What Is Expat Japan?
Expat Japan is a practical English-language guide for foreigners living in — or planning to move to — Japan.
We cover everything you actually need to know: visas, jobs, banking, health insurance, daily life, and more. No fluff, no recycled tourist content — just clear, up-to-date information written for people building a real life in Japan.
Who Is This For?
- People planning to move to Japan — and overwhelmed by contradictory information online
- New arrivals getting set up: bank accounts, SIM cards, health insurance, apartment hunting
- Long-term residents navigating more complex topics: permanent residency, investing, taxes
- Working holiday makers, students, and professionals at every stage of expat life
What We Write About
| Category | Topics |
|---|---|
| Visa & Status | Work visas, student visa, PR, HSP, spouse visa |
| Jobs & Career | Job hunting, salary, teaching English, IT jobs, freelancing |
| Daily Life | Apartments, SIM cards, transport, shopping, apps |
| Health | National insurance, doctors, dentists, mental health |
| Money & Finance | Banking, investing (NISA), taxes, sending money home |
| Culture | Workplace, etiquette, making friends, learning Japanese |
Our Approach
Information about Japan for foreigners is often outdated, vague, or hard to find in one place. We try to fix that by:
- Writing in plain English (no bureaucratic language)
- Keeping articles up to date with current rules and costs
- Linking to official sources so you can verify things yourself
- Being upfront about what we don’t know
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you sign up or purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the site running. We only recommend services we genuinely think are useful for foreigners in Japan.
Contact
Have a question, spotted an error, or want to suggest a topic? Use the Contact page.