Living in Japan as a family - Schools, childcare, and living environment

Think about school and housing at the same time

For families with children, commuting to school can become a big burden if you decide on a place to live first and then look for a school. Enrollment period, language, curriculum, fees, and commuting methods vary depending on your choice, such as Japanese school or international school. It is realistic to consider candidate schools and candidate areas at the same time.

Visualize your daily journey

In Tokyo, even if the distance is short, commuting time may be longer due to transfers and congestion. If there is a school bus, check the route and consider the balance with the parent's access to work. Another point to consider is safety when your child reaches the age of traveling alone.

View medical and daily life environments

Being close to places your family frequently uses, such as pediatrics, dentistry, pharmacies, supermarkets, and parks, will reduce the burden of daily life. For families that require support in a foreign language, check how to communicate with medical institutions and schools.

Consider the adaptation of the entire family, not just the child.

When moving abroad, it is important not only for the child's school life, but also for the spouse and entire family to be able to adapt to the new environment. Having connections outside the home, such as with the local community, hobbies, work, and learning Japanese, will make your life more stable.

Educational systems and admission requirements vary by school. When choosing a specific school, please check the official information of each school and consult with an education-related specialist if necessary.

Things to review after actually starting your life in Japan

Things that you didn't understand during the preparation stage will become clear to you once you actually live in Japan for a few days to a few weeks. Write down the time it takes to commute to work or school, ease of shopping, language problems, monthly expenses, etc., and check for any differences from your expectations. It is not necessary to continue with the method you initially decided on, but it is important to adjust communication contracts, travel routes, shopping locations, housing conditions, etc. to suit your lifestyle.

Organize important information in one place

In life in Japan, the number of contacts increases, such as address, contact information for work or school, housing management company, hospital, insurance, bank, telecommunications company, etc. Instead of saving it only on your smartphone, it's a good idea to make a list of the information you need and share it with your family if you have them. Make sure to save contracts, receipts, and important emails in a way that you can check them later.

Check the latest information on systems and professional judgments.

It is necessary to separate general information about daily life from professional judgments such as immigration status, law, taxation, and medical care. As systems and conditions are subject to change, please check the latest information from public institutions and contracting parties before proceeding with the procedure. For work that requires qualifications, it is important to consult with an administrative scrivener, lawyer, tax accountant, or other appropriately qualified professional.