Money

Japan is one of the most regulated crypto markets in the world — and for foreigners who want to invest in crypto while living here, the rules create specific constraints. Knowing the legal landscape protects you. Here’s how crypto works for foreign residents in Japan. Is Cryptocurrency Legal in Japan? Yes. Japan recognizes crypto assets as legal property under the Payment Services Act (資金決済法). The Financial Services Agency (FSA / 金融庁) licenses all legitimate exchanges. ...

Standard apartment insurance in Japan does not cover earthquake damage — that requires a separate earthquake insurance policy. Given Japan’s seismic activity, this is not a gap worth leaving open. Here’s how earthquake insurance works and whether you need it. What Standard Renter’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover When foreigners in Japan sign apartment leases, they typically purchase 火災保険 (fire insurance) — often required by the landlord. Standard 火災保険 covers: Fire Water damage (from above-floor leaks) Theft Some accidental damage Standard 火災保険 does NOT cover: ...

Freelancing in Japan means learning to invoice correctly — in Japanese format, with the right tax handling, and now with the new Invoice System (適格請求書等保存方式). Getting this right determines whether your clients can claim tax deductions for paying you. Here’s what you need to know. The Basics of Japanese Invoicing A seikyu-sho (請求書) is the Japanese word for invoice. Japanese invoices follow a specific format that differs from Western ones. Getting the format right builds trust with Japanese clients. ...

Furusato Nozei — hometown tax — is one of Japan’s best-kept money-saving secrets, and most foreigners who pay residence tax here have no idea they’re eligible. Done right, you can receive thousands of yen in local goods and products at essentially no net cost. Here’s how it works. How It Works You donate to any municipality in Japan (not your own) The municipality sends you a gift (返礼品) — usually food, drink, local products You deduct the donation from your income tax and residence tax — minus a ¥2,000 personal contribution Net cost to you: ¥2,000 total, regardless of how much you donate (up to your limit) Example: You donate ¥50,000 to a municipality in Hokkaido. They send you ¥15,000 worth of crab and beef. You deduct ¥48,000 from your taxes (¥50,000 – ¥2,000). Your net cost: ¥2,000 + the money you already owed in taxes anyway. ...

Quick Answer Best credit cards for foreigners in Japan: Rakuten Card (free, ¥5,000 bonus, most foreigner-friendly — apply after 6+ months in Japan), Epos Card (apply in-store at Marui for faster approval), SAISON Card (no annual fee, flexible). You need: residence card, Japanese address registered at city hall, Japanese bank account. Initial credit limits are low (¥100,000–300,000). If rejected, use the Wise debit card as a substitute — no credit check, works worldwide. ...

Renters insurance in Japan is cheap, often required by landlords, and covers more than most tenants realize. Skipping it is a false economy. Here’s what renters insurance covers in Japan and how to get the right policy. Why Is Insurance Required? Japanese landlords require tenants to hold fire insurance to cover: Damage to the apartment caused by fire, water leaks, and accidents Liability if your fire or water leak damages a neighbor’s property Without insurance, you personally bear the full cost of these damages — which can reach millions of yen. ...

Quick Answer Who must file: Freelancers, side-income earners (¥200,000+/year extra income), those with 2+ employers, people who left mid-year, and anyone claiming deductions beyond the standard year-end adjustment. Who doesn’t need to file: Salaried employees with one employer — your company handles it via nenmatsu chōsei. Deadline: February 16–March 15 (for previous year’s income). Biggest mistake foreigners make: Not knowing about the second-year residence tax spike (housing allowance stops, ¥100,000–300,000 bill arrives in June). ...

You can invest in Japanese and global stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds from Japan — and the NISA tax-free account makes it especially worthwhile. Opening an account takes about 20 minutes online. Here’s how. Why Invest from Japan? Japan’s NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) gives you a tax-free investment wrapper that’s genuinely excellent: New NISA (2024+): ¥3.6 million/year investment limit, tax-free growth forever, no holding period requirement Japan-based accounts give you access to Japanese stocks, Tokyo-listed ETFs, and global index funds Yen-denominated investing hedges against currency risk if you plan to stay long-term Sending money internationally? Use Wise to fund your Japanese account from overseas — much cheaper than bank wire transfers. ...

What you'll learn in this guide What iDeCo is and how it differs from NISA Whether foreigners in Japan can open an iDeCo account iDeCo’s three tax benefits (contributions, growth, withdrawal) How to open an account and which provider to choose What happens to your iDeCo when you leave Japan Quick Answer iDeCo (個人型確定拠出年金) is Japan’s individual defined-contribution pension account. Foreigners enrolled in Japan’s pension system can open iDeCo. The key benefit: contributions are fully tax-deductible, investment growth is tax-free, and withdrawal is taxed at favourable rates. Maximum contribution is ¥23,000/month for company employees. Funds are locked until age 60. ...

Investing while living in Japan as a foreigner involves tax implications, account restrictions, and platform choices that don’t apply to Japanese residents. Getting the setup right from the beginning saves significant complications later. Here’s a practical guide to investing in Japan as a foreign resident. Start Here: Open a NISA Account New NISA (2024 onwards) is Japan’s tax-free investment account — the most important account for any foreign resident investing in Japan. ...