Before you read
- Explanations follow Japanese rules; where municipalities or insurers differ, typical examples are given.
- Rates and limits change every year, so check the date and sources in each guide.
Japan Money Guides
- Read alongside the calculators
- Japan rules
What comes out of a Japanese paycheck, how tax is settled, home loans, retirement saving and housing, explained under Japanese rules.
Japan social insurance
What comes out of a Japanese salary: health, long-term care, pension and employment insurance, the child support levy from April 2026, standard monthly remuneration and the ¥1.06m/¥1.3m walls.
Japan income tax
How income tax works for employees in Japan: employment income deduction, the 2026 basic deduction and ¥1.78m threshold, withholding and year-end adjustment, when to file a return, and resident tax.
Japan home loans
Japanese home loans: variable vs fixed (Flat 35), Bank of Japan rate rises 2024–2026, repayment methods, group credit life insurance, the 2026 housing loan credit, prepayment and refinancing.
Japan retirement
Japanese retirement allowances and corporate pensions, the retirement income deduction, iDeCo limit increases (2027) and the new receipt-order rule, public pension amounts, early and deferred claims.
Japan rent vs buy
Renting in Japan (deposit, key money, agent fee, guarantor, renewal fee, restoration) vs buying (down payment, closing costs, property tax, condo fees) with example numbers, plus tips for foreigners.
Averaging down
Does lowering your average cost really reduce losses? The effect and the illusion of averaging down, a checklist before buying more, and how to plan staged purchases, with examples.