About japanhow

Why japanhow exists

Japan's big comparison sites are excellent, and written for Japanese residents. They rarely say whether you can get the card, the account or the apartment without permanent residency, a Japanese guarantor, a credit history or fluent Japanese. Provider blogs answer those questions, but only about their own products.

japanhow fills that gap: neutral guides and comparisons that start from your situation as a foreign resident, on work, spouse, student or permanent resident status.

What we cover

• Money: sending money home, bank accounts, credit cards, pension refunds, NISA and tax.
• Housing: renting, guarantor companies (保証会社), fire insurance and mortgages without permanent residency.
• Phone & internet: SIMs, phone contracts and home internet without a Japanese credit card.
• Driving: license conversion (外免切替), driving schools in English and buying a car.
• Visa & residency: permanent residency, naturalization (帰化), spouse visas and renewals, as information only.

How we work

Every guide is researched from official sources, fact-checked line by line and dated. Comparisons use one published scoring method. Our editorial policy explains the full process.

Who runs japanhow

japanhow is run by Hana Digital. Guides are written by the japanhow editorial team under the byline japanhow editors.

We don't have paying partners today. Our disclosure explains how we may earn money later, and why that will never change a ranking.

Contact

Corrections, questions and partnership enquiries: hello@japanhow.com. More on our contact page.