Last Updated: February 2026

Moving to Japan without a checklist is how you end up at Narita Airport realizing your bank card doesn't work and you can't rent an apartment without a Japanese phone number. I've seen it happen. This checklist breaks down exactly what you need to handle 3 months out, 1 month out, and the week before you leave -- documents, money, housing, and the stuff most people forget until it's too late.

3 Months Before: Documents and Visa Prep

Get Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

If you're coming on a work visa, your employer handles most of this. But you still need to send them documents, and the COE takes 4-8 weeks to process at immigration. Send everything they ask for immediately -- one missing item restarts the clock.

Once your employer receives the COE, they ship it to you (allow 5-7 days international). You cannot get your visa without the physical COE in hand.

Gotcha: Your COE is valid for only 3 months from issue date. If you don't enter Japan within that window, it expires and you start over. Check the issue date as soon as you receive it.

Apply for Your Visa

With COE in hand, apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest you. Processing takes 5-10 business days in most countries, but book your appointment early -- some consulates are backlogged weeks out.

You'll need:

Arrange Housing Before Arrival

Do not arrive in Japan without housing secured. Tokyo guesthouses and short-term furnished apartments book out 4-6 weeks in advance, and you'll need a Japanese address within 2 weeks of arrival to complete your resident registration.

For your first 1-3 months, book a furnished short-term rental or guesthouse. This gives you time to apartment hunt in person without the pressure. Expect to pay 80,000-120,000 yen/month for a private room in Tokyo, 50,000-80,000 yen/month in Osaka or Fukuoka.

If your employer provides housing, confirm the move-in date in writing and get the exact address. You'll need it for several forms.

Maneki Homes lists English-friendly properties and short-term rentals across Japan -- filter by "foreigner-friendly" to see places that don't require a Japanese guarantor.

Order an International Driver's Permit (If Needed)

If you plan to drive in Japan, get your International Driver's Permit (IDP) before leaving your home country. In the US, AAA issues them for $20 in about 15 minutes.

Your IDP is valid for 1 year in Japan. After that, you'll need to convert to a Japanese license or take the Japanese driving test (which has a 30-40% pass rate for foreigners and costs around 6,000 yen per attempt).

Gotcha: Not all countries' licenses are convertible to a Japanese license. If you're from the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, or Taiwan, conversion is straightforward. If you're from most other countries, you'll need to take the full Japanese driving test after your IDP expires.

6-8 Weeks Before: Money and Banking

Notify Your Bank You're Moving

Call your bank and credit card companies. Tell them you're moving to Japan and will be making transactions there. Get it noted on your account, or your card will be frozen the first time you use it in Tokyo.

Ask specifically:

Bring Cash for Your First Month

Japan runs on cash more than any developed country you've experienced. Bring at least $1,000-1,500 USD in cash (or equivalent) to exchange on arrival. You'll need it for:

Exchange rates at Narita and Haneda airports are surprisingly decent -- usually within 1-2% of market rate. Skip the currency exchange at your home airport; those rates are terrible.

Research Which Bank You'll Open

You cannot open a Japanese bank account until you arrive and have your residence card, but research now so you can act fast. Most people open accounts at:

Japan Post Bank (Yucho): Easiest for foreigners, has English support, ATMs everywhere. But the app is clunky and international transfers are limited. Good as your first account.

Shinsei Bank: Best English app and website, easy online application. But ATM network is small outside Tokyo. Good as your second account once you're settled.

SMBC Prestia: Full English service, handles international transfers well. Requires higher minimum balance (usually 500,000 yen to waive monthly fees). Good if your employer pays well.

You'll need your residence card, My Number card (or notification slip), passport, and personal seal (hanko) to open any account. Some banks also require proof of address (a utility bill or residence certificate).

1 Month Before: Logistics and Packing

Ship Essentials (or Don't)

International shipping to Japan costs $500-2,000 USD for a few boxes and takes 6-12 weeks by sea. Most people overpack.

What's cheaper to buy in Japan than ship:

What you should bring:

I recommend arriving with 2 checked bags and buying everything else in Japan. If you're set on shipping, use a consolidated shipper like Yamato Transport's international service -- it's half the price of FedEx or DHL for non-urgent items.

Buy a SIM or Pocket WiFi

You need internet access the moment you land. Without it, you can't use Google Maps, contact your housing, or look up train routes.

Order a tourist SIM card before departure:

Once you have your residence card, switch to a real phone plan. Expect 2,000-4,000 yen/month for 10-20GB of data. Rakuten Mobile, ahamo (by Docomo), and LINEMO are the most foreigner-friendly with English apps and online signup.

Download Key Apps Before You Leave

Get these on your phone while you still have easy internet:

Get Prescription Documentation

If you take prescription medication, bring:

  1. The medication in original packaging with pharmacy labels
  2. A signed letter from your doctor listing the medication name (generic and brand), dosage, and reason for prescription
  3. Enough supply for 1-3 months (customs allows up to 1 month's supply without prior approval for most medications; anything longer or controlled substances need a yakkan shoumei import certificate)

Japan bans certain medications that are legal in other countries, including some ADHD medications (Adderall), some cold medicines with pseudoephedrine, and codeine-based painkillers. Check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's import restrictions or contact your nearest Japanese embassy if you're unsure.

Settle Japan's relocation guide includes a full medication import checklist and sample yakkan shoumei application -- $9.99 gets you the complete packet.

1 Week Before: Final Prep

Confirm Your Housing Details

Email or message your guesthouse/landlord 3-5 days before arrival:

If you're arriving on a weekend or national holiday, confirm someone will be there to let you in. I've seen people sleep in manga cafes because they arrived on a Sunday and the office was closed.

Print Physical Copies of Everything

Yes, you have PDFs on your phone. Print them anyway. You'll need physical copies of:

Japanese immigration sometimes asks for physical documents, and if your phone dies or you have no signal, you're stuck.

Pack Your Carry-On Strategically

Put these in your carry-on, not checked bags:

Check Your Phone Plan for International Roaming

Even if you're getting a Japanese SIM, turn on international roaming for your home country SIM for the first 24 hours. It costs $10-15 for a day pass with most carriers and gives you a backup if your Japanese SIM has issues.

Text a few key people your Japan phone number or accommodation address once you have it so they can reach you.

At the Airport: First 24 Hours in Japan

Immigration and Customs

After landing, you'll go through immigration. Have ready:

They'll take your fingerprints and photo, stamp your passport, and issue your residence card on the spot at Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports. If you land at a smaller airport, you'll receive your residence card later at your local ward office.

Guard your residence card with your life. It's your ID for everything -- banks, phones, apartment contracts, and you're legally required to carry it at all times. Lose it and you're paying 10,000+ yen for a replacement and dealing with bureaucracy.

Get Cash Immediately

Hit a 7-Eleven ATM in the arrivals hall before you leave the airport. Withdraw 20,000-30,000 yen to cover your first few days. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson ATMs accept most foreign cards; bank ATMs often don't.

Buy a Suica or Pasmo Card

Train station ticket machines in the airport sell Suica (in Tokyo) or ICOCA (in Osaka) cards -- rechargeable smart cards for trains, buses, and convenience stores. Load 2,000-3,000 yen on it. This saves you from figuring out ticket prices while jet-lagged.

Mobile Suica (iPhone/Android app) works too if you set it up in advance, but the physical card is foolproof and has no setup friction.

First Week: Critical Admin Tasks

Complete Resident Registration Within 14 Days

Go to your local ward office (ku-yakusho or shi-yakusho) within 14 days of arrival. Bring your passport and residence card. Tell them you need to register your address (juminhyo).

They'll update your residence card with your address on the back. Now it's a valid ID for everything.

While you're there, ask about:

Open a Bank Account

With your residence card now showing an address, open a bank account within your first week. Japan Post Bank is the easiest starting point.

Bring:

Most banks require you to apply in person at a branch. Expect the process to take 30-60 minutes. Your cash card arrives by mail in 1-2 weeks; online banking login info comes separately.

Get a Phone Plan

Tourist SIMs run out fast. Once you have your residence card, get a real phone plan.

Rakuten Mobile offers fully online English signup and no long-term contract. Plans start at 1,078 yen/month for up to 3GB. The app is in English and you can cancel anytime.

ahamo (by Docomo) has better coverage but requires more Japanese during signup. 2,970 yen/month for 20GB.

Most carriers require a Japanese credit card or bank account for payment. If you don't have those yet, pay-as-you-go options like Mobal work until your bank account is active.

What Most Checklists Don't Tell You

Gotcha: Residence tax bills arrive 6-8 months after you start working, not immediately. Your first year in Japan feels affordable; then in June you get hit with a 60,000-150,000 yen annual tax bill (paid in 4 installments). Budget for it.

Gotcha: Key money (reikin) is not a deposit. It's a non-refundable gift to the landlord, usually 1-2 months' rent. You also pay a deposit (shikikin, 1-2 months' rent), agency fees (1 month's rent), and first month's rent upfront. Renting an apartment costs 4-6 months' rent in initial cash. This is why most people start with guesthouses.

Gotcha: Your foreign driver's license and IDP don't work if you're a resident. Technically, the IDP is only valid for tourists and short-term visitors. Once you have a residence card, you're supposed to convert to a Japanese license or stop driving. Enforcement is inconsistent, but if you're in an accident with an IDP as a resident, insurance may not cover you.

Gotcha: Most apartments don't come with furniture, lighting, or appliances beyond a stovetop. Budget 50,000-100,000 yen to furnish a basic 1-room apartment (bed, desk, chair, curtains, kitchenware, lighting). Nitori and IKEA are your friends here.

Moving to Japan Is Front-Loaded Work

The hardest part of moving to Japan is the first 4 weeks -- documents, money, housing, and admin tasks stack up fast. But if you follow this checklist, you'll avoid the mistakes that cost people thousands of yen and weeks of stress.

Print this checklist. Tick items off as you go. And remember: the bureaucracy is intense upfront, but once you're through it, daily life in Japan is smooth.

Not sure which visa you qualify for or whether your situation fits the standard path? I break down visa options, eligibility, and edge cases in a 1-on-1 strategy call -- $49 for 30 minutes where we map your specific situation to the right visa path.

Disclaimer: Settle Japan provides relocation consulting, not legal advice. Immigration rules change -- verify current requirements with your local immigration bureau or a licensed administrative scrivener (gyosei shoshi).

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