long-term resident– tag –
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Using a Coin Laundry in Japan: Prices, Steps, Dryers, and Etiquette
A practical guide for foreign residents and families using coin laundries in Japan, covering typical prices, machine types, payment, dryers, bedding, safety, and local etiquette. -
Riding a Local Bus in Japan Without Guesswork
A practical guide for new residents and visitors using local buses in Japan. Learn how to identify the boarding system, pay with an IC card or cash, handle numbered tickets, and avoid common regional mistakes. -
Japan Commuter Passes: How to Pick a Route and Avoid Paying for the Wrong One
A practical guide for workers, students, and new residents choosing a commuter pass in Japan. Learn how routes, costs, renewals, student documents, refunds, and multi-operator journeys work. -
Medical Costs and Tax in Japan: A Practical Guide to the Medical Expense Deduction
A practical guide for foreign residents who paid healthcare costs in Japan. Learn which expenses may qualify, how the deduction is calculated, what records to keep, and how to claim it through a tax return. -
Japan Car Insurance Explained: Why Compulsory Coverage Is Not Enough
A practical guide for foreign residents and families choosing car insurance in Japan. Learn what compulsory insurance covers, where it stops, how voluntary policies fill the gaps, and which 2026 rate change to check. -
Large Medical Bills in Japan: How the High-Cost Benefit Works in 2026
A practical guide for foreign residents facing expensive treatment in Japan, including the August 2026 limits, My Number Card procedure, exclusions, and common billing mistakes. -
Hospital Referrals in Japan: When You Need One and How Much It Costs
A practical guide for foreign residents and newcomers who need to understand hospital referral letters in Japan, including when to get one, current fees, exceptions, and appointment steps. -
Transferred to Another City in Japan? A Practical Tenkin Checklist
A practical guide for foreign workers facing a job transfer in Japan, covering employment documents, relocation costs, family choices, address changes, and immigration checks. -
Planning a Birth in Japan: How to Choose a Facility and Budget Beyond the ¥500,000 Benefit
A practical guide for foreign residents choosing a birth facility in Japan, estimating delivery costs, and using the ¥500,000 childbirth allowance. It also explains payment methods, common extra charges, deadlines, and the 2026 reform watchpoints. -
Proof of Employment in Japan: Which Certificate to Request and How to Get It
A practical guide for foreign workers who need proof of current or past employment in Japan. Learn the difference between zaishoku shōmeisho, taishoku shōmeisho, rishokuhyō, and other documents required after leaving a job.
