Relocate to JapanResearch library
Practical context for the decisions between planning a move and feeling settled in Japan.
Plan a one-time transfer from the US to Japan with a receipt-based checklist for the destination account, funding method, quoted yen, fees, verification, delivery date, and payment fallback.
Read guide →Open a bank account in Japan as a foreigner by separating first-week cash access from a local account application. This arrival-order checklist helps US movers prepare an address, reachable phone, identity documents, and bank-specific questions without assuming every bank has the same requirements.
Read guide →Choose a Japan SIM card for foreigners by separating arrival-week data from a longer-term phone plan. This US-mover checklist covers eSIM and physical SIM compatibility, a reachable number, delivery and identity questions, and the handoff after address registration.
Read guide →Decide what to ship to Japan from the US with a household-goods worksheet that compares carry, ship, store, sell, and replace choices, then protects the Customs declaration and delivery timeline for unaccompanied baggage.
Read guide →Moving to Japan with a dog or cat requires a dated import plan, not a last-minute travel checklist. For US-based movers, use the Japan Animal Quarantine Service sequence to schedule identification, rabies documents, antibody testing, a 180-day wait, advance notice, export certification, and arrival inspection.
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