All guides
How to Dispose of Large Items (Sodai Gomi) in Japan
Booking pickups, fee stickers, and the separate rules for TVs, fridges, washers, ACs and PCs. Plus how to clear out large items when you move or leave Japan.
Best Translation Apps & Devices for Japan: Daily Life, Hospital & City Hall
The best translation apps and devices for Japan: Google Translate, DeepL, VoiceTra and Pocketalk — for the hospital, city hall, reading mail, and daily life.
Renters' Fire Insurance in Japan: What It Covers & How to Save
Your Japan lease likely requires fire insurance. What it covers (contents, tenant & personal liability), the cost, and how choosing your own policy can save money.
How to Sort Garbage in Japan: A Foreigner's Guide to the Rules
Confused by Japan's garbage rules? Burnable, non-burnable, recyclables and oversized (sodai gomi) explained — plus how to find your city's days and designated bags.
Mercari Guide for Foreigners in Japan: Buy Cheap & Sell Before You Leave
How to use Mercari in Japan as a foreigner: sign-up and ID check, buying, selling (10% fee), anonymous shipping, and selling everything before you leave Japan.
The NHK Fee in Japan: Do Foreigners Have to Pay? Cost, Exemptions & How to Cancel
Do foreigners pay the NHK fee? If you have a TV (or one-seg device) you must contract under Broadcast Act Art. 64. The cost, who's exempt, and how to cancel.
UR Rental Housing in Japan for Foreigners: No Key Money, No Guarantor
UR rental housing has no key money, no agency fee, no guarantor and no renewal fee — and foreigners can apply. Eligibility, costs, and how to apply, explained.
Japan Childbirth Lump Sum (出産一時金): How to Claim ¥500,000 as a Foreign Resident
Japan pays ¥500,000 to anyone who gives birth while enrolled in Japanese health insurance — regardless of nationality. Here is how to claim it, what documentation you need, and common mistakes that lead to rejection.
Japan Daycare (Hoikuen) for Foreign Residents: How to Apply, What to Expect, and What Nobody Tells You
Applying for daycare (hoikuen) in Japan is a bureaucratic process managed by your ward office, with competitive point scoring and rejection as a realistic outcome. This guide covers the full process for foreign residents, including what documentation you need and how the scoring system actually works.
International School vs Public School in Japan: Real Cost Comparison for Foreign Families
International schools in Japan charge ¥1.5M–¥4M per year. Public schools are free for foreign residents but taught entirely in Japanese. Here is a clear cost and quality comparison to help you decide.
Mental Health Support in Japan: English-Speaking Therapists, Clinics, and Online Options for Expats
Finding English-language mental health support in Japan is harder than it should be — but it is possible. This guide covers TELL, Tokyo Mental Health, online therapy platforms, psychiatry under national health insurance, and how to navigate a system not designed with expats in mind.
Tokyo Rent in 2026: Why Prices Are Rising and How Foreign Residents Can Respond
Tokyo rents are at their highest in decades. The average 1-room apartment in Minato-ku now exceeds ¥160,000/month. Fixed-term leases are spreading. Renewal-time rent hikes of ¥50,000–¥70,000 are being reported. This guide explains what is happening and how foreign residents can navigate it.