· 11 min read
Moving to Japan: Essential Japanese Phrases for Expats
By Language Lab editorial team
Practical Japanese vocabulary and phrases for expats — residence card registration, My Number, national health insurance, finding housing, and daily bureaucratic Japanese.
Japan is consistently rated one of the most organised and safe countries for expats — but navigating Japanese bureaucracy without language support can be genuinely difficult. Unlike most European countries, English support at government offices outside Tokyo's international districts is minimal. This guide covers the essential Japanese vocabulary and phrases for your first weeks as a resident, with romaji and English translations throughout.
Registration vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 在留カード | Zairyū kādo | Residence card — issued at airport on arrival, must register at city hall within 14 days |
| 住民登録 | Jūmin tōroku | Resident registration — done at local 市役所 (shiyakusho/city hall) |
| 市役所 / 区役所 | Shiyakusho / kuyakusho | City hall / ward office |
| マイナンバー | Mai Nanbā | My Number — 12-digit individual ID number, mailed to registered address |
| マイナンバーカード | Mai Nanbā kādo | My Number Card — optional physical card, useful for e-government services |
| 住民票 | Jūminhyō | Certificate of residence — document proving your registered address |
| 印鑑登録 | Inkan tōroku | Registered seal (hanko) — used on many official documents instead of signature |
| 転入届 | Ten'nyū todoke | Move-in notification — form to submit when moving into a new address |
Phrases for city hall (市役所)
| Japanese phrase | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 住民登録をしたいのですが。 | Jūmin tōroku o shitai no desu ga. | I would like to register as a resident. |
| 在留カードを持っています。 | Zairyū kādo o motte imasu. | I have my residence card. |
| マイナンバーの通知はいつ届きますか？ | Mai Nanbā no tsūchi wa itsu todokimasu ka? | When will my My Number notification arrive? |
| 英語の書類はありますか？ | Eigo no shorui wa arimasu ka? | Do you have English documents? |
| 住民票をください。 | Jūminhyō o kudasai. | Please give me a certificate of residence. |
| 記入方法を教えてもらえますか？ | Kinyū hōhō o oshiete moraemasu ka? | Could you show me how to fill this in? |
Housing vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 不動産屋 | Fudōsan-ya | Real estate agency |
| 賃貸 | Chintai | Rental property |
| 礼金 | Reikin | Key money — non-refundable payment to landlord (0–2 months, declining but still common) |
| 敷金 | Shikikin | Security deposit (typically 1–2 months' rent, partially refundable) |
| 仲介手数料 | Chūkai tesūryō | Agency fee (typically 1 month's rent) |
| 更新料 | Kōshin-ryō | Lease renewal fee (typically 1 month, paid every 2 years) |
| 保証人 / 保証会社 | Hoshōnin / hoshō gaisha | Guarantor / guarantor company |
| 管理費 | Kanri-hi | Building management fee |
| ワンルーム / 1K / 1LDK | Wanrūmu / ikkai / ichieru dīkei | Studio / 1 room + kitchen / 1 bedroom + living-dining-kitchen |
| 外国人可 | Gaikokujin ka | Foreigners allowed — a critical marker on listings; many properties refuse foreign tenants |
Healthcare vocabulary (国民健康保険)
Japan has universal healthcare through two main systems: 健康保険 (Kenkō hoken) — company health insurance for employees; 国民健康保険 (Kokumin kenkō hoken, NHI) — national health insurance for self-employed, students, and those without company coverage. Enroll at your city hall within 14 days of registration. Premiums are income-based. Coverage is comprehensive: most medical costs are covered at 70% (you pay 30% up to a monthly out-of-pocket cap). Prescription drugs: 処方箋薬局 (shohōsen yakkyoku) — a pharmacy that fills prescriptions, always near hospitals.
Frequently asked
Is it hard to rent in Japan as a foreigner?
It can be. Many Japanese landlords (大家 — ōya) do not rent to foreigners, particularly short-stay foreigners. Look specifically for 外国人可 (gaikokujin ka — foreigners welcome) listings. Platforms like SUUMO, HOME'S, and Gaijin Pot Housing (English-language service specifically for foreigners) help. In Tokyo's international areas (Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya wards) the market is friendlier to foreign tenants. Key requirements: 在留カード (residence card), 保証会社 (guarantor company — increasingly standard, replacing the need for a Japanese personal guarantor), proof of income.
Do I need to speak Japanese to live in Japan?
In central Tokyo and some other major cities, English support has improved significantly, especially since 2020–2024 with increasing expat and tourism infrastructure. However, most government offices, landlords, healthcare providers, and daily service interactions are in Japanese only. At A2-B1 functional Japanese (hiragana + katakana + ~500 kanji + basic grammar), daily life becomes manageable. Without any Japanese, you will depend heavily on apps, translation tools, and bilingual support — which is doable but significantly limits independence and social integration.
