Settling-in Japan

Daily Needs

Banking

Banks are well represented in Japan. The two main banks which provide information in English are: Citibank and Shinsei Bank. ATM’s are found throughout Japan in post offices, banks and convenience stores. Those with Cirrus cards can access ATM’s in all “7 “convenience stores.

Apply for your bank account

• There are a number of banks catering to English speaking customers – Citibank and Shinsei Bank are the main two (many foreigners open accounts with Citibank as the accounts, phone service and online service is in English)

• Remember your passport, resident’s card (zairyu) and your address, plus a phone number or, preferably, your cell phone number.

• If you are a US citizen you will also need your social security number.

• Unfortunately a Citibank credit card account cannot be opened at the same time as a regular bank account. Credit card accounts are useful for paying utilities (e.g. phone, gas companies, etc.) through monthly automatic fee payments.

• Citibank is currently insisting on all addresses being registered at the post office identified as the one for your new apartment. This is to ensure that the registered mail notifying you to pick up your Citibank Card from the post office (within 2 weeks
of application) will be delivered.

Your local post office:
Your AT Mobility consultant will identify this post office for your information. Complete the form “Change of Address Notice”, hand this in or post it to ensure your address is registered at the post office.

Credit Cards:
To apply for a credit card through Citibank, you will need to ring the Citibank call center and request the credit card application forms. These will be mailed to your address and you must return them to Citibank. The credit card application will take approximately 14 days to process and will be sent by registered mail to your address.

Citi Card Call Center:
10am-8pm (M-F); 10am-6pm (weekends & public holidays)

Tel: 0120-866-924

Groceries

The two main international supermarkets are located in the main expatriate suburbs of Azabu Juban – Nissin and Hiroo – National Azabu.
Other famous supermarkets:

Tokyu Store, Life, Precce, Hanamasa, Kinokuniya International Store, Cotsco, etc.

Department Stores in Tokyo:
Daimaru Tokyo, Isetan, Matsuya Ginza, Mitsukoshi, Seibu Shibuya, Takashimaya, Don Quijote, Kitte Marunouchi, Omotesando Hills, Ropponghi Hills, etc.

Utilities

A circuit breaker switch is located inside the apartment. If you use too much electricity at once, the circuit breaker switch will automatically turn off. In that case, turn off some electric appliances and turn the circuit breaker switch back on. Read more about Japanese voltage and plugs.

Meter reading notice and electricity bill will be sent to your registered address monthly. The bill can be paid at the Post office, Banks or a convenience store with cash. You can also apply for Direct Debit from a Japan-based bank account. Once you set up the Direct Debit, you will only receive the Notice.

How to Read the Notice/ Bill

1. Billing Month

2. Amount Billed

3. Consumption Tax

4. Your Name -Name of person who pays the electricity bill

5. TEPCO Customer service number

6. Deadline for payment

Gas is used in many Japanese apartments for cooking, hot water, and gas heaters. There are various types of gas depending on the region and supplier. If you acquire a gas appliance, make sure that it is compatible with the type of gas in your apartment.

In case you smell gas, turn off the gas valve, extinguish open fires, open all windows and doors, and do not turn on any electrical appliances until you find the cause of the problem. If you cannot find the cause, inform the gas company. It is recommended to use gas leak detectors.

In case of an earthquake, switch off the main gas valve. Meter reading notice and gas bill will be sent to your registered address monthly. The bill can be paid at the Post office, Banks or a convenience store with cash. You can also apply for Direct Debit from a Japan-based bank account. Once you set up the Direct Debit, you will only receive the Notice.

How to Read the Notice

1. Customer ID

2. Address and Name

3. Billing Month

4. Date of Meter reading and Period

5. Consumption

6. Planned date of next Meter Reading

7. Past record of consumption (previous year same month and previous month)

8. Planned date of payment deduction from the account.

9. Type of Contract

10. Amount to be Billed

11. Unit consumption cost for this month and next month

12. Tokyo Gas contact details.

13. Notice for payment deduction from your account.

Meter reading notice and water bill will be sent to your registered address bi-monthly. The bill can be paid at the Post office, Banks or a convenience store with cash. You can also apply for Direct Debit from a Japan based bank account. Once you set up the Direct Debit, you will only receive the Notice.

How to Read the Notice

1. Customer ID

2. Period and Consumption

3. Amount to be Billed

4. Planned date of payment deduction from the account.

5. Planned date of next Meter Reading.

6. Planned debit amount from the account.

7. Notice for payment deduction from your account.

8. Meter Reading company contact details.

Home Repairs

Japanese House Repairs, Traditional Architecture, Restoration

https://www.japanrepair.com/

Repair, maintenance | BicCamera

https://www.biccamera.co.jp.e.lj.hp.transer.com/tss/repair.html

Telephone and Mobile

Apply for your Mobile Phone

• There are a few main providers – Softbank and Docomo are the providers of Apple iPhones, Docomo is the provider of Samsung Galaxy phones.

• Remember your passport, resident’s card, money for incidentals, bank account information, credit card and your address.

Domestic Help

Only foreigners who stay in Japan under statuses of residence such as “Investor/ Business Manager,” “Legal/Accounting Services,” etc., may employ foreign domestic workers. However, a highly skilled foreign professional may bring a foreign domestic
worker to Japan subject to certain conditions.

Major requirements
When the highly skilled foreign professional continuously employs a domestic worker who has been employed by him/her in a foreign country.

o The highly skilled foreign professional’s household annual salary is at least 10 million yen.
o The highly skilled foreign professional may bring only one domestic worker.
o The highly skilled foreign professional plans to pay the domestic worker at least 200 thousand yen per month.
o The relevant domestic worker has been employed by the highly skilled foreign professional for at least one year before entering Japan.
o The relevant domestic worker is expected to leave Japan with the highly skilled foreign professional. When the highly skilled foreign professional employs a domestic worker not falling under (i)
o The highly skilled foreign professional’s household annual salary is at least 10 million yen.
o The highly skilled foreign professional may bring only one domestic worker.
o The highly skilled foreign professional plans to pay the domestic worker at least 200 thousand yen per month.
o The highly skilled foreign professional has certain family circumstances (i.e., Where he/she has a child under 13 years of age or a spouse unable to do housework due to illness or for other reasons).