· 17 min read
Learn Japanese for Moving to Japan: First Steps & Registration
By Language Lab editorial team
Japan's city hall registration, My Number and bank setup require Japanese. The essential phrases before landing in Japan, in 2026.
What Japanese do you need when moving to Japan?
Japan requires every foreign resident to register at their local city hall (市役所, shiyakusho) within 14 days of arriving with a residence card (在留カード, zairyū kādo). This registration establishes your jūminhyō (住民票, resident registration record), which is the document you need to open a Japanese bank account, obtain a My Number (マイナンバー), enrol in the national health insurance system (国民健康保険, kokumin kenkō hoken), and complete most other administrative tasks. City hall appointments are largely conducted in Japanese — some larger ward offices in Tokyo have English-speaking staff, but this cannot be relied upon outside major urban centres. The registration vocabulary is specific: zairyū kādo, jūminhyō, hōmonsaki (address you are visiting), shakuyakunin (landlord), and honnin kakunin shorui (identity verification documents). Understanding what the officer is asking the first time saves repeat visits that can each take a full morning. If you're choosing a tool, see our comparison of the best app to learn Japanese.
After city hall registration and My Number, the next Japanese-language priorities are opening a bank account (essential for salary receipt and bill payment) and enrolling in national health insurance. Japanese banks require your zairyū kādo, your jūminhyō, and your hanko (personal seal) or signature, and the application forms are in Japanese. Healthcare enrolment at the ward office involves a short interview in Japanese about your employment status and income level. Japanese uses three writing systems — hiragana, katakana, and kanji — which makes written comprehension a longer-term project, but spoken administrative Japanese for these specific appointments is learnable quickly through scenario practice focused on the relevant vocabulary. Language Lab's Japanese scenarios cover the city hall registration, the bank appointment, and the clinic visit, practised as voiced interactive dialogues with in-context corrections.
Key Japanese phrases for city hall registration and first appointments
| Japanese (romaji) | English |
|---|---|
| Tenkyo todoke wo shitai desu. | I would like to register my address change. |
| Kore ga watashi no zairyū kādo desu. | This is my residence card. |
| Watashi no jūsho wa … desu. | My address is … |
| Ginkou kouza wo hirakitai desu. | I would like to open a bank account. |
| Mōichido itte itadakemasu ka? | Could you say that again? |
| Tsugi wa nani wo sureba ii desu ka? | What should I do next? |
Frequently asked
Can I do city hall registration in Japan without Japanese?
Larger wards in Tokyo and Osaka may have English-speaking staff. Outside of major cities, appointments are in Japanese. Knowing the specific registration vocabulary — zairyū kādo, jūminhyō, address, landlord — makes even a no-English-staff appointment manageable.
What is My Number in Japan and why do I need it?
My Number (マイナンバー) is Japan's national identification number, issued to all residents. It is required for tax filing, health insurance, and employment. It arrives by post after your city hall registration and typically takes two to three weeks.
Practical Study Timeline for Japanese Before Your Move
| Timeframe | Target | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months before move | A1 | Script/sounds, 100 core words, greetings, numbers, basic questions |
| 13 months before move | A2 | jūsho todoke (address notification) vocabulary, housing terms, healthcare registration phrases |
| First month in Japan | A2 consolidated | Daily use: shiyakusho (city hall) appointment, bank, landlord, doctor |
| Months 2–6 in Japan | B1 | Workplace language, social integration, current events comprehension |
| Ongoing | B1→B2 | Professional Japanese, cultural vocabulary, JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) preparation if needed |
