Introduction
Moving to Japan is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Beyond visas and packing, success in Japan depends on language basics, cultural understanding, and everyday life skills that aren’t always explained clearly.
This ultimate checklist breaks down what you actually need to prepare before moving to Japan, combining:
- Essential Japanese language skills
- Cultural & social expectations
- Daily life setup (housing, banking, transport)
- Practical survival tips
Use this as a step-by-step guide before and after you arrive.
✅ Japanese Language Essentials (Before You Arrive)
You don’t need fluency—but you do need survival Japanese.
Learn First (Non-Negotiable)
- Hiragana & Katakana
- Basic pronunciation (vowels, long sounds)
- Numbers, dates, time
Must-Know Phrases
- すみません (excuse me / sorry)
- お願いします (please)
- 大丈夫です (I’m okay / no thanks)
- もう一度お願いします (one more time please)
- 日本語が少し話せます (I speak a little Japanese)
📌Travel Japanese for Emergencies
🏠 Housing & Daily Living Basics
🏢 Understand Japanese Housing Rules
- Apartments often require: key money, deposit, guarantor
- Trash separation is strict
- Quiet hours matter
🧾 Documents You’ll Need
- Residence card
- Address registration at city hall
- Health insurance enrollment
🗑️ Daily Life Vocabulary
- ゴミ (trash)
- 燃える / 燃えない (burnable / non-burnable)
- 管理会社 (management company)
📌 Essential Kanji for Daily Life in Japan
🚆 Transportation & Navigation
🚉 Train System Basics
- Get an IC card (Suica, PASMO or whatever card is local to your area)
- Learn station kanji: 出口・入口・乗り換え
- Last trains stop early (~midnight)
🧭 Navigation Tips
- Google Maps works very well unless you are underground
- Station staff are helpful
- Trains are quiet—phone calls are discouraged
🏦 Banking, Payments & Money
💳 Expect Cash + Cards
- Japan still uses a lot of cash
- Some places don’t accept foreign cards
🏦 Banking Basics
- Opening an account may require basic Japanese
- ATMs close at night in some areas
💬 Useful Phrases
- 口座を作りたいです (I want to open an account)
- 現金でお願いします (cash, please)
🍱 Food, Restaurants & Etiquette
🍜 Eating Out in Japan
- Many menus use pictures
- Ordering machines are common
- Tipping is not practiced
🗣️ Key Restaurant Japanese
- おすすめは何ですか？
- これをください
- ごちそうさまでした
📌 How to Order Food in Japanese
👔 Work & Professional Culture
🏢 Workplace Expectations
- Punctuality is critical
- Politeness matters more than directness
- Email etiquette is formal
🗣️ Essential Business Japanese
- お疲れ様です
- よろしくお願いします
- 確認します
📌
🙇 Cultural & Social Norms to Know
✔ Harmony Over Individualism
Avoid confrontation; soften opinions.
✔ Silence Is Normal
Not all silence is awkward.
✔ Apologies Are Common
Even when it’s not your fault.
✔ Shoes Matter
Remove shoes indoors. Watch for signs.
📌 Common Japanese Etiquette Mistakes
🏥 Health, Safety & Emergencies
🚨 Emergency Numbers
- Police: 110
- Ambulance / Fire: 119
🏥 Healthcare
- Clinics may not speak English
- Bring medicine info in Japanese
🗣️ Emergency Phrases
- 助けてください
- 病院に行きたいです
📱 Apps & Tools to Install Before Arrival
📲 Must-Have Apps
- Google Maps
- Google Translate (offline Japanese)
- LINE (messaging)
- Japan travel / train apps like Jorudan
📚 Learning Tools
- Japanese dictionary app
- Kanji reading apps
- Phrase notebooks
🧠 Mental Preparation (Very Important)
✔ Culture Shock Is Normal
It comes in stages.
✔ You Will Make Mistakes
Japanese people appreciate effort.
✔ Progress Takes Time
Consistency beats perfection.
✔ Ask for Help
People are usually kind and patient.
🧾 Quick Pre-Move Checklist
✔ Learn hiragana & katakana
✔ Memorize 20–30 survival phrases
✔ Understand politeness basics – be kind to others
✔ Download essential apps
✔ Prepare documents
✔ Learn trash rules
✔ Know emergency numbers
🎯 Final Advice
You don’t need perfect Japanese or deep cultural knowledge to move to Japan—but preparation makes everything easier.
Focus on:
- Survival language
- Politeness
- Everyday systems
Confidence comes quickly once you arrive.
🚀 Want Help Getting Ready for Japan?
Start with our 4 free beginner Japanese lessons, designed for people planning to live, work, or study in Japan.
