

{"id":6063,"date":"2026-07-29T19:31:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/?post_type=columns&#038;p=6063"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:31:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:31:02","slug":"worker-japan-life-guide","status":"publish","type":"columns","link":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/en\/columns\/worker-japan-life-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to living in Japan: Summary of rent, living expenses, and mobile phone contract methods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congratulations to all of you who have decided to work as a specific skilled worker in Japan and are about to start your new life in Japan! However, living in a foreign land that you are not used to can cause many concerns, such as &#8220;How much will it cost to live each month?&#8221; and &#8220;How will I sign a mobile phone contract and open a bank account?&#8221; We will give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the necessary living expenses and procedures you must follow in order to start your life in Japan with peace of mind and live a healthy life every day.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Detailed background and latest trends in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, know the approximate monthly living expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) in Japan. Typical living expenses for a single person include apartment rent of 30,000 yen to 50,000 yen (it may be cheaper if you live in a dormitory provided by the company.For information on salary and various allowances, please refer to the explanation in &#8220;About Salary and Benefits&#8221;), electricity and gas.\u30fbWater bill (utility bill) is around 8,000 yen to 12,000 yen, food cost is 30,000 yen to 40,000 yen mainly for self-cooking (cooking by yourself), communication cost for smartphone and internet is 3,000 yen to 6,000 yen, and other consumables and transportation expenses are around 10,000 yen. In total, your monthly living expenses will be around 80,000 to 110,000 yen.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important data and problem analysis that tell the truth<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>First characteristic (rapid expansion of market needs and background):<\/strong> The labor shortage in Japan is a structural problem, and the demand for ready-to-work human resources is rapidly increasing, especially in the manufacturing and service industries. Data has proven that the specific skills system guarantees a certain level of work experience and Japanese language proficiency, so there are very few mismatches in the initial stages of introduction.<\/li><li><strong>Second feature (required language skills and educational system):<\/strong> To obtain a Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa, it is mandatory to pass a Japanese language proficiency test (N4 or JFT-Basic) at a daily conversation level or above, but additional Japanese language training on industry terminology and work safety is effective for smooth instruction transfer on site.<\/li><li><strong>Third feature (same or higher salary treatment and motivation):<\/strong> Japanese laws and regulations strictly prohibit creating discriminatory disparities in working conditions such as basic pay and bonuses compared to Japanese employees working in the same business within the same company. Having a fair evaluation system in place is the key to preventing employee turnover and boosting morale across the team.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Important institutional rules and legal compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, we will explain the procedure for signing up for a smartphone SIM card (mobile phone). In order to sign a contract with a Japanese mobile phone company (such as a low-cost SIM), you will need the following three things. The first is a &#8220;residence card&#8221; (one with the status of residence on the front and the current address printed on the back), the second is a &#8220;passport,&#8221; and the third is a &#8220;credit card, bank card, or passbook.&#8221; Once you open a Japanese bank account (such as Japan Post Bank), it is most reliable and recommended to set it up so that monthly usage fees are automatically deducted from it.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important check sheet to prevent problems from occurring<\/h3>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>[Check 1] Multilingualization of employment contract documents:<\/strong> When hiring, it is necessary to obtain the foreigner&#8217;s agreement by providing and explaining in advance a &#8220;terms of employment&#8221; that specifies the wage breakdown, holidays, overtime work rules, etc. in his or her native language, which the foreigner can fully understand.<\/li><li><strong>[Check 2] Ensure payment of social insurance and taxes:<\/strong> It is mandatory to enroll in social insurance and to deduct and pay resident tax and pension from your salary. If you are in arrears, your visa renewal application (usually every 1 or 3 years) will be rejected and you will not be able to continue working in Japan.<\/li><li><strong>[Check 3] Ensuring appropriate space in the living environment:<\/strong> The legal minimum area for the room in which a foreigner resides is 7.5 square meters or more (bedroom area) per person, and is subject to strict immigration screening.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Specific practical points and solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also essential to complete the procedures at the government office (municipal office). Once you arrive in Japan, you must go to the government office of your city within 14 days with your residence card and complete the &#8220;Resident Registration.&#8221; By doing this, your new address will be written on the back of your card, allowing you to use it as an official ID in Japan. If you do not complete this procedure, you will not be able to sign a mobile phone contract or open a bank account, so please complete it as a top priority.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For detailed information and support plans for safely and effectively utilizing the Specified Skills System, please visit this page on our website.<a href=\"\/en\/worker\/salary\/\">&#8220;About salary and benefits&#8221;<\/a>Please take a look at it and use it to create an appropriate plan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"callout-box\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Pro Tip:<\/strong> What we place most importance on is &#8220;mental care in multiple languages&#8221; so that foreigners do not feel isolated in their lives or workplaces in Japan. Providing Japanese language learning opportunities and regular one-on-one interviews are the most effective solutions to prevent job turnover and maximize on-site performance.<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Summary and future prospects<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During your first few months in Japan, you may be confused by the differences in rules and lifestyle habits, but the support staff at the host company and registered support organization (MirocStaff) will kindly help you in every situation, such as accompanying you to government offices and banks, and explaining the rules for how to dispose of garbage. If you have any concerns, feel free to talk to those around you and gradually adjust to Japanese life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Congratulations to all of you who have decided to work as a specific skilled worker in Japan and are about to start your new life in Japan! However, living in a foreign land that you are not used to can cause many concerns, such as &#8220;How much will it cost to live each month?&#8221; and [&hellip;]","protected":false},"featured_media":5856,"template":"","column_category":[13],"class_list":["post-6063","columns","type-columns","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","column_category-for-worker","en-US"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/columns\/6063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/columns"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/columns"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"column_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssw.mirocstaff.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/column_category?post=6063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}