14 day residence requirement for zairyu card

Hi everyone,

I recently received my 5-year working visa for Japan and need to be in the country by January 2026. However, I had already planned a holiday to Japan with some friends in November 2025, and I’m now trying to figure out the best way to manage both.

I have two main questions:

If I enter Japan in November 2025 on my working visa and collect my zairyu card, am I allowed to delay registering my residence until I return in January?

I’m considering activating the visa and picking up the zairyu card in November but would prefer not to commit to a rental just yet. I’d rather avoid spending money on a short-term place just to register an address. I’ve come across conflicting information online: some sources say you need to register your address within 14 days of receiving the zairyu card, while others suggest it’s 14 or 90 days from moving into a permanent residence. If anyone has gone through this, I’d love to hear your experience.

Would it be better to simply enter as a tourist in November and then use the working visa to enter in January instead?

I’ve read that this might be possible, but I’m unsure how strict immigration is about this. My Japanese is still quite basic, and I’m a bit nervous about explaining the situation clearly at the airport.

Any advice, personal experience, or clarification would be hugely appreciated. Thank you so much!