Japan Picks

From 1 November 2026, Japan's tax-free shopping becomes a refund system. Who is eligible, what changes, the customs check before check-in, and a checklist.

Get a train delay certificate (chien shomeisho) online from JR East or Tokyo Metro, check service status in English, and claim refunds when snow stops trains.

Learn to read a Japanese payslip: gross pay, social insurance rates, income tax, resident tax and why take-home pay changes in June, at 40 and in December.

Japan's cities pay some or all of children's medical bills. Learn age limits, income limits, how to apply, using the iryosho card and getting refunds.

Fake delivery, bank, tax and police SMS in Japan: what official bodies say they never send, what to do if you tapped a link, how to report and block smishing.

Permanent residents and some under-16s must renew the residence card itself. See when you can apply, where to go, what to bring, and why there is no fee.

Leaving Japan for a trip? Compare the special re-entry permit and the regular re-entry permit: time limits, the ED card, fees as of 30 Sep 2026 and a checklist.

How foreign residents open a bank account in Japan: documents, the 6-month non-resident rule, why banks ask about your job, and closing it before you leave.

Driving in Japan on a foreign licence: the one-year IDP limit for residents, how licence conversion works since October 2025, documents, tests, fees.

Furusato nozei explained for foreign residents in Japan: the 2,000 yen rule, your limit, the One-Stop Special Exception, key deadlines and the 2025 point ban.