# tokyo.how > A multilingual, locally-written guide to Tokyo life. Practical articles for residents and visitors, covering transportation, money, housing, food, culture, and daily life. Available in 36 languages with English as the source language. ## About - **Audience**: Foreigners living in or visiting Tokyo (tourists, residents, expats, students). - **Voice**: First-person local perspective by Tokyo residents, not aggregated travel advice. - **Updates**: Quarterly refresh on prices, schedules, and regulations. - **Citation**: Cite as "tokyo.how — Tokyo Local Guide" with link to the article URL. ## Key resources - [Full content corpus (single Markdown file)](https://tokyo.how/llms-full.txt): all English articles concatenated for one-shot ingestion. - [Sitemap index](https://tokyo.how/sitemap-index.xml): every URL across all locales. - [About tokyo.how](https://tokyo.how/about): editorial team, methodology, contact. - [Markdown for Agents](https://tokyo.how/guides/suica-card): any guide URL returns Markdown when requested with `Accept: text/markdown`. ## Guides ### Money - [Credit Card in Japan for Foreigners: From Zero Credit History (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/credit-card-japan-foreigners): No credit history? Here's how foreigners actually get approved. Step-by-step: build your CIC score, pick the right first card (Rakuten, Epos, GTN), and avoid the 6-month rejection trap. - [How to Eat in Tokyo on Less Than ¥2,000 a Day](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-budget-eating-guide): Matsuya beef bowls for ¥460, Fujisoba noodles for ¥430, supermarket bento for ¥300 after evening markdowns. A practical guide to eating well in Tokyo on a budget, with chain names, prices, and ordering tips. - [Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2026? Cost Breakdown by Itinerary](https://tokyo.how/guides/jr-pass-japan): The 7-day JR Pass costs ¥50,000 after a 70% price hike. We break down 6 popular itineraries to show exactly when the pass saves money — and when you're better off with regional passes. - [Japan Payment Guide: PayPay, Suica & Cards — What Should You Carry?](https://tokyo.how/guides/payment-methods): PayPay, credit cards, Suica, Apple Pay — what works where, what doesn't, and what foreigners should carry in Tokyo. Cash-only spots and contactless tips. - [No Phone, No Bank Account? How to Break Japan's Catch-22](https://tokyo.how/guides/phone-bank-circular-dependency): You need a bank account to get a phone, and a phone number to open a bank account. Here's how foreigners in Japan solve this catch-22, step by step. - [Suica Card in 2026: Buy, Top Up & Use (Physical + Mobile Guide)](https://tokyo.how/guides/suica-card): Physical Suica cards are back in limited quantities, but Mobile Suica on iPhone works everywhere. Step-by-step setup for Welcome Suica, Apple Pay, and Android — plus where Suica won't work and how to get your deposit back. ### Living - [Cycling in Tokyo — Bike-Share Apps, Rules & Best Routes (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/cycling-in-tokyo): Start with HELLO CYCLING or Docomo Bike Share in minutes. Compare prices, learn the 2026 blue-ticket rules, and ride the Imperial Palace loop or Rainbow Bridge route. - [Daycare and Kindergarten in Tokyo for Foreign Families](https://tokyo.how/guides/daycare-kindergarten-tokyo-foreigner): Licensed daycare (hoikuen) in Tokyo is free for ages 0–5. A foreign parent's guide to the application timeline, points system, and documents needed. - [English-Speaking Clinics in Tokyo — How to Find One Today](https://tokyo.how/guides/how-to-find-clinic-tokyo): Need a doctor in Tokyo who speaks English? Search with Google Maps or EPARK, walk in same-day, and know what to expect — from referral letters to the #7119 emergency line. - [English-Speaking Doctors & Hospitals in Tokyo (2026 List)](https://tokyo.how/guides/english-speaking-doctor-tokyo): 10+ clinics with English-speaking doctors in Tokyo, searchable by area. Plus how to use HIMAWARI, what to bring, costs without insurance, and mental health options. - [How to Actually Make Friends in Tokyo as a Foreigner](https://tokyo.how/guides/making-friends-tokyo-expat): Tested ways to build real friendships in Tokyo — not just bar small talk. International associations, Meetup groups, language exchange, sports clubs, and share houses that actually work. - [How to Receive Packages and Request Redelivery in Tokyo](https://tokyo.how/guides/package-delivery-tokyo-foreigner-guide): Scan the QR code on your missed delivery slip to request redelivery in 3 minutes. Compare Japan Post, Yamato, and Sagawa procedures and English support. Yamato's refrigerated packages are returned after just 3 days. Includes okihai, delivery boxes, and convenience store pickup tips. - [How to Rent an Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner [Costs, Guarantor, UR]](https://tokyo.how/guides/how-to-find-apartment-tokyo): Upfront costs run 4-5 months' rent in Tokyo. Even without a guarantor, a guarantor company gets you a lease. How to find zero-deposit units, UR housing requirements, what to do about 'no foreigners' policies, and the full process from search to move-in in as little as 2 weeks. - [Living in Tokyo's Tama Region — 26 Cities with Lower Rent and More Space](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-tama-cities-guide): 26 cities west of the 23 wards with lower rent and more nature. Rent, childcare, and commute data compared city by city. - [My First Solo Move in Tokyo — From Apartment Hunt to Move-In Day](https://tokyo.how/guides/first-time-moving-out-tokyo): A first-hand account of moving into my first apartment in Tokyo. Full breakdown of ¥300,000 in initial costs, the entire process from apartment hunting to move-in, and utility setup — all in chronological order. - [Tokyo 23 Special Wards: Population, Area & Density (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-23-wards-list): Compare all 23 Tokyo special wards (特別区) by 2026 population, area in km², and density. Official ward data with rent ranges, in one reference table. - [Tokyo Convenience Store Guide: ATMs, Payments, Printing & Shipping](https://tokyo.how/guides/convenience-store-guide-tokyo): Tokyo konbini are 24-hour ATMs, city halls, and post offices rolled into one. Withdraw cash with foreign cards, pay utility bills, print documents, and ship packages — all in a single stop. Includes chain comparisons, fees, and ATM step-by-step instructions. - [Tokyo Garbage Sorting & Collection Rules](https://tokyo.how/guides/garbage-sorting-tokyo-guide): A complete guide to sorting garbage in Tokyo's 23 wards: how to find your collection schedule, dispose of bulky items, handle home appliance recycling, and avoid common mistakes that cause neighbor complaints. - [Tokyo Housing Without a Guarantor: 3 Routes for Foreigners](https://tokyo.how/guides/no-guarantor-housing-tokyo): Rent Tokyo without a guarantor: share houses from ¥30k, monthly mansions, and standard rentals via guarantor company — 3 routes compared. - [Tokyo Rainy Season Mold Prevention — Room-by-Room Guide for Apartment Residents](https://tokyo.how/guides/surviving-rainy-season-tokyo-residents): For foreign residents experiencing their first tsuyu in Tokyo. Mold prevention by room (bathroom, closet, windows), how to use a bathroom dryer and its cost, coin laundry pricing, food safety basics from MHLW, and mental health tips for June — the only month with no public holidays. - [Where to Live in Tokyo as a Foreigner — 23 Wards Area Guide (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-special-wards-guide): Rent from ¥70K to ¥150K, commute times to Shinjuku/Shibuya, foreign resident communities, English-friendly services — all 23 wards compared with official data so you can pick the right neighborhood. ### Work - [How I Landed an IT Engineering Job in Japan as a New Grad — International Student's Guide](https://tokyo.how/guides/it-engineer-new-grad-job-hunting-japan): A graduate's journey through Japan's new-grad IT hiring — summer internships, coding tests, student communities, and the path to a job offer. - [Japan's Job Hunting System for Foreigners (Shinsotsu, Visa, SPI)](https://tokyo.how/guides/japan-employment-system): A practical guide to Japan's unique employment system for foreigners: shinsotsu batch hiring schedule (junior summer to October), rirekisho and ES writing, SPI prep, interview etiquette, and visa status change (apply December to January). Covers the December 2025 new standards. ### Admin - [Japan Health Insurance & Pension for Foreigners — Premiums, Coverage & Lump-Sum Withdrawal](https://tokyo.how/guides/health-insurance-pension-japan): Shakai Hoken vs. National Health Insurance, monthly premium estimates, how to claim lump-sum withdrawal when leaving, and the 2027 visa renewal change. - [Moving to Tokyo as a Foreigner — Ward Office Checklist (14-Day Deadline)](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-ward-office-moving-guide): Residence registration, address change, health insurance, My Number — the full ward office checklist for foreigners with required documents. ### Explore - [11 Tokyo Travel Mistakes First-Timers Make — And How to Avoid Them (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-travel-pitfalls): Wrong trains, cash shortage, no SIM, overloaded suitcase — the 11 most common Tokyo travel mistakes and exactly what to do before you leave home. - [3 Hydrangea Day Trip Routes from Tokyo](https://tokyo.how/guides/hydrangea-spots-tokyo): Tokyo hydrangea 2026: 3 day-trips from Tokyo. City (free), Kamakura (Meigetsuin vs Hasedera), or Hakone's hydrangea train. Peak: 2nd–3rd week of June. - [8 Cherry Blossom Walks in Tokyo — Routes, Crowds & Picnic Tips (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/sakura-spots-tokyo): Tested walking routes through Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, and 5 more spots. Crowd levels by time of day, best picnic areas, and which spots peak early or late. Based on visits across three sakura seasons. - [Anime & Subculture DJ Events in Tokyo — Venues, Costs & Beginner Guide](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-subculture-dj-events): Anime, Vocaloid, and game music DJ events every weekend in Tokyo. Venues like Akihabara MOGRA, entry costs, and tips for first-timers. - [Cheap Sushi in Tokyo: Best Spots from ¥110/Plate](https://tokyo.how/guides/cheap-sushi-tokyo): Best cheap sushi in Tokyo from ¥110/plate. Top kaiten-zushi chains, standing bars, Tsukiji & supermarket picks — compared by price, quality & budget. - [Free Things to Do in Tokyo on a Rainy Day](https://tokyo.how/guides/free-rainy-day-activities-tokyo): Tokyo rainy day, ¥0 budget: 5 free routes — Intermediatheque, Ginza galleries, National Art Center, Nakano Broadway, Musashi-Koyama Palm. - [Free Tokyo Night Views: Skyline Spots Open Late (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/free-night-views-tokyo): See Tokyo's skyline at night for ¥0. Free spots that stay open late — LUFTBAUM Takanawa, Yebisu — plus the bridges, parks, and riversides where you watch the city light up. - [Golden Week 2026 in Tokyo: Why the City Empties Out (and How to Use It)](https://tokyo.how/guides/golden-week-tokyo-guide): Golden Week 2026 runs April 29 to May 6. While 30M+ Japanese leave the city, Tokyo gets quieter — but banks and offices close for days. Nozomi reserved-only policy, crowd patterns, and what stays open. - [How to Navigate Tokyo's 4 Biggest Stations — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo & Ikebukuro](https://tokyo.how/guides/station-navigation-tokyo): Platform maps, gate locations, and transfer walk times for Tokyo's most confusing stations. Exit guides, rush-hour survival tips, and which IC card works where. - [How to Plan Your Tokyo Itinerary Without Burning Out](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-itinerary-planning-guide): 2-3 spots per day is the right pace. Group nearby areas, add 15-minute buffers, and halve your plans on jet-lag day one. A practical framework to avoid over-scheduling. - [Japan Travel eSIM Guide 2026 — SIM, eSIM & WiFi Compared With Prices](https://tokyo.how/guides/japan-travel-sim-esim-guide): Side-by-side price table for Airalo, Ubigi, Mobal, and 5 more providers. eSIM vs physical SIM vs pocket WiFi pros and cons, airport pickup locations, 'unlimited' plan throttle thresholds, and what to do when your data stops working. - [Last Train Tokyo: Time & Schedule for JR, Metro, Oedo (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/last-train-tokyo-guide): Tokyo last train time and schedule for JR, Tokyo Metro, and Oedo Line — all around midnight. Plus taxi, capsule hotel, and karaoke if you miss it. - [Luggage Storage in Tokyo: Lockers, Apps & Delivery (2026 Prices)](https://tokyo.how/guides/luggage-storage-tokyo): Compare coin lockers (¥300–800), ecbo cloak, Bounce, and luggage delivery from ¥2,000. Station-by-station locker availability tips and what to do when lockers are full. - [Narita & Haneda to Central Tokyo: 2026 Airport Access Guide](https://tokyo.how/guides/airport-to-tokyo-guide): From Narita or Haneda to central Tokyo: compare every train, bus, and taxi by fare and time (Skyliner ¥2,470, N'EX ¥3,140+, Keikyu ¥327) and pick the best route. 2026 fares. - [Shinkansen Guide: Booking, Fares & How to Ride](https://tokyo.how/guides/shinkansen-booking-guide): How to book the shinkansen with SmartEX: fares and fastest times (Tokyo–Shin-Osaka ¥14,720), reserved vs. unreserved seats, JR Pass rules, and oversized-baggage tips. - [Tokyo Etiquette — Manners for Trains, Restaurants, Shrines & Onsen](https://tokyo.how/guides/etiquette-tokyo): No calls on trains, no swimsuits in onsen, no tipping. A scene-by-scene guide to Tokyo manners for trains, dining, shrines, and hot springs. - [Tokyo Fireworks Festivals 2026 Complete Guide | Sumida River Tickets & Exit Crowds](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-fireworks-festivals): Compare Tokyo's major 2026 fireworks festivals — Sumida River (7/25), Katsushika (7/28), Edogawa (8/1), and more — by date, shell count, and crowd level. Covers the paid-seat booking flow (TicketPay, Lawson, Klook) through to 3 exit strategies for beating the crowds. - [Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: 8 Free Decks (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/free-observation-decks-tokyo): Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free admission, 202m) and 7 other free observation decks: Caretta Shiodome (210m), Bunkyo Civic Center, hours. 2026. - [Tokyo Onsen & Sento Guide — Prices, Etiquette & Tattoo Policies](https://tokyo.how/guides/onsen-sento-guide-tokyo): Tokyo sento cost ¥550 flat. This guide covers bathing steps, tattoo policies by venue, and beginner-friendly bathhouses and day-trip onsen — all based on official sources. - [Tokyo Rainy Season Guide: When It Hits, What to Pack, What to Do](https://tokyo.how/guides/rainy-season-tokyo-guide): Tokyo tsuyu 2026: early June to mid-July, rain falls on ~half the days. Hotels are cheapest of the year. Rainy-day routes, hydrangea spots & seasonal food. - [Tokyo Restaurant Booking: TableCheck vs Tabelog vs OMAKASE](https://tokyo.how/guides/restaurant-booking-tokyo): Compare Tokyo's reservation platforms by fees, English support, and card payment. Plus how to book phone-only spots like Den, and no-show rules. - [Tokyo Restaurant Extra Charges Explained](https://tokyo.how/guides/tokyo-restaurant-charges-explained): A small dish you didn't order. A service fee on your bill. This guide breaks down the four extra charges at Tokyo restaurants — otoshi, table charge, service fee, and consumption tax — with typical prices and cultural context. - [What to Book in Advance in Tokyo — teamLab, Ghibli & Shibuya Sky (2026)](https://tokyo.how/guides/book-tickets-advance-tokyo): teamLab, Ghibli Museum, and Shibuya Sky sell out weeks ahead. On-sale dates, prices, booking steps, and free backup spots when tickets are gone. ## Languages Source: English. Translated to 35 additional locales including ja, ko, zh, zh-tw, de, fr, es, pt, it, vi, hi, ar, th, id, tr, pl, nl, sv, cs, uk, ro, hu, tl, ms, he, da, nb, fi, et, hr, el, ne, my, bn, ru. ## Optional - [Privacy](https://tokyo.how/privacy) - [Terms](https://tokyo.how/terms) - [Contact](https://tokyo.how/contact) - [RSS feed](https://tokyo.how/rss.xml)