Moving to Japan is more achievable than most people assume — and more complicated than a single blog post can fully cover. What it requires is a realistic visa path, a timeline, and willingness to navigate bureaucracy that’s occasionally in Japanese only. Here’s the complete guide to how it actually works.
Step 1: Find Your Visa Path
This is the non-negotiable first step. You cannot simply move to Japan — you need a visa that allows long-term residence. Japan doesn’t have a general “skilled worker” or “lifestyle” visa the way some countries do. Your visa must correspond to your specific situation.
Main Visa Categories for Moving to Japan
- Work visa: The most common route. Requires a job offer from a Japan-based employer who will sponsor your visa. Common categories: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (most white-collar roles), Skilled Labor, Intracompany Transfer. Full details in the Japan work visa guide.
- Spouse/family visa: If married to a Japanese national or long-term Japan resident, you can apply for a spouse visa. Gives broad work rights.
- Student visa: Full-time enrollment at a Japanese institution (university, language school) qualifies you for a student visa with permission to work part-time (28 hours/week during term, full-time during long breaks).
- Startup visa: Selected municipalities offer business manager visas for entrepreneurs who can demonstrate a viable business plan with initial investment.
- Highly Skilled Professional visa: Points-based system for high-earning, high-skilled foreign nationals. Benefits include faster path to permanent residency.
- Digital nomad visa (2024+): For remote workers earning ¥10 million+/year from overseas employers. 6-month stay with potential extension.
- Working Holiday visa: Available to citizens of countries with Working Holiday agreements with Japan (Australia, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Korea, France, Germany, and others). Age limit typically 18–30. Allows one year to work and live in Japan.
Check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for the current list of visa categories and specific requirements for each.
Step 2: Secure Your Job or Enrollment (If Applicable)
For a work visa: you need a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) issued by Japanese Immigration, which requires your Japanese employer to apply on your behalf. You can’t generally get a work visa before having a job lined up. The job comes first, the visa follows.
Job hunting from overseas for Japan positions is possible but competitive. Useful platforms:
- GaijinPot Jobs
- Daijob.com
- LinkedIn Japan (companies hiring internationally)
- Glassdoor Japan
- Direct applications to Japanese companies with international hiring programs (large tech, finance, and manufacturing firms)
For language schools: applications can be made directly. Enrollment typically 3–6 months in advance of start date.
Step 3: Pre-Move Checklist (3–6 Months Before)
- ✅ Confirm visa type and begin application process
- ✅ Research target city — decide where you’re moving to based on job location / lifestyle preference
- ✅ Open a Japanese bank account (difficult without being in Japan — save for after arrival)
- ✅ Arrange housing: short-term (serviced apartment, guesthouse, monthly mansion) for first 1–3 months while finding permanent place
- ✅ Check international shipping options if bringing belongings
- ✅ Research health insurance continuation from home country during transition
- ✅ Learn basic Japanese — not required but dramatically improves the experience
- ✅ Get any vaccinations recommended for Japan (standard routine vaccines)
- ✅ Understand Japan’s rules on importing items: some medications are restricted
The Living-in-Japan Hub
Moving to Japan is a big topic. The living in Japan as a foreigner hub covers everything connected to the move — from understanding your Japan work visa options to finding the cheapest cities to live in Japan and understanding taxes in Japan for foreigners.
Step 4: Shipping Your Belongings
Japan’s living spaces are smaller than most Western equivalents. Shipping large furniture internationally usually isn’t worth the cost — Japan’s secondhand market (Mercari, Hardoff, local sayonara sales from departing expats) offers good furniture at reasonable prices after you arrive.
What’s worth shipping: personal items, clothing (Japanese sizes run smaller — if you’re tall or have large feet, bring extra), favourite kitchen items, electronics (check Japan’s voltage: 100V/50-60Hz — most modern devices are compatible, some older ones aren’t).
International shipping cost estimates to Japan:
- Small shipment (1–5 boxes): ¥30,000–80,000 by sea, ¥50,000–120,000 by air
- Large shipment / container: ¥150,000–400,000+ depending on origin and volume
Companies to research: Nippon Express international, Yamato International, Seven Seas Worldwide, and local removal companies with Japan experience.
Step 5: First 30 Days in Japan
The administrative requirements in Japan’s first month are real but manageable if you know what’s coming.
Register at City Hall (Within 14 Days)
All foreign residents in Japan must register at their local kuyakusho (ward/city office) within 14 days of arrival and establishment of address. Bring: passport, visa, and address details. This creates your entry in the Jūmin Kihon Daichō (Resident Basic Register) and is the basis for everything else.
Get Your My Number (個人番号)
My Number is Japan’s individual tax and social security identification number. After registering at city hall, you’ll receive a My Number notification card (and can apply for the My Number card separately). You need My Number for: tax returns, NHI enrollment, employer registration, and some banking. It arrives by post in 1–2 weeks.
Enroll in National Health Insurance
Unless your employer covers you with shakai hoken (social insurance), you’re required to enroll in the National Health Insurance system. Do this at city hall when you register. Insurance card arrives within a week. Critical: without this, any medical treatment costs you 100% out of pocket.
Open a Bank Account
Japanese bank accounts are frustratingly difficult to open without:
- Residence card (you get this at airport on arrival)
- Registered address in Japan
- At least one month of residency (some banks require 6 months)
- Japanese phone number (required for verification)
Most accessible banks for new arrivals: Japan Post Bank (Yucho) and Shin-Ginko Tokyo (online bank, English-friendly). SMBC and Mizuho require longer residency. Once you have an account, get a hanko (personal seal) — it’s not legally required everywhere anymore but still used for some rental and employment paperwork.
Get a SIM Card
You’ll need a local number immediately for bank registration, utility contracts, and daily life. Options:
- Airport SIM: Pick up a data-only SIM on arrival for immediate connectivity
- MVNO SIM with calls: IIJmio, Mineo, Rakuten Mobile — affordable plans from ¥1,500–3,000/month
- Major carriers (Docomo, SoftBank, au): More expensive (¥5,000–8,000/month) but simpler for new arrivals who want English support
Step 6: Finding Permanent Housing
Japan’s rental market has historically been challenging for foreigners — hoshōnin (guarantors) were required, and many landlords were hesitant to rent to non-Japanese residents. This has improved significantly. Corporate guarantor companies now exist specifically for this purpose.
How to find an apartment:
- SUUMO, Homes.co.jp, AtHome: Japan’s major real estate listing sites (mostly in Japanese — use browser translation)
- GaijinPot Apartments: English-language platform specifically for foreigners — guarantor-free options, English contracts
- Sakura House: Share houses across major cities — lower deposit requirements, flexible terms, popular with international residents
- Through your employer or school: Many companies and language schools assist with housing or have relationships with foreigner-friendly landlords
Initial costs (as covered in the cost of living guide): plan for 3–6 months’ rent upfront in deposits and fees. Budget carefully for this — it’s the biggest financial hurdle of moving to Japan.
Step 7: First 60–90 Days
- ✅ Establish your permanent address and update city hall registration
- ✅ Set up utility contracts (electricity, gas, water, internet)
- ✅ Buy a bicycle if needed — Japan’s cities are extremely cycle-friendly, and a secondhand bike (¥5,000–15,000 from recycle shops) transforms urban mobility
- ✅ Learn your local train and bus routes
- ✅ Find your local supermarket, 100-yen shop, pharmacy, and convenience stores
- ✅ Register your bicycle at the police station (mandatory in Japan)
- ✅ Obtain international driving permit or convert your licence (if planning to drive)
- ✅ File for resident tax exemption if applicable (first-year residents with no Japan income)
- ✅ Join local community groups — Meetup.com, Internations, Facebook expat groups for your city
Things Nobody Tells You
- Cash culture is real: Japan uses cash extensively. Many restaurants, temples, and smaller shops are cash-only. Set up a Japan Post Bank account (ATMs available everywhere, 24/7) as your daily cash source.
- Garbage rules are strict: Every municipality has specific garbage separation and collection days. Putting garbage out on the wrong day or in the wrong bag is genuinely frowned upon. Get the sorting guide from city hall on day one.
- Apartment walls are thin: Noise awareness is a cultural expectation. Washing machines run at night in some buildings, but vacuuming at 11pm is not appreciated.
- Hanko (seal) vs. signature: Some documents in Japan still require a hanko rather than a signature. A basic rubber hanko for your name costs ¥100–500 at most 100-yen shops or hanko shops.
- Health insurance starts immediately: Don’t delay enrollment. A single hospital visit without insurance can cost ¥20,000–50,000+ out of pocket.
- Annual resident tax surprise: Your second year in Japan, you’ll receive a resident tax bill (~10% of prior year income). Plan for it — quarterly payments can be significant.
Moving to Japan: Cost Estimate
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa application fees | ¥3,000–6,000 |
| Flights (one-way, from UK/US) | ¥60,000–150,000 |
| First accommodation (1–2 months short-term) | ¥60,000–150,000 |
| Apartment deposit + fees | ¥150,000–400,000 |
| Basic furniture and setup | ¥50,000–150,000 |
| SIM + first utilities | ¥10,000–30,000 |
| Emergency fund (recommended) | ¥200,000–500,000 |
| Total recommended minimum | ¥500,000–1,400,000+ |
The Bottom Line
Moving to Japan isn’t easy — the visa requirement means you need a concrete plan before arrival, not after. But the bureaucracy is navigable if you work through it systematically. The first 30 days are the most admin-intensive; after that, daily life in Japan is remarkably smooth, safe, and genuinely enjoyable. Most people who’ve done it say the same thing: it’s worth it.
Start with the visa. Everything else flows from there.
