June checklist for newcomers: health insurance bill + residence tax, explained simply

June is when two money things hit at once in Japan. Quick plain-English heads up so you're not caught off guard: 1. National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) annual bill arrives. It's based on LAST year's income. If you earned more last year, it goes up. Low household income can qualify for reductions (shown on the notice). 2. Residence tax (住民税) — also based on last year's income, deducted monthly from June. First-year arrivals often get surprised in their SECOND June when it suddenly starts. If the numbers look scary, your city office can set up installments — just ask. Amounts vary by city, so check your municipality's site for an estimate. Happy to answer questions in the comments.