Arriving Japan

Quick Answer First 30 days in Japan: register your address at city hall within 14 days (required by law) → get a SIM card → open a bank account → enroll in health insurance → get a My Number Card. Do them in this order — the bank account and insurance enrollment both require your residence card and address registration certificate. You just landed in Japan. You’re jet-lagged, everything around you is in a language you may not read, and somewhere in the next few weeks you need to figure out your address registration, your phone, your bank account, your health insurance — and ideally not in the wrong order. It’s a lot. ...

Arriving in Japan goes smoothly when you know what to expect at customs and immigration. It goes badly when you don’t. Here’s a clear walkthrough of the entire arrival process so there are no surprises. Before You Land: The Digital Arrival Card Since January 2024, Japan has progressively rolled out a digital arrival card (Kijitsu) system. Passengers can complete arrival declarations via the Visit Japan Web portal or QR code system before landing. Check the current status when you book your flight — the process continues to expand across airlines and routes. ...