Living in Japan as a foreigner involves navigating systems that are often only available in Japanese, from the ward office (kuyakusho) registration to the health insurance selection and the Japanese bank account setup. Lucy OS1 gives you daily AI speaking practice in Japanese for these exact real-life situations that define expat life in Japan.
All foreign residents in Japan staying longer than 90 days receive a zairyu card (zairy u kado, residence card) at the airport upon entry. The zairyu card must be registered at your ward or city office (kuyakusho or shiyakusho) within 14 days of establishing an address. The ward office registration (jumin toroku) gives you access to resident services in your district. My Number (mainanba) is Japan's social security and tax identification system: you receive a notification letter with your My Number at your registered address and then collect the physical My Number card (mainanba kado) at the ward office. The My Number card requires a photograph and is used for tax filings, health insurance, and social services access. Understanding the ward office process in Japanese is one of the first real-life Japanese communication challenges for new residents.
Finding an apartment in Japan traditionally requires a Japanese guarantor (hoshounin), key money (reikin, a non-refundable gift payment of one to two months rent), deposit (shikikin, two months refundable), and agency fee (chukai tesuryo, one month). This makes initial housing costs five to six months of rent upfront. Key money (reikin) is becoming less common in Tokyo but persists in older parts of Osaka and Kyoto. Services like SUUMO, Homes.co.jp, and GaijinPot Housing assist foreign residents. Leopalace21, Sakura House, and Oak House are apartment services specializing in foreign residents. The monthly rent (ya chin) is listed separately from management fees (kanri hi). Apartment viewings (nai ken) involve specific vocabulary for asking about facilities (setsubi), internet (netto kankyo), pets (petto kanou), and smoking policy (kin en).
Japan has two main health insurance systems for foreign residents. Employees enrolled through their company join Shakai Hoken (social health insurance, shakai hoken), which provides comprehensive coverage with premiums split between employer and employee. Residents not covered by employer insurance must join Kokumin Kenko Hoken (National Health Insurance, NHK) through their ward office. NHK premiums vary by municipality and income and cover 70% of medical costs with 30% co-payment (jiko futan). Clinics (kurinikku) handle routine care. Hospitals (byoin) are for more serious conditions. The Japan Post Bank (Yucho Ginko) and Sony Bank are known to open accounts for foreign residents with more flexible requirements than major banks. NHK (Japan Broadcasting) is different from NHK health insurance and requires a separate subscription payment.
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