Japanese drugstores, or yakkyoku, can be daunting. Even if you feel pretty good about your Japanese ability, names and descriptions of medicine can be highly technical and heavy on the kanji. With shelves bursting with more products than you ever knew existed, finding the right medicine might seem like an impossible task. And kampo-yaku, … Read more
A Japanese driver’s license may seem unnecessary to anyone living in a large city. Places like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya have great public transportation systems, so driving is easily avoided. On the off chance you can’t get to your destination by train, there’s definitely a bus within walking distance of where you’d like to go. … Read more
Your time in Japan has come to an end. It could be that you’re a study abroad student and you have to move back to finish your degree, or maybe you’re at the end of your work contract. Regardless of your reason, there’s a long list of preparations you’ll need to make. The 4 steps … Read more
Congratulations, you’ve landed in Japan! After disembarking from your flight, you’ll find yourself following a sea of people through immigration. If you’re still in another country but plan to move to Japan soon, check out our Preparing to Move to Japan article to help with your journey. Or if you are already in Japan, but … Read more
So you’re moving to Japan! It can be a pretty awesome place to live, but you’ll need to do a bit of planning to make things easier on yourself. If you’ve never been to Japan before, I recommend trying to live in a suburb or urban location unless you have at least conversational-level Japanese. Without … Read more
If you’re wondering how to get a non-teaching job in Japan, this article will help answer any questions you may have. Searching online for jobs in Japan will quickly make you realize that there are two main types of companies hiring foreigners: tech companies and English schools. Many foreigners who move to Japan start out … Read more
Looking for an apartment in Japan? Be prepared for a long and complicated process involving tons of paperwork. And, you’ll need quite a bit of money, too. Even for Japanese people, moving is frustrating.The upfront costs are incredibly high and come with strange, outdated fees like “key money”. But, if you’re a foreigner in Japan … Read more
A new year has begun! A new semester is beginning, and summer is now a little closer to us. Well, unless you’re in Australia/The Upside-Down, then winter is coming. Say hi to Barb for us! Poor Barb. With a new start here, you may be pondering a big change: a semester or summer studying abroad … Read more
Useful Japanese Phrases for When You Go to the Doctor Going to the doctor in Japan can be a mixed experience, especially if you don’t speak much Japanese. Japan has a “hybrid” healthcare system, meaning that the government pays for 70% of costs (or more if you’re a low-income elderly resident) and the remaining 30% … Read more
The secret to cooking Japanese rice is all in the prep. If you want delicious, fluffy rice, follow these steps to prepare and cook your rice. It will take a little bit of time and effort to prepare, but you’ll be treated to a perfectly cooked bowl of amazing rice. This guide will cover all … Read more
Let’s face it – if you’re new to Japan, you’re probably gonna make a few cultural mistakes. And you wouldn’t be alone. Deeply rooted in tradition and religion, Japan has a rich and complex culture, with what seems like a million unwritten rules. That’s pretty tough to navigate, even for Japanese people. Just like with … Read more
When you think of Japanese cuisine, images of sushi, sashimi, ramen noodles and tempura probably come to mind. However, you might be surprised to learn that another popular and famous food here is curry. The taste of Japanese curry is usually sweeter than the more heavily spiced Indian or Nepalese curries. It also differs from … Read more
Your first contact with a high-tech Japanese toilet may be a shocking one, especially if you can’t read Japanese. These electronic toilets, known locally as “washlets,” boast so many advanced features they’ve become an internationally-discussed cultural phenomenon. Just looking at the control panel can be an overwhelming, dizzying experience. What are all these strange buttons … Read more
Dining Out in Japan: How to Order Food in Japanese like a Pro Japan has some of the best food in the world. I’m talking about finger-licking, lip-smacking, and spine-shivering deliciousness. However, many restaurants in Japan don’t have an English speaking staff. Sure, you could use gestures and very simple English to your point across. … Read more
In addition to the amazing food, wonderful culture, and helpful people, onsen, or hot spring baths, are another reason why Japan is so awesome. Japanese onsen etiquette is pretty straightforward once you know the basic rules. Don’t let this intimidate you. If you are in Japan, you should definitely try soaking in an onsen. The … Read more