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Kristen Barrett Archive

An illustration/collage of things related to Japan like temples, fish, bonsai, and food.

5 Tips for Enjoying Your Homestay in Japan

August 12, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Living in Japan
A new year has begun! A new semester is beginning, and summer is now a little closer to …
A man and woman are seen on a deck in the distance, with a body of water and ship in the background, and a blurred tree in the foreground.

JET-setting into the Deep Countryside of Japan: My Experience

August 12, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Living in Japan
When I taught English abroad in the inaka (countryside) of Japan, I lived in a very small, very …
A woman lying in a hammock reading a book.

A Peek Inside the World of Banana Yoshimoto

August 3, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Living in Japan
  I try to recall the day that I first found Banana Yoshimoto, and the memory is shrouded …
A stack of older looking books on the right, and a brownish cup and saucer on the left, all of which are ontop of a wooden tabletop.

The 5 Best Haruki Murakami Books You Need to Read

August 2, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Living in Japan
  After drifting away from it for a time, diving back into the world of Haruki Murakami is …
An illustration of a sign that reads, "HEALTHY LIVING." In the background a lake, mountains, and the sky can be seen.

The Healthiest Habits You Can Pick Up in Japan

August 1, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Fun Stuff
“I don’t know, I just wanna’ get healthy, you know? I wanna’ take…better care of myself. I would …
A close-up of a woman with blue eyes apply make-up/cleanser to her face with a small pad.

The Japanese Skin Care Routine That Changed My Life

March 28, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • 1 Comment • Fun Stuff
When I was younger, I learned two things from my mother: one, to never apologize for bursts of …
A woman is seen tying the laces of her pink shoes, outdoors. Trees and buildings can be seen blurred in the background.

Working Out in Japan: How to Stay Fit

March 22, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Living in Japan
In the past few years, a movement has quietly begun to take shape in Japan. A subtle but …
A row of bottles and small canisters filled with liquid and creams with a white flower next to them.

The Top Japanese Skin Care Products

March 22, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • 2 Comments • Unique Japanese Products
Take All of Our Yen:  Japanese Skin Care Products You’ll Love Japan is a country where a minimalistic, …
An illustration of a laptop, with a smart tablet on top of it, and a smartphone on top of the tablet, each showing different apps.

The Best Apps for Learning Japanese

March 16, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • 1 Comment • Useful Japanese Lessons
When I was learning Japanese, my go-to device was my Nintendo DS. On it, I used the game …
A black and white photo of an older movie camera.

The Best Japanese Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now

March 15, 2018 • Kristen Barrett • 1 Comment • Fun Stuff
With all of the streaming options we have now, the choices can become overwhelming. I can’t tell you …
An image of fireworks in the sky with the many buildings of Tokyo all around. Tokyo Tower is in the center of this image.

Temples, Soba, and Bags, Oh My! Celebrating New Year’s in Japan

December 24, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Fun Stuff
3!..2!…1! Happy Pretend-the-world-isn’t-burning-down-around-us-Day! Happy New Year! Midnight strikes! Cue the kiss, or awkward “Do we hug, or high …
A long tunnel filled with small lights from above and the sides which makes it a tunnel created from these hanging lights. People can be seen walking through this tunnel of lights.

6 Mind-Blowing Winter Illuminations in Japan

December 17, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Places to Visit
Japan may not be the place you associate winter travel with, but then again, does anyone associate the …
Decorative Christmas lights on a large Christmas tree structure and on trees outdoors in Japan. A bridge and buildings can be seen in the background.

How to Celebrate Christmas in Japan

December 4, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • 2 Comments • Fun Stuff
Although less than 1% of the Japanese population is Christian, Christmas is celebrated with as much enthusiasm there …
An illustratoin of a body of water with buildings around it. In the background is a snow-covered mountain, which is reflected on the surface of the water. Above this body of water is a airplane flying over it.

10 Things You’ll Miss When You Leave Japan

November 27, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Fun Stuff
So, you’ve been living in Japan, or you’ve made the journey there for a visit, and it’s time …
A field of flowers of different colors, all grouped together in rows (white, pink, red, orange, and purple flowers). Green fields and mountains are in the background.

10 Reasons You Should Travel to Hokkaido

November 18, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Places to Visit
By all means, travel to the cities like Tokyo and Kyoto- they’re all spectacular in their own right …
A smart tablet on a wooden table displaying th Netflix icon. Around the tablet are spiral notebooks, a smal cactus plant, earbuds, a pen, a basket with croissants in it, and a cup of coffee.

The 10 Best Japanese Shows on Netflix

October 30, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Fun Stuff
The 10 Best Japanese Shows on Netflix Right Now: TV & Movies Ah, Netflix, the destroyer of time …
An entrance gate that is displaying the sign "Universal Studios Japan" with a "15th" decoration hanging from it.

The Best Hotels Near Universal Studios Japan 

October 28, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Places to Visit
No matter how old you get, there is always something a little magical at the idea of taking …
White flashcards on top of a small spiral notebook that is on top of grass. There is Japanese chracters written on one of the flashcards, and another flashcard with the word "apple" written on it in red pen..

The 5 Best Things I Did to Help Myself Learn Japanese

October 23, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • 2 Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
There is never truly an end to learning a language, and to me, that is precisely what makes …
Reasons to Stay at a Ryokan

Staying at a Ryokan: An Unforgettable Experience

October 22, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • No Comments • Places to Visit
5 Reasons Why You’ll Love Staying at a Ryokan So you’re going to Japan or you’re thinking about …
Pros and Cons of Living in Japan

The Pros and Cons of Living in Japan as a Foreigner

October 22, 2017 • Kristen Barrett • 3 Comments • Living in Japan
Japan has long been a place idolized by outsiders, and rightly so. It’s the country where trains run …
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