Live in Japan — The Foreigner’s Guide

Getting a phone plan in Japan as a foreigner used to be a pain. Now it’s pretty easy — as long as you know which SIM to actually go with and don’t accidentally end up paying ¥7,000 a month to one of the big carriers. Can Foreigners Get a SIM Card in Japan? Yes. You need: Residence card (在留カード) — proves you live in Japan Passport Bank account or credit card for payment If you’re a tourist, you can get data-only SIMs at airports. If you’re a resident, you can get a full plan with calls and data — and you should, because the budget options are genuinely good. ...

A Japanese bank account is essential — you need it to receive your salary, pay rent, and set up automatic bill payments. The sooner you get one, the smoother everything else goes. Here’s how. What You Need to Open a Bank Account Residence card (在留カード) Passport Japanese phone number (most banks require this) Registered address in Japan (your home address on your residence card) Some banks also ask for a My Number card or a hanko (personal seal) — but not all of them, so don’t stress if you don’t have those yet. ...

Renting in Japan as a foreigner is absolutely doable — but it takes more prep work than it would back home. Here’s what to expect and how to make it go smoothly. The Guarantor Problem (And How It’s Actually Been Solved) Traditionally, Japanese landlords required a Japanese guarantor (保証人) — a Japanese person who’d agree to cover your rent if you couldn’t pay. Most foreigners obviously don’t have someone like that lined up. ...

You’ve probably heard about the My Number card since arriving in Japan. Maybe someone at your ward office mentioned it. Maybe your employer asked about it. Here’s what it actually is and whether you really need one. What Is My Number? My Number (マイナンバー) is Japan’s national ID system. Every person living in Japan — including foreigners — gets a unique 12-digit number. You received your My Number in the mail shortly after registering your address in Japan. It came in a thin envelope, probably looked unimportant, and hopefully you didn’t throw it out. ...