Moving to Japan

TLDR
Hope it finds helpful for people moving to Japan.
Here are my experiences, feelings and process moving to Japan.

Quick background

I have Brazilian and Japanese nationalities, born and raised in Brazil, moved to Japan once in 2007 and again last November. The first time I moved I was accompained by my ex who had only Brazilian nationality.

First time I moved was basically because I was looking for a job abroad and I wouldn't need a visa to work in Japan.
The second time I gave little more though to it comparing to Brazil. It's a lot safer, things are accessible, economically stabler than Brazil, lower cases of Covid-19, I can be politically ignorant as I have no idea about Japanese politics. Although, I don't have as many friends as in Brazil, smaller apartments, risk of natural disasters, no latin warmth, harder to find a nice feijoada or caipirinha.

The cost of living in Japan may seem expensive, specially from my Brazillian POV. But a usually say it with many things you don't realise, for instance, safety, Japan is in the top safest countries, you don't need to pay extra for it. But in Brazil, you'll choose to live in a secure but expensive place, with high fences, doormans and security guards, take a taxi when it gets darker.

Cultural gap

Japaneses are well known to be overly polite and that's a truth. But we're not known for being multi-cultural. There's a lot of tradition and unspoken rules that you'll only know if you were raised here, for instance, different ways to speak each person, bowing, which side you should walk, putting out garbage, how to receive a business card, what to do when natural disaster happens...

The language plays a big part restricting Japan's borders. It's not a easy language to learn, and most Japanese doesn't speak any other language making interactions really hard.
If you are just travelling in Japan, people are really nice trying their best to help you even without verbal communication. But in a day-by-day, it's quite different. I remember my ex dissapointed coming home from the market with a bag of flour instead of sugar, and a bread with azuki instead of chocolate chips.

Before moving

So first thing I guess is how and where.

Getting a working / resident visa to Japan is hard. You probably won't get a visa for regular jobs. So find a company willing to sponsor you and give you a visa.
If you're coming temporarily to work remotly my guess is a travel visa would suffice. No need to lie at the border customs that you're coming for a business trip, and a invitation letter from a Japanese resident or company would be helpful.
Oh, beware of the type of entry visa you get. They'll give you a one time entry visa if you don't ask for multiple entry. Basically one time entry will let you come in only once with the visa you have, even if you have a working visa valid for 10 years. So don't forget to ask for a multiple re-entry visa if you pretend to be traveling abroad.

Now chosing the location is probably easier. Would depend on the company you're applying for, if so, cities that are friendlier to foreigners, cities that has bigger communities of your country. You can think later about moving to a place more fitted to yourself.
I only lived in Tokyo, so I don't have much opinion about it, but I can tell Tokyo seems to be growing with expat communities.

Weather and natural dissasters

The weather changes a lot because we're surrounded by the ocean anywhere. But the weather report system are quite accurate, so always check the news.

It's common to have 'Kafunshô', pollen allergy, specially in spring. You probably won't notice it at first but after years living here you'll probably get it, and any dry weather in a dusty place will get you.

Natural disasters are pretty common anywhere in Japan, so better you research a bit before moving in. I watched a news few weeks ago of thousands of cars stuck in a roadway for 2 days because of a snowstorm.

Should probably get used to earthquakes, it happens all the time. You'll be overwhelmd by instructions and preparedness for emergency situations. I have a rope ladder in my living room wich came with the apartment, and the gas company guy was instructing me on gas meter procedures when an average magnitude earthquake hits. But better be ready if something happens and have exit routes and shelter locations in mind. My uneducated tip is, see if others are running desperately, if so, either follow them or look for a open space, big crossroads or school yards, and wear clothes at home as you may need to run away quickly.
Don't worry if your building is shaking a bit, it's designed to be flexible for earthquakes. Sometimes you'll wake up during the night because neighbor couple are having some fun.

Moving in

So arriving in Japan, or any other country, you'll always find the paradoxal problem of address, local phone number and bank account.
To get a SIM card, you'll need an address and probably a bank account. To open a bank account you'll need a local phone number and an address. And to rent a place you'll need a local phone number and a bank account.

I'll start from the conclusion. There are companies and services specialized in relocating foreigners to Japan, which will help you with legal bureaucracies and renting an apartment. If you can afford it, it's the best option.

Foreigner registration
First thing, go to the closest 'yakusho' or 'kuyakusho', government registry office, bring any documents you have and register to get a foreigner registration card. They usually won't ask for a proof of address, but if they do, just explain your situation. With this card you'll be able to proove your resident situation and address.

Also you might want to find your country's embassy and register there. It'll help in emergency situations, like the pandemic we are having now, also with the taxes back in your country.

Signing up to most utilities are quite bureaucratic. It always asks you about your working situation, sallary, emergency contacts and all proofs of identities. So put your story straight and patience.

Mobile phone
There's many options for mobile providers, the cheaper ones you can apply over the internet. Check if your smartphone works with the provider you choose. It's rare but even with an unlocked phone sometimes the databand is not compatible with your phone. You don't need to get a new smartphone, tho it has it's benefits like the NFC is a different protocol called FeLiCa, so your phone wallet may not work like Google / Apple pay. FeLiCa is used everywhere, card payments, public transport tickets, vending machines, taxis and convenience stores.

Bank
You'll want to get a bank account to not only to put your savings, but to get a debit / credit card. Your international credit card may not work in many places, mostly on e-commerce because they cannot verify an address outside Japan. There are also many options for banks, big banks or net banks (internet banking without a physical bank branch). Net banks are easier to open an account and most has instructions in english, would probably be the entry option just to get things sorted. But there're few downsides depending on the bank you choose: usually there's a fee to cash withdraw at ATMs and money transfers; can't pay with bank transfer option on some e-commerce; can't register for automatic debit for utility bills. Big banks are accepting internet applications now, but has tighter background checks and you may need to go to a branch to bring some documents.

Rent
You may want to get a short term rent at first. Usually rent contracts are for 2 years. But you can find short term contracts, usually on those foreigner relocation services I mentioned before. You'll find that there's 'apa-to' apartments and 'manshon' mansions. Both are apartments, but 'apa-to' are smaller buildings usually up to 3 floors and wooden structure. Mansions has more apartments and storeys, with in-site management staff and more facilities in on the premise like garbage area and bike garages.
Short term contracts are pricy but it usually comes furbished with all utilities included. On a regular term contract you'll hardly find a furbished apartment. Furbishing the apartment costs a lot, what I'm going through right now, but there are some cheaper options like recycling shops where you can find second hand furnitures and electric appliances in good conditions or a subscription service where you can rent house appliances quickly and you can have mostly new appliance quickly.
Don't forget to measure every inch of all passages inside and outside your apartment before buying things, specially if you get an apartment above ground floor.

One thing I find really useful is the package post box. It's a slightly bigger post box which you can receive packages even if you're not home. Not all buildings has it but you can hire secure drop boxes around the city.

You can some options for the utility service providers, but they usually accept online registration.

Living

Now that we're settled let's try to enjoy a little.

Transportation
Public transport are really well connected and with a minute accuracy. When there's delays they'll overwhelm with apologies. The train lines may be a bit confusing at first, or second and third..., there are too many train lines and different lines may stop on same platform. Even within a single line has different types like local, semi-express, commuter semi-express, express, commuter express, rapid express, commuter rapid express. So don't bother getting it wrong, it's really confusing, you'll probably be board a wrong train for a while. Don't forget to check for the 'shû-den', the last train so you won't get stranded somewhere.

You can easily catch a taxi on the street or use some apps to call or schedule one 'haiya-' (hired). Uber doesn't work here, taxis has better service than uber could provide so uber didn't find their way in as taxi service.

Food and Delivery
As mentioned above, uber couldn't get in as taxi service, but they got in as a food delivery service with Uber Eats. There are other delivery services which you can easily find online.

You can find a variety of cousines but mostly asian.
It's not common to have vegetarian, vegan, halal options in the menu. Though if you understand the ingredients you'll see that there are veggie dishes, but remember that most dishes use 'dashi', usually a fish based broth for seasoning.
Few shops has an option for the plates, where they deliver the food in actualy ceramic containers instead of cheap poli bowl, and they'll come few hours later to collect it.

Shops, Supermarkets, convenience stores, local markets
Convenience stores are the best. It's usually open 24 hours you can find it every few blocks, and you can find most needs in there, quality hot food, not a microwave heated frozen food; beverages; daily supplies; small electronics; printing and fax services.

'Shô-tengai' are streets with a variety of shops and restaurants, usually around train stations.

Supermarkets and local stores are as it sounds. But go with your Google Translator app on camera mode ready. Everything will be written in Japanese, so it's easy to mistake a flour with a sugar or azuki sweets with chocolate as I mentioned at the beginning.

Plastic bags are charged extra, so better if you bring your own eco-bag and help the environment. Depending on the market, they'll pack your goods impeccably, or you'll need to go to to the packing bay to pack it yourself.
Only verbal communication you need to be aware at the cachier are 'pointo ka-do omoti desuka?' which 'is do you have a point card?', and 'fukuro goriyou ni nararemasuka?' 'Will you need a plastic bag?'. For the price you can see it in the caching machine display easily. Depending on the market you'll also be directed to pay on a self payment machine.
There are some places that has a self checkout machines which you'll pay with your credit card or your phone.
You can pay using your phone not only with FeLiCa NFC, but with QR codes scanned on your screen using payment apps.

The quality of pretty much anything are high, and also the price comparing to other countries. Like, I find better bananas and oranges without any black spots packed one by one here. Japan is a big island with few plain terrain, so it's had to have large farming terrains and many things are imported which makes ingredients expensive. I like that you can find everything in small packages so you have less food waste, also makes easier to fit things in your small fridge.

There are loads of other small things I can talk about here like clothes detergent specially if you dry cloths indoor, floor mops with wet wipes, but I'll leave it for you to find it out yourself, it could be fun.

Garbages
There are fixed dates places for each type of waste you are throwing which is different for each area. The dates are not only for logistic issues, it's actually for not having trashes on the street for long periods to avoid fire. In dry season there are many cases of fire starting point being a trash bag on a street.
Usually it's separated as burnables, non-burnables, larger or special wastes, reciclables. You'll need to wash everything before throwing away, like milk boxes, PET bottles, etc.
You cannot throw garbages larger than 30cm. You'll have to hire and pay extra for it. So careful when buying stuffs, you'll understand why there's pans with detachable handles.
For bigger things like fridges or beds, you may look for the recycling shops I mentioned earlier, they may take your stuff for free if they see any value, or you may have to pay for it.

You'll hardly find trash bins on the streets. Usually you'll find beside convenience stores, but it has small opening, it's all to avoid terrorist attacks reducing hidden spots for bombs such inside a trash bin.

Parks
You can usually find a small green spot around your neighbour, usually with a smal temple attached. It usually has some ammenities and small playground so kids can play and you can do some stretching.

Police
'Omawarisan' are policemen and you'll find many 'kôban' small police stations around. It's part of how they structured the police system to be closely integrated in communities.
Of course the police are here to fight the crime, but they mostly work to avoid and get closer to be part of the community. So most part of the day they are talking to the residents, helping people with directions and lost stuffs, even helping an elder person carrying shopping bags. So don't be shy asking any information for a police officer.
Talking about lost stuffs, if you lose something, don't panic, go to the places you might have lost it or to the police station. Most people actually takes it to lost and found and it works.

Conclusion

I'm just concluding cus I'm starting to get lost on topics and many other things I want to talk about, but I hope it sums up the idea.

With the pandemic happening, things are changing fast.
The country havent started vaccinating yet, it's late comparing to most countries, but at least they're giving some directions and dates and planning the logistics. So I'm happy about it, I'm seeing the vaccination caos happening in other countries, and hope it carries out smoother here.