Choosing a Town to Live in Japan as a Foreign Resident: Residence Status, Housing, School, and Medical Care
When you choose a town to live in Japan as a foreign resident, look up four things separately: your status of residence, housing, school, and medical care. Start with the municipality's multilingual consultation service, and tell them your family's languages and when you plan to move. Do not only read the town's guides: from the address of each housing candidate, try the trips you will make every day.
やさしい日本語
- 外国人が日本で住む町を選ぶときは、在留（ビザ）、住まい、学校、医療の4つを分けて調べます。
- まず、市や区の役所の多言語相談に行きます。家族が話す言葉と、いつ引っ越すかを伝えます。
- 町の案内を読むだけでなく、住みたい家から実際に動いてみます。
Key points
- Look up four items in official information: status of residence, housing, school, and medical care. Consult according to your family's languages and moving date.
- Before signing a housing contract, check three situations: initial costs, renewal, and moving out. Try the trips from the address to school and medical care.
- Keep the counters and their answers in a 15-item checklist. For conditions not yet confirmed, decide who is in charge and the next contact date.
- Eligibility and supported languages differ by area and counter, so check the latest information with the person in charge when you use a service.
やさしい日本語
- 在留・住まい・学校・医療の4つを、国や役所の情報で調べます。
- 家の契約の前に、入るとき・更新のとき・出るときの3つのお金と決まりを確かめます。
- 15のチェックに、窓口と答えを書いておきます。まだ分からないことは、担当の人と次に連絡する日を決めます。
- 使える人の条件や言葉は、町や窓口でちがいます。使う前に、新しい情報を聞いてください。
What to do
Status of residence and daily life are checked in different places
Check residence conditions with a specialized consultation service, and daily life in the town with the municipality's counter. A status of residence (在留資格) is the status that matches the activities you can do in Japan or your personal status. Check your status and its expiry date, and sort out the work you plan to do. Ask the consultation service which documents you need to change or renew your status. When your address changes, also check the municipality's procedures. The living guide of Naka Ward, Yokohama, keeps residence checks and city office procedures separate.
When comparing towns, the languages you can consult in and how easy it is to get there also matter. Look up trips to school, medical care, and the city office as well as to work. Record the hours of each consultation counter and whether you need a booking. If you read about the whole system first and then explain your own conditions, your questions become more specific.
Steps to look up official information about a town
- Sort out your conditionsYour status of residence, work, number of family members, and languages. Also write your children's ages and any planned doctor visits.
- Search the municipality's websiteSearch the municipality name with words such as 「外国人 生活案内」 (living guide for foreign residents) or 「多言語 相談」 (multilingual consultation). Save the list of counters on the official site.
- Check housingLook up the contract conditions and costs of each housing candidate. Check the required documents, the language of explanation, and your preferred move-in date.
- Find school and medical careFrom the address, look for candidate schools and medical care. Ask about school enrollment consultation, how to see a doctor, and language support.
- Try the tripsTry commuting, shopping, and going to the city office. Talk with your family about emergency contacts and preparing for evacuation.
- Consult before signingBefore the contract, consult about anything not yet confirmed. Keep the counter's answers and the next procedures with the date.
Housing contracts
For a housing contract, keep checking until you understand the costs at move-in and at renewal. Before you sign, also read what you must pay when you move out and the conditions for giving notice to cancel.
Restoration to original condition (原状回復) means repairing damage caused by the tenant on purpose or by negligence. It covers damage beyond normal use. Repair costs for aging and normal use are considered to be included in the rent. Compare who pays what with your contract and with the public guidance.
やさしい日本語
- 在留：自分の在留資格と期限を確かめます。変更や更新の書類は、相談の窓口で聞きます。住所が変わるときは、役所の手続きも確かめます。
- 調べる順番：①自分と家族のことを書く ②町の名前と「外国人 生活案内」「多言語 相談」で調べる ③家の条件とお金を調べる ④学校と医療を探す ⑤仕事・買い物・役所まで行ってみる ⑥契約の前に分からないことを相談する。
- 家の契約：入るときと更新のときのお金を、分かるまで聞きます。出るときのお金や、やめるときの連絡の決まりも、サインの前に読みます。
- 原状回復：借りた人がわざと、または不注意で壊したところを直すことです。ふつうに使って古くなった分は、家賃に入っているという考え方です。
Compare residence, housing, school, and medical care
If you line up each candidate address with the same consultation conditions, you can compare how life would differ.
Official information to write for each candidate town
| Item | What to write for each candidate | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Status of residence | Your status, expiry date, planned activities, required documents | Immigration services consultation |
| Housing | Rent, contract costs, required documents, language of explanation | The agent's counter, the municipality's housing section |
| School | Enrollment consultation, Japanese support, getting to school, language for contact | The municipal board of education |
| Medical care | Departments, reception, foreign language support, route to the doctor | Public search service, medical institutions |
| Living consultation | Language, booking, place of consultation, next procedure | The municipality's multilingual counter |
Housing costs and questions before the contract
| When | What to ask | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Required documents, number of occupants, guarantee conditions | Application guide, breakdown of costs |
| Moving in | When to pay, facilities, keys, living rules | Contract, photos at move-in |
| Renewal | Contract period, costs, how to contact | Renewal clauses and the answer of the person in charge |
| Moving out | Notice deadline, repair costs, settlement | Cancellation conditions, record of facilities |
やさしい日本語
- 比べる表：在留（出入国在留管理の相談）、住まい（不動産の窓口、役所の住宅の係）、学校（教育委員会）、医療（国の検索、医療機関）、生活の相談（役所の多言語窓口）。
- 家で聞くこと：申し込み（書類・住む人数・保証）、入るとき（払う日・設備・鍵・ルール）、更新（期間・お金・連絡）、出るとき（連絡の期限・修理のお金・精算）。
- お金は物件ごとの見積書で書きます。
Examples by situation
Change what you check first depending on whether you live alone, with family, or need regular doctor visits.
Starting work and living alone
Check your planned activities with the residence consultation service, and try the commute. Put your first working day and move-in date side by side, and sort out the documents needed for the contract. Calculate housing costs separately as monthly costs and initial costs. Also look up garbage disposal and city office procedures in the municipality's guide.
Living with children
Consult the board of education of the municipality of your housing candidate about school enrollment. Whether a foreign child can enter a public school is checked with the board of education or similar. Tell them your child's age, school history, and language, and ask about the required documents. Also check the route to school and how the school contacts parents.
A family member who sees a doctor regularly
Use Medical Information Net to search by department, area, and foreign language conditions. Ask candidate medical institutions how to see a doctor and about language support. Match the route and reception hours to make a plan for doctor visits. There are also searches for pediatrics and for holidays and nights.
やさしい日本語
- 一人で仕事を始める：仕事を始める日と家に入る日を並べて書きます。家賃は、毎月のお金と最初のお金を分けて計算します。
- 子どもと住む：住みたい町の教育委員会に、学校のことを相談します。子どもの年、前の学校、話す言葉を伝えます。
- 病気で通う家族がいる：「医療情報ネット」で、近くの診療科や外国語ができるところを調べます。子どもや、休みの日・夜の検索もあります。
Checklist before the contract
Print this checklist before the contract and keep what you were told together with it.
- □ I checked my status of residence and its expiry date.
- □ I sorted out my planned work and where to consult.
- □ I looked up the city office procedures for moving.
- □ I checked which languages I can consult in and how to book.
- □ I wrote rent and initial costs separately.
- □ I checked the documents needed for the contract.
- □ I checked the number of occupants and the facilities.
- □ I understood the renewal and move-out clauses.
- □ I told the school enrollment counter my child's age and address.
- □ I asked about Japanese support at school and how the school contacts us.
- □ I checked the medical departments and foreign language support.
- □ I found where to consult about health insurance procedures.
- □ I tried the routes to work, school, and the doctor.
- □ My family talked about emergency contacts and evacuation.
- □ I decided who is in charge and the next contact date for anything unconfirmed.
やさしい日本語
- 契約の前に、このチェックを印刷して、聞いたことを書いておきます。
- 説明が難しいときは、質問を短く分けて書きます。
- ちがう窓口だと言われたら、次の担当と連絡先を聞きます。予定が変わったら、もう一度相談します。
Where to ask: an example from Yokohama City
Start with the municipality's multilingual consultation service, and it will connect you to the sections for residence, housing, education, and medical care. As an example, Yokohama City's official list shows multilingual consultation and consultation services for labor, education, and residence. It also explains a system that sends citizen interpreters (市民通訳). Check eligibility and how to consult with the designated counter.
| Inquiries about the list | International Peace and Diversity Promotion Division (国際平和・ダイバーシティ推進課), Yokohama City. Phone: 045-671-4710. |
| City office | 6-50-10 Honcho, Naka Ward, Yokohama (横浜市中区本町6丁目50番地の10). Ask the person in charge which floor and reception desk to go to when you book. |
やさしい日本語
- 横浜市には、多言語の相談と、仕事・教育・在留の相談先の一覧があります。市民通訳を送る仕組みもあります。
- 問い合わせ：横浜市国際平和・ダイバーシティ推進課。電話 045-671-4710。市役所は横浜市中区本町6丁目50番地の10です。
Phrases to show at the counter
Show this card at the counter, or read it aloud.
この町に引っ越すか考えています。相談したいです。
I am thinking about moving to this town. I would like to have a consultation.
子どもの学校のことを相談したいです。
I would like to consult about my child's school.
この契約のお金を、もう一度説明してください。
Please explain the costs in this contract once more.
ゆっくり話してください。
Please speak slowly.
Japanese words at the counter
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 在留資格 | zairyū shikaku | Status of Residence (Visa) |
| 多言語相談 | tagengo sōdan | Multilingual consultation |
| 教育委員会 | kyōiku iinkai | Board of education |
| 原状回復 | genjō kaifuku | Restoration to original condition |
| 更新 | kōshin | Renewal |
| 初期費用 | shoki hiyō | Initial costs |
Questions people ask
When a foreign resident chooses a town to live in Japan, which official information should I check for residence status, housing, school, and medical care?
On the official website of each candidate municipality, look for the living guide for foreign residents and the multilingual consultation counter. Check the consultation service for residence status, the housing contract conditions, the school enrollment counter for children, and how to search for medical care separately. Decide the address of the housing candidate, and write commuting to school, going to the doctor, and commuting to work in the same table. Tell the counter your preferred language, the number of family members, and when you plan to move. Compare the explanation of the system with your own conditions, and for anything you do not understand, write down who is in charge and the next date to check.
In what order should I check my residence status and choose a town?
First check your current status of residence and its expiry date, and find where to consult about your planned work or move. For the conditions of procedures, explain your situation and ask at an immigration services counter. When choosing a town, sort out work, commuting, and your family's school and doctor visits at the same time. Before signing a housing contract, confirm the required documents and the order of procedures with the person in charge. Keep notes of the date you consulted and the guidance you got, and if your work or address plans change, put the changes together and consult again.
If I am not confident in Japanese, how do I compare housing?
Ask the municipality's multilingual consultation service where you can get help understanding the contract. In addition to the rent, check the costs at move-in, renewal, and move-out separately. Ask for easy-to-read explanations of the application form and the contract, and make a list of questions. Write down the facilities, the number of occupants, the notice deadline for moving out, and who pays for repairs. Bring the same checklist to each viewing and record the answers for each property. Plan enough time to check so that you sign only after you understand the content.
Where do I consult about school for a foreign child?
Consult the board of education of the municipality where your housing candidate is. Tell them your child's age, previous schools, language, and planned moving date. If you want your child to attend a public school, confirm the procedure and the required documents. Also ask about Japanese language support, the route to school, and how the school contacts parents. Ask how your child can receive explanations in a language they understand, and sort out what they find difficult in their studies. If your address changes, tell the counter you consulted.
How do I check medical care and language support before choosing a town?
Use Medical Information Net to search for departments near your housing candidate and for foreign language conditions. If you have children, also use the pediatric search and check holiday and night information. Ask candidate medical institutions how to see a doctor and what language support they actually have. If you need an interpreter, check what support is available and how to book it. For health insurance procedures, consult the counter of the insurer you join. Organize your medicines and doctor visits, and prepare to keep seeing a doctor after you move.
Source
- Naka Ward, Yokohama City, "Living guidance for foreign residents: What you need to know" (外国人住民向け生活ガイダンス「あなたが知らなければならないこと」; no publication date or version on the page; checked October 9, 2026): https://nakalife.city.yokohama.lg.jp/to-know
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Private rental housing" (民間賃貸住宅; no publication date or version on the page; checked October 9, 2026): https://www.mlit.go.jp/jutakukentiku/house/jutakukentiku_house_tk3_000016.html
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Enrollment in elementary and junior high schools" (小・中学校等への就学について; no publication date or version on the page; checked October 9, 2026): https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/shugaku/index.htm
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Medical Information Net (Navii)" (医療情報ネット（ナビイ）; no publication date or version on the page; checked October 9, 2026): https://www.iryou.teikyouseido.mhlw.go.jp/
- Yokohama City, "Consultation and information in multiple languages" (多言語による相談・情報提供; updated April 10, 2025; checked October 9, 2026): https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/city-info/seisaku/kokusai/kyosei/tagengo/counceling.html
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Troubles and guidelines on restoration to original condition" (「原状回復をめぐるトラブルとガイドライン」について; refers to the revised edition of August 2011 (Heisei 23); checked October 9, 2026): https://www.mlit.go.jp/jutakukentiku/house/jutakukentiku_house_tk3_000020.html
Last checked: 2026-10-09
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