Connections with work, family, and local community that you should consider in order to live long-term in Japan

From “temporary residents” to “local residents”

Immediately after arriving in Japan, the focus is on specific issues such as housing, banking, and communications. However, once your life stabilizes, the next thing that becomes important is connections with people. Life in Japan will be more stable if you have acquaintances outside of work, relationships with neighbors, and hobbies and learning communities.

You don't have to aim for perfection in Japanese

In urban areas, there are situations where you can get by in English, but just knowing simple Japanese will greatly increase your options. It makes it easier to communicate in small everyday situations such as shopping, at the hospital, at home, and at local events. It's better to start with being able to convey what you need rather than perfect grammar.

Review your living environment in line with changes in work and life

The house you choose when you come to Japan may not be the best choice even several years later. The space and space you need will change due to job changes, marriage, the birth of children, school, working from home, etc. It is also important to review whether it suits your current lifestyle when renewing your contract.

For specialized issues, go to the appropriate experts

In long-term living, you may face issues that require specialized knowledge, such as residence, taxation, law, real estate, and inheritance. Please do not make important decisions based solely on general information on the Internet; please check with qualified experts and public institutions depending on your situation.

JCBO aims to reduce the feeling of not knowing where to ask first for foreigners living in Japan, and to provide an entry point where issues can be sorted out and connected to the next appropriate point of contact.

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.