Resource Center

Essential Info

• What you receive in the first months

• Health information

• Getting a phone number

• SIM card for short-term visitors

• Where to purchase a second-hand mobile phone

• Postal, Express Courier Services

• Scheduling Japan Post Redelivery

• Family Member Access Card

• Okinawa Schooling information

• Guide for new & expecting parents

 About Japan

Living in Japan

• Guidebook on Living and Working

Okinawa Info

• About Okinawa

• Industrial Arts and Crafts of Okinawa

• Okinawan Food

• Okinawan Culture

• About Onna-son

• Event Calendar

Safety

• Water Safety　

• Water Safety Updates

• Hazard map around OIST

• Field Safety

• Safety Resource

• Dangerous Creatures 

• Vehicle Safety

• Disaster News and information

• Safety App on your phone 

• Evacuation information

Green Okinawa

A practical guide to living an environmentally-friendly life in Okinawa.

Latest post:

Local stores selling eco-friendly products

Older posts

Green Okinawa logo designer info

Go Shopping

Practical tips for grocery shopping in Okinawa.

Latest post:

Online grocery shopping options(1)

Read older posts here

What do you want us to cover?

A useful guide and Japanese phrases for grocery shopping

Uchinaa Culture

Uchinaa Culture is a series introducing a glimpse of the Okinawan local culture, traditions, and languages.

Latest Posts

• Uchinanchu Festival

• Irei no Hi

• Kugani kutuba, the Golden words(1)

• Ryuuka-Okinawan poetry/song

• The day to promote island speech

• Kyuu-Bon festival

• Island speech (1)

• Okinawan God's new year holiday

• Muuchii rice cakes

• Grave-sweeping festival 

Driver's License

• Driving in Japan

• Driver's License Conversion

• Need to take a Driving Lesson?

• About Japanese Driver's License

• Renewing your Japanese Driver's License

• Applying for an Official Translation from JAF

• Obtaining an International Driver's License based on your Japanese license

• Getting a Japanese Driver's license from scratch

Car

• Compulsory Vehicle Inspection (Shaken)

• Purchasing a car

• Sell/Dispose of a car

• Rental car

• Money transfer to NISSAN rental car

• Annual Road Tax

• English Speaking Car Garages

• Frequently Asked Car Questions

*You must have voluntary insurance if you own a car. Resource Center DOES NOT provide translation service in case of accidents*

Bureaucratic

• Obtaining Certificates at Municipal Offices

• Residence Card and Visa

• Obtaining a Certificate of Criminal Record

• Childcare

• How to Submit Marriage Certificate Form

• Notarization

• My Number

• Vaccination Passport on your phone 

Financial

• Credit Card Options

• Banking Service

• International money transfer

• Pension

• How to transfer money to a WISE account (*ONLY for PayPay bank.)

Housing

• Living in a Japanese house/apartment

• AC Cleaning

• Moving within the island

• Moving Companies on the Island

• Garbage Disposal

• Professional Cleaning (carpet, mattress,etc)

Around OIST

• OIST Discount

• Third-Party Childcare around OIST

• Shopping

• Beach Cleaning

• Parking around Naha airport

• Transportation

• Gyms and Swimming pools

Emergency

• Emergency Procedure

• Typhoon Guideline
  (日本語はこちら）

• Preparing for Typhoon

• Useful information for Typhoon

• Earthquake

• Tsunami

Laws/Regulations

• Drugs in Japan

• Drunk Driving

• Carrying Knives or guns

• Deportation Procedure

• If you are arrested by the Police

• Private Legal Consultation

Leaving Okinawa

• Resignation Process
  Admin Staff
  Researcher & Technicians

• Offboarding Process

• Arrange Departure

• What to do with Pension when leaving Japan?

• How to pay the final power bill via smart pit