Planning on living in Tokyo? Learn all of the practical information you need for an easy relocation with this Expat Info Desk Tokyo expatriate guide.
Our guide was written by Jesse Green and last published on Friday 17th September 2010, it's the 2nd edition.
Living in Tokyo, Japan, the world’s second largest economy, means experiencing one of the most energetic cities the world has to offer. This metropolis is home to more than 10 million people, and is famed for its rich culture, incredible cuisine, efficient transportation, and friendly people. And while Japanese is naturally the official language, there are an increasing number of Japanese who can speak English – particularly within the business sector.
As Tokyo is a hub for the rest of the region, a sizeable number of international corporations have an office or affiliate in Japan, and thus the expat community in the city is significant.
For families with children, Tokyo offers plenty of options including daycares, “play spaces”, and a variety of international schools with programs that consistently gain students places at prestigious universities in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. Not to mention, Tokyo is also one of the safest capitals in the world, boasting a very low citywide crime rate.
The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Tokyo covers the following topics-
The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Tokyo is packed with essential information and compulsory details on living legally in Tokyo. From visa, ID requirements and residency permits through to taxation and work rights, it contains everything you need to know about meeting the regulatory requirements of living here.
The Expat Info Desk relocation guide to living in Tokyo contains full and comprehensive listings of all the popular residential areas within Tokyo. From the central apartments of Tokyo through to the beautiful parkside residences of Aoyama, we tell you who you will find living there, what the local amenities are and how much you can expect to pay for a place that meets your needs.
If you are wondering how to find suitable utilities and communications service providers, looking for international schools for your children, want to find someone to worship, are concerned about bringing your pets here or simply want to understand how to travel around this vast city, this international relocation guide to living in Tokyo will answer all your questions as well as providing you with information about many other topics that you may not have even thought of.
Tokyo’s cultural and entertainment scene is well known for being vast and varied. Our expatriate on the ground in Tokyo has sampled everything that is on offer and is now able to share with you insider information about where to eat, drink, dance, meet new friends and sample the rich cultural heritage on offer.
International relocation to a city that is as vast and culturally challenging as Tokyo can be very daunting. We provide you with practical information about how you can stay safe and avoid any potential dangers. We also provide in-depth listings and contact details for all major health service providers and hospitals, thus ensuring that you have all the information you need at your fingertips.
Despite the city growing ever more “internationalized”, Tokyo’s culture and customs are indeed very local. While it can take years of life in Japan to become truly enmeshed in cultural and customary practices, this expat relocation guide serves to offer the basics in getting you started.
Written by an author who has experienced first hand the trials, challenges and joys of living in Tokyo, our writer offers readers the information and advice that she wish she had been given when she first relocated here. This is not a travel guide; it is a realistic insight into what life is really like for a foreigner living in Tokyo and it will become an invaluable source of information throughout your relocation process and beyond.
Our guide was written by Jesse Green and last published on Friday 17th September 2010, it's the 2nd edition.
| 01 | Foreigners intending to stay in Japan for longer than 90 days are legally obligated to register with their local municipal office. |
| 02 | Taking Japanese and cultural classes will greatly help in boosting confidence and will give you a greater sense of appreciation for Japanese. |
| 03 | Understanding Tokyo’s transportation system is one of the keys to a happy life in the city. Some command of how to get around will ensure indepe |
| 04 | Explore Shibuya, Harajuku, and Omotesando to see 3 neighboring districts, each with their own demographic. |
| 05 | Let Tokyo’s food be the fastest way to your heart and you’ll never look at food from your home country the same way again. |
Tokyo city’s daytime population is approximately 15 million people, and its night time population around 12.5 million, a difference of 2.5 million people.
