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.
- Japan’s Winter Electricity & Gas Subsidy (Dec 2026–Feb 2027): What You Will Save and When
Prime Minister Takaichi announced on October 29 that electricity and gas subsidies return for December through February, worth about ¥7,000 per household. Here are the reported per-kWh rates, a worked bill example, and what is still unconfirmed. - Shuri Castle Main Hall Reopens November 23, 2026: Tickets, Time Slots and How to Book
Okinawa’s Shuri Castle main hall reopens to the public on November 23, 2026, seven years after the 2019 fire. Here are the reported ticket prices, the time-slot reservation system, what is still closed, and how to plan your visit. - VisitClub 11/1 正式上線！在日台灣人接日本餐廳・飯店網紅合作懶人包（2026）
日本新的網紅媒合平台 VisitClub 2026年11月1日正式上線。在日台灣人只要有1,000+粉絲、最近有在發文，就能申請日本餐廳、飯店、體驗的合作案。註冊步驟、資格、踩雷點一次整理。 - VisitClub Japan Launches Nov 1: How International Creators Land Restaurant & Hotel Collabs (2026 Guide)
VisitClub, Japan’s new inbound influencer platform, officially launches November 1, 2026. If you’re a creator in Japan with 1,000+ followers, here’s how restaurant and hotel collaborations work, who gets selected, and how to sign up. - Japan’s ¥1.06 Million Pension Wall Is Gone (Oct 2026): What Changes for Part-Time Workers and Spouses
Japan dropped the ¥88,000-a-month wage test for employee pension and health insurance on October 1, 2026. Part-timers working 20+ hours a week at larger companies are now enrolled regardless of pay. Here is who is covered, who is not, and the 2027-2035 rollout. - Japan’s Electricity & Gas Subsidy Has Ended: What Your November 2026 Bill Will Look Like
Japan’s summer electricity and gas subsidy stopped after September usage, so the first bill without it arrives in November. Here are the confirmed discount amounts, realistic bill increases, and what we know about a winter subsidy. - 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.
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.