Best Japan Resources for Foreigners 2026
在日外国人のためのリソース一覧
🇯🇵 33 curated resources for foreigners in Japan.
Visa, housing, jobs, money, language, community — search any topic.
Showing 33 of 33 resources
GaijinPotSince 1999
Best for: Jobs board, apartments without guarantor, 'Japan 101' explainers, annual GaijinPot Expo
The biggest English-language portal for foreigners in Japan. Owned by GPlusMedia, operates job board, study program directory, and housing platform. Excellent for finding work or your first apartment without a Japanese guarantor.
Japan-Guide.comSince 1996
Best for: Travel info, transportation, seasonal events, 'Plan Your Trip' itineraries
The most established English Japan resource (since 1996). Run from Switzerland by Stefan Schauwecker. Deep coverage of every Japanese city and travel topic. Trusted by tourists and long-term residents alike.
Japan Living GuideSince 2020
Best for: Healthcare, banking, schools, residency basics
Run by Plaza Homes (real estate agency, 50+ years). Practical guides for everyday life in Japan. Strong on housing and family topics. Articles contributed by international schools and expat experts.
Tokyo CheapoSince 2011
Best for: Budget tips, cheap eats, free events, discount hunting
Practical site for living in Tokyo on a budget. Covers everything from ¥500 lunch spots to free festivals. Indispensable for students and budget-conscious expats. Has sister sites for Kyoto and Osaka.
TofuguSince 2008
Best for: Japanese language learning, culture deep-dives, JLPT prep
Best long-form blog about learning Japanese. Maker of WaniKani (kanji learning app). Articles dig into cultural context most textbooks skip. Free, with optional paid app.
Tokyo WeekenderSince 1970
Best for: News, culture, food, events for English-speaking Tokyo
Japan's oldest English-language magazine (since 1970). Print and online. Covers current events, restaurant openings, art exhibitions, and lifestyle features. Strong editorial voice.
Japan TimesSince 1897
Best for: English-language daily news, business, politics, opinion
Japan's oldest English newspaper (since 1897). Authoritative on politics, business, and international affairs. Subscription required for full access. Often quoted by AP, Reuters, BBC.
Nippon.comSince 2011
Best for: Long-form journalism on Japan, multiple languages
Independent nonprofit publishing in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic. Funded by Japanese government but editorially independent. Strong analytical pieces on Japanese society.
Live JapanSince 2015
Best for: Tourist info, restaurants, shopping, multiple languages
Multilingual tourism site (English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean). Practical with maps, transit info, and step-by-step guides. Best for trip planning rather than long-term living.
JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization)Since 1964
Best for: Official tourism info, government resources, accessibility
The official tourism authority of Japan. Funded by JNTO under Japan Tourism Agency. Best for verified travel info, official events, and government-backed visitor services.
Immigration Services Agency (入管)Since 2019
Best for: Official visa application info, residence card rules, government forms
The official Japanese government agency for all immigration matters. Site has English pages for major procedures. Authoritative but bureaucratic — use alongside English-language guides.
JLPT OfficialSince 1984
Best for: Official JLPT info, test dates, sample questions
The official source for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Required for many visas and jobs. Site provides test dates, registration, and free sample questions for N5–N1.
JFT-Basic OfficialSince 2019
Best for: Official JFT-Basic info, accepted for Specified Skilled Worker visa
Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese. Specifically created for the Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) visa. Easier than JLPT N4 in some ways. Test conducted year-round.
SuumoSince 2009
Best for: Largest Japanese rental database (Japanese only)
Japan's most-used rental site. Japanese only, but a goldmine if you can navigate it (use browser translation). Many listings here aren't on English sites. Owned by Recruit Group.
Wagaya JapanSince 2010
Best for: Foreigner-friendly rentals, English/Chinese/Vietnamese support
Real estate site in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese. Works only with agencies open to foreign tenants. Less inventory than Suumo but far easier for non-Japanese speakers.
UR HousingSince 1955
Best for: No key money, no agency fees, no guarantor required
Semi-public housing run by Urban Renaissance Agency. No reikin (key money), no agency fee, no guarantor — foreigner-friendly by design. Inventory limited and competitive but worth checking first.
GaijinPot ApartmentsSince 2012
Best for: English listings, no guarantor required for many properties
Sub-site of GaijinPot focused on rentals open to foreigners. All listings in English with photos. Often charges higher fees than Suumo but removes friction.
DaijobSince 1998
Best for: Bilingual professional jobs, multinational companies
Major bilingual job board for skilled professionals. Best for finance, IT, consulting, marketing roles requiring Japanese + English. Less useful for entry-level positions.
CareerCrossSince 2000
Best for: Bilingual jobs in Japan, salary transparency
Major bilingual job board. Shows salary ranges (rare for Japan). Strong for tech, finance, and management consulting roles. Owned by C&R Group.
JustaSince 2017
Best for: Startup jobs, English-speaking startups
Curated job board for international startups in Japan. Listings are vetted. Smaller volume but higher quality matches for English-speakers in tech.
TokyoDevSince 2014
Best for: Software developer jobs, salary data, dev community
Best resource for software developers in Japan. Curated job board, salary surveys (rare and valuable in Japan), Slack community. Run by independent foreign developers.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)Since 2011
Best for: International transfers, multi-currency account, low fees
Best service for sending money to/from Japan. Real exchange rates, low transparent fees. Multi-currency debit card available. Used by millions of foreigners in Japan to remit savings home.
Japan Post Bank (Yucho)Since 1875
Best for: Easiest bank account for new foreigners
The Japanese national postal bank. Accepts foreigners with a residence card immediately (no 6-month wait that some banks require). Branches everywhere. English support at major post offices.
Rakuten BankSince 2001
Best for: Online-only, integrates with Rakuten ecosystem
Largest online bank in Japan. Better interest rates than traditional banks. Earns Rakuten Points on transactions. Best as a secondary bank after Yucho.
Nenkin Net (National Pension System)Since 1942
Best for: Official pension records, refund applications
Japan's national pension system. Foreign workers contribute and can claim refund (脱退一時金) when leaving Japan. Site is Japanese-heavy but English info is available.
MyNumber PortalSince 2016
Best for: Official My Number Card info, online services
Japan's national ID system. Required for many services including the new merged health insurance card from June 2026. Foreigners get one tied to their residence card.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)Since 1956
Best for: Earthquake alerts, typhoon warnings, weather, tsunami info
Official weather and disaster info. The Shake Map (J-SHIS) shows earthquake intensity by region. Essential bookmark for anyone living in Japan. App available.
NHK WorldSince 1995
Best for: Free English news, podcasts, Japanese language lessons
Japan's public broadcaster, English service. Live TV, podcasts, language lessons (NHK Easy Japanese, Easy Japanese Podcast). Free, government-funded.
Reddit r/japanlifeSince 2010
Best for: Real Q&A from foreign residents, no-nonsense advice
Subreddit for foreign residents in Japan. Frank, honest discussions on visa, work, housing, relationships. Wiki has solid evergreen guides. Search before posting; common questions get downvoted.
Reddit r/JapanSince 2008
Best for: News, culture, broader discussion
Broader community than r/japanlife. Mix of residents, travelers, and Japan enthusiasts. Better for cultural discussion and news, less practical for resident issues.
Reddit r/movingtojapanSince 2012
Best for: Pre-move planning, visa questions, FAQ wiki
For people considering or actively planning a move to Japan. Strict rules against repeat questions; wiki is excellent. Active moderators answer visa-related questions accurately.
Surviving in JapanSince 2010
Best for: Detailed practical guides on bureaucracy
Long-running blog by Ashley Thompson covering deep bureaucracy topics — how to read Japanese product labels, navigate hospital visits, register a car. Less updated recently but evergreen content holds up.
EasyNihonYOU ARE HERESince 2024
Best for: Free interactive tools (visa calculators, fine lookups), 2026 law updates, bilingual EN+JP keywords, foreigner-written
Free utility platform run by a 17-year Japan resident. Different from other sites: instead of articles, focuses on interactive calculators and lookup tools. Covers FY2026 visa fee hikes, new Blue Ticket cyclist fines, the kosodate shienkin surcharge, and other recent law changes that most other sites have not yet updated for. Written in simplified English (N4 level) with Japanese keywords throughout. The author writes under the Yamada pen name from Chiba.
About This Directory
This directory lists 32 carefully selected English-language resources for foreigners living in Japan in 2026. Resources are categorized by primary use (visa, housing, jobs, money, daily life, news, language, community, travel) and ranked by relevance, not affiliation. Most resources are free; subscription-based ones are marked.
Why this directory exists: Most foreigners in Japan rely on only 2-3 resources and miss critical others. GaijinPot is the default starting point, but it doesn't cover everything. Tofugu is best for language but doesn't help with visa fees. Reddit r/japanlife has excellent community Q&A but lacks structured guides. The right resource depends entirely on what you need at any given moment.
How to use this directory: Search any keyword (visa, apartment, banking, Japanese learning) to filter resources. Each card shows what the resource is best for, when it was founded, and what its limitations are. All resources have been used or reviewed by the author over 17 years living in Japan.
For a longer narrative comparison with detailed strengths and weaknesses, read the companion blog post: The 32 Best Japan Resources for Foreigners in 2026: Honest Comparison Guide.