Money

NISA allows foreign residents in Japan to invest tax-free — but most foreigners don’t know they qualify or how to actually open an account. The 2024 NISA reform made it significantly more powerful. Here’s a clear guide to using NISA as a foreigner. What Is NISA? NISA lets you invest in stocks and mutual funds without paying capital gains tax or dividend tax on profits within the account. Normal investing in Japan: 20.315% tax on gains and dividends NISA investing: 0% tax on gains and dividends ...

What you'll learn in this guide What NISA and iDeCo are and how their tax benefits work Whether foreigners can use NISA and iDeCo (spoiler: most can) Contribution limits for both accounts in 2025 NISA vs iDeCo: which one is better for your situation How to open each account as a foreigner in Japan Japan’s two main tax-advantaged investment accounts — NISA and iDeCo — are often overlooked by foreigners. That’s a mistake. Both are open to most foreign residents, both offer real tax savings, and both work with low-cost index funds. Here’s a clear breakdown of what each offers and which one makes sense for you. ...

What you'll learn in this guide How to set up PayPay as a foreigner (with or without a Japanese bank account) Which payment methods foreigners can link to PayPay Where PayPay is accepted in Japan (it’s almost everywhere) How to earn PayPay points and get cashback Common problems foreigners face and how to fix them Japan is famously cash-heavy — but that’s changing fast, and PayPay is leading the charge. With over 65 million users and accepted at more than 4 million locations, PayPay is now essential for daily life in Japan. Here’s how to get it working as a foreigner. ...

Getting a personal loan in Japan as a foreigner is harder than for Japanese nationals, but it’s not impossible. Stable income, a solid credit history in Japan, and the right lender make the difference. Here’s what you need to know. Types of Personal Loans in Japan 1. Card Loans (カードローン) The most accessible option for foreigners. A card loan is a revolving credit line attached to a card — borrow up to your limit, repay flexibly, borrow again. ...

What you'll learn in this guide Why Rakuten Card is the most foreigner-friendly credit card in Japan Step-by-step application process (with English tips) How the Rakuten Points system works and how to maximize rewards Approval requirements for foreigners and visa holders How Rakuten Card compares to other options If you’re a foreigner living in Japan and you want your first Japanese credit card, Rakuten Card is almost always the right starting point. It has the highest approval rate for foreigners, a solid rewards program, and a genuinely useful ecosystem. Here’s everything you need to know. ...

What you'll learn in this guide Rakuten Mobile’s plan structure and pricing for 2025 Who can sign up (foreigner eligibility and required documents) Network coverage: where Rakuten Mobile works well and where it doesn’t How Rakuten Mobile compares to IIJmio, ahamo, and LINEMO How signing up boosts your Rakuten Points (SPU program) Quick Answer Rakuten Mobile offers Japan’s only unlimited data plan at a fixed ¥3,278/month — no throttling, no caps. It’s the best-value option for heavy data users. Coverage is good in urban areas but weaker in rural Japan (uses au network for roaming). Foreigners can sign up with a residence card and Japanese bank account or credit card. ...

Residence tax in Japan arrives as a surprise for most foreigners in their second year — it’s a substantial bill that many people aren’t financially prepared for. Understanding how it works before it arrives makes it much easier to manage. Here’s what residence tax is and how to plan for it. What Is Residence Tax? Residence tax funds local government services — roads, schools, public facilities. Every resident of Japan is required to pay it, regardless of nationality. ...

What you'll learn in this guide Whether Revolut works in Japan and what features are available How to open a Revolut account as a foreigner living in Japan Fee comparison: Revolut vs Wise vs Japanese bank transfers The key limitations of Revolut in Japan you need to know Which app is better for your situation Revolut is one of the most popular fintech apps in the world — but Japan is a complicated market for it. Here’s the honest picture of what Revolut can and can’t do for foreigners in Japan. ...

What you'll learn in this guide How to open an SBI Securities account as a foreigner Which index funds to choose for your NISA (eMAXIS Slim explained) How to set up automatic monthly investing (積立NISA) SBI vs Rakuten Securities: which is better for foreigners? The SBI Hybrid Deposit: how to earn 1.0% on your savings alongside investing Quick Answer SBI Securities is Japan’s largest online brokerage and one of the best platforms for foreigners to invest in NISA. Open a regular securities account first, then open NISA within it. The most popular fund for foreigners is eMAXIS Slim 全世界株式 (All-Country World Index) at 0.05774% annual fee — one of the cheapest globally. Monthly automatic investment is set up in 10 minutes. ...

Earning side income in Japan as a foreigner is possible — but your visa type determines what’s allowed, and going outside those limits has serious consequences. Know the rules before you start. Here’s a practical guide to legal side income for foreigners in Japan. First: Check Your Visa This is critical. Working outside your visa’s permitted activities can lead to deportation or visa revocation. Visa Type Side Work Allowed? Work visa (Engineer, Humanities, etc.) Only with 資格外活動許可 (Permission for Activities Outside Status) Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) ✅ Side work permitted without special permission Spouse visa / Dependent visa ✅ Work permitted (may need 資格外活動許可) Permanent Residency ✅ Fully unrestricted Student visa 28 hrs/week max with 資格外活動許可 Working Holiday ✅ Generally unrestricted How to Get 資格外活動許可 (Permission for Outside Activities) Apply at your local immigration office or online via the Immigration Bureau portal. Usually processed in 2–4 weeks. Allows up to 28 hours/week of side work. ...