Banking

Traditional banks need a residence card and My Number; some offer English desks.

  • Mizuho, SMBC Trust, MUFG, Japan Post Bank, Shinsei (expat-friendly)

Opening an account

  • Passport and visa
  • My Number card
  • Registered Japanese address
  • Personal seal (inkan) or signature depending on the bank
Tip

Shinsei and SMBC Trust are popular for English support.

Digital payments

Cash is still king in rural areas; PayPay, Rakuten Pay, Line Pay, and Suica-linked wallets dominate cities.

Saving and investing

  • Ordinary and time deposits
  • NISA tax-free investing accounts
  • iDeCo private pension

Sample Tokyo budget

  • Rent: ¥80,000–¥150,000
  • Food: ¥30,000–¥60,000
  • Transport: ¥10,000–¥20,000
  • Phone/internet: ¥8,000–¥15,000
  • Utilities: ¥15,000–¥25,000

Payroll deductions

Income tax, resident tax, health (~5%), and pension (~9.15%) are withheld for employees.

International transfers

Wise, PayPal, or bank wires—compare fees each time.

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Banking & payments

Resident accounts

Passport, residence card, and sometimes a registered seal (hanko)—branch policies differ; ask international desks.

Transfers & bills

ATM furikomi domestic transfers and convenience-store bill payments are common—watch bank fees and limits.

Tax

Withholding & year-end adjustment

Employers usually run nenmatsu chosei; keep your gensen choshuhyo withholding slip.

Resident tax

Municipal tax bills typically arrive after your first full tax year—confirm instalment dates with your ward.

Financial consumer protection

Investments, loans, and complaints—use the FSA’s public guidance.

Post-arrival checklist

Students

  1. Municipal registration + matching address on your card
  2. Bank + phone for lawful part-time pay
  3. Join National Health Insurance at the ward office

Workers

  1. Residence status matches your job description
  2. Employees’ health & pension when employed
  3. Archive payslips and NTA notices
Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Trusted sources we used for this content

Japanese government sources (many offer English pages) plus Eurostat for comparison: MOFA, the Immigration Services Agency, the National Tax Agency, MHLW, and e-Gov. Procedures change—confirm on the official site.