Guides.
Written by long-term residents, not travel writers. Updated when the rules change — and we tell you when.
Complete Guide to Moving to Okinawa
Visas, shipping, the 14-day registration sprint, banking, NHI, driver's license, neighborhoods — everything in the order you'll actually need it, now grounded in Okinawa-local data.
Wood or Concrete? How Okinawa Houses Are Built
Why Okinawa built in concrete for 60 years, the salt-air spalling problem, the wood comeback, termites, and what each costs.
Carports in Okinawa: Why Houses Don't Have Garages
Why garages are rare here, what proof-of-parking actually requires, and what a typhoon-rated carport costs to install.
Best Neighborhoods for Expats
Chatan, Ginowan, Naha, Onna Village — real comparison with rent ranges from Okinawa-local sources, livability rankings, and who each area suits.
Cost of Living in Okinawa 2026
Real numbers: rent by municipality, OEPC electricity, supermarkets, the kei-car math, and Okinawa's gasoline tax exemption.
Retiring in Okinawa: The Complete Guide
Why Okinawa is a Blue Zone, how to structure your retirement there, and what to expect.
Healthcare in Okinawa for Foreigners
NHI vs Shakai Hoken, English-speaking hospitals and clinics, dental, mental health, medications, and the 2027 visa rule.
Long-Stay Visa Options for Okinawa
Digital nomad, work, spouse, high net worth, HSP — every route that lets you actually live here long-term.
Can Foreigners Buy Property in Okinawa?
Yes — with Okinawa-specific data: the three local bank rates, real Naha sale prices, the 軍用地 military-land investment market, and minpaku rules by municipality.
Renting in Okinawa as a Foreigner
No key money, e-uchina.net the local search portal, guarantor companies, real move-in costs, and the parallel 外人住宅 (gaijin housing) market.
Understanding Japanese Property Listings
Decode 万円 prices, LDK layouts, RC vs 木造 structure, tsubo measurements, the 1981 seismic line, and every status label you'll encounter.
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