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Japan

Bureaucracy, housing, health, work, and finance for students in Japan — ISA, ward office, yen, and local rules, not Italian questura/SSN.

Updated on: Jun 10, 2026

In Japan, daily life can be very orderly, but contracts, guarantors and implicit rules require more attention than expected. Cash and cards coexist; transport is very punctual; social adaptation matters as much as documents.

What really changes here

  • Rent: guarantor (guarantor) and “key money” / reikin are often needed in some traditional contracts
  • Residence card and municipal registration within 14 days of transfer
  • National Health Insurance (NHI) after registration: low cost but local procedure
  • Transportation: JR short tourist pass only; students use monthly commuter pass
  • Cash still important; PayPay and cards are growing but not everywhere
  • Daily etiquette (noise, waste, shoes) impacts real coexistence

Ideal if…

  • Six-monthly exchange with partner universities and housing support
  • Those who study Japanese and accept strict rules at home
  • Tech/engineering students in English programs in Tokyo/Osaka
  • Those who love urban safety and reliable transport

Harder if…

  • You are looking for an apartment alone without guarantor or without Japanese
  • You don't tolerate silence and strict condominium rules
  • European-only budget without yen buffer for initial expenses
  • You expect bureaucratic assistance all in English outside Tokyo

First 7 days

  1. Confirmed accommodation (dorm, share house with support, or guarantor company)
  2. Residence card at the airport or subsequent renewal
  3. Address registration at the town hall (ward office)
  4. Bank account (Shinsei, Japan Post, MUFG student) — often requires RC and address
  5. NHI registration at City Hall
  6. SIM or eSIM (SoftBank, au, Rakuten)
  7. Suica/Pasmo by meter and stores 110/119
Mistakes to avoid
  • Signing contract without understanding reikin/shikikin/renewal fee
  • Talking loudly on the train or not separating waste in the small apartment
  • Staying on a tourist visa while studying — invalid status
  • Ignoring residence card renewal deadlines

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