📋 Quick Navigation: What it is · Services offered · Who can use it · How to use it · FAQ
Ask almost any long-term foreign resident in Tokyo how they figured out how to open a bank account, fill out an obscure city form, or get help when something went sideways at a ward office, and you’ll get some version of “I muddled through it myself.” Yet the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been quietly running a free, dedicated support center for foreign residents since September 2025 — and a year later, most of TIFE’s own community still hasn’t heard of it.
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See TIFE Events →What IRSC TOKYO actually is
The International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC TOKYO) is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiative launched September 30, 2025, based at the Ark Mori Building, 7th floor, in Akasaka, Minato-ku. It’s staffed with advisors whose job is to help foreign residents and prospective business owners navigate daily life and business setup in Tokyo — including, when needed, on-site support at the relevant office or location rather than just phone advice.
Services the center offers
- Government paperwork — help understanding and completing administrative forms
- Bank account opening — guidance navigating one of the most common early friction points for new residents
- General daily life questions — anything from ward office procedures to everyday logistics
- On-site support — accompaniment at relevant locations when a phone or email answer isn’t enough
- Business setup guidance — for foreign residents and prospective entrepreneurs starting a business in Tokyo
This is a genuinely different service from Tokyo’s older, more generic multilingual consultation lines — IRSC TOKYO is specifically positioned around ongoing, practical support rather than a one-off phone consultation.
Who can use it
The center targets current and prospective foreign residents and their families, including those considering starting a business in Tokyo or already running one here. It’s a genuinely good fit for TIFE’s community — new arrivals still setting up daily life, longer-term residents dealing with an unfamiliar procedure, and the growing number of foreign entrepreneurs and freelancers based in Tokyo.
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Join TIFE →How to use IRSC TOKYO
- In-person consultations: Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., at the Ark Mori Building, 7th floor, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
- Phone, email, or inquiry form: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Cost: The service is free — no consultation fees are listed.
- Languages: The center is built specifically for foreign residents; confirm current language support for your specific language when you contact them, since availability can vary by staffing and time slot.
- Full details and contact info: Available via the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s official Invest Tokyo site.
Tokyo International Residents Support Center: FAQ
- What is IRSC TOKYO? A free Tokyo Metropolitan Government support center for foreign residents and prospective business owners, launched September 30, 2025, offering help with paperwork, bank accounts, daily life questions, and business setup.
- Where is IRSC TOKYO located? Ark Mori Building, 7th floor, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
- Is the service free? Yes, no consultation fees are listed for using the center’s services.
- Can IRSC TOKYO help me open a bank account? Yes, bank account opening guidance is one of the specifically listed services.
- Does IRSC TOKYO help with starting a business? Yes, it supports current and prospective foreign residents considering starting or already running a business in Tokyo.
- What are the opening hours? In-person consultations run Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone, email, and inquiry form contact are available Monday to Saturday during the same hours.
Quick reference
- Name: International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC TOKYO)
- Launched: September 30, 2025
- Location: Ark Mori Building, 7F, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Cost: Free
- Hours: In-person Mon–Fri 9:30–17:30; phone/email/form Mon–Sat 9:30–17:30
- Related: Setting Up Life in Japan: Admin Guide | First 30 Days in Tokyo Checklist | Tokyo App ¥11,000 Points Guide | Moving to Japan — TIFE Community Hub
🏢 Free help with the paperwork. Free friends while you’re at it.
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