Last updated: July 2025. Credit to Jason Yang for most of the information. As in much of the world, having a smartphone with data access allows you to keep up with friends locally and back home, keep track of your finances, stream videos and music, pay for public transit, and with the introduction of the […]
Last updated: July 2025. Credits to Jason Yang. If you’ve never had a credit card before coming to Japan, you may be asking yourself why you would want or need one, especially given that debit cards also exist here. It is definitely an optional thing and not everyone would require one. One of the main […]
Last updated: June 2025 Landing in Japan Apart from the Early Departures (arriving in April), you will arrive in Japan around late July or early August. You will land at either Haneda or Narita International Airport, where after immigration and customs, you’ll board a bus that will take you to Keio Plaza Hotel. Although you […]
Last updated: June 2025. Credits to Jason Yang for providing most of the information. Once you have your Residence Card (在留カード) and a Japanese phone number, you are ready to set up your bank account. Some banks require a hanko as well, but others like Prestia, Sony, and Shinsei Bank don’t – you can just […]
Last updated: June 2025 If you’re intending or decided to stay for more than a year, getting a Japanese driver’s license is mandatory after 12 months. You cannot renew your international driver’s permit (IDP) and is only valid for a year from the date it was issued. It is illegal to drive without a valid […]