English Japan Visa Fee Increase 2026: Permanent Residence Now 200,000 Yen
Residence permit fees change on 1 October 2026. The flat rate is replaced by amounts based on the period of stay granted.
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English National Health Insurance Japan: The 70% Reduction You Must Ask For
Japan cuts the flat part of your National Health Insurance bill by 70, 50 or 20 percent when household income was low.
English Do I Have to Carry My Residence Card in Japan? Rules, Fines, Renewal
You must carry your residence card at all times in Japan. Only people under 16 are exempt, and permanent residents are not.
English Finding an Apartment in Japan in English: SUUMO Has No English Site
SUUMO has no English version (checked August 2026). Three routes remain: Japanese sites, walking into an agency, or foreigner-friendly services.
English Opening a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner: The Fastest Route
How foreigners open a bank account in Japan: the 6-month residence rule, Japan Post Bank accepting just 3 months, online banks with no hanko.
English Seeing a Doctor in Japan: Clinics, Hospitals and Emergencies
How to see a doctor in Japan: clinic or hospital, the 5 steps of a visit, Japanese phrases that work.
English Moving House in Japan 2026: Why March Costs Double
A single person pays about 142,000 yen to move in March and 60,000 to 70,000 from May.
English Residence Registration (Juminhyo) in Japan: A Guide for Foreigners
How foreigners register their address (juminhyo) in Japan. The 14-day rule, what to bring, why you need it for a bank, SIM, insurance and jobs.
English Credit Cards for Foreigners in Japan 2026: Check This Before You Apply
"They rejected me when I showed my residence card." The screening criteria are not published, so anyone claiming a card is easy to pass is guessing.
English Best SIM in Japan for Foreigners 2026: No Credit Card Needed
Which SIM in Japan can you get without a credit card? Compare Rakuten Mobile, ahamo, povo and Nihon Tsushin by price, data, coverage and eSIM.
English Home Internet in Japan for Foreigners: Fibre, Router or Pocket Wi-Fi
Home internet in Japan for foreigners: fibre vs home router vs pocket Wi-Fi.
English Renting an Apartment in Japan: Costs, Documents and Guarantors
Renting an apartment in Japan: the real move-in cost (4-6 months), the documents you need, and how to rent without a Japanese guarantor using a guarantee company.
English National Health Insurance in Japan: How to Join and What It Costs
Living in Japan over 3 months? You must join National Health Insurance.