Moving Tips

Tips to Reduce Stress after Moving to Japan

1.  Sign up for the Tokyo Jump-Start Orientation – Living Tips for New Arrivals – August 23rd and 30th, 2018, and the Best Living Japan’s weekly newsletterand Facebook page to access information for families living in Japan.
2. Visit your town hall (ward office) to register and also get local living information. Ask about English services, publications, classes and groups. Each ward and ku offers different support services.
3. Load your phone with Living in Japan apps.
4. Buy your local mobile phone. The three carriers are NTT Docomo,  SoftBank  (English speaking staff in the Roppongi and Omotesando stores) and AU.
5. Buy your Suica or Passmo Cards at your local station. So much easier when traveling – buy train tickets, use in convenience stores and more.
6. Set-up a local bank account at Shinsei or Prestia (previously Citibank), both very foreigner friendly.
7. Find you local post office and note down open hours (usually 9:00 – 17:00 M-F only).
8. Find the nearest convenience store near your home and learn how to use the ATM. Cash is king in Japan so make sure you can access yours.
9. Find and learn your triangle path (home, school and work). Get comfortable by practicing the commute with the family. Plan your family’s earthquake emergency plan.
10. Take a bus tour of Tokyo – it will give you a good lay of the land.