This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best possible experience on our website. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. Learn More

The True Japan

Menu
  • Learn Real Japanese
    • The Best Way to Learn Japanese
    • Beginner Lessons
    • Intermediate Lessons
    • Advanced Lessons
    • Learning Japanese Resources
    • Best Japanese Books
    • Passing the JLPT
  • Living in Japan
    • How-To Guides
    • Working in Japan
    • Japanese Culture & Blogs
  • Traveling in Japan
    • Tokyo
    • Kyoto
    • Osaka
    • Hiroshima
    • Hokkaido
    • Other Popular Destinations
    • The Complete Japan Travel Guide
    • The Best Time to Visit Japan
    • Japan on a Budget: A Guide to Cheap Travel
  • Cool Japan Stuff
    • The True Japan Store
      • Anime & Manga Merch
      • Japan Lovers Merch
      • Cute Characters Merch
    • Anime and Manga
    • Best Japanese Products
    • Food in Japan

Living in Japan Archive

An overhead shot of three people (only their hands are visible) at a desk with a laptop and papers on in. The men appear to be talking about business with each other.

What Is Kaizen in Japanese, and How Is It Useful?

August 2, 2021 • Satoko Kakihara • No Comments • Living in Japan
Back in January, I set a bunch of goals for the year 2021 to reclaim my life after …
A young, Asian businesswoman at her desk pinching the bridge of her nose while looking very tired.

Death By Overwork: All About Karoshi

July 16, 2021 • Risa • No Comments • Living in Japan
Simply put, 過労死 (karoshi) is a “Japanese term for sudden death caused by overwork,” according to the Oxford …
A Japanese classroom with a view of desks and the front blackboard.

8 Things No One Told You About Teaching in Japan and How to Deal with It

January 30, 2021 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
Teaching English is one of the most common jobs available to foreigners in Japan. Most native English speaking …
A young, blonde woman in front of a blackboard pointing at the "ABCs" written on it with a piece of chalk.

Is the JET Program Worth It? Pros Vs. Cons

December 29, 2020 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
Is the JET Program worth it? In my opinion, it is 100% worth it. If you have the …
Medicine pill tablets in their pill packs, which is in a mini shopping cart with a blurred view of a pharmacy drugstore's shelves in the background.

Complete Guide to Over-The-Counter Medicine in Japan

July 6, 2020 • Kanna Livingston • No Comments • Living in Japan
  Japanese drugstores, or yakkyoku, can be daunting.  Even if you feel pretty good about your Japanese ability, …
A young woman sitting in a car and looking out of the window and smiling. She is holding keys in her right hand.

How to Get a Japanese Driver’s License

April 13, 2019 • Amanda Wilmot • No Comments • Living in Japan
A Japanese driver’s license may seem unnecessary to anyone living in a large city. Places like Tokyo, Osaka, …
An airplane flying in the sky with the sunset/sunrise behind it.

Leaving Japan – Part III – Moving Back Home

February 11, 2019 • Amanda Wilmot • No Comments • Living in Japan
Your time in Japan has come to an end. It could be that you’re a study abroad student …
An illustration with Japanese castles, gates, and monuments. The words, "Welcome to Japan" are writting beneath the illustration.

Moving to Japan Part II – After Landing in Japan

January 14, 2019 • Amanda Wilmot • No Comments • Living in Japan
Congratulations, you’ve landed in Japan! After disembarking from your flight, you’ll find yourself following a sea of people …
An illustration of a sign that reads, "Let's MOVE TO JAPAN."

Moving to Japan Part I – How to Prepare for Your Move

December 11, 2018 • Amanda Wilmot • No Comments • Living in Japan
So you’re moving to Japan! It can be a pretty awesome place to live, but you’ll need to …
Four women and two men dressed in business attire clenching their fists as if doing a fightint pose. They are standing in front of a desk with laptops on top of it.

Japan Workplace Culture: Communicating with Your Japanese Co-Workers

November 18, 2018 • Amanda Wilmot • No Comments • Living in Japan
Communication is the backbone of any office environment. This is no different in Japan. Language is important for …
The fingers of someone is holding up an illustration of the Japanese flag. The person's body is blurred in the background.

Working in a Japanese Company: The Office Environment

October 14, 2018 • Amanda Wilmot • 1 Comment • Living in Japan
Have you ever wondered what working in a Japanese office is like? Most people know that the culture …
A large group of people standing in a group all dressed in different professional uniforms like a business suite, nurse's scrubs, doctor's coat, etc.

How to Get a Non-Teaching Job in Japan

September 1, 2018 • Amanda Wilmot • 1 Comment • Living in Japan
If you’re wondering how to get a non-teaching job in Japan, this article will help answer any questions …
How to Find an Apartment in Japan

How to Find an Apartment in Japan

August 13, 2018 • Kanna Livingston • No Comments • Living in Japan
Looking for an apartment in Japan? Be prepared for a long and complicated process involving tons of paperwork. …
Tips to Enjoy your Homestay in Japan

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 …
My Experience on the JET Program

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 …
Best Banana Yamamoto Books

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 …
5 Best Haruki Murakami Books You Need to Read

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 …
Working out in Japan

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 …
Going to the Doctor in Japan

Going to the Doctor in Japan: A Quick Guide

December 26, 2017 • Kanna Livingston • No Comments • Living in Japan
Useful Japanese Phrases for When You Go to the Doctor Going to the doctor in Japan can be …
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 …
A young Asian male and female taking a selfie with a smartphone in front of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan.

9 Cultural Mistakes Foreigners Make in Japan and What To Do Instead

October 4, 2017 • Kanna Livingston • 1 Comment • Living in Japan
Let’s face it – if you’re new to Japan, you’re probably gonna make a few cultural mistakes. And …
A young woman dressed in business attire, holding a blue pen in her right hand and holding her glasses on her face with her left. She is in front of a whiteboard, ready to write something.

Teaching English in Japan: The JET Program vs. Interac

October 30, 2016 • Louise • 12 Comments • Living in Japan
When it comes to teaching English in Japan, the JET Program versus Interac is the Coke versus Pepsi …
A young white woman is kneeling down in between two young Asian girls. She is holding a picture of an orange., and the two Asian girls are raising their hands.

International Kindergarten Jobs in Japan: Worth It?

October 10, 2016 • Celia Jenkins • 4 Comments • Living in Japan
A Day in the Life of an International Kindergarten Teacher in Japan Working as an ALT or at …
a Japanese Bidet Toilet Armrest with buttons to do several functions.

How to Use a High Tech Japanese Toilet

September 20, 2016 • Amy Murch • 2 Comments • Living in Japan
Your first contact with a high-tech Japanese toilet may be a shocking one, especially if you can’t read …
Japanese High School Students in uniforms standing in a line and posing for a picture.

Working for The JET Program – A Typical Day

July 14, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 6 Comments • Living in Japan
If you got accepted to the JET Program as an ALT, congratulations!  All of your hard work and …
A folded pair of grey pants with a black belt on top, a pair of black dress shoes, three folded button up shirts, a pair of glasses, a smartphone, a wallet, a longer pocket wallet, a electronic tablet and cash on a white surface.

JET Program Packing Guide

July 8, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
Things to Bring on JET Getting ready to move to Japan with the JET Program is both exciting …
A red suit case with travel stickers on it. A pair of sunglasses, a hat, a map, green slippers, a beach ball, a small model airplane, a yellow bottle, thumb tacks and a blue passport book with two tickets inside are also shown.

Working for the JET Program – Pre-Departure

July 6, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
Working for the JET Program – 7 Things You Need to Do before Coming to Japan   1. …
A young white male wearing a grey suit with a red tie and black glasses is opening his shirt to reveal a blue shirt underneath. Random mathematical symbols are show behind and around him.

JET Program Advice – How to Be a Great ALT

July 6, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
7 Essential Tips on How to Be a Great ALT – JET Program 1.  Be Super Chill and Go …
A group of 5 people of all different ethnicities dressed in business suits. There are 2 males and 3 females. They are all sitting down at a long table, looking like they are evaluating something. 4 of them have a clipboard and a pen. The woman on the left end has a laptop open in front of her.

The JET Program Interview – Tips and Sample Questions

June 29, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
Congratulations!  You made it past the first round!  Honestly, completing the application and essay is by far the …
A woman with black hair is soaking in a Japanese Rotenburo (open air bath) while looking at the snow and trees all around her.

Japanese Onsen Etiquette

June 24, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan
In addition to the amazing food, wonderful culture, and helpful people, onsen, or hot spring baths, are another …

Posts navigation

1 2 Next
  • Popular
  • Recent

Find us on Facebook

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contributors
  • Disclosure
  • How to Learn Japanese Fast and Efficiently: A Roadmap
  • Japan Lovers Merch
  • Privacy Policy

The True Japan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The True Japan Copyright © 2022.
All rights reserved