PopularMedical
Mental Health Care in Japan for Foreigners (2026): English Help Guide
Find English-speaking psychiatrists, counselors, and crisis lines in Japan. NHI coverage, costs, visa impact, Yakkan Shomei, and EAP — May 2026 guide.
Convert Foreign License Japan (2026): New Rules, 13% Skill Pass
Convert your foreign driver license to Japanese in 2026: October 2025 reform, 50-question test (90% pass), JAF translation, 3-month rule, prefecture booking.
Procedures
Japan's Ikusei Shuro Program (2027): The Complete Foreign Worker's Guide to the Technical Intern Replacement
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.
Finance
Japan Credit, Loans & Mortgages for Foreigners (2026): The Approval Map
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.
Legal
Japan Permanent Residency in 2026: New Rules, Higher Fees, and Revocation Risk
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.
Procedures
Japanese Driver's License from Scratch (2026): The Foreigner's Complete Guide
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.
Legal
Your Japan Visa: The 10 Threats That Cost Foreigners Their Status (2026)
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.
Procedures
Signing a Japanese Job Contract? The 10 Clauses Foreigners Miss Until It's Too Late
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.
Legal
How to Divorce in Japan Without Losing Your Kids or Your Visa
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.
Daily Life
First Year in Japan? 7 Things Every Foreigner Sets Up Too Late
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.
Japan Travel Safety Guide (2026): When Things Go Wrong
Complete guide to handling emergencies in Japan as a foreigner: lost passport, stolen phone, car accidents, earthquakes, typhoons, police reports, and more.
Education
Japan Daycare for Foreign Parents (2026): The Untranslated System
Complete 2026 guide to Japan's hoikuen system for foreign parents: 5 daycare types, point system, application timeline, fees, daily life, and rejection options.
Education
Japan Public School Survival Guide for Foreign Parents: Beyond Enrollment
Complete guide for foreign parents with children in Japanese public school: supplies, lunch, communication, events, PTA, after-school care, and language support.
Procedures
Japan Money & Tax Guide for Foreigners (2026): The System Nobody Explains
Complete 2026 guide to money and taxes in Japan for foreigners: bank accounts, payslip, resident tax, year-end adjustment, tax return, remittance, pension refund.
Work
Tokyo: Japanese Driver's License in English (2026 Booking Guide)
Learn 6 steps for a Tokyo Japanese driver’s license in English—Tokyo booking-only rules, language days, center limits, and document prep.
Procedures
Osaka Driver's License Conversion: Why Pass Rates Hit 30% (2026)
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.
Medical
Sick in Japan? What No One Tells Foreigners About Medical Care
Japan's medical system explained for foreigners: clinic vs hospital, referral letters, intake forms, costs, and how to find English-speaking doctors.
Medical
Health Insurance in Japan: 5 Mistakes That Cost Foreigners
5 costly health insurance mistakes foreigners make in Japan: non-enrollment, employer fraud, Myna card transition, premium non-payment, and coverage gaps.
Culture
Shinjuku Gyoen Hanami 2026: Booking & Entry Rules
4 dates need reservations (book via Asoview). No alcohol — bags are checked. ¥500 entry, peak bloom timing, and what to bring.
Medical
Having a Baby in Japan? Every Step Foreign Parents Need to Know
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.
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Procedures
Traffic Accident in Japan as a Resident? Police, Insurance, Money (2026)
As a foreign resident in Japan after a traffic accident: what to say to police, jibaiseki vs voluntary insurance, health insurance use, and settlement.
Procedures
Wills & Inheritance in Japan for Foreigners: Don't Leave Chaos Behind (2026)
Cross-border wills, Japan inheritance tax, and the 10-year rule that catches PR holders. Plain-English guide for foreign residents (2026).
Procedures
Lost Your Job in Japan? 2026 Unemployment Benefits Guide for Foreigners
Lost your job in Japan? Complete 2026 guide to unemployment benefits, Hello Work, the 90-day visa rule, and health/pension switches for foreigners.
Procedures
DV on a Spouse Visa in Japan: How to Leave Safely (2026)
Foreign spouse facing DV in Japan? You can leave safely and keep your visa. 24/7 helpline 0120-279-889 (10 languages). Step-by-step legal guide, 2026.
Procedures
Japan Disability Pension for Foreigners (2026): Eligibility, Pitfalls & How to Claim
Foreign residents in Japan can claim disability pension (障害年金). Learn 2026 amounts, the initial-visit-date trap, totalization rules, and visa-renewal impact.
Report Discrimination in Japan (2026): Where Foreign Residents Get Heard
Where to report housing rejection, workplace bias, police profiling, and hate speech in Japan as a foreigner — exact counters, timelines, and what each can do.
Finance
Cheapest Way to Send Money from Japan (2026): Wise vs Banks vs SBI Remit
Wise, Revolut, SBI Remit, or your megabank — the cheapest international transfer route from Japan in 2026, with fee math, country tables, and 国外送金等調書 rules.
Japan 28-Hour Work Rule for Students (2026): Penalties + Recovery
Japan's 28-hour student work rule explained: kakugaigai-katsudo permit, long-vacation 40h exception, prohibited industries, penalties, and how to recover if you've overworked.