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Last Updated: April 2026

Most Used Guide

Japan Garbage Sorting Guide 2026

Master the 6 universal garbage categories. Then check your city's collection schedule.

Burnable

燃えるゴミ

Food waste, paper, wood, fabric, rubber

Non-Burnable

燃えないゴミ

Metal, ceramics, glass items, small electronics

Plastic Containers

プラスチック容器

Food trays, shampoo bottles, caps (marked with プラ)

PET Bottles

ペットボトル

Drink bottles (must be rinsed, cap & label removed)

Cans & Glass Bottles

缶・ビン

Aluminum cans, steel cans, sake/beer bottles

Paper & Cardboard

紙・段ボール

Newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes (flattened)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • 1Pizza boxes → Burnable (NOT recyclable due to grease)
  • 2Styrofoam trays → Wash and recycle (many stores have collection boxes)
  • 3Oversized items (>30cm) → Call city hall for pickup appointment
  • 4Batteries & light bulbs → Separate collection (check electronics store)
  • 5Aerosol cans → Must be empty, puncture hole in can before disposal
💡

Yamada Hack

70% of smaller Japanese cities don't have English garbage guides. That's why we created this universal guide. The categories are the same everywhere - only collection days differ by location.

Find Your City's Schedule

Every city in Japan has different collection days. Use 5374.jp to find your exact schedule.

YAMADA HACK

Yamada Hack: Read Japanese Sites

This link goes to a Japanese-only website. Install Google Translate Extension for Chrome to view it in English automatically.

5374.jp Garbage Schedule How to Install Extension →

Covers 1000+ cities across Japan • Updated by local governments

🎯 Quick Tips

⏰ Put out the night before

Most collection is early morning (6-8 AM)

👜 Use designated bags

Many cities require specific colored bags

🧴 Rinse containers

Remove food residue before recycling

📦 Flatten cardboard

Tie with string, separate from other paper

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Japan Visa & PR Navigator

2026

The most comprehensive visa & permanent residency guide for foreigners in Japan

16+ Visa Types
HSP Calculator
PR Checker
2026 Updates
Last verified against official ISA sources: April 7, 2026

Japan Visa Types 2026 — Complete Guide

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities

技術・人文知識・国際業務

💼 Work1–3 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Specified Skilled Worker 1

2026: 全16分野 + 新分野追加中

特定技能 1号

💼 Work2–4 monthsValid: Up to 5 years total (non-renewable beyond 5yr cap)

Specified Skilled Worker 2

2026: 全11+分野 (2023年拡大)

特定技能 2号

💼 Work2–4 monthsValid: 3 years (renewable indefinitely)

Highly Skilled Professional

2026: J-Skip 2023年導入

高度専門職

💼 Work1–2 monthsValid: 5 years

Intra-company Transferee

企業内転勤

💼 Work1–3 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Business Manager

経営・管理

💼 Work2–4 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Student Visa

留学

🌏 Other1–3 monthsValid: 1–4 years (based on study program)

Dependent Visa

家族滞在

🌏 Other1–3 monthsValid: Same as sponsor's visa

Spouse of Japanese National

日本人の配偶者等

🌏 Other1–3 monthsValid: 6 months / 1 / 3 / 5 years

Long-Term Resident

定住者

🌏 Other2–4 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Designated Activities (Job Seeking)

特定活動

🌏 Other1–2 monthsValid: 6 months (extendable to 1 year)

Working Holiday

ワーキングホリデー

🌏 Other2–8 weeksValid: 1 year (non-renewable)

Digital Nomad Visa

2026: April 2024導入・継続中

デジタルノマドビザ

🌏 Other2–4 weeksValid: 6 months (non-extendable)

Nursing Care

介護

💼 Work2–4 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Skilled Labor

技能

💼 Work1–3 monthsValid: 1 / 3 / 5 years

Training & Employment

2026: 技能実習に代わる新制度

育成就労

💼 WorkTBD (system launching)Valid: Up to 3 years

J-Skip (Special Highly Skilled)

2026: 2023年4月導入・2026年1月オンライン申請対応

特別高度人材制度

💼 Work1–2 months (priority processing)Valid: 5 years

J-Find (Future Creation)

未来創造人材制度

🌏 Other1–2 monthsValid: Up to 2 years

About This Tool

The Japan Visa & PR Navigator is a free, interactive guide covering all major Japan immigration pathways for foreigners in 2026. Whether you are on a work visa, student visa, or exploring the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) points system, this tool helps you understand your options and prepare your application.

Key 2026 updates: Japan expanded the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program to 16 industrial sectors as of March 2026. The new J-Skip fast-track allows professionals earning ¥20M+ annually with a Master's degree or 10+ years of experience to skip the HSP points system entirely and apply for PR after just 1 year. The 育成就労 (Ikusei Shuro) system is replacing the Technical Intern Training program, with job-change rights after 1 year in the same sector.

PR routes overview: The standard permanent residency route requires 10 consecutive years of legal residence. With an HSP visa at 70+ points, this shortens to 3 years; at 80+ points or via J-Skip, just 1 year. Spouses of Japanese nationals can apply after 3 years of marriage and 1 year of continuous residence in Japan.

SSW visa sectors (16 total): Nursing care, building cleaning, industrial machinery, electronics, construction, shipbuilding, automobile repair, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fisheries, food & beverage manufacturing, food service, and more. SSW Type 2 holders can bring family dependents and apply for PR.

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only. Immigration rules change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) at moj.go.jp/isa/ before submitting any application.

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How to Use the Garbage Sorting Guide

  1. Start by selecting your city or ward from the dropdown menu — the tool covers hundreds of municipalities across Japan, each with its own rules.
  2. Type the item you want to dispose of into the search box, and the tool will instantly show you its color-coded category: burnable, non-burnable, recyclable, PET bottles, or oversized items.
  3. Check the pickup schedule for each category in your area — the tool displays your local collection days clearly in English so there's no guessing.
  4. Use the reminder feature to set notifications before each pickup day, so you never accidentally miss a collection or put out the wrong bag.
  5. For oversized items (sodai gomi) such as furniture or appliances, the tool shows the specific booking process required by your municipality, including any fees involved.

Why Garbage Sorting Matters More Than You Think

Garbage sorting is one of the most stressful daily tasks for foreigners living in Japan. Unlike most countries where sorting is simple or optional, Japan enforces strict separation rules — and those rules vary dramatically depending on exactly where you live. Tokyo's Shinjuku ward has entirely different guidelines than Shibuya, even though the two are just blocks apart. Getting it wrong is not a minor inconvenience: your bag will be left on the curb with a bright warning sticker attached, neighbors will notice, and your landlord may receive formal complaints from the building or the neighborhood association.

Some municipalities have more than 15 separate categories to sort into. The garbage calendars distributed by local city offices are printed entirely in Japanese, with small kanji that is nearly impossible for newcomers to decipher — even intermediate Japanese learners struggle with the specific terminology used. Many foreigners have faced serious consequences for repeated sorting violations, including written warnings from landlords and, in extreme cases, threats of eviction.

This tool eliminates all of that guesswork. Instead of struggling through Japanese calendars or asking your neighbors to explain the rules again, you simply search for your item and get a clear, English-language answer showing exactly which bin it belongs in, when it gets picked up, and how to handle exceptions. It turns one of Japan's most confusing daily challenges into a two-second lookup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your garbage bag will be left uncollected and tagged with a yellow or red warning sticker explaining the violation. Neighbors may complain to your landlord, and repeated offenses can lead to formal warnings or even lease termination in strict apartment complexes. Use your city's garbage collection schedule or this garbage guide tool to confirm the correct day and category for each type of waste.
Yes, garbage sorting rules vary significantly by municipality across Japan, and there is no single national standard. Some cities have as few as 4 categories while others require sorting into 10 or more distinct bins. This garbage guide tool helps you find the specific rules for your city so you never have to guess which bin to use.
Remove the cap and label from the PET bottle, rinse it with water, then crush it flat before placing it in the designated PET bottle recycling bin. The cap and plastic label are sorted separately into the plastic recycling category. Following these PET bottle steps correctly is important because contaminated bottles are often rejected by collection staff.
Most municipalities require you to put garbage out by 8:00 AM on the designated collection day, and leaving it out the night before is generally prohibited as it attracts crows and animals. Some apartment buildings have a dedicated garbage room where you can deposit waste at any time of day. Check your city's garbage collection rules for the exact time requirement in your area.
Technically yes — some municipalities have ordinances allowing fines for improper garbage disposal, though enforcement is rare for first-time offenses. More commonly, your unsorted garbage bag will be left behind with a warning sticker attached. Persistent violations can result in complaints to your landlord or property manager, so correct garbage sorting is worth taking seriously.

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