41.01 Japan Life#

Arrival preparation#

Digital arrival cards and immigration lanes

• Visit Japan Web: Complete immigration, customs, and tax-free shopping registrations ahead of time so your QR codes are ready for the dedicated Visit Japan Web lanes in major airports.
• Automated gates: After receiving your residence card, opt in to the automated passport gates by registering at the arrival hall so re-entry checks stay fast.
• Singapore — SG Arrival Card: Submit the SG Arrival Card within three days before entry; e-submissions replace the paper forms.
• Indonesia — All Indonesia: File the All Indonesia declaration for every traveller up to three days before arrival to cover immigration, customs, health, and quarantine requirements.

See 41.02 Arrival and First Months for the post-arrival checklist, My Number timelines, and municipal registrations you must complete within 14 days of landing.

Residency essentials#

• Residence card handling: Immigration Services Agency handbook covering re-entry permits and automated gate enrolment.
• Address notification within 14 days: Required documents and municipal counter procedures.
• MyPortal portal: PIN management, smartphone reader setup, and message box activation so digital notices arrive alongside postal mail.
• National Health Insurance overview: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explanation of NHI enrolment for municipal residents.
• Healthcare & insurance checklist: Deeper guidance on NHI sign-up, multilingual clinic search tools, and health record downloads.

Linked notes

• 41.02 Arrival and First Months tracks the deadlines for municipal registration, My Number pickup, and utility setup during your first fortnight.
• 41.05 Housing & Utilities outlines lease paperwork, move-in inspections, and safety checks before your belongings arrive.
• 41.07 Mobile, Internet & Communications covers SIM, broadband, and NHK obligations once you have a local address.
• 41.09 Transportation & Travel Logistics curates commuter passes, airport transfers, and navigation apps for everyday travel.

Government & support services#

• Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC): Immigration, labour, and daily-life consultations with multilingual staff in Tokyo.
• Japan Visitor Hotline: 24/7 emergency and disaster support in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
• CLAIR — Multilingual Living Guide: Local government procedures translated into 18 languages.
• Safety Tips app: Disaster alerts, evacuation information, and push notifications for severe weather.
• JP-MIRAI: Legal support, hotline listings, and migrant worker resources.

Digital paperwork

41.04 Digital Government & Civic Services explains MyPortal logins, convenience store certificate printing, e-Tax submissions, and online move notifications.

Daily life directories#

• Japan National Tourism Organization — Medical & daily life guide: Essential numbers, SIM information, and practical phrases for new arrivals.
• Weather warnings: Japan Meteorological Agency multilingual dashboard with typhoon, earthquake, and tsunami alerts.
• Web Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs site profiling customs, etiquette, and nationwide services.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation — Disaster Preparedness Tokyo: Preparedness handbook, evacuation shelter lookup, and multilingual drills.

Community networks#

• Japan Life Wiki: Settling-in checklists and community crowdsourced answers.
• Moving to Japan Wiki: Visa, housing, and employment FAQs curated by residents.
• Retire Wiki Japan: Community-maintained retirement, tax, and pension planning strategies.
• ICJ Network (Indonesian): Indonesian diaspora group sharing local alerts and job leads.
• Meetup Japan: General interest and professional events across Japan.

Finance & housing follow-up

Keep 41.06 Banking & Money Management and 41.05 Housing & Utilities close when coordinating guarantors, rent transfers, or move-in inspections.

Indonesian citizen services#

• Peduli WNI: Overseas Indonesian protection portal for advisories and emergency registration.
• KBRI Tokyo: Embassy announcements, consular appointments, and passport services.
• KJRI Osaka: Consulate-General services for western Japan including travel documents and legalisation requests.

Emergency & safety#

• Emergency numbers: 110 (police) / 119 (fire & ambulance).
• NHK World Japan: National broadcaster providing multilingual push alerts, live coverage, and reception contract guidance for disaster readiness.
• Disaster Messaging Service (災害用伝言板): NTT voice message board available after major earthquakes.
• Japan Meteorological Agency earthquake information: Real-time tremor reports, tsunami advisories, and intensity maps.
• 41.10 Disaster Preparedness and Go-Bag: Consolidated go-bag checklists, evacuation drills, and alert channel configuration to run alongside municipal guidance.

Preparedness cross-reference

Use 41.07 Mobile, Internet & Communications to set up J-Alert compatible phones and NHK access, and review 41.03 Healthcare & Insurance for ambulance procedures and after-hours clinics.