Personal Finance Articles Japan

Renting vs. Buying Your Home in Japan: Which is Better?

Deciding whether to rent or buy a home can feel overwhelming. Both options have their pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your financial situation, lifestyle, and long-term goals. In Japan the scales often tip in favor of buying your residence if you can, due to unique financial advantages that make home ownership more accessible and rewarding than in many other countries. Let’s break down the key factors to consider.

March 5, 2025/by Martin Zotta

6 Ways to Teach Children About Money in Japan

Teaching children about the importance of money can be challenging for parents, but it’s crucial for setting them up for financial independence in the future. Whether you’re in Japan or elsewhere, these practical methods will help your child develop a strong foundation in financial literacy.

December 12, 2024/by Martin Zotta

Unlocking Japanese Property Loans with Our New Mortgage Calculator

Navigating the mortgage landscape in Japan can be daunting, especially for expatriates and foreign residents. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new and improved mortgage calculator. This user-friendly tool allows you to estimate potential mortgage payments, helping you understand your budget and compare the costs of a loan with your current rent.

October 11, 2024/by Martin Zotta

Calculate Your Retirement Shortfall – Beginners Guide for Expats in Japan

Discover how to plan for retirement as an expat in Japan. This guide covers goal setting and includes our free online retirement calculator. Try it now!

July 4, 2024/by David Rubenstein

Navigating Lifestyle Inflation: A Guide for Professionals in Japan

Lifestyle inflation can affect everyone, regardless of position and income. Understanding what it is and its implications is crucial to keeping it in check.

April 11, 2024/by Robert Alfa

The Great Wealth Transfer and its Effects on Expats in Japan

We are on the verge of the greatest transfer of wealth in history. This article delves into what this could mean for the economy and for expats in Japan, and why seeking the guidance of a financial advisor is crucial.

October 11, 2023/by Jack Lowe

Tokyo’s 2023 Real Estate Boom: Why Property Values Are Soaring

While it may seem sudden, property prices in Tokyo have been going up for quite some time. In this article we explore what's driving this growth and whether there are still good investment opportunities out there.

September 5, 2023/by Martin Zotta

Power of Compound Interest: How to Reach Your First ¥100 Million

Compound interest is a powerful tool for achieving financial goals like saving for retirement, a house down payment, or growing wealth. This article explores using it to reach ¥100,000,000.

April 7, 2023/by David Rubenstein

Life Insurance for Expats in Japan: How Much Cover Do You Need?

Life insurance is a crucial aspect of your financial plan, especially for expats in Japan. It provides security for your loved ones during tough times. Determining the right coverage can be overwhelming. In this article we look at 5 key factors to consider.

March 29, 2023/by Jack Lowe

The 9 Steps: How To Buy A Property In Japan

Purchasing a property in Japan can be rewarding but complicated, considering various costs and timeframes. This article will walk you through the general steps in purchasing a property in Japan, including the expected costs and time frames.

March 15, 2023/by Lloyd Danon

Investing in Tokyo Real Estate is a Smart Choice: 5 Reasons

Investing in real estate is a popular strategy for diversifying an investment portfolio and securing steady income streams. This article will examine 5 key reasons why investing in Tokyo real estate is a smart choice.

March 15, 2023/by Martin Zotta

Managing US 401K & IRA Accounts from Japan

The demands of living and working abroad can often lead to neglecting retirement plans. American expats face the further complication of managing US-based retirement accounts from overseas. In this article we look at 401k & IRA accounts and how to manage them while living in Japan.

November 11, 2022/by Lloyd Danon

Japan Expat Life Insurance: Term Life vs Whole Life

Choosing a life insurance policy can be confusing, so it is essential to pick the right cover to fit your life. While there are many ways a life insurance policy can be structured, the two most common types of policies are term life and whole of life. In this article we look at the main differences and which one might suit you the best.

October 3, 2022/by Martin Zotta

6 Ways Time In The Market beats Timing the Market

When markets are volatile, people often hesitate to put their money to work because they feel they should wait for “the right time,” hoping to hit the bottom of the market. The reality is that timing the markets is not a strategy that always works. Here are 6 reasons why “time in the market” is a better strategy.

September 14, 2022/by Jack Lowe

The 20 Million Yen Problem In Japan

The ‘20 million yen problem’ was a warning presented by the Japanese government, and highlighted the lack of adequate funds for retirees in Japan. In this article we look at how this impacts foreigners living in Japan, and what you can do to plan for it.

July 29, 2022/by David Rubenstein

4 Challenges Americans Have Investing in Japan

Financial opportunities are few and far between for US nationals living abroad. However, there are still opportunities to be able to invest and manage their wealth from abroad. In this article, we look at the challenges and then ways to make it work.

July 14, 2022/by Lloyd Danon

The Japanese Pension System: A Guide For Expats

The Japanese pension system can be challenging. With this in mind, we've written this brief guide to try and make this topic a bit less confusing for those living and working in Japan, regardless of duration of stay.

June 14, 2022/by David Rubenstein

Japan National Pension Refund For Expats

Everyone is obliged to contribute to the Japanese Pension system, including foreign nationals working in Japan. If you are here only temporarily, you will not be able to enjoy any benefits from this system. In this article we look at the options to claim your pension contributions back.

April 12, 2022/by Robert Alfa

Japan Inheritance Tax And Its Effects On Expatriates

Due to its technical nature, Japan's inheritance tax has always been a subject of confusion among expatriates and foreign nationals. Inheritance from abroad could be taxed in Japan as high as 55%. Here's what you can do to prepare in advance and protect your wealth.

April 12, 2022/by Lloyd Danon

Tax Deductions In Japan: Here Is How To Save Money

Nobody likes paying taxes, especially in Japan, where taxes are significantly high. Luckily if you are a foreigner living in Japan there are some tax deductions can you claim. In this article we'll take a look at ways to reduce your tax bill in Japan.

March 4, 2022/by Martin Zotta

Japan Gift Tax; All Expats Need to Know

Gift tax is arguably the most misunderstood of all taxes in Japan. This is due to its complexity, criteria for payment, and constantly changing regulations. The government imposes gift taxes to prevent individuals from dodging the inheritance tax. This article covers the basics you need to know.

March 4, 2022/by Lloyd Danon

Japan’s Crypto Problem – How is Bitcoin taxed?

There is a lot of confusion regarding cryptocurrency taxes for investors residing in Japan. Avoid confusion with this essential guide to Japan's cryptocurrency taxation, and make sure there are no nasty surprises for you in the future.

November 24, 2021/by Martin Zotta

Furusato Nozei: Use This Tax Strategy in Japan

The Japanese government created Furusato Nozei to encourage taxpayers to prepay their taxes to municipalities. It was created to shift tax funds from wealthy cities to cash-strapped regions. The local regions offer a “gift” in return. Learn how you can take advantage of it.

May 28, 2021/by Martin Zotta

Unlocking NISA: The Essential Guide for Expats in Japan

This article covers how NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) investment accounts work, their pros and cons, and their implications for expats living in Japan.

January 1, 2021/by Lloyd Danon

4 Lessons to Learn from Market Corrections

In early 2020 the stock market dropped dramatically due to COVID. This sudden financial collapse reminded many investors, including the team at Argentum, of the global financial crisis of 2008. In this article we look at how this period was an excellent opportunity for investors.

December 18, 2020/by Lloyd Danon

What to Consider: Looking for Life Insurance in Japan

Life insurance should be an essential part of your life plan. However, if you are a foreigner in Japan it can be even more challenging to get, as most local insurance policies are designed for the domestic market. Here are 6 things to consider when getting life insurance as a foreigner in Japan.

December 15, 2020/by Jack Lowe

The Benefits of Investing on a Regular Basis

Instead of investing all your money at once, try a steady approach, investing a set amount over a set period. This is known as Dollar Cost-Averaging and is a fundamental feature of regular savings plans. In this article we look at how you can utilize it to achieve your own financial goals.

November 24, 2020/by Jack Lowe

Why You Need an Emergency Fund

Unexpected situations happen. Having a cash cushion to fall back on is something that everyone needs, regardless of their current financial situation. In this article we look how much you should save to fit your own financial situation.

April 17, 2020/by Robert Alfa