Living in Japan

People's reasons for coming to Japan are varied, but when it comes to living here we're all in the same boat. Japan is a very different place; that's probably why you're here. What you might not have expected was the impact of those differences on your everyday life. Things that were simple back home (renting a place, going to the doctor, getting your paycheck) can easily turn into Herculean tasks without the right resources. Doing your homework and getting a grasp of the basics before you come should make the transition as smooth as possible. If you're already here, there's always more to learn about the bureaucracy we love to hate.