Japan has long marketed itself with the promise of “Endless Discovery.” For visitors, that promise often feels true.
As a tourist, Japan is astonishingly smooth. Trains run on time, service is attentive, streets feel safe, and daily inconveniences are quietly absorbed by a system designed to welcome you.
But what happens when you’re no longer a tourist, but a resident?
From grizzled veterans who have been here since the Shōwa era to those who just got their first hanko, everyone can agree on one thing: living and traveling in Japan are two very different things. The tourist’s form of omotenashi is how neatly your gifts get wrapped. The resident has a train to catch before rush hour, and is thankful the clerk didn’t even both…
Japan has long marketed itself with the promise of “Endless Discovery.” For visitors, that promise often feels true.
As a tourist, Japan is astonishingly smooth. Trains run on time, service is attentive, streets feel safe, and daily inconveniences are quietly absorbed by a system designed to welcome you.
But what happens when you’re no longer a tourist, but a resident?
From grizzled veterans who have been here since the Shōwa era to those who just got their first hanko, everyone can agree on one thing: living and traveling in Japan are two very different things. The tourist’s form of omotenashi is how neatly your gifts get wrapped. The resident has a train to catch before rush hour, and is thankful the clerk didn’t even bother.
So you’ve decided to take the plunge. Enough of the carefully crafted hospitality; you’re ready to make Japan your home, even for a little while. This guide exists for that exact moment—when curiosity turns into commitment.
What follows is not a dream-seller or a naysayer, but a clear-eyed map of what actually changes when Japan stops being a destination and starts being your everyday life.
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For more comprehensive living guides like this, check out JoynTokyo, a practical platform for foreigners living in or planning to move to Japan. You can also check out their Instagram, where they share short, practical tip reels.
Table of Contents
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The conditions of omotenashi: Being a tourist vs. being a resident
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Part I: Visas – a.k.a., “How can I get permission to live in Japan?”
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Driving in Japan: License transfer, testing, and the ETC trap
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Convenience Stores (combini): Everyday infrastructure, not just snacks
The conditions of omotenashi: Being a tourist vs. being a resident
Picture: takeuchi masato / PIXTA(ピクスタ)
As a tourist, you are cushioned by systems designed to remove friction: short-term SIMs, luggage forwarding, spotless hotels, staff whose job is to anticipate your needs without requiring anything in return. Even the inconveniences feel charming when they’re temporary.
Residential life is different.
Duty-free Japan is not resident Japan. Once you live here, the scaffolding comes down. You pay taxes like everyone else. You fill out an endless amount of forms. You wait. You learn which ward office counter handles which. You discover that “simple” tasks can take half a day, or even longer, if your Japanese isn’t strong yet.
Short trips also hide pressures that only appear over time:
- Bureaucracy, where precision matters more than intent;
- Financial stress, especially on entry-level salaries paid in yen;
- And isolation, which often sets in months after the honeymoon phase ends.
None of this makes Japan bad. But it does make it real.
For many people, this transition also coincides with their first experience of long-term financial responsibility as an independent adult: paying rent, navigating taxes, managing debt, or discovering how narrow a budget can feel when unexpected costs arise. On its own, that stress is manageable. Paired with a new language barrier, culture shock, or delayed homesickness, it can quietly compound like a snowball rolling itself into an avalanche.
Therefore, this is a gentle but firm reminder: if you’ve only visited once, or only experienced Japan through vacations, pop culture, or even a university course, pause before moving. Living here is deeply rewarding for many people, but it asks for patience, adaptability, and a tolerance for ambiguity that tourism never requires.
Loving Japan is easy. Living in Japan is a relationship.
Part I: Visas – a.k.a., “How can I get permission to live in Japan?”
Picture: Yotsuba / PIXTA(ピクスタ)
Permission comes first.
If you want to live in Japan, everything starts with your status of residence, a.k.a. your visa. Japan does not issue visas based on interest, affection for the culture, or long-term intent alone. You must qualify for a specific category, and that category strictly defines what you are allowed to do.
There are roughly 30 visa types, each with its own authorized activities and requirements. You cannot legally do work that falls outside your visa category, even if an employer is willing to hire you. Wanting to live in Japan is not enough; your activities must match an existing legal framework.
In most cases, you also need a sponsor. This can be a school (student visa), an employer (work visa), or a family relationship (spouse, long-term resident, etc.). Even with a sponsor, you must still meet education, experience, or financial requirements. One person may only hold one visa status at a time, even if they technically qualify for more than one.
The three major visa categories
Working Visas (Skilled / Professional Work Only)
Japan’s working visas are designed for occupations that require recognized professional knowledge or specialized skills. As a result, most forms of manual or service labor are not eligible under standard work visa categories.
This means foreigners generally cannot obtain a work visa for roles such as restaurant staff, retail clerks, hairdressers, massage therapists, or construction workers. The primary exceptions are people who hold family-based residence statuses, such as spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents. They can typically work under any job category, but hours can be limited for dependent visas (not the same as spouse of a Japanese national). Those working limited hours under student or dependent visas, or participating in specific trainee or internship programs also need to be mindful of any restrictions.
Below is a list of all available work-related visa categories:
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services Intra-company Transferee Skilled Labor Business Manager Highly-Skilled Professional Professor Instructor (public schools only) Artist Religious Activities Journalist Legal / Accounting Services Medical Services Researcher Entertainer Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Non-Working Visas (Limited or No Work Allowed) (Some allow part-time work with permission from immigration.) Student Trainee Technical Intern Training Dependent Cultural Activities Temporary Visitor (tourist)
Family-Related & Status-Based Visas (Most Flexible) These allow work in almost any field. Spouse or Child of Japanese National Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident Long-Term Resident Permanent Resident
Special / Case-by-Case Status Designated Activities (includes Working Holiday, Digital Nomad, internships, caregiving cases, etc.) Diplomat Official
For those employed by private companies, however, entry into Japan typically happens through a small number of commonly used professional visa categories. Here are the ones you’ll encounter most often.
Permanent residency & citizenship: The goalposts are moving
For many people, the real question isn’t how to get to Japan—it’s how long they can realistically stay.
Permanent residency removes the need for visa renewals and job-based sponsorship, and allows far more freedom in work and life planning. Traditionally, it has been associated with around ten years of continuous residence plus good conduct, stable income, and a strong tax and social insurance record, with accelerated paths for spouses of Japanese nationals and Highly Skilled Professionals.
That said, the direction of policy is clear: scrutiny is tightening, not loosening. Tax compliance, pension payments, and employment gaps are being treated as more significant than in the past. Japan is also increasingly signaling that language ability and “integration” matter, even when they are not written as formal requirements.
It’s also worth stating plainly: Japan does not offer a retirement visa. There is no passive-income pathway for living out one’s later years here without work, family ties, or PR.
This is why long-term planning matters early. The visa you start with shapes what becomes possible later. Japan rewards consistency, contribution, and patience, but it expects you to think several steps ahead.
Teaching English: The “easiest in,” not the end goal
For better or worse, teaching English is still the most common entry point into Japan. It’s accessible, visa-sponsoring, and requires less upfront specialization than most other paths. But it’s important to understand what it is—and what it is not.
Money: The part everyone underestimates
Many people arrive in Japan assuming that a modest salary will “go further” because daily life feels affordable. This is only partially true.
As of 2025, entry-level salaries typically range from ¥180,000 to ¥230,000 ($1,150 to $1,470) per month, with better positions pushing closer to ¥250,000–¥300,000. On paper, this can cover rent, food, and transportation, especially outside central Tokyo. The problem isn’t survival. It’s flexibility.
The weak yen cuts both ways. Locally produced goods and services can feel reasonable, but anything tied to the global market hurts far more than newcomers expect. If you earn in yen but think in dollars, euros, or pounds, the psychological whiplash is real.
There’s also a widening gap between tourism inflation and resident wages. Prices rise in popular areas to accommodate visitors, but wages—especially in education and service sectors—haven’t kept pace. Tourists pay once. Residents pay every month.
Japan is livable on a modest income. It is not forgiving if you have debt abroad, depend on imported goods, or expect steady upward mobility without a long-term plan.
Housing: When the gatekeeping becomes a little too real
Finding a place to live can be one of the most emotionally draining parts of moving to Japan.
Part II: Settling into Japan
Picture: kash* / PIXTA(ピクスタ)
Most long-term residents enter Japan with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE is not your visa; it confirms that Immigration has approved your application for a specific status of residence. When you arrive, that approval becomes real: you’re issued a Residence Card (在留カード; zairyū kādo), which becomes your primary identification and the backbone of your legal reality.
Once you have your residence card, the bureaucratic clock starts ticking.
Within 14 days, you must register your address at your local ward or city office, enroll in National Health Insurance unless exempt, and register for the national pension system if applicable. Shortly after that, depending on your ward, a postcard will be mailed to your address so you can begin the process of receiving your My Number Card, which is increasingly linked to taxes, health insurance, employment, and other government services.
The first two weeks are a crash course in how Japan works on the bureaucratic level. Once you survive them, daily life gets easier, but only because you’ve learned the system, not because the system bends.
Once you get here, you have a TON of things to set up, including:
- Banking and phones
- Utilities
- Cashless payment setup
- Healthcare and pension
- Disaster preparedness
Let’s look at each one in turn.
Banking, phones, and daily infrastructure
Paying for things
As a tourist, your payment options are cash, credit card, and IC transportation cards. As a resident, however, you now have access to a wide range of cashless payment options available to people with a phone number and address in Japan.
We’ve covered cashless payments in detail in another article. The short answer: PayPay is accepted almost everywhere and is the most convenient method of cashless payment to have on hand. A JCB credit or debit card is also a great option, as JCB is accepted by practically every company in Japan.
Your foreign credit cards will likely work everywhere you want to pay for anything. However, some purchases – e.g., movies and other digital media purchased online – may require a local credit card. It wouldn’t hurt to ask your bank about getting a JCB credit or debit card for these situations.
Setting up utilities: electricity, gas, and water
Natural disasters & everyday preparedness
Living in Japan means coexisting with earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rain. Preparedness quickly becomes routine rather than frightening.
A few simple steps make a real difference. Install a disaster alert app like NERV, which provides real-time warnings and guidance (including English). Check your city’s hazard maps and note your nearest evacuation shelter and a backup option. That alone removes a lot of uncertainty.
When choosing housing, it’s also reasonable to pay attention to building age. Structures built after Japan’s 1981 seismic code revisions, and especially post-2000, are generally more earthquake-resistant. Older buildings aren’t automatically unsafe, but asking about quake standards is normal.
Preparedness in Japan isn’t about panic kits and constant vigilance. It’s about familiarity. Once you take basic steps, alerts become information, not anxiety—and that’s how most long-term residents experience them.
Healthcare in Japan: Efficient, but not always simple
Driving in Japan: License transfer, testing, and the ETC trap
If you plan to drive in Japan, whether that means weekend road trips, inaka life, or just not wanting to drag groceries home in the rain, your ability to do so comes down to two things: what kind of license you currently have, and what Japan recognizes from your country.
International driving permits aren’t a “Move to Japan” solution
Many people arrive thinking an International Driving Permit (IDP) will cover them long-term. In reality, an IDP is a temporary bridge, not a residency plan. Once you’re living in Japan, you should assume you’ll eventually need a Japanese license if you want to keep driving without anxiety. (Also, if you’re from a country that uses the Geneva Convention IDP system, make sure you’re using the correct format—Japan is picky about this, and “close enough” does not count.)
Converting your license vs. taking the test
Part III: Getting used to life in Japan
Combini are great but don’t eat all your meals there…
So, you’re here. Yay! Now it’s time to take care of your basic obligations and make some friends. You may also, unfortunately, have to make some hard decisions.
In this section, we’ll cover:
- Taxes
- Debt back home and locally
- Getting to know your neighbors
- Supermarkets, combinis, and in-between
- Escaping a crappy job
The first-year tax shock (and why year two feels worse)
Debt, transfers, and banking friction
Japan’s financial system is safe, but it is not frictionless, especially if your life spans multiple countries.
If you carry foreign debt, you’ll feel it immediately. Paying student loans, credit cards, or subscriptions in a stronger currency while earning yen can erode your budget quickly. Exchange rate swings matter more than people expect.
International transfers can be slow and expensive through traditional banks, which is why many residents use services like Wise as a practical workaround rather than a miracle solution.
Credit cards are another shock. Even financially stable foreigners are often rejected early on, which means you may rely on debit cards and cash longer than you’d like.
And yes, it’s true: some ATMs close, and holiday disruptions can be real. During Golden Week, the author of this guide learned the hard way that both bank ATMs and even bank apps can behave unpredictably. She ended up keeping receipts and calculating by hand until the holiday ended.
None of this is unmanageable. But Japan rewards people who plan for financial friction, not those who assume modern convenience is universal.
Life in the neighborhood
Moving into a new neighborhood comes with quiet expectations that aren’t always explained, but matter more than people realize.
In many areas, it’s still customary to introduce yourself to nearby neighbors. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. A brief greeting is enough, and in some places, a small inexpensive gift is still common. While this practice is fading in large cities, it can establish goodwill early.
Neighborhood associations (chōnaikai / jichikai) still exist in many municipalities, handling festivals, safety measures, emergency drills, and local notices. Participation varies, but membership can make daily life smoother. This is often where you’ll encounter a kairanban, the circulating clipboard of neighborhood notices.
Garbage and recycling are the fastest ways to accidentally create friction. Rules vary by municipality and are taken seriously. Sorting is not based purely on what physically burns, but on local processing systems, which is why categories can feel unintuitive at first. When in doubt, follow your city’s guide rather than intuition. Improperly sorted trash will not be collected, and illegal dumping is taken seriously.
Supermarkets: Where you really learn Japan
This popular social media graphic shows how stores differ by price (top is most expensive) in both the Kansai (left) and Tokyo Metropolitan (right) regions.
Not all supermarkets are created equal, and where you shop quietly determines your budget and your sense of daily stability.
Budget chains like Gyōmu Super and Hanamasa are beloved because they cut costs dramatically, especially if you cook. They’re like Costco but without the membership fee, as both also sell wholesale to businesses.
Mid-range neighborhood supermarkets are where most residents do their everyday shopping because they balance price, quality, and portions. However, even among Japanese supermarket chains, there can be a large price discrepancy between brands.
High-end import stores, like National in Tokyo or the Jupiter Coffee chain, are consistently a homesickness trap: comforting, familiar, and expensive. However, they can also sometimes be the only place to get certain ingredients, and are nice to have on hand when you want a sweet treat that tastes like your childhood.
Feeding a family? Or running a business? Good news – Costco is very popular in Japan, and your membership works here automatically! There are also Costco resale stores popping up all over the country. These don’t require a membership, but you’ll pay a premium for goods.
Residents learn one key rhythm quickly: shop in the evening. That’s when discount stickers appear, and dinner gets cheaper.
Tourists experience Japan as affordable because they eat out. Residents learn that groceries, not restaurants, are where costs sneak up.
Convenience Stores (combini): Everyday infrastructure, not just snacks
Combini function as survival infrastructure, especially for new arrivals. You can pay bills, print documents, use ATMs, pick up parcels, buy stamps, and get food at any hour. For someone still setting up life, they’re not just a store; they’re a fallback system.
They’re also priced for convenience. Long-term residents use combini strategically, not as their primary grocery plan.
My Basket: Your supermarket/combini in-between
That said, the Aeon supermarket chain offers a wonderful in-between alternative. The My Basket chain is either a souped-up combini or a light grocery store, depending on your perspective. While they don’t offer everything a full grocery store has, they offer enough to make a wide range of meals. And they’re ubiquitous: no matter where you live, you’re likely to have one conveniently nearby.
Takuhaibin: Japan’s secret weapon for moving stuff
Takuhaibin is one of those systems that quietly changes your life once you start using it. It’s a nationwide, door-to-door delivery service for parcels, luggage, and bulky items—and it’s fast, reliable, and reasonably priced.
The service was pioneered in the 1970s by Yamato Transport, whose black-cat logo is everywhere. Even though Takkyubin is technically Yamato’s trademark, the term is commonly used for delivery services in general. Other major providers include Sagawa Express and Japan Post.
You can send far more than small boxes. Takuhaibin handles suitcases, oversized parcels, computers, clothing that shouldn’t be wrinkled, sports gear, furniture, and even chilled or frozen food. You can specify delivery dates and time windows, and many services allow short-term holding if you’re not ready to receive something.
Drop-off points are everywhere: convenience stores, airport counters, major stations, service centers, and some retail shops. Pickups from your home can also be scheduled. For moving apartments, traveling light, or simply saving your body from hauling heavy bags up stairs, takuhaibin becomes indispensable.
Escaping your shitty job
Conclusion: Endless discovery, but make it real
If tourism is a curated experience of Japan, residency is the unfiltered version. It’s not harder because Japan is cruel. It’s harder because the systems aren’t designed to soften the edges for you anymore.
The good news is that most of what makes Japan livable—its predictability, safety, and efficiency—reveals itself once you understand the order of operations. The learning curve is steep, but it’s not endless.
Endless discovery is real. It just begins and ends at Immigration, and then continues—quietly—at the ward office counter, the payment slip, the guarantor form, the clinic waiting room, and the garbage sorting chart you will swear was designed by an eldritch god.
And somehow, eventually, it becomes home.
Reminder: For more comprehensive living guides like this, check out JoynTokyo, a practical platform for foreigners living in or planning to move to Japan. You can also check out their Instagram, where they share short, practical tip reels.
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