Guides, tips, and stories from the community.
This guide covers a confirmed upcoming policy change, not current law. The enforcement target date is June 2027. Review this before your next renewal....
This article covers legal-risk content for general education. It is not legal advice. If you are involved in or approached for illegal activity, consu...
According to a survey by Able Holdings — one of Japan's largest real estate franchise networks — approximately 15% of the roughly 175,000 rental listi...
Japan added the Automobile Transport sector (自動車運送業) to its Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能, Tokutei Gino) program in late 2024. As of 2026, the progra...
If you have a child on a long-term visa in Japan — or if your child was born here and is staying for more than three months — the rules for their Resi...
If you are on a 3-year work or spouse visa and planning to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan, February 24, 2026 changed your timeline. Japan...
Updated July 7, 2026: Status-of-residence change/extension fees and PR application fees are now officially confirmed by the Immigration Services Agenc...
Quick Summary Why Did Japan Change the Rules? The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) implemented its most significant Business Manager Visa...
Quick Facts What Is the ESD Visa? The Employment for Skill Development (ESD) program is Japan's new entry route for foreign workers in bl...
<h2>8 Days Left at the Old Price</h2<p>On July 1, 2026 — in 8 days from this writing — Japan's tourist visa fees increase by five times. A single-entr...
<h2>The System You Knew Is Gone After October 31</h2<p>If you plan to shop in Japan after November 1, 2026, the system you knew no longer exists. No m...
<h2>Six Fee Changes. One Year. All Hitting Foreigners in Japan Simultaneously.</h2<p>2026 is an unusual year in Japan's relationship with foreign visi...
<h2>Japan Is Checking What You Are Actually Doing Behind the Visa Door</h2<p>Japan is not closing the door to foreign workers. The numbers tell the op...
<h2>475,000 Workers. One Rule Change. Most Headlines Got It Wrong.</h2<p>Approximately 475,000 foreign residents hold Japan's Gijinkoku visa (技術・人文知識・...
<h2>Your Japan Trip + JLPT Plan Just Changed</h2<p>Did you plan to visit Japan and take the JLPT while you were there? That strategy is no longer poss...
<h2>Two Things Are Being Mixed Up — Let's Separate Them</h2<p>If you have been reading news about Japan's permanent residency (PR) rules in 2026, you ...
<h2>A Problem Japan Just Solved</h2<p>Here is a problem that stopped many foreign workers from driving in Japan. You want to drive trucks in Japan. Ja...
<h2>The Short Answer: No — Malaysia Is Not on Japan's WHV List</h2<p>As of April 2026, Japan has Working Holiday Visa (WHV) agreements with 32 countri...
<h2>What DTAA Actually Does — Plain Terms</h2<p>The India-Japan Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) prevents you from paying full income tax on...
<h2>The Problem with Most Vegetarian Japan Guides Online</h2<p>Most guides covering vegetarian food in Japan are written for tourists on a 7–10 day tr...
<h2>Can SSW Workers Bring Family to Japan? The Real Answer</h2<p>Short answer: <strong>SSW-1 (特定技能1号) does NOT allow family sponsorship.</strongSSW-2 ...
The 33 Best Japan Resources for Foreigners in 2026: Honest Comparison Guide By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 Living in Japan as a foreigner means ...
How to Search and Verify Any Japanese Company in 2026: Complete METI gBizINFO and Corporate Number Guide (法人検索) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 ...
Japan Property Due Diligence for Foreign Buyers 2026: Address Check, FEFTA Reporting & Hazard Map Guide (不動産デューデリジェンス) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May...
Japan Postal Code System Explained: 7-Digit Codes, Address Format, and English Romaji Guide (郵便番号) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 Whether you a...
April 2026 Japan Health Insurance Surcharge: How Much MORE Foreign Workers Pay (Child & Childcare Support Levy 子ども・子育て支援金) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan ·...
Japan Cyclist Fines 2026: Full Blue Ticket Violation List - ¥12,000 for Phone Use, ¥6,000 for Red Lights (青切符制度) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 ...
Engineer/Humanities Visa April 15, 2026: New Document Rules for Category 3 & 4 Employers (技人国 追加書類) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 If you hold ...
Japan Pension Bonus 2026: Senior Foreign Workers Can Now Earn ¥620,000/Month Without Cuts (在職老齢年金 改正) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 If you are...
Japan Departure Tax Tripled July 2026: ¥3,000 per Person - Complete Guide for Foreign Residents (国際観光旅客税) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 If you...
Japan Accommodation Tax 2026: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido Full City List (宿泊税) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 Planning a trip insi...
Japan Ikusei Shuro 2027: What TITP Holders Must Decide Before April 2027 (育成就労制度) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · Updated June 2026 If your Technical Inte...
Japan 'Singles Tax' 2026: New Childcare Surcharge Funding Birth Decline - Full Foreigner Guide (子ども子育て支援金 詳細) By Yamada · Chiba, Japan · May 2026 Yo...
SSW Food Service Visa FROZEN: What This Means for You (April 13, 2026 Update) On April 13, 2026, Japan did something it has never done before. The Im...
Japan Tax-Free Shopping is ENDING — Pay First, Refund Later (Big Change Nov 1, 2026) For decades, shopping tax-free in Japan was beautifully simple. ...
Japan's "¥1.3 Million Wall" Just Got Softer — But NOT Removed (April 2026 Big Change) If you have a foreign spouse on a Dependent visa working part-t...
Japan Student Visa Crackdown 2026: New Rules Every Foreign Student MUST Know (Updated April 10, 2026) If you are a foreign student in Japan — or plan...
Japan Citizenship Now Requires 10 Years: New 2026 Rules Explained (帰化申請) From April 1, 2026, becoming a Japanese citizen is MUCH harder. The residenc...
Japan Health Insurance Card Abolished: My Number Card Required 2026 Guide Your old blue health insurance card is DEAD. From December 2025, Japan requ...
Japan Immigration News: Citizenship Now 10 Years, Visa Fees Rising & More (March 2026) If you live in Japan as a foreigner — or plan to — read this n...
Yamada Hack: The "Trial History" Play for Renting in Japan (2026 Guide) The #1 strategy that helped me rent ANY apartment in Japan - even those with ...
Japan City Hall One-Visit Hack: The Phrase That Gets Staff to Tell You Everything Japanese city hall staff will answer your question. Exactly your qu...
Engineer Visa Japan Without a Degree: 10-Year Rule, IT Exam & Alternatives (2026 Guide) Yes, it's possible! I got my Engineer/Specialist in Humanitie...
Best Share Houses in Tokyo for Foreigners 2026: Real Costs & Budget Guide Standard Tokyo studio apartments now average ¥130,000–¥150,000/month in cen...
Japan Business Manager Visa ¥30 Million Rule 2026: Complete Guide for Foreign Entrepreneurs Last Updated: March 2026 Category: Business & Visa Qu...
Can Filipinos Start a Business in Japan? YES. Filipinos can legally start and operate a business in Japan through the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理ビザ)...
Permanent Residency in Japan — The Ultimate OFW Goal For many Filipino OFWs, getting Japan Permanent Residency (永住権 / Eiju-ken) is the ultimate goal....
Can Filipinos Study in Japan? YES — and it is more accessible than most Filipinos think. Japan has over 800 Japanese language schools and 800+ univer...
Spouse Visa Japan — What It Is If you are a Filipino married to a Japanese citizen, you can live in Japan on a Spouse or Child of Japanese National r...
What is the DMW G2G Japan Hiring Program? The Government-to-Government (G2G) program is the most trusted way for Filipinos to work in Japan. The Phil...
Can Filipino Students Work Part-Time in Japan? YES — but with strict limits. Filipino students on a Student Visa (留学ビザ) in Japan can work part-time (...
What is Pag-IBIG and Why Should OFW in Japan Care? Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund / HDMF) is a Philippine government savings and housing...
Japan Tourism is Booming — Hotels Need You Now Japan welcomed over 35 million tourists in 2025, breaking all records. Hotels, ryokan (traditional inn...
Japan Farm Work for Filipinos — The Hidden Gem OFW Job Agriculture is one of the most overlooked Japan jobs for Filipino OFWs — but it is one of the ...
Can I Bring My Family to Japan? This is the dream of every Filipino OFW in Japan — working hard, saving money, and one day being reunited with your s...
Can I Keep My PhilHealth, SSS and Pag-IBIG While in Japan? YES — and you absolutely should. Many Filipino OFWs in Japan make the costly mistake of st...
Can Filipinos Convert Their Philippine License to Japan License? This is one of the biggest surprises for Filipino OFWs arriving in Japan. Unlike som...
Why Construction is the Highest Paying OFW Job in Japan If you are a Filipino OFW looking for the highest take-home pay in Japan WITHOUT a college de...
Factory Work in Japan for Filipinos Factory work is the most common job for Filipino OFWs in Japan. Japan has a massive manufacturing sector covering...
Can Filipinos Teach English in Japan? YES. Filipinos are native-level English speakers and are in high demand as English teachers in Japan. Japan's E...
Is Working in Japan Worth It for Filipinos? This is the #1 question every Filipino OFW asks before deciding to go to Japan. The answer depends on whi...
Why JLPT N4 is the Most Important Exam for Filipino OFWs JLPT N4 is the minimum Japanese language requirement for the SSW (Specified Skilled Worker) ...
Can I Work in Japan Without a College Degree? YES. Japan has a serious labor shortage and is actively recruiting foreign workers — including Filipino...
Can I Use GCash in Japan? Yes! Filipino OFWs in Japan can use GCash to receive remittances from Japan, send money back to Philippines, and make some ...
Filipino Healthcare Workers in Japan Japan urgently needs nurses and care workers. Filipinos are among the most in-demand healthcare workers in Japan...
What is POEA / DMW? The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has been reorganized into the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Befor...
What is Resident Tax (住民税)? Resident Tax (住民税 — Jumin-zei) is a local tax paid to your city or prefecture. It is SEPARATE from income tax (所得税). Man...
What is Ikusei Shuro? Ikusei Shuro (育成就労制度) is Japan's new foreign worker training system that will replace the Technical Intern Training Program (TI...
What is Kakutei Shinkoku? Kakutei Shinkoku (確定申告) is Japan's annual income tax return filing. The deadline is every year from February 16 to March 15...