It takes from 2 weeks to 1 month for the immigration office to issue your new residence card after your application for renewal. What if you find the expiration date is coming just 3 days after?
Don't panic. If you apply for renewal at the immigration before the expiration day, the Immigration Bureau (Tokyo, Yokohama, wherever) will stamp "Applying for renewal permit" on the back of your current residence card. Then, even after the expiration day, you can legally stay in Japan until the date when the renewal application is approved, or until two months after the application. In other words, you will not be considered “overstay”.
However, please apply for renewal of your card much sooner. You can do it from the date 3 months before the expiration date. It’s much safer. If you renew or change your residence card at our office, we will record its expiration date and let you know that 3 months before by letter or email. So you don't have to worry about that.