Money & tax お金・税金

The two payments that surprise newcomers — pension and resident tax — explained before the envelopes arrive.

Two letters will arrive in your first year or two: a pension notice and, from your second year, a resident tax bill. Neither is a scam — here is what they are and where the official information lives.

National Pension 国民年金

Everyone living in Japan aged 20–59 must join, any nationality. Employees are covered automatically — everyone else enrolls at the ward office. Low income can be exempted.

Resident tax 住民税

The local tax that funds your ward. It is billed to whoever lived in Japan on January 1, based on the previous year's income — which is why the first bill surprises people in year two.

Opening a bank account 口座開設

Being verified — banks are private companies, so we are checking which official guidance to link.

Coming soon