Not Sure Where to Consult
If you have a problem living in Japan but don't know where to consult, you can start checking here.
Do you need help right now?
Life or body is in danger
Sudden illness/injury/fire is 119. Crime or personal danger is 110. If home is dangerous due to DV or similar, move to a safe place and contact a specialist counterLooking for a general consultation point
Check a counter based on what you are struggling withDo you need help right now?
If your life or body is in danger, use an emergency contact before a general consultation counter.
- Sudden illness, injury, or fire → 119
- Crime or personal danger → 110
- Domestic violence or other danger at home → Move to a safe place, then contact a specialist consultation counter
What are you struggling with?
Residence status / Residence Card
You can consult an immigration services bureau, the Foreign Residents Support Center, and similar organizations.
The Foreign Residents Support Center handles multilingual consultations by phone, in person, and by email.
Phone: 0570-013904 (or 03-5796-7112 by IP phone or from overseas).
Hours and supported languages may change, so check the Immigration Services Agency's official website for the latest information.
Work
For job hunting, unemployment, employment insurance, and similar matters, you can consult Hello Work.
For unpaid wages, dismissal, harassment, and similar matters, consult a labor consultation counter and similar organizations.
Pension
Consult a pension office or your municipality.
Taxes
For income tax and final tax returns, consult the tax office; for resident tax, consult your municipality.
Contract and shopping trouble
Consult a consumer affairs center and similar organizations.
Legal issues
You may be able to consult Houterasu, a lawyer, and similar professionals.
Housing, childrearing, and daily life
First, consulting your municipality's foreign resident consultation counter or general information desk may get you directed to the counter in charge.
Check consultation points by what you are struggling with
Residence / Work
- Residence status / Residence Card: Immigration bureau, the Foreign Residents Support Center, and similar
- Job hunting / unemployment / employment insurance: Hello Work
- Unpaid wages / dismissal / harassment: labor consultation counters, and similar
Pension / Taxes
- Pension: pension office, your municipality
- Income tax / final tax return: tax office
- Resident tax: your municipality
Contract / Legal
- Contract / shopping: consumer affairs centers, and similar
- Legal: you may be able to consult Houterasu, a lawyer, and similar
Housing / childrearing / daily life
- Your municipality's foreign resident consultation counter / general information desk
- Depending on the area, an international exchange association, and similar
- For multiple overlapping problems, one approach is to consult a comprehensive counter
Consultation counters for foreign residents
Depending on the area, there are foreign resident consultation counters, international exchange associations, and similar organizations.
If you have multiple overlapping problems, one approach is to first consult a comprehensive consultation counter like these.
FRESC
The Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) brings together national government organizations that support the life and residence of foreign residents.
Which counter you can use differs depending on what you are consulting about.
When you really don't know where to go
Tell your municipality's foreign resident consultation counter, general information desk, international exchange association, or similar organization:
"I don't know where to consult."
JANIA will also help you check consultation points based on what you are struggling with.
Main places to check
- Immigration Services Agency
- Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC)
- Your municipality
- Public consultation organizations in each field
Last checked: August 2026