Helpful information for foreign residents in Japan.
Japan's three credit bureaus don't see your overseas history. Map of credit cards, loans, and mortgages for foreign residents in 2026: which lenders approve non-PR, how long bureau records stay, and the path from first card to mortgage.
Japan replaces the technical intern visa with Ikusei Shuro on April 1, 2027. Complete 2026 guide for foreign workers: 17 sectors, transfer rules, A1 Japanese requirement, SSW1/SSW2 pathway, and the April 1, 2026 deadline most existing interns miss.
Japan PR rules tightened: revocation施行 by 2027-06-21, fee cap ¥300,000 (actual ¥100K–¥200K expected), 5-year visa required. Three routes, processing times, and what to do now.
Japan driver's license from scratch guide for foreigners 2026: 教習所 cost ¥250-380K, 指定 vs 届出 schools, 4 tests, 20-language 試験場 support, AT vs MT, October 2025 conversion changes.
2026 visa risk map for foreigners in Japan: 10 distinct threats to residence status with recovery paths. Covers insurance 2027 rule, 3-month/14-day rules, employment traps, Business Manager changes, overstay, and category misalignment.
Pre-signing guide to Japanese employment contracts for foreigners (2026): 10 clauses that cost money, career freedom, or visa status. Covers 固定残業, 試用期間, 契約社員, 裁量労働, 競業避止, and visa sponsorship risks.
Your Japanese spouse can divorce you without your signature — and you'll lose your visa. The 2026 custody reform, the 14-day deadline, and how to protect yourself.
Bank account, phone, city hall, My Number — get the order wrong and you'll waste months. The first-year admin checklist for foreign residents in Japan.
Complete guide to handling emergencies in Japan as a foreigner: lost passport, stolen phone, car accidents, earthquakes, typhoons, police reports, and more.
Complete 2026 guide to Japan's hoikuen system for foreign parents: 5 daycare types, point system, application timeline, fees, daily life, and rejection options.
Complete guide for foreign parents with children in Japanese public school: supplies, lunch, communication, events, PTA, after-school care, and language support.
Complete 2026 guide to money and taxes in Japan for foreigners: bank accounts, payslip, resident tax, year-end adjustment, tax return, remittance, pension refund.
Learn 6 steps for a Tokyo Japanese driver’s license in English—Tokyo booking-only rules, language days, center limits, and document prep.
Japan's license conversion pass rate crashed from 90% to 30% in October 2025. Kadoma and Komyoike booking, the new 50-question test, and driving course tips for Osaka.
Japan's medical system explained for foreigners: clinic vs hospital, referral letters, intake forms, costs, and how to find English-speaking doctors.
5 costly health insurance mistakes foreigners make in Japan: non-enrollment, employer fraud, Myna card transition, premium non-payment, and coverage gaps.
4 dates need reservations (book via Asoview). No alcohol — bags are checked. ¥500 entry, peak bloom timing, and what to bring.
Crisis lines (TELL, Yorisoi), how psychiatry vs counseling works, NHI coverage, and finding English-speaking therapists. A step-by-step guide for foreigners.
From pregnancy registration to ¥5M+ in benefits, 14-day birth deadlines, embassy paperwork, and 2025-2026 policy changes. Complete guide for foreign parents in Japan.
Japan's Business Manager visa now requires ¥30M capital, a full-time employee, JLPT N2, and a certified business plan. What changed, who's affected, and your options.
