Everything you need to live in Japan, explained by people who live here
Visas, housing, money, apps, healthcare and Tokyo life — practical guides from Peter Chen (18+ years in Japan) and the TIFE community of 35,000+ members.
New to Japan? Read these first
The questions every new arrival asks in their first 3 months, answered in one place.
Rent an apartment without a guarantor
How guarantor companies and key money work, and 5 ways around both.
🛏️HousingShare house vs apartment
Real costs, contracts and lifestyle, with a clear pick for new arrivals.
🏥HealthThe paper health insurance card is gone
What foreign residents must do now: Myna Hokensho or Shikaku Kakuninsho.
📱PhoneGetting a SIM card under the 2026 ID law
What changed for tourists and residents, and what to bring.
🛍️MoneyMercari Japan: the complete expat guide
Furnish your place for less and sell before you leave.
💴MoneyClaim Tokyo’s ¥11,000 resident points
Foreign residents qualify too. Who’s eligible and how to apply.
🛡️SafetyScams that target foreign residents
Fake police calls, investment schemes and how to spot them.
🌀SafetyJapan’s new weather alert levels
What “Danger Warning” means and the multilingual app to install.
Latest guides & news
New rules, price changes and deadlines that affect foreigners in Japan, published as they happen.
- Japan eVisa 2026: Which Countries Can Apply Online (and How the System Actually Works)
Japan’s eVisa system now covers 20 countries and regions, with 9 able to apply fully online. Here’s the current eligibility list, how the online process works, and what to watch for at the airport. - Japan Working Holiday Visa 2026: Taiwan Can Now Apply Twice (10 Countries List)
Japan now lets Taiwan, South Korea and 8 other nationalities apply for a second Working Holiday visa. Full eligibility rules, the 2026 timeline, and exactly how to apply for round two. - JLPT 2026: Tourists Are Banned From Testing in Japan — Residence Card Now Required
Since February 2026, short-term tourists can no longer sit the JLPT inside Japan — you now need a valid residence card to register. Here’s who’s affected, why it changed, and how to register for the December 2026 test. - Japan Invoice System 2026: The 20% Tax Break Expiring September 30 (Freelancer Guide)
Japan’s 20% consumption tax special exception for freelancers ends September 30, 2026. Here’s what changes, the real yen cost increase, and exactly what registered freelancers need to do before the deadline. - Furusato Nozei 2026: What Changed for Foreign Residents in Japan
Furusato Nozei’s Rakuten point rewards ended in October 2025, and stricter local-product and transparency rules begin this October 2026. Here’s what foreign residents in Japan need to know about this often-overlooked tax-saving system — and whether it’s still worth using. - 樂天卡2026限定推薦：新戶最高11,000點｜TIFE在日台灣人懶人包
樂天卡推薦活動只到9/28！新戶最高拿11,000點，教你申辦流程、資格條件，還有專屬推薦連結，在日台灣人不能錯過的省錢懶人包。 - Rakuten Card Referral Campaign 2026: Get 11,000 Points (Sept 18–28 Only)
Rakuten Card’s referral bonus is nearly doubled for 10 days only — new members get 11,000 points instead of 6,000. Here’s exactly how to qualify before the September 28 deadline. - THE TOKYO PASS 優惠代碼RENT51P 51%OFF（2026年9–10月限定）
2026年9月4日–10月31日限定，東京PASS專屬優惠代碼「RENT51P」享51％OFF，附上我親身使用過的5個景點實測。 - New Taiwan–Japan Flight Routes 2026: Direct Flights to Hokkaido, Komatsu, Ishigaki & More
Starlux and Tigerair Taiwan have added a wave of new direct routes between Taiwan and Japan in 2026 — including two brand-new Kaohsiung routes that just launched this month. Here’s the full list, with dates and frequencies.
Find guides by topic
Every article sorted into the areas that matter when you live here.
Japan Survival Guide
Banks, SIMs, city hall, healthcare and paperwork.
130+ guides → 🏡Living in Japan
Housing, transport, apps and daily life.
100+ guides → 🧰Services & Apps
Shopping, money transfer and tools that work for foreigners.
60+ guides → 🗾Travel in Japan
Day trips, passes, seasonal tips and hidden gems.
50+ guides → 💼Working in Japan
Job hunting, visas for workers and workplace culture.
Browse → 👨👩👧Parenting in Japan
Schools, kids’ activities and family life.
Browse → ⛩️Culture & Traditions
Etiquette, festivals and the unwritten rules.
Browse → 🎉Event Recaps
Parties, trips and meetups from the TIFE community.
170+ posts →Guides in 中文 and Español
Written by community members for their own communities, not machine-translated.
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About TIFE’s expat guides
Are these Japan expat guides free?
Yes. Every guide is free to read with no sign-up. The optional newsletter is also free.
How up to date is the information?
We publish several new articles most weeks and revise guides when Japanese rules, fees or prices change. Each article shows its publish date. For legal, visa or tax decisions, always confirm with the official office or a licensed professional.
Who writes the guides?
Mostly TIFE founder Peter Chen, who has lived in Japan for 18+ years, with input from TIFE’s community of 35,000+ members.
Do you have guides in Chinese or Spanish?
Yes. See the 在日台灣人 section for Traditional Chinese and Latinos en Tokio for Spanish.
Do the guides contain affiliate links?
Some do. Referral links and codes are disclosed at the top of each article, and we only recommend services we use ourselves.
Can I request a topic?
Yes. Send your question through our contact page. Many guides started as a question from a member.