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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Interactive tools
Step-by-step helpers for comparing options, checking rules, and deciding what to do next.
- MobileInteractive
Mobile Plan Comparison
Compare MVNO and major carrier plans in Japan. Filter by price, data, English support, and network.Open tool - TransportationIn-article tool
Foreign License Exemption Checker
Select 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
Everyday Rental Manners in Japanese Housing
For foreign renters in Japan: treat the lease and building rules as the source of truth for shoes, neighbors, garbage, and bathroomsβnot nationwide customs.
Disaster Preparedness for Renters in Japan
Prepare a Japanese rental apartment within tenant limits: confirm alterations with the manager, use official hazard maps and evacuation alerts, and pack a kit from public guidance.
Housing for ALTs and English Teachers in Japan
For JET, dispatch ALT, and eikaiwa teachers: treat the contract and contracting organisation as authoritative for housing and allowancesβnot internet stipend ranges.
Living with Pets in Japanese Apartments
Confirm pet permission in the lease and building rules, complete dog registration and rabies vaccination, and plan noise, odor and restoration before you move in.
Recently Updated
Guides refreshed with the latest information
Moving Out in Japan: Deposit Returns and Restoration Costs
Plan your rental move-out in Japan, document the room, check deposit deductions and cleaning clauses, and ask for help with disputed restoration costs.
Property Search Sites for Foreigners in Japan
Choose a rental search service in Japan by language and housing needs, then check eligibility, guarantor terms, contract length and total costs before viewing.
Staying Comfortable in a Japanese Rental Through the Seasons
For foreign renters: indoor heat, humidity, mold, and room-by-room heating in Japanese apartmentsβwith building differences, lease limits, and heater safetyβnot the moving-season market.
Fitting Storage and Furniture into a Small Japanese Rental
For foreign renters in compact 1K and 1LDK units: circulation, vertical storage, folding furniture, and lease limits on wall holesβnot seasonal HVAC or pet noise.
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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