First 14 Days: Complete Guide to Ward Office Address Registry

You've landed. Your visa is in your passport and your suitcase is by the door — now what? Your first two weeks in Japan are mostly paperwork, and the order you do it in genuinely matters: skip a step and the next one stalls. This checklist walks you through every essential task, in the right sequence, so you can get from "just arrived" to "fully set up" without backtracking.

Want a personalized version you can tick off on your phone? Open the Arrival Checklist and the Path Finder to tailor these steps to your situation.

The one rule that drives everything: 14 days

Japanese law requires you to file a moving-in notification at your local city or ward office within 14 days of moving into your address. That single visit unlocks your proof of residence (juminhyo), your My Number, National Health Insurance, and the pension system — and you need the juminhyo for almost everything else, including your bank account. So the golden rule is: get your address sorted, then get to the ward office early.

The smoothest sequence for most new arrivals:

• 1. Secure your address (move into your apartment, share house, or dorm).
• 2. Get a Japanese phone number (SIM).
• 3. Register at the ward office — within 14 days.
• 4. Open a bank account.
• 5. Tie up the rest: utilities, transport card, hanko, garbage rules.

Day 1: at the airport and your first night

• Get your residence card (zairyu card). At major airports it's issued on arrival; carry it and your passport at all times — it's the law.
• Have cash ready. Japan is still cash-friendly for setup costs; bring or withdraw ¥50,000–¥100,000. 7-Bank and Japan Post ATMs accept foreign cards.
• Know your address in Japanese. You'll write it repeatedly — save it in both English and Japanese on your phone.

Not sure how much to budget for those first costs? Run the numbers in the Budget Calculator.

Days 1–3: get connected with a SIM card

Do this before the ward office and bank, because you'll need a Japanese mobile number for sign-ups and two-factor authentication everywhere. For your first weeks, foreigner-friendly MVNOs are the fastest path — they accept foreign credit cards and offer English support:

• Sakura Mobile — English support, tourist-to-resident plans, quick setup.
• GTN Mobile — designed for foreigners; accepts applicants without a Japanese bank account or credit history.
• Once you have a bank account and residence history, switch to a cheaper long-term carrier (Rakuten, IIJmio, povo).

Days 2–7: register at the ward office (the big one)

Go to the city or ward office (shiyakusho / kuyakusho) for the area you live in. Tell them you're a new resident filing a moving-in notification. In one visit you can usually complete several things at once:

• Address registration — you receive your juminhyo (proof of residence).
• My Number — your tax and social-security ID is registered; request the physical card.
• National Health Insurance (NHI) — enroll if you're not on an employer plan (it covers about 70% of medical costs).
• National Pension — you'll be enrolled; ask about student or low-income exemptions if relevant.

Bring with you:

• Passport
• Residence card (zairyu card)
• Your address and lease documents
• A few passport photos and, optionally, a hanko — a signature is now accepted in many cases

Going during a quieter time helps — and a few key phrases go a long way. Grab them from the Phrase Cards, and use the Neighborhood Map to find your ward office, nearest bank, and essentials.

Week 2: open a bank account

With your juminhyo and residence card in hand, you can open a bank account. Some banks ask for six months of residency, but these are the friendliest for new arrivals:

• Japan Post Bank (Yu'cho) — easiest for new arrivals, multilingual guidance, signature accepted (no hanko required).
• Sony Bank and Rakuten Bank — online-only, English apps, low fees, good for everyday use.
• SBI Shinsei Bank — paperwork available in English, strong for international transfers.

Tip: salary, rent auto-pay, and phone contracts usually need a domestic account, so don't put this off past week two.

Also in your first two weeks

• Utilities — set up electricity, gas, and water (your landlord or agency often provides the forms; gas usually needs an in-person appointment).
• Transport IC card — get a Suica or PASMO for trains, buses, and convenience stores.
• Garbage rules — every municipality sorts and schedules differently; check your ward's guide so you don't miss collection days.
• Hanko — if you didn't get one yet, a basic seal helps with some housing and employment paperwork.

Quick reference

• Residence card — Day 1, at the airport. Bring your passport.
• SIM card — Days 1–3. Bring your passport, residence card, and a foreign credit card.
• Ward office registration — within 14 days. Bring your passport, residence card, and address documents. Find yours on the Neighborhood Map.
• Bank account — week 2. Bring your residence card and juminhyo.
• Health insurance and pension — handled at the ward office during registration.
• Budget your setup costs — before arrival, with the Budget Calculator.

Rules and processing times vary by municipality and can change — always confirm with your local city office and the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really have to register at the ward office within 14 days?

Yes. Japanese law requires you to file a moving-in notification (ten'nyu todoke) at your local city or ward office within 14 days of moving into your address. Almost everything else — bank account, phone contract, health insurance — depends on the proof of residence (juminhyo) you get there, so do it in your first week.

What should I do first — bank, SIM, or apartment?

Order matters. You usually need an address before a bank account, and a Japanese phone number before many online sign-ups. The smoothest sequence for most new arrivals is: secure your address, get a SIM and phone number, register at the ward office, then open a bank account.

Can I open a bank account right after arriving?

Some banks require six months of residency, but Japan Post Bank (Yu'cho) typically lets new arrivals open an account with just a residence card and address. Online banks like Sony Bank and Rakuten, and SBI Shinsei, are the most English-friendly.

Which SIM cards are easiest for foreigners?

Foreigner-friendly MVNOs such as Sakura Mobile and GTN Mobile accept foreign credit cards and offer English support and short setup times — ideal for your first weeks before you commit to a long contract.

What documents do I need for my first two weeks?

Keep your passport and residence card (zairyu card) on you at all times, plus your address and lease documents. You'll also want a few passport photos and some cash (¥50,000–¥100,000) for setup costs.

Do I need a hanko (personal seal)?

Less than before. Many banks and the ward office now accept a signature, but a cheap hanko is still handy for some housing and employment paperwork, so it's worth getting one early.

What is the My Number card and do I need it?

My Number is your tax and social-security ID. You're assigned a number when you register at the ward office; you can request the physical card too. It's increasingly required for employment, banking, and health insurance.

Is health insurance mandatory?

Yes. If you're not covered by an employer's plan, you enroll in National Health Insurance (NHI) at the ward office when you register. It covers about 70% of most medical costs.

Your next step

Turn this list into a plan you can actually follow. Open the Arrival Checklist to track each task, use the Budget Calculator to plan your first month's costs, and explore the Neighborhood Map to get to know the area around your new home. Welcome to Japan — you've got this.