Moving to Japan? The Japanese You Need Before You Arrive

Every “Japanese phrases for your trip” article on the internet teaches you the same thing: how to say thank you, how to order ramen, how to ask where the bathroom is.

That’s fine if you’re visiting for ten days. But if you’re moving to Japan — signing a lease, registering your address, opening a bank account — those tourist phrases won’t help you when you’re standing at the ward office holding a form you can’t read.

This guide is different. We’ve organized the Japanese you actually need by your first-week priorities as a new resident, not as a visitor. These are the words and phrases our students at Tabiji Academy consistently tell us they wished they’d learned before they got on the plane.

Day 1: Airport and Immigration

Your first interaction with Japanese bureaucracy happens before you even leave the airport. If you’re arriving on a work visa, student visa, or spouse visa with a stay longer than three months, you’ll receive your 在留カード (zairyuu kaado) — “Residence Card” — at immigration. This is issued at major airports including Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu.

Key vocabulary for this moment:

• 入国審査 (nyuukoku shinsa) — “Immigration inspection”
• 在留カード (zairyuu kaado) — “Residence Card” — your most important document in Japan
• 在留資格 (zairyuu shikaku) — “Status of residence” (your visa type)
• パスポート (pasupooto) — “Passport”
• 滞在期間 (taizai kikan) — “Period of stay”

You’ll be fingerprinted and photographed — this is standard for all foreign nationals entering Japan. The officer may ask 滞在の目的は？ (taizai no mokuteki wa?) — “What is the purpose of your stay?” A simple 仕事です (shigoto desu — “Work”) or 留学です (ryuugaku desu — “Study”) is all you need.

One practical note: make sure you have your Japanese address written down, even if it’s a temporary hotel. Immigration may ask for it, and you’ll need it repeatedly over the next few days.

One thing many newcomers overlook is mobile data. Having an eSIM ready before you land means you can pull up Google Maps, translation apps, and your real-estate agent’s messages the second you clear customs.

Days 2-3: Finding and Securing Your Apartment

If you haven’t arranged housing before arrival, you’ll be dealing with real estate agencies. Even if you have, understanding your lease matters. Japanese rental contracts contain terms that don’t exist in North American or European housing — and they add up fast.

Essential rental vocabulary:

• 不動産屋 (fudousan-ya) — “Real estate agency”
• 家賃 (yachin) — “Monthly rent”
• 敷金 (shikikin) — “Security deposit” (refundable, typically 1-2 months’ rent)
• 礼金 (reikin) — “Key money” (non-refundable gift to the landlord, typically 1 month)
• 仲介手数料 (chuukai tesuuryou) — “Agency commission” (usually 1 month’s rent)
• 管理費 (kanrihi) — “Building maintenance fee” (monthly, on top of rent)
• 保証人 (hoshounin) — “Guarantor”
• 保証会社 (hoshou gaisha) — “Guarantor company” (most foreigners use one of these)

The concept of 礼金 catches many newcomers off guard. It literally translates to “gratitude money” — a non-refundable payment to the landlord just for letting you rent the place. It’s declining in some areas, but still common. When you see a listing, the total move-in cost is often four to six months’ rent upfront.

A phrase worth knowing: 初期費用はいくらですか？ (shoki hiyou wa ikura desu ka?) — “What are the initial costs?” This gets the agent to lay out the full financial picture.

Days 3-5: Ward Office Registration

This is the single most important administrative task of your first two weeks. By law, you must register your address within 14 days of moving in. You do this at your local 区役所 (kuyakusho) — “ward office” — or 市役所 (shiyakusho) — “city hall,” depending on where you live.

The form you’re submitting is called a 転入届 (tennyuu todoke) — “move-in notification.” This registers you in the Basic Resident Register and is the foundation for everything else: health insurance, pension, taxes.

Ward office vocabulary you’ll encounter:

• 区役所 (kuyakusho) — “Ward office”
• 市役所 (shiyakusho) — “City hall”
• 転入届 (tennyuu todoke) — “Move-in notification”
• 転出届 (tenshutsu todoke) — “Move-out notification” (for when you leave)
• 住民票 (juuminhyou) — “Resident record” (official proof of address)
• マイナンバー (mai nanbaa) — “My Number” (your individual tax/social security number)
• 国民健康保険 (kokumin kenkou hoken) — “National Health Insurance”
• 国民年金 (kokumin nenkin) — “National Pension”

At the ward office, you can often handle multiple registrations at once. After submitting your 転入届, ask about enrolling in 国民健康保険 and 国民年金 in the same visit. Some ward offices in major cities have international counters with multilingual staff, but don’t count on it — many don’t, and even those that do may have limited hours.

Useful phrase: 転入届を出したいのですが (tennyuu todoke wo dashitai no desu ga) — “I’d like to submit a move-in notification.” The trailing が softens the request, which is how Japanese adults actually speak in formal settings.

Week 1: Opening a Bank Account

You’ll need a Japanese bank account for receiving salary, paying rent, and automatic bill payments. Some banks are more foreigner-friendly than others — Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) and Shinsei Bank are common choices — but you’ll still encounter Japanese-language forms.

Banking vocabulary:

• 銀行口座 (ginkou kouza) — “Bank account”
• 口座開設 (kouza kaisetsu) — “Account opening”
• 普通預金 (futsuu yokin) — “Ordinary savings account” (the standard account type)
• 届出印 (todokede-in) — “Registered seal” (your bank stamp)
• キャッシュカード (kyasshu kaado) — “Cash card” (ATM/debit card)
• 暗証番号 (anshou bangou) — “PIN number”
• 振込 (furikomi) — “Bank transfer” (how most bills are paid in Japan)
• 印鑑 (inkan) — “Personal seal/stamp”

One thing that surprises many newcomers: Japan still uses personal seals (印鑑) for official documents, including bank accounts. You can buy a basic one at a 100円ショップ (hyaku-en shoppu) or order a custom one. Some banks now accept signatures from foreign residents, but having an 印鑑 makes everything smoother.

The key phrase: 口座を開設したいのですが (kouza wo kaisetsu shitai no desu ga) — “I’d like to open an account.”

Week 1-2: Setting Up Utilities

Electricity, gas, and water each require separate activation. Your landlord or real estate agent may handle some of this, but often you’ll need to make the calls yourself.

• 電気 (denki) — “Electricity”
• ガス (gasu) — “Gas”
• 水道 (suidou) — “Water”
• 開始日 (kaishi-bi) — “Start date”
• お客様番号 (okyakusama bangou) — “Customer number”
• 引っ越し (hikkoshi) — “Moving” (the reason you’re calling)

Gas requires a technician visit to activate — it’s shut off between tenants for safety. You’ll need to be home for this. Electricity and water are sometimes still on when you move in, but you still need to register accounts in your name.

When calling, start with: 引っ越しで電気（ガス・水道）を開始したいのですが (hikkoshi de denki/gasu/suidou wo kaishi shitai no desu ga) — “I’d like to start electricity/gas/water service because I’m moving in.”

In Tokyo, TEPCO (electricity), Tokyo Gas, and the local water bureau are your main contacts. Many now offer online registration, which can be easier than a phone call if your listening comprehension isn’t strong yet.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Vocabulary Matters

Notice that none of the words above appear in a typical “Japanese for travelers” article. That’s the gap. Millions of people prepare for a trip to Japan. Far fewer prepare for life in Japan.

The vocabulary in this guide isn’t conversational — it’s structural. These are the words that appear on the forms you’ll fill out, the signs you’ll read at government offices, and the automated phone menus you’ll navigate. You don’t need to produce perfect sentences. You need to recognize these words when you see and hear them.

Our recommendation: start with recognition, not production. Drill these kanji until you can spot them on a form. Practice reading them aloud so you can catch them in conversation. The grammar and fluency will come with time and structured study — but these specific words will make your first two weeks dramatically less stressful.

A Quick-Reference Checklist

Print this or save it to your phone before you fly:

• Airport: 在留カード, 入国審査, パスポート
• Apartment: 家賃, 敷金, 礼金, 保証会社
• Ward office: 区役所, 転入届, 住民票, マイナンバー, 国民健康保険
• Bank: 口座開設, 普通預金, 印鑑, キャッシュカード, 暗証番号
• Utilities: 電気, ガス, 水道, 引っ越し, 開始日

At Tabiji Academy, our instructors have helped dozens of students prepare for exactly this transition. If you’re planning a move to Japan and want to walk into that ward office with confidence, our one-on-one lessons can be tailored specifically to your relocation timeline. Book a free trial lesson and tell us your move date — we’ll build a study plan around it.