Start Here: Moving to Japan Checklist
Japan Resident Guide's chronological route from pre-arrival planning through the first three months and ongoing changes.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceJAPAN SETUP MAPSee the whole journey
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JAPAN LINKS DIRECTORY
Find the right starting point.
Immigration, municipalities, education, employment, tax, housing, daily shopping, 100-yen shops, phone, health, disasters and driving—organized for people preparing to move to Japan and residents already here.
75 linksNationwide portals remain visible when you choose a region.
Foreign Resident Support Portal
Living, work, residence and multilingual support information from the Immigration Services Agency.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceGuidance for New Arrivals
Official starting point for foreign nationals entering Japan.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceLiving and Working Guidebook
Multilingual explanations of residence, work and everyday systems.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceFirst 14 Days Guide
Japan Resident Guide checklist for address registration, coverage and essential records.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceMoney and Banking in Japan
Japan Resident Guide checklist for accounts, payment methods, cards, hanko, international remittance and account safety.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceHow to Open a Bank Account and Send Money
Multilingual official guidance for foreign residents, including account documents, updates and overseas transfers.
Financial Services AgencyOpen resourceForeign Customer Banking Tools
Account-opening, remittance and communication leaflets plus prefecture bank search.
Japanese Bankers AssociationOpen resourceBank Search by Prefecture
Find Japanese Bankers Association member-bank information by prefecture.
Japanese Bankers AssociationOpen resourceLocal Government Map
Choose a prefecture and municipality to reach the relevant local-government website.
J-LISOpen resourceTokyo Municipal Offices
Addresses and contact details for Tokyo wards, cities, towns and villages.
Tokyo Multicultural PortalOpen resourceSearch Kindergartens and Childcare
Search nursery schools, certified childcare centers and kindergartens by area or station.
WAM NET / Children and Families AgencyOpen resourceGuide for Starting School
Multilingual guide to Japan's school system and enrollment for foreign children.
MEXTOpen resourcePublic Elementary and Junior High Schools
Plain explanation of enrollment and public-school life for foreign families in Tokyo.
Tokyo Multicultural PortalOpen resourceStudy in Japan School Search
Search universities, graduate schools and junior colleges accepting international students.
Study in Japan / JASSOOpen resourceDegree Programs in English
Official guidance for finding university and graduate programs taught in English.
Study in Japan / JASSOOpen resourceJapanese Language Institute Guide
Types of Japanese language institutions and checkpoints for selecting a school.
Study in Japan / JASSOOpen resourceRecognized Japanese Language Institutions
Immigration guidance and official lists relevant to student residence status.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceJapanese Language Course Availability
Current information on courses offered by Japanese-language education institutions.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceJCIS Member Schools
Member-school directory for international schools in regions across Japan.
Japan Council of International SchoolsOpen resourceTokyo International Schools Portal
Search international schools in Tokyo by age range, location and other criteria.
Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentOpen resourceHokkaido International School
International education in Sapporo, with day and boarding information.
JCIS listingOpen resourceTohoku International School
International school information for families relocating to Sendai and Tohoku.
JCIS listingOpen resourceTokyo International School Admissions
Official admissions inquiry and school-tour information.
Tokyo International SchoolOpen resourceInternational School Qualification Reference
MEXT reference information related to designated international-school qualifications.
MEXTOpen resourceMy Number Card
Application, receipt and use information for foreign residents.
My Number Card official siteOpen resourceMy Number Health Insurance Materials
Multilingual information on using My Number as health-insurance identification.
Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareOpen resourceMultilingual Disaster Apps and Websites
Government list of useful disaster-information services in multiple languages.
Cabinet OfficeOpen resourceHazard Map Portal
Check flood, landslide, tsunami and other location-based risks before choosing a home.
Geospatial Information Authority of JapanOpen resourceNational Police Traffic Guide
Official multilingual traffic rules, road signs, bicycles and driving-safety material.
National Police AgencyOpen resourceDriver's Licence Procedures
International permits, foreign licences and licence-center information for Tokyo.
Tokyo Metropolitan PoliceOpen resourceWorking in Japan Checklist
Japan Resident Guide steps for work permission, job search, contracts, insurance, tax and labour support.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceJobs and Career Hub
Choose a job-search route, verify recruitment information, prepare an application and reach official employment services.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceEmployment Policy for Foreign Workers
Government information for foreign job seekers, international students, employers and support organizations.
Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareOpen resourceHello Work Internet Service
Japan's public employment-service job search; local Hello Work offices also provide counseling and referrals.
Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareOpen resourceIndeed Japan
A general job-search site covering many industries, locations and employment types in Japan.
IndeedOpen resourceGaijinPot Jobs
English-language job listings aimed at foreign residents and people interested in working in Japan.
GaijinPotOpen resourceDaijob.com
Job listings for bilingual and multilingual professionals, including global-company roles.
Daijob.comOpen resourceCareerCross
Bilingual jobs, international-company roles and work using English or other languages in Japan.
CareerCrossOpen resourceEmployment Service Centers for Foreigners
Public job counseling, placement support and information about foreign-language assistance.
Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareOpen resourceWorking Conditions for Foreign Workers
Multilingual handbooks and consultation services covering wages, hours and other working conditions.
Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareOpen resourcePermission for Activities Outside Residence Status
Official procedure for paid activities outside the scope of a current status of residence.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceJapan Pension Service in English
Pension enrollment, employee coverage, international agreements and consultation information.
Japan Pension ServiceOpen resourceIndividual Income Tax
Current English-language guides and filing information for individual income tax in Japan.
National Tax AgencyOpen resourceRenting a Home in Japan
Japan Resident Guide checklist for location, costs, viewing, screening, lease terms and moving out.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceChoosing and Verifying a Real Estate Agent
Japan Resident Guide checklist for licence, language support, fees, responsibilities, documents and payment safety.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceLicensed Real Estate Business Search
Official company-information search that includes licensed real-estate businesses and their registered details.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismOpen resourceMultilingual Apartment Search Guidebook
Official guides in 14 languages covering rental search, contracts, living rules and moving out.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismOpen resourceMoving in Japan: Companies, Volume and Costs
Compare household load examples, normal and busy-season price benchmarks, domestic and international movers, and written quotes.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceArt Moving Center
Official service and quotation starting point for single and family moves.
Art Moving CenterOpen resourceSakai Moving Service
Official plans, service-area search and quotation starting point for domestic moves.
Sakai Moving ServiceOpen resourceHeart Moving Center
Official domestic moving-service and quotation starting point.
Heart Moving CenterOpen resourceApple Moving Center
Official service information and online-first quote or reservation options for eligible areas.
Apple Moving CenterOpen resourceWatashi no Hikkoshi
Dedicated-box service for smaller single-person loads, with up to two boxes.
Art Setting DeliveryOpen resourceAkabou
Regional member operators for light-truck, single-person and other moving needs.
AkabouOpen resourceNX International Moving
Official international relocation service for moves from Japan.
Nippon ExpressOpen resourceYamato International Moving
Official overseas moving plans from cartons to family-size moves.
Yamato TransportOpen resourceOnline Moving Procedures
Submit a moving-out notification and send a planned-visit notice through Myna Portal; the moving-in procedure still requires a municipal visit.
Digital AgencyOpen resourceChange of Residence for Mid-to-long-term Residents
Official procedure for reporting a new address within 14 days after moving.
Immigration Services AgencyOpen resourceJapan Post Mail Forwarding
Forward mail from the old address to the new address for one year after submitting a relocation notice.
Japan PostOpen resourcePhone and Internet in Japan
Choose between travel data, a Japanese voice SIM, pocket Wi-Fi, a home router and fibre by practical need and total contract cost.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceCreate a Google Account
Official steps for creating a personal Google Account and Gmail address when needed.
Google Account HelpOpen resourceGoogle Account Recovery Options
Add or update recovery information so you can regain access after losing a phone, password or sign-in method.
Google Account HelpOpen resourceCreate a LINE Account in Japan
Official phone-number verification requirements and signup steps for a new LINE account in Japan.
LINE Help CenterOpen resourceTransfer an Existing LINE Account
Official transfer routes for keeping an existing LINE account when changing phones or numbers.
LINE Help CenterOpen resourceMobile-phone Consumer Information
Official consumer information on mobile-phone prices, plan selection, device sales and consultation contacts.
Consumer Affairs AgencyOpen resourceMobile Number Portability Guide
Government guide to changing mobile companies while keeping an eligible phone number.
Government of JapanOpen resourceConsumer Hotline 188
Nationwide number that connects callers to an appropriate local consumer consultation office.
Consumer Affairs AgencyOpen resourceDaily Essentials and 100-Yen Shops
Japan Resident Guide checklist for bedding, furniture, appliances, kitchenware, food, laundry, cleaning and low-cost shopping.
Japan Resident GuideOpen resourceDAISO Store Finder
Search DAISO branches by location and check current hours, store size and services.
DAISOOpen resourceSeria Store Finder
Browse Seria branches by prefecture and open the current store details.
SeriaOpen resourceCan Do Store Finder
Search Can Do branches and check address, hours, access and store facilities.
Can DoOpen resourceWatts Group Store Finder
Search Watts, Meets, Silk, FLET’S and Hyakuen Ryohjikan shops through the group directory.
WattsOpen resourceLawson Store 100
Find the grocery-led 100-yen format in its current operating areas.
Lawson Store 100Open resource100-yen House Lemon Store Finder
Regional official directory covering stores in Kanto, Shizuoka and Aichi.
100-yen House LemonOpen resourceEDITORIAL POLICY
Useful links, clearly labeled.
Government and authority-operated resources are marked “Official.” School and association links are identified by source. Listings are starting points, not endorsements, and admission, eligibility, fees and availability must be confirmed directly.