Three pillars of practical guidance
OhashiJozu groups its guides around the kinds of questions foreigners actually run into.
- Life AdminPaperwork, rules, housing, phones, and other practical systems you need to navigate life in Japan.
- Culture DecodeEveryday customs, communication gaps, and hidden context that make Japan easier to understand.
- Local RealityPractical, grounded guides based on how things actually work in daily life.
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Step-by-step helpers for comparing options, checking rules, and deciding what to do next.
- MobileInteractiveMobile Plan ComparisonCompare MVNO and major carrier plans in Japan. Filter by price, data, English support, and network.Open tool
- TransportationIn-article toolForeign License Exemption CheckerSelect your country to see whether you may be exempt from written or practical driving tests when converting your license.Open tool
Start here
Three practical reads to get oriented quickly
Popular Articles
A curated set of frequently referenced guides
Blue Tickets for Bicycles: Japan's New Fine System from April 2026 (Basic Guide)
Comprehensive guide to Japan's "Blue Ticket" system for bicycles starting April 2026. Learn about 113 types of violations, fine amounts, sidewalk riding exceptions, and important points for foreign residents.
How to Report a Stolen Bicycle in Japan: Real Experience at a Koban
Step-by-step guide to filing a bicycle theft report at a Japanese police box (koban). Based on real experience: what documents you need, what happens if the koban is empty, and how to file even without your registration card.
Essential Hot Spring Items for First-Timers | 3 Must-Have Items - Face Towel is All You Need
Essential hot spring items carefully selected for beginners. Learn why a single face towel is sufficient and discover the 3 minimal items you truly need, explained through actual experience.
Hay Fever Survival Guide for Foreigners in Japan β Remedies, Medicine & Hospitals
A practical hay fever survival guide for foreigners in Japan. Prioritized countermeasures, OTC vs. prescription medicine, how to visit a hospital, and a pre-season checklist.
Latest Articles
The newest practical guides published on OhashiJozu
How to Buy on Mercari in Japan: A Guide for Foreign Residents
Step-by-step guide for foreign residents buying on Mercari in Japan: search, check listings, pay, receive packages, and complete buyer reviewsβwithout duplicating the overview or selling guides.
How to Sell on Mercari in Japan: A Guide for Foreign Residents
Step-by-step guide to listing and selling on Mercari in Japan for foreign residents: photos, pricing, shipping, fees, anonymous delivery, payouts, and completing the transaction through ratings.
What Is Mercari? A Guide to Japan's Marketplace App
Learn what Mercari is and how it works for foreign residents in Japanβbuying and selling used goods, English support, anonymous shipping, payment options, and the author's experience before your first listing or purchase.
Moving Out Soon? Appliance Disposal Priority Timeline for Foreign Residents in Japan
A practical (not legal) timeline for clearing TVs, fridges, washers, and AC units before move-out: what to do at 30, 14, 7, and 3 days, and when to avoid free pickup scams.
Recently Updated
Guides refreshed with the latest information
Free Pickup Trucks and Online Haulers in Japan: How to Check If a Collector Is Licensed
How to verify general-waste collection licenses through your municipality, why industrial-waste or secondhand-dealer permits are not enough, and red flags before you hand over appliances.
No Purchase Receipt? How to Dispose of Major Appliances in Japan When the Store Is Unknown or Closed
Methods for secondhand appliances, gifts, and leftover items from previous tenants: municipality pages, cooperative stores, self haul, and collection transport.
Before You Take Apart a TV in Japan: What Can Go Wrong With Appliance Drop-Off
A caution checklistβnot legal adviceβon disassembling TVs and other appliances before recycling drop-off: label visibility, safety, smart-TV data, and what to ask the collection site.
10 Confusing Japanese Disposal Terms for Foreigners (Appliances, Sodai Gomi & Recycling)
Short definitions of appliance-recycling vocabulary and move-out situation terms, with links to the full OhashiJozu disposal series.
Why "OhashiJozu"?
If you've lived in Japan as a foreigner, you've probably heard "Ohashi jozu desu ne!" or "Nihongo jozu desu ne!" β even when you've only said "Konnichiwa."
Our name is a playful nod to this common experienceβacknowledging the small cultural misunderstandings that make life as a foreigner in Japan both challenging and charming.
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