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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.
The all-in-one Japanese learning app
Kanji, grammar, conversation, JLPT — all in one app.
All 2,136 standard kanji included. Every feature is free to use.
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.
Housing
Best Prefectures in Japan for Foreigners (2026): Ranked by Who You Are
With over 4 million foreign residents, Japan has no single best prefecture. This 2026 guide ranks the top areas by visa, job, cost and family life.
Education
Best Japanese Learning Apps in 2026: An Honest Comparison (and How to Stop Juggling Five)
An honest 2026 comparison of the best apps to learn Japanese — Duolingo, WaniKani, Bunpro, Renshuu, Anki, Migii and LO-PAL Lingo. Real prices, real strengths, and how to stop paying for five apps at once.
Medical
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.
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.
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Procedures
Ikusei Shuro (育成就労) to Permanent Residence: 13 Years, Not 18
From 育成就労 in 2027 to 永住: ISA's own rules add up to about 13 years, not 18. The ladder, the 10-year and 5-year tests, and what stops most people.
Procedures
Ikusei Shuro Agriculture & Fisheries 2027: Where Labour Law Stops
Farm and fishing work under Ikusei Shuro from April 2027: the only two sectors allowing dispatch, and why the 8-hour day does not legally apply to you.
Procedures
Ikusei Shuro Manufacturing 2027: 319,200 Places, 1 or 2-Year Job Move
Factory work in Japan under Ikusei Shuro or Specified Skilled Worker from 2027: quotas, the 17 job categories, exams, transfer rules, dispatch ban and pay.
Procedures
Ikusei Shuro Construction 2027: 123,500 Places, 3 Extra Gates
Construction has Japan's biggest ikusei shuro quota: 123,500 places from 2027. The minister-approved plan, CCUS, the JAC levy you must not pay, and safety data.
Procedures
Ikusei Shuro Caregiving (介護) 2027: N4 Japanese, the 2-Year Transfer Lock, and the Care Worker Path to Permanent Residence
Japan's Ikusei Shuro caregiving track in 2027: the higher Japanese bar, the two-year transfer rule, the sector exams, 2025 home-visit rules, and the 介護福祉士 route to permanent residence and family.
Housing
Cheapest Places to Live in Japan (2026): Rent vs Reality
The cheapest places to live in Japan for foreigners in 2026: real rent by metro, the move-in wall, hidden costs, and why the cheapest city isn't always viable.
Housing
Best Cities to Live in Japan for Foreigners & Expats (2026): 7 Ranked
Which Japanese city fits you? Compare Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and 4 more for foreigners and expats in 2026 by community, services, jobs and rent.
Housing
Foreign Families in Fukuoka: Cheap Rent & ¥500 Kids' Healthcare
Fukuoka is a rare big city that is cheap for families. A 2026 guide to rent, daycare, schools, child benefits, low-cost children's healthcare and family visas.