Guides
Living in Tokyo
Once you have keys, the day-to-day. How to pay a utility bill at the konbini, how to keep mold off the closet wall, how packages work, what changes once you stop being a hotel guest.
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September 5, 2026 NEW
Inspection notices in a Tokyo apartment: who may enter
An inspection notice may mean staying home for a short visit, or simply planning around a water outage. Check what the crew needs to reach, then agree the timing and access with the company you're renting from.
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September 5, 2026 NEW
Locked out of your Tokyo apartment: what to do tonight
A key left inside, a lost key and an unresponsive keypad need different solutions. Contact the company you're renting from with the exact problem, and agree any outside call-out or lock replacement before spending money on it.
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September 5, 2026 NEW
Utility cut-off notice in your landlord's name: next steps
A utility warning needs attention even when the account is in your landlord's name. Send the complete notice to the company you're renting from, confirm which bill it concerns, and get a clear answer about payment and any reconnection needed.
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August 22, 2026
Build a Tokyo furnished-apartment move-out packet
Keep your checkout arrangements in one place so you can find them after leaving Japan. Include the accepted departure date, key-return instructions, condition photographs and an agreed refund method, with copies you can access without your Japanese phone number.
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August 19, 2026
Cooking in Tokyo on one burner and a small fridge
A small kitchen can be enough for meals you enjoy, once you know what equipment and storage you have. Start with a manageable shop and a few dinners that work with one burner.
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August 18, 2026
Tokyo clinic visit without national health insurance
Having travel insurance, having Japanese public insurance and being able to prove that insurance are three different situations. Tell the clinic which applies before the visit, and confirm who pays on the day.
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August 11, 2026
Tokyo pollen season when you've never had hay fever
Spring pollen can affect more than time outdoors: it also changes where you dry clothes and bedding. Check the apartment's indoor drying options, follow local pollen information, and ask a pharmacist or clinician about symptoms rather than guessing from the season.
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August 10, 2026
Tokyo earthquake preparation for a short apartment stay
Your building's meeting point, an evacuation area and an overnight shelter may serve different needs. Save the local map and instructions before an earthquake, and check the room, supplies and emergency contacts for everyone staying in the apartment.
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August 7, 2026
Laundry week in a Tokyo furnished apartment
The washing machine's capacity and your drying space may be quite different. Check the bathroom panel and rail as well as the washer, then plan smaller loads or a nearby coin laundry when wet weather makes balcony drying difficult.
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August 6, 2026
Bicycle registration and parking on a 90-day Tokyo stay
Buying a bicycle for a short Tokyo stay involves paperwork at both ends of the trip. Confirm the seller's documents, registration and insurance before riding, and leave time to cancel the ownership record before handing the bike to someone else.
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July 17, 2026
Street-facing or rear-facing for 60 days in Tokyo
Two apartments in the same building can have different noise and daylight. Look at the bedroom window, the rooms beside it and the hours you will be home before choosing a side.
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July 17, 2026
Midnight meetings in a Tokyo apartment: noise rules
Overnight calls are easier to manage when you plan the room before your first meeting. Check the building's quiet hours, reduce speaker and chair noise, and have another place to work if calls can be heard next door.
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July 17, 2026
Dispose of bulky waste before leaving a Tokyo apartment
Start bulky-waste arrangements while you still have time to book collection before checkout. Confirm that the item belongs to you, then use the ward's instructions and the building's agreed collection point so it can be removed without blocking shared space.
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July 17, 2026
Tokyo library cards for a 60-day research stay
Check the catalogue before applying for a Tokyo library card. Reading an item on site, requesting it from closed stacks and taking it back to your apartment require different access, and the documents accepted for registration depend on the library.
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May 21, 2026
Shinjuku garbage sorting: bags, dates and collection
Shinjuku's resource day includes several materials that need to stay separate. Save the calendar for your collection point alongside the building's storage hours, then make space for the bags and cardboard that will wait longest between pickups.
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May 21, 2026
Tokyo apartment basics for foreign residents
A few checks on arrival can make an unfamiliar apartment much easier to use. Find the appliance manuals and building instructions, then work through the bathroom, kitchen and laundry equipment before buying supplies or changing settings.
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May 21, 2026
Tokyo apartment emergencies for foreign residents
Save your apartment's full address and emergency contact before you need them. For a serious incident, call the appropriate emergency service first; for a property fault, describe exactly what has stopped working and follow the building's instructions.
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May 7, 2026
Tokyo apartment internet without a 2-year contract
Internet choices are easier to compare once you include the day you leave. Test the apartment's connection first, then check installation balances, laptop data limits and equipment returns before paying for a plan described as having no long contract.
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May 5, 2026
Tokyo coworking for a short stay: contracts and costs
A monthly desk price doesn't tell you what a short stay will cost. Check joining fees and cancellation dates alongside the branches you'll use; some convenient-looking networks only accept corporate contracts, and a monthly plan may not offer a pause.
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April 28, 2026
Planning a Japan digital nomad visa stay
Planning the application and planning daily life are separate jobs. Start with eligibility and your work arrangements, then check the insurance, housing and everyday services you would need during the stay.
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April 27, 2026
Tokyo typhoon preparation for a monthly apartment stay
Prepare for a typhoon around your apartment's location and the current forecast, rather than a fixed countdown. Check flood risks and evacuation options early, then sort out loose balcony items, essential supplies and any travel that may be disrupted.
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April 26, 2026
Paying Tokyo utility bills at the konbini, slip by slip
Before taking a utility bill to a convenience store, check whose account it covers and which stores accept it. App payment and counter payment have different rules, so choose the method first and keep the matching proof afterwards.
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April 25, 2026
Setting up a Japanese phone plan for a 60-90 day Tokyo stay
Check whether you'll need a Japanese number before choosing a SIM or eSIM. The right plan must also work with your phone and identity documents, and passport-based collection can involve a different setup from delivery to a registered address.
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April 20, 2026
Greeting neighbours in a Tokyo apartment building
A brief hello is a comfortable starting point when you meet someone in your apartment building. Learn a few useful phrases, ask your host about any arrival introductions, and leave room for neighbours who prefer a quiet nod.
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April 16, 2026
A January Tokyo stay before a longer move
A winter visit can answer questions a spring holiday leaves open. Choose accommodation like the home you would actually rent, then try the heating, laundry and everyday journeys alongside a few days out.
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April 9, 2026
Trash sorting on a 30-day Tokyo stay
Find the collection calendar for your address and the building's instructions for storing bags between pickups. On a short stay, saving the final collection dates is particularly useful: an awkward item bought near checkout may need another approved arrangement.
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April 9, 2026
Tokyo furnished kitchens: what to check on arrival
A furnished kitchen can make settling in much easier, once you know what's included. Check the cupboard, hob and fridge before your first food shop, and ask about missing or damaged equipment while there's time to sort it out.
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April 9, 2026
What visiting Tokyo does not teach you
A holiday can tell you what you enjoy about Tokyo without showing how a normal working week would feel. Use a trial stay to test the routines and apartment details that would matter for longer.
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April 6, 2026
How to book a Tokyo monthly apartment with a pet
Pet approval needs to cover your animal and the apartment you're booking. Send the breed, weight and dates early, then separate refundable deposits from cleaning fees so you can compare both the cost and the cash needed before arrival.
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March 28, 2026
Tokyo packages: delivery, redelivery and collection
A missed parcel is usually easier to trace when you keep the delivery notice and tracking number together. Check whether it is already in a locker, then arrange a handover or collection option offered for that particular parcel.
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March 22, 2026
Vegetarian, vegan and halal groceries for a Tokyo stay
A few dependable groceries and nearby places to eat can make a longer Tokyo stay easier. Start with your own ingredient requirements and the apartment's storage, then add specialist shopping or delivery where the local supermarket leaves a gap.
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March 19, 2026
Bringing a spouse and kids on the digital nomad visa
Check the application and insurance documents for everyone travelling with you. Arrange schooling before choosing the apartment, and ask schools and local services which documents they will accept during your stay.
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February 25, 2026
Bringing prescription meds into Japan for a 60-day stay
List each medicine's active ingredient, strength and total quantity before applying for Japan's import documents. The amount you carry and the drug's classification determine the procedure; a 60-day booking alone doesn't tell you which permission you need.
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February 19, 2026
Full Tokyo parcel locker? How to collect your delivery
When your apartment's parcel locker is full, redelivery and collection may still be available. Use your tracking number to find the choices for that parcel, and check the pickup deadline before sending it to a shop or another locker.
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February 10, 2026
August in a Tokyo apartment: cooling and AC problems
For a summer booking, check how the bedroom is cooled when its door is shut. Once you arrive, use the temperature where you sleep to judge comfort, and report cooling problems promptly with the settings, model and any error display.
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February 8, 2026
What changes when you stop staying in hotels
An apartment gives you more choice over meals and everyday routines, along with a few jobs a hotel may handle for you. Check the equipment and included services before deciding what would suit your stay.
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February 7, 2026
Tokyo stays with kids: schools and childcare for 60–90 days
For a short family stay, school admission and enough hours of childcare are separate questions. Start with your child's age, exact dates and residence situation, then compare confirmed places and daily journeys alongside the apartment search.
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February 5, 2026
Healthcare on a 90-day Tokyo stay: travel insurance vs NHI
A travel policy's headline limit doesn't answer every healthcare question for a three-month stay. Confirm coverage for your existing conditions, how a clinic will be paid and what happens if treatment continues after the trip's planned end.
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January 19, 2026
Buying a kotatsu for a 90-day Tokyo winter stay
A kotatsu can be a pleasant place to eat or read in winter, but it takes up room and needs a plan for departure. Compare the complete setup with what your apartment already has.
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January 6, 2026
Heating a Tokyo apartment without trapping damp
Check how each room is heated and where moisture is meant to leave the apartment. Winter comfort can involve both the heating remote and the ventilation controls, especially when windows or a closed wardrobe keep getting damp.
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December 25, 2025
Tokyo rainy-season apartment care: damp and mould
Rainy weather can make laundry and storage awkward even when the apartment feels cool. Learn what the ventilation and dry settings do, give bedding a way to dry, and report recurring damp before reaching for a cleaner meant for another surface.
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December 23, 2025
After Japan's digital nomad visa: planning a longer stay
Start with the date your current permission ends. Ask whether you can apply for another status while in Japan or need to apply from abroad, and allow for the cost of leaving while you wait.
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December 18, 2025
Japan's digital nomad visa: what work it permits
Check the work itself before relying on Japan's digital nomad status. The employer or customer's location matters, but so does whether you must be in Japan to deliver the service; the currency on an invoice won't settle either question.
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