank account, apartment application, many official uses
Seal registration certificate	印鑑登録証明書	If you register a personal seal (hanko)
Residence Card copy	在留カード写し	Some official applications
Tax payment certificate	納税証明書	Visa renewals, apartment applications

💡 Request 3–5 copies of your resident certificate (住民票) upfront — you'll need multiple copies for various applications and it saves repeated trips.

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Essential Japan Life Links

Topic	Guide
Finding housing	How to Find an Apartment in Japan as a Foreigner
Health insurance	Japan Health Insurance for Foreigners
My Number Card	Getting Your My Number Card in Japan
Banking	Opening a Bank Account in Japan
Tax basics	Japan Income Tax for Foreigners
Working holiday visa	Working Holiday Visa Application Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I register my address if I'm in a share house or staying with a friend?

Yes. As long as you have an actual address you're residing at, you can complete your resident registration. Share houses usually provide proof of address. If you're staying with a friend, you'll need their consent or have them accompany you to explain the situation.

Q: How long after registration will I receive My Number?

Typically within 2–3 weeks you'll receive the notification letter. If it hasn't arrived after a month, contact your ward office.

Q: Can I skip some of these steps?

Not recommended. Each step depends on the previous one: registration → address on Residence Card → bank account → salary. Do them in order.

Q: Are ward offices open on weekends?

Most ward offices are not open on weekends, though some larger ones offer Saturday morning or extended hours. Check the ward office website. If taking a weekday off is difficult, look for a local branch office (出張所) with extended hours.