A checklist for new arrivals, in the order you'll actually need it. The paperwork first, then the parts that make it feel like home.
Rules change and every ward does things slightly differently. Treat this as a map, and check your ward office's English page for the details.
Within 14 days of moving into your place, take your residence card and passport to your ward office (区役所, kuyakusho) and register your address. Everything else on this list depends on it, so do it first.
Ward office · bring residence card + passportIf your job doesn't enrol you in its own health insurance, you join National Health Insurance at the same ward office visit. Students too. It covers most of your medical bills, so don't skip it.
Ward office · same visitResidents aged 20 and over are signed up for the national pension. Students can usually apply to postpone payments, so ask while you're there. You'll also get a My Number (your 12-digit ID number) by post. Keep that letter somewhere safe.
Ward office · ask about the student deferralTap-on, tap-off for trains and buses, and it works in convenience stores and vending machines too. You can add one to the wallet app on your phone, so you never have to buy a paper ticket.
Any station machine, or your phone's walletSome banks want you to have lived here for six months first. Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ, Yūcho) is usually the easiest place to start, with branches at most post offices. Bring your residence card and, ideally, your phone number.
Post office · residence cardA local number unlocks a lot: banks, deliveries, apps that send a code by text. Cheaper "budget" SIM plans are common and are usually much cheaper than the big carriers. Most need your residence card.
Online or an electronics storeRubbish is sorted into burnable, non-burnable, plastics, cans and bottles, and each goes out on its own day. Your ward has a schedule in English. Get this right early and your neighbours will quietly love you.
Nitori and IKEA cover most basics. Secondhand shops and expat sell-and-giveaway groups are great for the big things, because people leaving Tokyo often sell everything cheaply in their last month.
Nitori · IKEA · secondhandFind your nearest evacuation spot (it's often a school or a park), keep some water and a torch at home, and install the Safety Tips app from the Japan Tourism Agency, which sends alerts in English. Emergency numbers: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.
Takes ten minutes, onceBy now the paperwork is done, the rubbish is sorted, and you might notice how quiet your evenings are. That's normal, and it's the best time to fix it, before staying in becomes the habit.
A run club, a bouldering gym, a language exchange, a class. Seeing the same faces every week is how acquaintances turn into friends. Here's where people actually meet.
Pick one, go three times before you judge itA regular spot makes a city feel like yours. And a good café is the easiest "let's meet there" for any new friend. Our favourite matcha places are here.
Bonus points if it has seatsEven the slightly odd ones. That's how you find the good ones.
Every week, not just this oneRegister your address at your ward office within 14 days of moving in, and sort out National Health Insurance there at the same time. Then get a bank account and a phone number, which usually depend on each other.
The admin usually takes two to four weeks. Feeling settled socially takes longer; most people say it clicks after a few months, once they have a regular group or a few friends.
Start early: join one weekly activity, say yes to invitations, and try a friend app. You do not need everything sorted to grab a coffee with someone.
Buy Me a Matcha shows you people in Tokyo who speak English and are also looking for new friends. You match, you pick a café, you go. One-on-one, free, no group chats.
Get it on the App Store