The Basics of Personal Finance in Japan

Want to go from zero to having your money on autopilot in Japan?

Managing your finances can be confusing enough, let alone doing it in another country. Most of us weren’t taught anything about how to handle money as we navigate through life.

So you earn and spend, you probably save up for things you really want with no real logic to it but things work out, more or less.

Or maybe you get into debt or some crisis hits and the stress of sorting that out is made ten times worse because of the financial impact. Before you know it, retirement will be just around the corner and … you just don’t want to think about it.

But it doesn’t have to be like that.

Mastering money doesn’t have to be a mystery.

You can get everything set up by learning a few basic principles in six key areas: spending and saving, pensions and investing, and insurance and planning.

A practical blueprint to managing your finances

The Basics of Personal Finance in Japan course gives you a practical blueprint for to go from zero to competently managing your finances in Japan. With 24 years of living in Japan and 11 years as a financial educator, I’m going to give you specific recommendations tailored to the Japanese context so you know exactly what to do, which accounts to open, and how to manage your money.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to

  • get your spending under control and start saving
  • understand what the basic investing options are in Japan
  • understand the Japanese pension system (nenkin)
  • stay on top of your finances and plan for the future

So, if you’re ready to take control of your finances in Japan and be financially secure, this is the course you need.

What the course covers

  • How to spend within your means so you have the life you want AND the life you can afford
  • How to save for the future without being miserable now
  • Which investing accounts to open in Japan
  • What insurance you need (and what insurance you don’t!)
  • How the pension system works in Japan
  • How to plan for the future financially
  • All the steps to take to stay on track with your finances from now on



"Getting a snapshot of where money is being invested, saved, and spent, and where "extra money" might be lying around for potential saving or investing is going to make a big difference in terms of how I'll be approaching planning. The blueprint and spreadsheets are a great way to get an idea of where you stand right now and to understand what you can do to make your money work for you, rather than the other way around."

Participant on the pilot course

"I already know a fair bit about investing and saving, but I chose to do the course to get Japan-specific advice. Do the course if you are unsure about any of the categories as it will be worth it."

Robert Sarkozi, Owner and Lead Educator at Wakayama International School of English (W.I.S.E.)

Your Instructor


Ben Tanaka
Ben Tanaka

Ben has been living and working in Japan for over twenty years, mainly in education.

After losing his job at short notice in 2008, he became very interested in personal finance.

In 2013 Ben launched RetireJapan to share information in English about personal finance, investing, retirement, and life in Japan.

He lost his job again in 2022 but this time everything was fine. Now Ben works mostly on the RetireJapan website and forum, courses, guides, coaching, and YouTube channel.


What you’ll get

  • A comprehensive guide to the basics of personal finance in Japan with clear, actionable steps.
  • 1.5 hours of bite-size videos explaining everything you need to know to manage your finances yourself
  • A downloadable Workbook with practical tasks and steps
  • Downloadable spreadsheets to manage your money and plan for the future
  • A complete blueprint of exactly what to do next

Course Curriculum


  Read this first! How this course works
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  Introduction
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  Taming your spending
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  Lock in your saving
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  Get started investing
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  Optimize your insurance
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  Get to grips with your pension
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  Financial planning
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  The Blueprint
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  What next?
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Get started now!



Frequently Asked Questions


How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Is this course suitable for US citizens living in Japan?
Yes, this course should be helpful to anyone living in Japan. US citizens are somewhat limited in their investment options in Japan, but we go into that briefly in the course too.
I’m really busy right now. How long does it take to do the course?
The whole course will take no more than 3-5 hours if you watch all the videos and do all the tasks (recommended!). It’s bite-size, broken down into modules and each video is between 1 and 4 minutes long so you can work through at your own pace.
I don’t know if I’ll end up retiring in Japan. Is the course still right for me?
It could be. It depends how long you plan to be here! But the core principles about mastering your financial behaviour and habits are universal. If you’re not sure, take a look at the list of topics and think about whether they might help you.
I’ve already got a good understanding of NISA and iDeCo. Will I learn anything useful?
The focus of this course is to improve your understanding of personal finance, improve your habits and mindsets, and take action. But, if you are happy with your finances you probably don’t need to take the course.
Should I do this course or go straight to Your First Ten Million Yen?
Your First Ten Million Yen is more of a commitment than this course. It is more expensive, it involves live sessions and a cohort of peers, and covers more material. If you’re committed to making big changes and you can afford it, Your First Ten Million Yen will be a good fit. On the other hand, if you are not sure, or if you would struggle to afford the live course, this one will get you started and on the right track.
I don’t live in Japan now. Will the course still be useful?
The course is largely about getting a better understanding of universal financial principles, improving your habits, and getting some momentum going. Probably 70-80% of the course would apply regardless of where you live. The other 20-30% is Japan-specific. Take a look at the list of topics and think about how useful they might be to you.

Get started now!



"This course will help you to understand the brass tacks of basic financial planning. For those seeking to chart a course out of debt or just shore up some assets, this course will be a great starting point. There’s plenty to think about for both the novice investor and those who are more experienced. The explanations and tools are easy to understand and worth the (sometimes difficult) reflective work along the way."

Jackie B., Worship Arts Director, Kumamoto

"The course provides a basis to understand why financial planning is important and gave me confidence that I can take the steps to arrange my finances and invest for my future. It is a helpful resource if you are a beginner (like me). Before jumping into anything, it is important to understand the basics of how pensions, insurance and investing work in Japan".

Participant on the pilot course