Resident stories
日本で働く外国人が最初に困りやすい5つのこと
5 Things Foreign Workers Often Struggle With When Starting Life in Japan
Moving to Japan and starting a new job can be an exciting experience.
A new workplace, a new city, a new language, and a completely different lifestyle can open many new opportunities.
However, many foreign workers also experience small problems during their first few months.
The good news is that most of these problems can be avoided if you know what to prepare in advance.
Here are 5 common things foreign workers often struggle with in Japan.
- Finding the right place to live
Finding an apartment in Japan is not always easy for foreigners.
Some apartments require:
A Japanese emergency contact
A guarantor
A guarantor company
Initial costs
Japanese documents
A Japanese bank account
The initial cost can also be higher than expected.
For example, depending on the property, you may need to pay rent, management fees, deposit, key money, insurance, guarantee fees, and other costs.
Tip: Before applying for an apartment, always check the total initial cost, not only the monthly rent.
A room that looks cheap at first may become expensive after adding all the fees.
- Understanding Japanese documents
Japan has many important documents.
For example:
在留カード
マイナンバーカード
住民票
健康保険
年金
住民税
源泉徴収票
For people who are new to Japan, these documents can be confusing.
Sometimes, one letter from the city hall can contain information that is difficult to understand even if you can speak everyday Japanese.
Tip: Don't ignore letters from city hall, immigration, pension offices, or your company.
If you don't understand something, ask someone who can explain it clearly.
- Communicating at work
Japanese workplace communication can be very different from communication in other countries.
Sometimes Japanese people may not directly say:
「できません」
or
「それは嫌です」
Instead, they may use softer expressions.
For example:
「ちょっと難しいです。」
「確認してみます。」
「検討します。」
The meaning can depend on the situation.
Understanding not only Japanese words but also Japanese workplace culture is important.
Tip: If you are unsure about instructions, don't be afraid to ask:
「すみません、もう一度説明していただけますか？」
Asking once is much better than making a mistake because you were afraid to ask.
- Managing taxes, insurance and pension
Taxes, health insurance, and pension are part of everyday life in Japan.
Many foreign workers are surprised when they see deductions from their salary.
Your payslip may include:
Income tax
Resident tax
Health insurance
Pension
Employment insurance
The amount can also change depending on your situation and previous year's income.
Tip: Keep your payslips and important tax documents.
These documents may be useful when changing jobs, renewing your residence status, preparing tax documents, or making other administrative procedures.
- Changing jobs or changing your residence status
Changing jobs is sometimes necessary.
However, foreign residents need to pay attention to their status of residence (在留資格).
The important question is not only:
「Can I change my company?」
but also:
「Is my new job compatible with my current status of residence?」
For example, changing from one company to another may be relatively straightforward when the new position is within the activities permitted by your status of residence.
However, changing to a completely different type of work may require additional procedures.
Tip: Before signing a new employment contract, check whether your new job matches your residence status.
Don't wait until the last minute.
Japan Can Be Easier With the Right Support
Living and working in Japan involves many procedures.
You may need to deal with:
Immigration
City hall
Housing
Companies
Banks
Insurance
Pension
Taxes
Employment procedures
You don't have to understand everything alone.
At shinhousing, we support foreign residents and companies with various procedures and communication needs.
From finding suitable housing and supporting foreign workers to interpretation, document preparation, recruitment, and workplace coordination, we aim to make communication between foreign workers and Japanese companies smoother.
Have a question about living or working in Japan?
Even a small question can become a big problem if it is left unresolved.
If you are a foreign worker, job seeker, or company looking for support for foreign employees, feel free to contact us.
Let's make working and living in Japan easier together.