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Everything you need to know about living in Japan in 2026. Practical guides for expats on housing, transport, healthcare, money-saving tips, and building a life in Japan.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government runs a free, dedicated support center for foreign residents and business owners — bank accounts, paperwork, daily life questions. Here's exactly what it does and how to use it.
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.
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'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'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.
Japan's mobile phone fraud-prevention law was overhauled in 2026 — ID verification is moving to IC-chip reading, and data-only SIM cards are being pulled into scope for the first time. Here's what's confirmed and what to expect when you buy a SIM.
Gasoline in Japan should be a lot more expensive right now given global oil prices — it isn't, because the government is spending reserve funds to hold the national average near ¥170/liter. Here's what's actually happening and what it means for your budget.
Japan's paper health insurance card is no longer accepted as of August 2026. Here's exactly how foreign residents get a Myna Hokensho or Shikaku Kakuninsho — and how to fix the name-mismatch problem that trips up so many of us.