{"id":503,"date":"2025-10-16T09:36:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/919link.com\/?page_id=503"},"modified":"2025-10-16T09:38:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:38:49","slug":"understanding-your-payslip-in-japan-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/understanding-your-payslip-in-japan-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Your Payslip in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Understanding Your Payslip in Japan<\/h3><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Useful Information for Living in Japan<\/p>

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\u4f4f\u5c45\u30fb\u4f4f\u307e\u3044<\/p>

Finding a rental in Japan can be tricky as a foreigner, but it is definitely possible! We summarized the essential information for you below and are happy to answer questions or give advice!<\/p>

Basic requirements:\u00a0<\/p>

A residence card to prove your VISA<\/p>

Bank account (not necessarily a Japanese one, but it is recommended)<\/p>

Phone number (ideally a Japanese one)<\/p>

Emergency contact (anyone who has residency in Japan)<\/p>

Apartment hunting: Most rentals go through real estate agencies (\u4e0d\u52d5\u7523\u5c4b). Standard contracts last 2 years with the option of renewal in most cases.<\/p>

English-friendly agencies: Some agencies offer English speaking services (e.g. Minimini), while other specialize in finding apartments specifically for foreigners (e.g. E-Housing).<\/p>

Initial costs: Expect 3\u20136 months\u2019 rent upfront:<\/p>

Deposit: 1 month (refundable, cleaning fees will be deducted).<\/p>

Key money (\u201cThank you\u201d money to the landlord): 1 month (non-refundable).<\/p>

Agency fee: 0.5\u20131 month.<\/p>

Guarantor company fee: 0.5\u20131 month (if you don\u2019t have a Japanese guarantor).<\/p>

Unfurnished: Most apartments come unfurnished. IKEA and Nitori are popular for furniture, while BicCamera or Nojima sell electric appliances. For household appliances, Nitori or 100-yen stores like Daiso are a great option.<\/p>

Furnished\/short-term: Sharehouses (e.g., Oakhouse, Sakura House) are great for newcomers \u2014 furnished, low initial fees, flexible contracts, move-in with just your luggage. They are generally a bit on the smaller and pricier side though.<\/p>

Utilities: You will have to setup your own utilities. Sometimes, your real estate agency will help you with that.<\/p>

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\ud83c\udfd9\ufe0f Housing Example: Where to Live in Tokyo<\/p>

Depending on where you live, commute times and convenience definitely differ, but those places usually come with a higher price point. There are many quit and budget-friendly options to explore!<\/p>

\ud83d\udfe2 Cheaper Wards Examples (Outer Tokyo)<\/p>

Adachi (\u8db3\u7acb\u533a): From ~\u00a550,000; suburban feel.<\/p>

Katsushika (\u845b\u98fe\u533a): From ~\u00a550,000; local, community-oriented.<\/p>

Edogawa (\u6c5f\u6238\u5ddd\u533a): From ~\u00a555,000; family-friendly, parks, near Chiba.<\/p>

Nerima (\u7df4\u99ac\u533a): From ~\u00a555,000; suburban, popular with families.<\/p>

Itabashi (\u677f\u6a4b\u533a): From ~\u00a560,000; decent access to central areas.<\/p>

\u23f1\ufe0f Commute:<\/p>

Lower rent but expect 30\u201360 min commutes to central areas.<\/p>

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\ud83d\udfe0 Middle-Range Wards Examples<\/p>

Nakano (\u4e2d\u91ce\u533a): From ~\u00a590,000; youthful, affordable.<\/p>

Suginami (\u6749\u4e26\u533a): From ~\u00a590,000; calm, family-friendly.<\/p>

Toshima (\u8c4a\u5cf6\u533a): From ~\u00a590,000; lively, Ikebukuro area.<\/p>

Setagaya (\u4e16\u7530\u8c37\u533a): From ~\u00a590,000; leafy, family-oriented.<\/p>

Koto (\u6c5f\u6771\u533a): From ~\u00a5100,000; redeveloped bay area.<\/p>

\u23f1\ufe0f Commute:<\/p>

Averages at about 20min to central areas.<\/p>

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\ud83d\udd34 Expensive Wards Examples (Central Tokyo)<\/p>

Minato (\u6e2f\u533a): From ~\u00a5120,000; expat hub, embassies, luxury apartments.<\/p>

Shibuya (\u6e0b\u8c37\u533a): From ~\u00a5110,000; trendy, vibrant.<\/p>

Chiyoda (\u5343\u4ee3\u7530\u533a): From ~\u00a5130,000; political\/financial core.<\/p>

Chuo (\u4e2d\u592e\u533a): From ~\u00a5120,000; Ginza, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji area.<\/p>

\u23f1\ufe0f Commute:<\/p>

Very short (5-10min) commutes if any, but rents are among the highest in Japan.<\/p>

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\ud83d\udcb3 Bank Account<\/p>

A Japanese bank account is essential for living and working in Japan. Most banks require you to have lived in Japan for 6+ months before you can open an account. The only exception is Japan Post Bank. You can sign up online or go to a branch directly. Accounts generally have no monthly fees.<\/p>

Requirements: Residence card, phone number, proof of address.<\/p>

Good first time options:<\/p>

Japan Post Bank \u2014 no 6+ months residency requirement<\/p>

Shinsei Bank \u2014 English support<\/p>

Rakuten Bank \u2014 English support<\/p>

Other popular options:<\/p>

MUFG Bank<\/p>

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation<\/p>

Mizuho Bank<\/p>

SMBC Bank\u00a0<\/p>

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\ud83d\udcf1 SIM Cards & Internet<\/p>

When you first arrive, you can easily buy a travel, non-phone number SIM Card at the airport to get around. An actual phone number is a must though for life in Japan and can be obtained once you have your residence card and address.<\/p>

Requirements: Residence card, proof of address.<\/p>

SIM Cards:<\/p>

Docomo, au, SoftBank etc.: \u00a56,000\u20139,000\/month,\u00a0<\/p>

Usually 2-year contracts, that often come with extra benefits, like availability abroad.<\/p>

Rakuten, IIJmio, LINEMO, UQ, Y!mobile etc.: \u00a52,000\u20134,000\/month.<\/p>

Basic plans with no extras.<\/p>

Home internet: \u00a54,000\u20136,000\/month, usually 1\u20132 years contracts, installation can take 2\u20134 weeks.<\/p>

Pocket Wi-Fi or Travel SIM: \u00a53,000\u20135,000\/month; useful temporary option.<\/p>

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\ud83c\udfe5 Healthcare<\/p>

Insurance is mandatory for anyone living in Japan for more than 3 months. You have to sign up with either the National Health Insurance or the Employees’ Health Insurance and Pension. Both insurances cover 70% of the medical costs.<\/p>

Insurance:<\/p>

National Health Insurance (\u56fd\u6c11\u5065\u5eb7\u4fdd\u967a): For students\/self-employed. \u00a51,500\u201320,000\/month depending on income.<\/p>

Employees’ Health Insurance and Pension (\u793e\u4f1a\u4fdd\u967a): Through the employer. ~15% of income and split with the employer.<\/p>

Doctor visits: With insurance ~\u00a51,000\u20133,000.<\/p>

Medicine: Please check if your medicine is sold in Japan. Bring prescriptions if necessary.<\/p>

Language: In smaller towns, doctors rarely speak English. Bring symptoms written in Japanese if needed. Be aware that some clinics charge an English speaking fee.<\/p>

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\ud83d\ude89 Transportation<\/p>

To easily get around in Japan, buying a IC card is a must. iPhone users can download the virtual SUICA on their phone, or you can buy a physical copy at a designated machine in a train station.\u00a0<\/p>

IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA etc.): \u00a5500 deposit, rechargeable, usable on trains, buses, and to pay at convenience stores.<\/p>

Train fares: \u00a5170\u2013400 per trip; monthly passes are available. Commute costs to work are often reimbursed by the employer.<\/p>

Bikes: Common, often faster than trains. New \u00a515,000\u201330,000, secondhand \u00a55,000\u201310,000. Registration fee: ~\u00a5500.<\/p>

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\ud83d\udcd1 Bureaucracy<\/p>

Once you arrive in Japan, register yourself at your local Ward Office immediately (within 14 days) for the following:<\/p>

Residence card (\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9): Issued at immigration when staying in Japan for more than 3 months. It must be carried at all times for identification purposes. Also required to sign up for insurance, bank and phone contracts.<\/p>

City hall registration: After arrival, register your address at the local Ward office within 14 days of coming to Japan or generally, when moving to a different place.\u00a0<\/p>

My Number card: Japan\u2019s social security\/tax ID. Increasingly needed for healthcare, banking, and online forms. It is recommended to apply for one.<\/p>

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\ud83d\udca1 Budget Summary Example (Single person, Tokyo area)<\/p>

This is an estimate of the budget per month that a single person will need in Tokyo area.<\/p>

Rent: ~\u00a580,000<\/p>

Utilities: ~\u00a515,000<\/p>

SIM Card: ~\u00a53,000<\/p>

Internet: ~\u00a55,000<\/p>

Insurance: ~\u00a510,000<\/p>

Groceries\/daily life: \u00a530,000\u201350,000<\/p>

Transport: ~\u00a510,000 (if not reimbursed)<\/p>

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\u27a1\ufe0f Total: \u00a5150,000\u2013180,000\/month<\/p>

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\ud83c\udf1f We can help you with finding suitable services for housing, banking and other required setups, as well as guide you through initial registrations procedures if necessary!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Understanding Your Payslip in Japan Useful Information for Living in Japan \u00a0 Housing Finding a rental in Japan can be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-503","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":507,"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/503\/revisions\/507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/919link.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}