Housing, money, getting around and settling in.
The full Tokyo rental flow for foreigners — search, viewing, screening, contract, move-in. We explain the big upfront costs (shikikin, reikin, agent fee, guarantor company, advance rent), the guarantor/refusal hurdles foreigners hit, and how to avoid common traps.
Understand Japan's burnable/non-burnable/recyclables/plastic categories, learn that rules and collection days differ by ward/city (and where to get your ward's chart), and master the paid advance booking + processing-ticket steps for oversized waste.
On move-in day, electricity and water can usually be started online or by phone, often same-day. But gas requires an in-person 開栓 appointment, so book ahead. Home internet (fiber) can take days to weeks—apply early, use pocket Wi-Fi as a stopgap.
A full comparison of getting into Tokyo from both airports: Narita via Skyliner / N'EX / bus (~36–90 min) and Haneda via Keikyu / Monorail (~15–45 min). Plus SIM/Wi-Fi, Suica/PASMO (including mobile), luggage forwarding, cash vs card, and a sane first-day order.
You don't need Japanese to see a doctor in Japan. This guide covers choosing a clinic vs hospital, what to bring, the reception-to-pharmacy flow, the ~30% you pay with insurance, finding English/Chinese-friendly clinics, and what to do in an emergency.
