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New to Japan? Start Here: Settle In & Find Your Community in Tokyo

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🌏 New to Japan? Start here · Updated Oct 2026

Settle into Japan and find your people from week one

A step-by-step path for your first months in Japan, from visa and housing to the ward office, phone and bank, plus a free community of internationals and Japanese locals in Tokyo who’ve already done it.

🧭 Show me the settling-in roadmap🤝 Join TIFE free
✔ Running events since 2015✔ Free to join✔ No Japanese needed✔ Most people come solo
35,000+Members
69+Countries
50+Events / month
2015Founded

Community figures across TIFE’s Meetup, Facebook and LINE groups.

Quick answer: To settle in Japan, handle things in this order. Before you fly, sort your visa, first-month housing, a phone plan and a way to move money. Within 14 days of moving in, register your address at the ward office and join health insurance. Next, get your phone contract and bank account. And don’t leave friendships for “later”: go to one community event in your first week. TIFE is free to join on Meetup, and most people come alone.

Where are you in your move to Japan?

Still planningI haven’t moved yetVisa, housing, phone, money → Just landedI’m in my first monthWard office, insurance, bank → Settled inI live here but feel isolatedFind your community →

Your settling-in roadmap for Japan

Japan’s first-month admin is a chain: you need an address to register at the ward office, a registered address to open a bank account, and a Japanese phone number for almost everything else. This is the order that works, with a guide for each step, all written for the questions TIFE members actually ask.

  1. Before you fly

    Visa, first home, phone and money

  2. First 14 days

    Residence card, address and health insurance

  3. Weeks 2–4

    Bank, apps and furnishing your place

  4. Month 2 and beyond

    Settle in for the long term

How to join TIFE in 3 steps (free)

TIFE is Tokyo International Friends & Events, a community that runs 50+ events a month for internationals and Japanese locals. Joining takes two minutes and costs nothing; each event lists its price before you RSVP.

1

Join on Meetup (free)

Create a free Meetup account and join the TIFE group. It works from any country and you can RSVP to events right away.

Join TIFE on Meetup
2

Pick your first event

Every event page shows the venue, time and price before you RSVP. A language exchange is the easiest first event.

See the event calendar
3

Show up and say hi

Tell the host it’s your first time. Most people come alone, so you won’t be the only new face.

Residents: join our LINE

✈️ Not in Japan yet, or just visiting? Use Meetup and the Facebook group; LINE is for residents. LINE OpenChat may need your phone region set to Japan: how to change your Apple ID region. Visiting? See TIFE for travelers.

The best first events for newcomers

🗣️

Language Exchange

Built-in format, so no awkward small talk. Locals and newcomers in one room.

See dates → 🎉

International Party

The fastest way to meet many people at once.

See dates → 💪

Sports & Activities

Doing something together makes conversation easy. Great for introverts.

See dates → 🌿

Day Trips

Rafting, canyoning and seasonal trips outside Tokyo, back the same day.

See trips →

What members say

★★★★★
Being passionate in making new friends in Japan, not only with the Japanese but also from people around the world! … I got those all above things after joining the event!— Andreas P · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
私はあまり英語が得意じゃなくても海外の人と楽しめました。— あや · TripAdvisor
(“Even though I’m not great at English, I had fun with people from abroad.”)
★★★★★
The organisation was perfect and the atmosphere in the group great. Absolute recommendation!— michael_goesswein · TripAdvisor

Read all reviews on TripAdvisor →

Who runs TIFE

P

Peter Chen, founder of TIFE. Born in Taiwan, raised in Costa Rica, and living in Japan for 18+ years. I started TIFE in 2015 because making friends in Tokyo as a newcomer was harder than any paperwork. I speak English, Japanese, Spanish and Mandarin, and every guide linked on this page is written for the questions our members actually ask.

More about Peter →

🎟️ Win a free ticket to your first event

Add TIFE’s LINE Official Account to enter our raffle for a free admission coupon to selected events.

Enter the raffle on LINE

Start Here FAQ

I’m moving to Japan. What should I do first?
Before you fly: sort your visa, a place to stay for the first month, a way to move money, and a phone plan. In your first 14 days after moving into your home: register your address at the ward office, join health insurance and pension, and apply for your My Number Card. Then open a bank account and get a Japanese phone contract. Our moving-to-Japan checklist lists every step in order.
What is TIFE?
Tokyo International Friends & Events (TIFE) is an international community in Tokyo, founded in 2015 by Peter Chen. It runs 50+ social events a month, including language exchanges, parties, sports and day trips, for internationals and Japanese locals, and has 35,000+ members from 69+ countries.
Is joining TIFE free?
Yes. Joining TIFE and RSVPing on Meetup is free, and there is no membership fee. Each event shows its price before you RSVP: language exchanges are usually around ¥500–¥1,000, sports classes around ¥2,000–¥2,500, karaoke parties around ¥3,000, and day trips cost more.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Most TIFE events run in English and many members spoke no Japanese when they joined. Language exchanges are a good way to start practising Japanese with locals who want to practise English.
Can I come to an event alone?
Yes. Most people come to their first TIFE event alone. Events have a host and a format, such as a language exchange or an activity, so it is easy to start talking to people.
Should I join before I arrive in Japan?
If you can, yes. Join the TIFE Facebook group and the Meetup group before you move, ask your questions, and RSVP to an event in your first week. The LINE community is for people already living in Japan, so join it once you have a Japanese phone set up.
I’m only visiting Tokyo. Can I join?
Yes. Tourists are welcome at TIFE events. Use Meetup to RSVP and the Facebook group for updates; the LINE group is for residents. See our page for travelers for the best events on a short trip.

More questions? See the full FAQ

Your life in Japan is easier with people around you

Do the paperwork with the roadmap above, and book one event this week. Joining is free.

Join TIFE free on MeetupBrowse events