Pre-Arrival Checklist: What to Do Before Moving to Tokyo

Q: How much money should I save before moving to Tokyo?

Budget a minimum of 800,000 to 1,200,000 yen (roughly 5,500 to 8,000 USD) for move-in costs alone. This covers the typical deposit (1-2 months rent), key money (1 month), first month rent, agency fee (1 month), guarantor company fee, and basic furnishings. On top of that, have 2-3 months of living expenses saved as a buffer.

6 Months Before Your Move

This is the big-picture planning phase. Get your foundations right now, and everything else will fall into place.

Research & Foundation

Lay the Groundwork

Research your visa type. Determine which visa category fits your situation — work visa, student visa, spouse visa, or working holiday. Each has different requirements and processing times. Start gathering documents early.
Start learning basic Japanese. You do not need to be fluent, but learning hiragana, katakana, basic greetings, and numbers will make your first weeks dramatically easier. Apps like Duolingo, WaniKani, or Genki textbooks are solid starting points.
Research Tokyo neighborhoods. Each of Tokyo’s 23 wards has a distinct personality, price range, and vibe. Explore all 23 wards to find where you might want to live based on your budget, commute, and lifestyle preferences.
Start saving for move-in costs. Budget at least ¥800,000–¥1,200,000 (roughly $5,500–$8,000 USD) for apartment move-in costs alone. This covers deposit, key money, first month’s rent, agency fee, guarantor company fee, and basic furnishings.
Check your passport validity. Your passport should be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay. Some visa types require at least 6 months of remaining validity at the time of application.
Research your employer or school. If you have a job or school lined up, confirm start dates, sponsorship details, and any documents they need from you. If you are job hunting, start looking at job boards like GaijinPot, Daijob, and LinkedIn Japan.

Money Tip

Tokyo apartment move-in costs are famously expensive. A ¥80,000/month apartment can cost ¥400,000–¥560,000 upfront (5–7 months’ rent). Start saving now. Some share houses like Oak House and Sakura House have much lower upfront costs and can be a smart first landing spot.

3 Months Before Your Move

Time to get official. Apply for your visa, start making concrete housing plans, and sort out connectivity.

Official Applications

Make It Real

Apply for your visa. Submit your visa application at the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. Processing typically takes 1–4 weeks, but can take longer depending on visa type and country. If your employer is sponsoring you, they will apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in Japan first.
Research housing options. Start browsing listings on GaijinPot Apartments, Real Estate Japan, and Suumo. Get a feel for prices in your target neighborhoods. Read our apartment guide for the full breakdown of the rental process.
Pre-order a SIM card. Get your phone connectivity sorted before you land. Sakura Mobile offers full English support and same-day activation in Shibuya, or you can pre-order a Mobal SIM that ships to your home address.
Arrange pet import documents (if applicable). Bringing a pet to Japan requires microchipping, rabies vaccinations, blood tests, and a waiting period that can take up to 180 days. Start this process immediately. Check our pets in Tokyo guide for the full requirements.
Sort out international health insurance. You will be enrolled in Japan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) after registering at your ward office, but it does not cover you during travel or your first few days. Get a travel insurance policy that covers the gap.
Book temporary accommodation. Do not try to sign a permanent lease from abroad. Book a share house, serviced apartment, or Airbnb for your first 2–4 weeks. Share houses like Oak House, Sakura House, or Borderless House offer furnished rooms with minimal upfront costs.

Visa Tip

If your employer is applying for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), this is the longest part of the process — it can take 1–3 months. Once you have the COE, the actual visa stamp at the embassy is usually done within a week. Do not book flights until you have the COE in hand.

1 Month Before Your Move

The countdown is on. Time to handle the practical details — documents, apps, devices, and digital tools.

Final Preparations

Get Everything Ready

Confirm your temporary accommodation. Double-check your share house or Airbnb booking. Save the address in Japanese (you will need it for taxi drivers and delivery services). Print or screenshot the confirmation.
Set up an eSIM for arrival-day data. Install a Saily eSIM on your phone before departure. This gives you immediate internet access the moment you land — essential for maps, translation, and communication while you get your permanent SIM sorted.
Prepare your documents. Make multiple copies of: passport (data page and visa page), Certificate of Eligibility, passport-sized photos (4×3cm, white background — bring at least 10), university degree certificates, employment contract or acceptance letter, and any medical prescriptions.
Download essential apps. Install these before you leave: Google Maps (download Tokyo offline map), LINE (Japan’s main messaging app), Suica or PASMO (IC transit card), Google Translate (download Japanese offline), and your banking app for international transfers.
Set up a VPN. NordVPN lets you access your home country’s Netflix, banking apps, and streaming services from Japan. It also keeps you secure on Japan’s many public WiFi networks. Set it up and test it before your flight.
Notify your home bank. Tell your bank you are moving to Japan to avoid fraud blocks on international transactions. Set up international transfer capabilities — you will need to move money to a Japanese bank account once it is open.
Handle home country logistics. Cancel or pause subscriptions, redirect mail, update your address with important services, settle any outstanding bills, and arrange storage for belongings you are not taking.

Must-Have Apps

LINE — Japan’s dominant messaging app (95M users). Everyone uses it.
Google Maps — Excellent for Tokyo transit. Download offline maps.
Suica / PASMO — Tap-to-pay transit card. Add to Apple/Google Wallet.
Google Translate — Camera translation reads Japanese signs and menus.
PayPay — Japan’s biggest mobile payment app (set up after you arrive).

Documents Checklist

Passport — Valid for entire stay. Carry the original everywhere.
Visa / COE — Keep original + 2 copies.
Photos — 10+ passport-sized (4×3cm, white background).
Degree certificates — Original + certified translation.
Medical records — Prescriptions, vaccination records, allergies.

1 Week Before Your Move

Final countdown. Pack smart, confirm everything, and prepare for day one.

Final Countdown

Pack and Confirm

Pack your essentials bag. Keep these in your carry-on, not checked luggage: passport and visa documents, cash in Japanese yen, phone and charger, printed accommodation address (in Japanese), a change of clothes, basic toiletries, and any medications.
Prepare cash — ¥50,000 to ¥100,000 in yen. Japan is more cash-friendly than most countries. You will need yen for taxis from the airport, convenience store meals, transit top-ups, and small purchases during your first few days before you open a bank account. Exchange at your home bank or airport for better rates.
Confirm your accommodation. Re-confirm check-in time, address, and how to access your temporary housing. Save the host’s LINE or phone number. Know exactly how to get there from the airport (Narita Express, Limousine Bus, or taxi).
Download offline maps. In Google Maps, download the Tokyo metropolitan area for offline use. This is your safety net if your eSIM has issues or you are in an area with poor signal. Also screenshot your route from the airport to your accommodation.
Print important documents. Print copies of: accommodation confirmation, flight itinerary, embassy/consulate contact info, your employer’s address and contact, and emergency contacts. Japan still relies heavily on paper documents.
Pack for the climate. Check Tokyo’s weather forecast for your arrival week. Tokyo summers are extremely humid (June–September), and winters are dry and cold (December–February). Pack layers and comfortable walking shoes — you will walk a lot.
Set up your phone’s language settings. Add Japanese as a keyboard language. Enable auto-translation in your browser. Make sure your eSIM profile is installed and ready to activate on landing.

Packing Tip

Do not overpack. You can buy almost everything you need in Tokyo at very reasonable prices — clothes at Uniqlo, household items at Nitori or Daiso (100-yen shops), and electronics at Yodobashi Camera. Focus on bringing things you cannot easily replace: important documents, medications, sentimental items, and clothing for your first week.

Day 1 in Tokyo

You made it. Now the real adventure begins. We have a complete day-by-day guide for your first week.

First Week Checklist

Ward office registration, phone number, bank account, apartment hunting — all in the right order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money should I save before moving to Tokyo?

Budget a minimum of ¥800,000 to ¥1,200,000 (roughly $5,500–$8,000 USD) for move-in costs alone. This covers the typical deposit (1–2 months’ rent), key money (1 month), first month’s rent, agency fee (1 month), guarantor company fee, and basic furnishings. On top of that, have 2–3 months of living expenses saved as a buffer.

Do I need to speak Japanese before moving to Tokyo?

You do not need to be fluent, but knowing basic Japanese makes daily life much easier. Learn hiragana and katakana (you can do this in a few weeks), basic greetings, numbers, and essential phrases for shopping and transportation. Many ward offices and hospitals have limited English support, so even basic Japanese helps significantly.

Can I find an apartment in Tokyo before arriving?

Yes, but it is difficult without a residence card and Japanese bank account. Most landlords require these documents. Your best strategy is to book temporary housing (share house, Airbnb, or serviced apartment) for your first 2–4 weeks, then apartment hunt after you have your residence card, phone number, and bank account set up.

What documents should I bring when moving to Japan?

Bring your passport (valid for the duration of your stay), visa or Certificate of Eligibility, multiple passport-sized photos (4×3cm, white background), university degree certificates (originals and translated copies), birth certificate, driver’s license (for converting to a Japanese license later), medical records and prescriptions, and employment contract or acceptance letter.

How far in advance should I start planning my move to Tokyo?

Start planning at least 6 months before your move date. Visa processing alone can take 1–3 months depending on your country and visa type. You will also need time to research neighborhoods, save for move-in costs, arrange documents, and handle logistics like shipping belongings or finding temporary housing.

Should I ship my belongings to Japan or buy everything there?

For most people, it is cheaper and easier to buy furnishings in Japan. Tokyo has excellent second-hand shops, home centers like Nitori and IKEA, and 100-yen stores for basics. Only ship items with sentimental value or things that are hard to find in Japan. International shipping is expensive ($1,000–$3,000 for a few boxes) and takes 4–8 weeks by sea.