Your first 90 days in Tokyo: 8 things to do (a checklist hub) — TokyoHelp
Your first 90 days in Tokyo: 8 things to do (a checklist hub)
Just landed in Tokyo? This navigational checklist walks you through the 8 essentials of your first three months in order — address registration, health insurance, pension, a bank account, a SIM, your My Number Card, plus residence-card renewal and residence tax — each in a sentence, then a link to the full guide.
6 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-16
Welcome to Tokyo. The first three months can feel like a blur, partly because the tasks are linked: address registration is the foundation, and only once it's done can national health insurance, pension and your My Number follow. This is a navigation checklist — it covers the 8 things most newcomers should do in their first 90 days, in a sensible order, one or two sentences each, with a link to the full step-by-step guide for every item. It doesn't replace official guidance; it just helps you see the order, not miss anything, and not blow a deadline.
This is general information, not administrative or legal advice. Exact requirements and counter hours vary slightly by municipality — before you go, check the official page or call your ward/city office (区役所 / 市役所).
1. Register your address (転入届) — the foundation
After you move in, take your residence card to your ward/city office and register your address. Almost everything else depends on this. The law asks you to do it within 14 days of settling at the new address; if you moved from another municipality, first file a move-out notice (転出届) there to get a moving-out certificate, then file the move-in notice (転入届) at your new office.
→
→
2. Join National Health Insurance (国保)
If you're staying in Japan for more than 3 months and aren't covered by an employer's health plan, you generally must join National Health Insurance — after which you pay 30% of medical costs. It's typically done at the same office, again within 14 days of registering your address. Note: even if you enrol late, premiums can be backdated to the day you should have joined.
→
3. Enroll in the National Pension (国民年金)
Everyone living in Japan aged 20 to 59 (foreign residents included) must join the National Pension. If you're not on an employer's pension, you enroll as a Category-1 insured person at your ward/city office. Short on cash? Apply for an exemption or deferral rather than simply not paying.
→
4. Open a bank account
You'll need a local account for your salary, rent and utility auto-debits. Usually your residence card and My Number are enough, but many banks are cautious with newcomers in their first six months. Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) tends to be friendlier to new arrivals and is a common first account.
Under Japan's Mobile Phone Fraud Prevention Act, signing up requires identity verification, and your residence card is widely accepted. Many plans bill to a bank account or card, so this usually goes more smoothly after you've opened an account.
Registering your address assigns you a My Number; you can then apply for the physical card by smartphone, computer, mail, photo booth, or at the ward office. It doubles as a health-insurance card, lets you file a move-out notice online, and simplifies many applications. For foreign residents the card's validity is tied to your period of stay.
A new-format residence card rolls out from 14 June 2026 (including a combined "specified residence card" that integrates the My Number Card); after your residence card is reissued or your period of stay is extended, update your My Number Card at the ward office before it expires.
7. Watch your residence-card renewal (before it expires)
If your period of stay is running out, you can usually apply to extend it (在留期間更新) at the regional Immigration Services Bureau from about 3 months before the expiry date. Check that date early and don't leave it to the last minute — it underpins your bank, phone and My Number, which are all tied to your status.
8. Understand residence tax (don't let year-two surprise you)
Residence tax is charged based on whether you had an address in a municipality on 1 January, and is calculated on the previous year's income. So your first year in Japan you usually won't be billed — the bills start in year two. Knowing this in advance keeps your budget calm.
Do I have to do these 8 things in this exact order?
Not strictly, but address registration is the foundation, so do it first — health insurance, pension and My Number all depend on it. Bank then SIM is a natural sequence too, since phone billing often needs an account.
Several tasks say 'within 14 days' — what if I'm late?
Address registration, health insurance and pension are all meant to be done within 14 days of settling in. You can usually still file late, but health insurance and pension may be backdated to when you should have joined, so sooner is easier. Confirm with your ward office.
My Japanese is shaky — can someone come with me to the ward office?
Yes. Many ward offices offer multilingual or interpreter support, and on TokyoHelp you can post an 'accompaniment' request so a neighbour can come along to the counter for free and help you phone ahead to book an appointment.
One friendly note to finish: doing all this alone can be daunting, but you're not on your own. If any item has you stuck, post an 'accompaniment' request on TokyoHelp — a neighbour nearby can come with you to the ward office for free, or help you make a phone call to book an appointment. A bit of company makes the first 90 days far smoother.
This guide is general information only — not legal, administrative, tax or other professional advice, and not a filing service. Rules and procedures can change; always confirm with the official window or website. For your specific situation, consult a licensed professional or contact the relevant government office directly.
