Japan guides for expats and travelers, written by people who live here
Visiting Tokyo or moving here? Visas, housing, money, SIM cards, rail passes and new 2026 rules, from Peter Chen (18+ years in Japan) and a 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.
Visiting Tokyo? Read these before you fly
What changed for tourists in 2026, how to get around, and how to meet locals instead of only seeing sights.
Tokyo for first-timers
Beyond the usual spots, with tips from people who live here.
🙇Etiquette15 things tourists get wrong in Japan
Tipping, trains, trash and the small mistakes locals notice.
🧳SoloIs Tokyo safe for solo travelers?
An honest guide to traveling alone, and how to join group events.
📶PhoneJapan eSIM with a real phone number
Tourist plans compared, including a number you can call restaurants with.
🚄TransportJapan Rail Pass price increase
What the October 2026 prices mean and whether a pass is still worth it.
🗻Day tripsBest day trips from Tokyo
Easy trips out of the city, and how to go with locals.
🛂AirportSkip the immigration line
Where Japan’s automated e-gates now work and who can use them.
🏨HotelsTokyo’s new 3% lodging tax
What you’ll pay on hotels and Airbnb from April 2027.
Latest guides & news
New rules, price changes and deadlines that affect foreigners in Japan, published as they happen.
- JR East Fare Hike 2026: What Tokyo Commuter Passes and Tickets Cost After the 7.1% Increase
JR East raised fares on March 14, 2026 for the first full-scale revision since 1987: 7.1% on average, 12% on commuter passes and up to 22.9% for Yamanote-area passes. Here are the numbers, Tokyo examples and ways to cut the cost. - TIFEの国際交流カラオケがTBS「Nスタ」で放送されました！
TIFE（東京国際交流会）の国際交流カラオケパーティーが、2026年10月12日18:15放送のTBS「Nスタ」で紹介されました。放送の内容、私たちの想い、次回カラオケへの参加方法をご紹介します。 - Karaoke Party Featured on TV: TBS Nスタ Aired Our Story
Our TIFE International Karaoke Party was featured on TBS’s Nスタ (N-STA) on October 12, 2026 at 18:15. Here is what aired, what it means to our community, and how to join the next karaoke night in Tokyo. - Tokyo’s New 3% Lodging Tax Starts April 2027: Hotels, Airbnb and What You Will Pay
Tokyo plans to replace its flat ¥100–¥200 hotel tax with a 3% charge on room rates above ¥13,000 a night from April 2027, and to extend it to Airbnb-style rentals. Here is how much more you will pay and what is still pending approval. - Japan’s New Child Support Levy 2026: The 0.23% Line on Your Health Insurance Payslip
Since April 2026, a child and child-rearing support levy of 0.23% rides on Japan’s public health insurance premiums. Here is what it costs per month, who pays it (children or not), when it shows on your payslip, and what it funds. - Japan Power Bank Rules on Flights 2026: Two Per Passenger, No In-Flight Use or Charging
Since April 24, 2026, JAL and Skymark allow only two power banks per passenger (160Wh or less each) and ban using or charging them in flight. Here is what the notices say, how to check your watt-hours, and what is still unconfirmed. - Japan Residence Permit Fees Rose October 1, 2026: What You Now Pay to Renew or Change Status
Since October 1, 2026, renewing or changing your Japan residence status costs up to ¥75,000 instead of ¥6,000, and permanent residency costs ¥200,000. Here are the confirmed numbers, the online discount, and the hardship reduction. - Japan Permanent Residency Rules Tightened October 1, 2026: Income, Pension, Japanese and the ¥200,000 Fee
Japan overhauled its permanent residency screening on October 1, 2026: a ¥200,000 fee, an above-average income test, pension records equal to 30 years of contributions, and conversational Japanese. What is confirmed, what is only reported, and how to prepare. - Tokyo Minimum Wage Rises to ¥1,280 an Hour on October 1, 2026: What It Means for Foreign Workers and Students
Tokyo’s minimum wage rose ¥54 to ¥1,280 an hour on October 1, 2026, and at least 15 prefectures moved the same day. Here is what the raise is worth in real pay, who it covers, and what to do if your wage is below it.
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.
140+ guides → 🏡Living in Japan
Housing, transport, apps and daily life.
120+ guides → 🧰Services & Apps
Shopping, money transfer and tools that work for foreigners.
70+ guides → 🗾Travel in Japan
Day trips, passes, seasonal tips and hidden gems.
55+ 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 Japan 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.
Are there guides for tourists visiting Tokyo?
Yes. See the Visiting Tokyo section for etiquette, eSIMs, rail passes, airport e-gates and the new lodging tax, plus events where travelers meet Japanese locals.
Can I meet people in Tokyo, not just read about it?
Yes. TIFE runs 50+ events a month, including a weekly English–Japanese language exchange, sports and karaoke. Expats and tourists can RSVP free on Meetup; see the event calendar.
Can I request a topic?
Yes. Send your question through our contact page. Many guides started as a question from a member.