Finance

Life insurance in Japan is widely available, competitively priced, and accessible to foreign residents — but the range of products is bewildering. Understanding what you actually need simplifies the decision significantly. Here’s a practical guide to life insurance in Japan for foreigners. Do You Need Life Insurance in Japan? Ask yourself: Do you have dependents (spouse, children) who rely on your income? → Life insurance is worth considering Are you single with no dependents? → May not need it yet Do you have significant debt (mortgage, business loans)? → Life insurance helps protect against that Is your employer’s death-in-service benefit adequate? → Check your contract Japan’s social safety net provides a widow/widower pension and child allowances — but these are usually insufficient to replace a full income. ...

Quick Answer All foreign residents in Japan aged 20–59 must pay into the national pension (国民年金). The monthly premium is ¥16,980 (2025). Company employees pay via payroll into the employee pension (厚生年金) — employer covers half. When you leave Japan, you can claim back 20–36 months of contributions as a lump-sum refund (脱退一時金) within 2 years of departure. Apply before leaving. Japan’s national pension system is mandatory for most foreign residents — and many foreigners are either unaware they’re enrolled or unsure whether contributions are worth making. The good news: there’s a refund program when you leave. Here’s everything you need to know. ...

Quick Answer NISA is Japan’s tax-free investment account. Foreigners with a residence card and My Number can open one — most don’t realize they’re eligible. The 2024 new NISA allows up to ¥3.6M/year tax-free, with a ¥18M lifetime limit and no expiry. NISA is Japan’s tax-free investment account — similar in concept to an ISA or Roth IRA — and foreign residents can open one. Most foreigners never use it because they don’t know they’re eligible. Here’s how NISA works and whether it makes sense for you. ...

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. ...

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. ...