I just moved to Tokyo
Start with your ward or city office for address registration, local health insurance, local tax, garbage rules, childcare, and local guidance.
Living in Tokyo
Government support for foreign residents in Tokyo
Use this guide if you live in Tokyo and need to know whether your issue is handled by a national agency, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, or your local ward or city.
Updated 2026-09-01
Choose your situation
I need multilingual consultation
Use official Tokyo foreign-resident consultation pages, Tokyo Intercultural Portal resources, or local international association support.
I need medical help
Use Tokyo healthcare and multilingual medical information sources for hospitals, consultation, emergency guidance, and language support.
I need housing help
Use Tokyo housing policy and tenant-trouble guidance first, then check ward or welfare support if the issue is financial or urgent.
I need disaster or emergency information
Use Tokyo disaster-preparedness sources and your local ward or city hazard maps, evacuation information, and multilingual disaster pages.
Official source map
National agencies
Immigration, national tax, pension, employment insurance, and national health or labour policy.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo-wide housing guidance, healthcare information, disaster preparedness, welfare policy, and metropolitan consultation.
Ward / city office
Address registration, National Health Insurance, local tax, childcare, garbage collection, local welfare, and neighbourhood disaster maps.
Tokyo Intercultural Portal / TIPS
Living guides, consultations, Japanese-language learning, disaster information, and multilingual resources.
What to prepare
Before searching, identify your exact ward or city, nearest municipal office, residence status, health insurance situation, and whether your issue is urgent, local, or national.
Official sources
Guidebook on Living and Working in Japan - English
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice official source tagged for general information. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentLiving in Tokyo: guide for foreign residents - English
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation TSUNAGARI
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation TSUNAGARI official source tagged for living in japan, general information, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentTokyo Bosai disaster preparedness guide - English
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo Metropolitan Government official source tagged for disaster, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentRental housing guide for foreign residents in Tokyo - English
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo Metropolitan Government official source tagged for housing, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentDisaster Information For Foreign Resident - English
Meguro City
Meguro City official source tagged for disaster, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentDisaster Information For Foreign Resident - R7bosaimapenglish L - English
Suginami City
Suginami City official source tagged for disaster, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentNakano City Disaster Preparedness Guide - English
Nakano City
Nakano City official source tagged for disaster, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentNerima City Disaster Preparedness Guide
Nerima City
Nerima City official source tagged for disaster, living in japan, foreign resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.
Open official documentCommon questions
Is Tokyo Metropolitan Government the same as my ward office?
No. Tokyo Metropolitan Government handles Tokyo-wide information and programs, while wards and cities handle many daily resident procedures.
Where do I check garbage rules?
Check your ward or city page. Garbage categories, collection days, and bulky waste procedures can vary by municipality.
Where can I ask in English or another language?
Start with official Tokyo multilingual consultation resources, then check your ward or city international support pages.
What should I do during a disaster?
Use official emergency information first, then check Tokyo and local ward/city disaster pages for evacuation, hazard maps, shelters, and multilingual guidance.
Important note
Sollo helps you find and organize official public information. It does not decide eligibility, submit applications, or replace advice from a government office or qualified adviser. Official rules can change and may depend on your location, household, income, residence status, employment, and application timing. Always confirm details with the linked official source or the relevant office before acting.
How Sollo can help
Sollo helps you avoid mixing up national, Tokyo-wide, and ward-level information by grouping official links by location and situation.