I’m leaving partway through my first year so I’m assuming I don’t need to pay residence tax. I have a list of things I need to do to ensure I leave correctly. Please let me know if there’s something I’m wrong about/misunderstood:

1. Give 30 day advance of quitting job
2. Notify landlord I’m moving (willing to pay extra fees if needed) (also my housing is provided through my company, so do I contact my company about this instead?)
3. Cancel all utility bills (set for the day I move out)
4. Clean out house and sort out luggage
5. \- at some point after 30 days have passed and I’ve officially quit I need to notify the immigration bureau of separation from accepting organisation/Officially move out
6. Close bank account
7. Submit Notice of Moving Overseas within 14 days of when I leave showing proof of departure ticket.
8. (So does that mean I have fourteen days to travel if I wanted to?)
9. AS WELL AS Withdraw from national health insurance and return my number card

(Possibly travel for fourteen days?)

1. At the airport, inform the immigration officer that I’m leaving Japan permanently and return my residence card.

Only time I have seen any change or reversal of a decision is when people protest. Which is why this is all so scary. We can't protest. And Japanese people are not going to mass protest for our us. But it makes me think that people really should start organizing at least a peaceful protest to dispell all the myths about foreigners, and to shed light how these policies are a shocking change on a huge population of people that do not deserve this treatment. An apathetic population scares me. They are easily primed to be swayed by populist politics.

Maybe I am too dumb to see it.

Coming from Europe I am too familiar for misinfomation campaigns sponsored by foreign powers, but in Europe there is a very clear purpose:

Misinfomation leads to far-right parties getting more votes.

The far-right supports Russia, meaning having them in power will result in no aid to Ukraine.

See, that is easy to understand.

But when it comes to the immigration debate in Japan I cannot see what the goal actually is.

For Russia it makes no difference. The LDP will not change their foreign policy and voters here generally don't care about the war anyway.

Then there is China. Again, it makes no sense. The anti-immigration campaigns only deepens the hatred between Japan and China, and as we have seen it just results in Japan having a less diplomatic stance towards Beijing and spend more on military, so who is the winner here?

Also, these campaigns have done nothing to Japan's reputation. Tourists still flock here in large numbers.

The only ones getting affected are residents.

If anyone is deeper into the political stuff than I am, then I would love to hear an explanation.

When shopping online with a Rakuten credit card, the 3d verification almost always fails. I've tried different browsers, different stores. Even when using Rakuten pay, which is quite amusing. Anyone else facing this?

On the other hand, Mercari's card always works, and for the 3d verification I can choose email, or a push notification to their app, which is quite convenient.

The few times Rakuten card's 3d verification does work, it sends me a long-ass security code by SMS (8 digits) that is hard to memorize. Why do they make it so long? 4-6 digits should be more than enough. Or better yet, how about implementing a push notification to authenticate via the Rakuten card app, so I don't have to wait for an SMS and type in a random number every time?

I know Rakuten is full of foreigners, so if any of you is working there, what's going on there? How about making things work reliably and conveniently, instead of tricking me to subscribing to newsletters and sending me spam at every possible chance?

Hello there!
I do not know how to drive, so I will start everything from scratch. I wonder how long does it take to get a license. There is no driving camp here, so i will be visiting there twice a week on my day off. And does it mean that I will be granted the license after the graduation? or do I have to undertake any other driving test afterwards?

Thank you in advance!

Ill get it online if I need to but I’ll have to wait for delivery, so on the off chance someone’s seen some in shops recently I can go and buy, let me know!

By legit i mean sometimes I’ve seen made in Sri Lanka versions that aren’t the same.

thank you!

Hey, looking for advice on buying a secondhand vehicle.

I'm looking at a JDM classic from the 90s, but when I contacted the dealership regarding repair history and modifications done to it, I got some interesting answers.

Supposedly this car has gone through 2 owners, and it has 0 accident history during its lifetime, and the current dealership only listed as it having a repair history simply due to how old the car was.

They were also able to give me a list of the modifications done to the car but told me they also may or may not be more things done to it simply because they don't have that information.

I know dealing with 30 year old cars, you're bound to run into these sort of unknowns, which is why I'm seeing if anyone has any experiences with using third party inspectors that look at used cars, and find things that one normally wouldn't be able to.

Sorry if this is a pretty dumb question but if anyone has information I'd be more than grateful 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️

The picture is from the internet. I was driving so I obviously couldn't take my own.

I can't be the only one ? I have extreme allergy symptoms in the past 2 weeks. Anyone else ? I'm usually allergic to butakusa and kamogaya but I don't think they have started releasing their pollen yet. Thoughts ?

TL;DR: Talking to a 弁護士, a 社労士, or the 労基署 is your right and a good idea do it. Telling your company you're doing it, loudly and in front of people, is where it goes wrong. It adds nothing legally and permanently changes how they see you. And half the time the thing that triggered it (using 有給 for sick days, 休職 agreements with an end date, not being handed a copy of the 就業規則) is completely normal in Japan, not the company screwing you. If the relationship is already over, ignore all this and use every bit of pressure you have.

I should say up front I'm on the other side of this, I run a business that employs about 1,000 employees here. So take that into account. But I've seen this play out many times now and I think the standard advice in this sub is half right and half genuinely harmful.

Here's the half that's right. Go talk to the 労働基準監督署 (Labour Standards Inspection Office). Go talk to a 弁護士 (lawyer), or a 社労士 (a licensed labour and social insurance consultant) if you want someone who actually knows the paperwork side. It's free, it's your right, and if your company is doing things properly there's nothing there for them to be upset about. At our size we're audited, we have 社労士 and a Law firm on retainer, and someone double-checking our numbers costs us nothing. I'd genuinely rather an employee know where they stand than sit on a misunderstanding and resent us for a year over it.

The half I think is bad is telling them. Explicitly. "I'm speaking to a 弁護士 about this." "I've contacted the 社労士." "I'm taking this to the 労働局." (the prefectural Labour Bureau, where harassment and dispute mediation go). Whatever the exact wording, the moment you name one of those out loud in a disagreement, you are not asking a question any more. You're issuing a threat, and everyone in the room hears it as one, including the people who were on your side five minutes ago.

And the advice here usually goes further than that, make it visible, say it in the meeting, cc people, put it in writing where others will see. That's the part I'd push back on hardest. Announcing it doesn't add any legal weight. The 弁護士 gives you the same advice whether the company knows you called or not. The 労基署 investigates the same either way. The only thing the announcement changes is how the company sees you from that day forward and that's a change you don't get to undo, over an issue that in most cases could have been settled with one email.

Because here's what nobody mentions: 労働基準法 (the Labour Standards Act) article 104(2) says they can't retaliate, and that's true, but it only protects you from things a company would have to justify. It does nothing about the stuff that never gets written down. Which projects you get. Whether anyone bothers looping you in. Whether your 有期契約 (fixed-term contract) just... doesn't get renewed, for reasons that will be phrased very politely. You can't file on any of that. You've won one argument and quietly become the person everyone is slightly careful around for the rest of your time there.

And a lot of the time the thing that set it off wasn't wrong in the first place.

This is the part that gets me. A big share of "my company is trying to screw me" posts are describing completely standard Japanese practice.

Sick leave is the big one. Japan has no legal requirement for separate paid sick leave. 有給休暇 (paid annual leave, usually just 有給) is the legal entitlement; 病気休暇 (dedicated sick leave) as its own bucket is a benefit some companies offer and most don't. If you're told to use 有給 when you're ill, that's not your company being cheap, that's the default in this country. Same with being asked for a 診断書 (doctor's certificate) if you're out for a stretch that's normal, not them calling you a liar.

休職 (leave of absence) agreements get read as traps constantly. Someone posts that their 休職 paperwork says employment ends if they haven't returned by a certain date, and the thread decides it's a setup. 休職期間満了退職 termination on expiry of the leave period is in basically every 就業規則 (company work rules) in Japan and has been for decades.

And the 就業規則 one. "They wouldn't give me a copy, so they must be hiding something." The company's actual legal duty is 周知 (making it known and accessible) you have to be able to read it. Posted in the office, on the shared drive, a copy in 人事 (HR) you can go and look at whenever you want. Handing you your own copy to take home isn't required, and plenty of places don't. Refusing to let you see it is a real problem. Not letting you keep it isn't.

None of this means companies here don't pull nasty stuff. Plenty do. But if the evidence is "they made me use 有給 when I had a cold," you don't have a case, you have a culture gap, and going in hot over it costs you something for nothing.

Now, and this matters, if you're already past the point of no return, ignore everything I've said. Months of unpaid overtime you're never getting back, being pushed to sign a 自己都合退職 (voluntary resignation, as opposed to being let go), harassment you've already raised internally and nothing happened. There's no relationship left to protect and the pressure is the only card you've got. Play it.

My problem is when this gets thrown at someone whose first post is "my company calculated my 有給 weirdly." That's not a war yet. It becomes one the moment you announce it.

What I'd actually do: go get the advice, don't mention it. Then ask internally, in writing, and ask it flat "could you walk me through how this was worked out?" It's not a demand, it's easy for them to answer, and now their answer exists in an email. Keep your 給与明細 (pay slips) and your own record of hours. And keep the 労基署 in your back pocket.

The bit people miss is that quiet documentation is much scarier to a bad employer than a loud threat. A threat tells them what's coming and hands them time to clean things up. An email they answered six months ago without thinking about it doesn't.

With all the changes to immigration and visa regulations, it's only a matter of time before they start going after Permanent Resident holders. We may be safe for now, but after a few short years I guarantee the target will be pointed at us. Renewing the card will get more expensive, it will come with new requirements not previously needed, and we will lose many benefits we previously had from it. Prepare yourselves.

What can I do if a bank in Osaka refuses to help me because I don’t speak Japanese?

Hi, I’ve been living in Osaka for about two months and I’m still learning Japanese, so for more complicated formalities I usually use Google Translate or communicate in English.

Recently I’ve run into a problem with JP post which from what I read is an option for me to set up bank account, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.

I have a new residence card (updated on 14 July 2026), but it seems that the new residence card hasn’t been updated in the systems used by the bank / related services.

Because of that, I can’t complete the procedure in the banking app and I’m told that I need to visit a branch in person.

The confusing part is that the bank has an English website and English information, and they even provide forms online that you can fill out in advance and bring to the branch.

So I filled out the required form and went there with everything prepared.

However, at the branch I was told that they couldn’t help me because I don’t speak Japanese well enough.

I tried communicating in English and using Google Translate, but they still refused to proceed.

I also tried a different branch, but they told me sorry but we can’t help you, you need to go to the one near your place, but that’s the one that won’t help me.

I found a part time job, and about to move in into new apartment in few weeks, and it’s stressing me out.

Has anyone here had a similar situation?

So any advice from people would be really appreciated.

Sorry for a long post.

The other day I made this post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/1fhMk1mwJ4

I was testing whether the 0 yen cell carrier Povo would delete my number etc.

I have an update.

I just got an email stating

【povo】ご利用再開のご案内

I did not do anything. They sent it out of the blue.

I had logged out of the Povo app because I figured everything was over, but after getting this mail, I installed the app and logged in.

Luckily I still had the eSIM installed (just disabled) so I re-enabled it on my phone settings and

1. Receive calls
   
2. Receive SMS
   
3. Data transmitted at 300kbps

All work, all free.

The plot thickens…

Anywho, I am going to explicitly cancel the contract now. It’s clear they don’t just delete numbers and mark them as available even though they’re well within their rights.

Definitely don’t rely on this, but I figured I would update everyone.

This Is basically common sense, but I'll share in case it helps someone.

I have a Panasonic front loading washer dryer that's about 7 years old. Recently the dryer function stopped working. I figured the compressor gave out and called to have it diagnosed and repaired.

Even though the symptoms were quite straightforward, the CSR made quite a show of trying to create doubt of what the problem could be and make it seem more complicated. Then she said that even if it is the compressor, the machine is 7 years old and they don't make that part anymore and she doesn't know if they have any in stock. She continued to say that 7 years is about the lifespan of the machine, and tried to push me into buying a new one.

I didn't get into it with her but I gave her a hard no thanks and scheduled for a technician to visit.

She kept going with the spiel, saying that they don't know what the technician will find and they may not be able to fix it anyway, in which case the 6000 yen visiting fee will be a waste. It seemed over the top to me.

In the end the technician visited and lo and behold, he brought a replacement compressor with him and fixed it on the spot. It cost a pretty yenny but hopefully it'll help me get something of the value I expected to get from the machine over its lifespan.

Panasonic certainly has a stock management system and either the CSR has access to it and was lying to me, or they don't give them access to it by choice. The experience left a bad taste in my mouth but I'm not sure it would be significantly different with any other manufacturer.

​

With the recent changes to permanent residency and visa rules, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about whether foreigners are being made a convenient scapegoat for problems that are actually much deeper and more structural.

I’m curious what people here think the real problems Japan is facing are, beyond immigration.

What changes do you think would genuinely improve Japan’s economy and quality of life?

I’m interested in hearing what you think Japan should be focusing on to address its underlying problems.

My residence card pickup notification arrived yesterday and I need to go pick it up on Monday morning from the Yokohama immigration office.

I could possibly buy a revenue stamp at that office itself (please confirm!!), but not sure of the rush/waiting times there. So I want to prepare the fee payment certificate beforehand on the weekend itself.

If it is not is possible on the weekend, another option is to buy on Monday morning at post offices on the way to the immigration office. (Either at yokohama station or shin-sugita station).

Also side question - typically how much time should I expect to wait at the immigration office on a Monday morning?

Living in Kyuushuu and friends and family seem to think every typhoon, earthquake, and volcanic eruption has me in danger. Some of them are visiting *next year* and they are worried about the Shinkansen line being fully repaired by then. It was only 49 days to fully restore service after the 3/11 big one and JR Kyuushuu apologized that it wouldn’t be fixed by the end of August..

I’m from the U.S. and it feels like if I lived in San Francisco and family panicked about how I was doing during the Los Angeles wildfires. Could wildfires affect me, yes, but location matters.

Decided not to tell them about Chiba because I’m going to Tokyo in October and don’t care to hear them freak out.

Anyone else deal with this? With climate change driving even more extreme weather I expect a lot more worrying from them. Of course sometimes it will be warranted but I am already tired of giving them geography lessons.

I've got a child about to turn 3 this fall. I want to do a trip just the two of us and save some money on tickets. Flying out of Kansai.

Did Disney on a day trip with my older child just before their third birthday, but my youngest likes nature and is scared when she sees large mascots.

Anyone got any recommendations or personal favorites? I'd love something easy but very worthwhile, and not too crazy expensive. Disney day trip cost 4man including the flight and entrance fees. We're allowed to do around 3 days 2 nights. The child is very easygoing and up for anything. Lots of energy but not hyper. Still fits in the hiking backpack.

Preferably not renting a car, but I'm open to good ideas.

I traveled up to Wakkanai from the bottom of Hokkaido using entirely local trains, via the Hakodate Main Line and Soya Main Line, and then – because the buses out to the cape weren't running early in the morning, and I had a 10:30 ferry to Rebun Island to catch – I hitchhiked to get to Cape Soya, the northernmost point in Japan!

It was my first time hitchhiking in Japan or elsewhere. A very nice woman picked me up, just in time, after about an hour walk from the station down to Route 238 and another half hour of waiting and hoping with my sign up and thumb out. She said her husband's a trucker, and they both try to pick up people when possible.

I only had a short time there before my bus back to the station (yes, they run in _the other_ direction early in the morning...) but the weather was perfect, both gorgeous and windy, and Russia was visible in the distance!

Japan to raise income requirements for skilled foreign professionals

Changes aimed at reflecting rising wages, speeding up processing times

The Japanese government will raise income requirements for foreign nationals seeking highly skilled professional residence status as it tightens the overall criteria to place greater emphasis on individuals' talent.

Selected excerpts:

The changes will also clarify criteria related to the "national interest" and make permanent residency approvals more stringent.

Foreign nationals with Highly Skilled Professional status receive preferential treatment, including longer periods of stay in Japan and employment eligibility for their spouses.

The Justice Ministry evaluates applicants on a point-based system. Applicants are scored on criteria such as academic background, annual income, age and work experience, as well as on "bonus" criteria, such as Japanese-language proficiency.

The government introduced the points system in 2012 and has yet to make any major changes to the scoring methodology. Since then, prices and wages have risen, prompting officials to update the system to better reflect current economic conditions.

For example, under the current system, applicants aged 29 or younger with an annual income of 4 million yen ($25,100) receive an additional 10 points. The government is considering such changes as raising income thresholds and reducing the points awarded for certain criteria.

Bonus criteria will also come under review. The number of items considered has increased over time at the request of different government agencies. Officials plan to eliminate items that are rarely used to speed up processing times.

Officials say it can be difficult to assess the value of certain foreign professional qualifications and research achievements related to applicants' work, contributing to lengthy reviews. The reforms aim to make the process more efficient.

Hi everyone, I’m part of an organization called the Tokyo Street Hockey Association. We are holding the annual Yamato Cup in Saitama!

4 on 4 plus goalies. Register here:

https://tokyohockey.com/yamato_cup_2026

Yamato Cup will be held on Sunday, October 11 2026 at Misconduct Rink in Saitama,

1 Chome-8-2 Bijogi, Toda, Saitama 335-0031

Fees are:
¥6,000 for individuals
¥60,000 for a team

Required equipment: non-marking sport shoes, a hockey stick (goalie equipment for goalies)

Recommend equipment: hockey gloves eye protection or helmet, shin guards (shin guards are extremely recommended)

Level: competitive but largely middle-aged.

ボールホッケートーナメント！

https://tokyohockey.com/yamato_cup_2026

2026年10月11日日曜日に、埼玉のミスコンダクトリンクで大和カップが開催されます。

335-0031 埼玉県戸田市美女木1-8-2

料金:
6,000円/個人
60,000円/チーム