Administrative papers
Residence records, seal registration, My Number, and certificates.
LIFE MANUAL
Japan Life Manual
Practical systems for housing, healthcare, banking, mobile, insurance, and disaster readiness.21articles
5topic entries
11-10last updated
CHANNEL PICKS
Channel Picks
Start with one anchor story, then scan the newest entries in this channel.
Life · Arrival
First Week in Japan: Address, Phone, Insurance, and Money
A practical sequence for making your residence card, address, contact, health insurance, and payment setup usable.01Getting Help in a Disaster in Japan: 110 and 119, the 171 Message Line, Multilingual Hotlines, Shelters, and Recovery GrantsDisaster02Driving in Japan: License Conversion, Driving Schools, Shaken, Traffic Lawdriving-license03Childcare and Family Life Procedures in JapanLife Admin04National Pension and Employees Pension in JapanLife Admin05Before Arrival in Japan: Documents and First-Month ChecklistLife06Pension and resident tax: two deductions that change take-home paypension07Electricity, gas, water, and internet: setup steps and monthly costsmoving08Typhoon and Earthquake Insurance in Japan: What Fire, Earthquake, and Contents Insurance Cover, How to Buy, How to ClaimInsurance
TOPIC MAP
Topic Index
Start from traceable topic nodes instead of scattered posts.0106
First week
Address registration, health insurance, phone, bank, and transit.
02Housing and community
Viewing, contract, guarantor, garbage sorting, local rules.
03Healthcare
Clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, referrals, insurance cards.
04Safety and disaster
Earthquakes, typhoons, shelters, emergency calls, supplies.
05Mobile and payment
Phone plans, internet, bank accounts, cash, and daily payments.
QUICK START
Quick Guides
Use these when you need an answer first, then read deeper.Mobile plans
Major carriers, budget SIM, short-term and long-term options.
Read guideRenting a room
Timeline, fees, documents, and move-in steps.
Read guideSeeing a doctor
Reception, first visit, prescription, pharmacy, insurance payment.
Read guideOpening a bank account
Banks, Japan Post Bank, online banks, and newcomer limits.
Read guideREADING PATH
Suggested Reading Path
- Set address and ID
- Build phone and payment
- Check healthcare and insurance
- Learn community rules
- Recheck official and city updates
MORE ENTRIES
More Entries
Keep browsing the remaining articles, guides, and features in this channel.Healthcare and Insurance in Japan: How to Prepare for Care
Understand insurance enrollment, clinic flow, My Number insurance-card materials, and what to verify locally.
Renting an Apartment in Japan
A practical flow for budget, documents, guarantor company, move-in costs, inspection, and local rules.
Japan Disaster Preparedness Checklist
Set emergency phone alerts, check hazard maps, separate evacuation sites from shelters, read warning levels 1 to 5, and keep 3 days of water, food, toilets, power, and paper contacts.
Typhoons at Home in Japan: Balcony, Windows, Power Cuts, When to Evacuate, and Damage Photos
Two to three days out, read the storm-zone forecast and Kikikuru. The day before, clear the balcony, unblock drains, lock the shutters, fill the bathtub, and charge everything. Decide by Level 4 whether to leave or move upstairs, and photograph damage before you clean up, because the disaster certificate and insurance claims depend on those photos.
Credit Cards and Cashless Payments in Japan
A practical guide to cards, cashless payment, identity checks, billing, security, and address updates: rules, counters, documents, timing, costs, and follow-up updates.
Your First Week in Japan: Address, Insurance, Bank, Phone, Movement
A 7-day handling order—address registration, NHI / pension, bank, phone, utilities, transport—that produces the proof chain everything else builds on.