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Jun 14. 2024 Topics Summer Festivals in Japan Japan is well known for its fun-filled summer festivals, known in Japanese as "matsuri." People across the country get dressed up in yukatas, or summer kimonos, and take to the streets to enjoy food, festivities, and fireworks. Streets are adorned with lanterns, performances featuring dances and traditional taiko drums are held, and food stalls ab...
Jun 07. 2024 Life Support Cashless Payment Options in Japan in 2024 While for years Japan was known for being a cash-based economy (and to some extent it still is), over the past few years credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of cashless payments have exploded in popularity and can now be used in most stores and restaurants. If you are living in Japan, now is a great time to switch to using cashless payment ...
May 24. 2024 Topics Things to Do in Japan during the Rainy Season The rainy season in Japan, which hits much of the country in early June, is long, wet, and humid, making it tough to do much of anything outside. If you're planning on visiting many of Japan's famous shrines, temples, or gardens, you may not have the best time. Luckily, there are many things to do in Japan indoors during the rainy season, so you ...
May 17. 2024 Life Support A Guide to Owning a Pet in Japan While still not as widespread as in many other countries, having a pet is becoming more and more common in Japan. With this increase in popularity, it is becoming easier to provide all the luxuries and comforts to your pet that you would have in your home country. However, there are important things you should take into consideration if you are p...
May 10. 2024 Topics Protecting Your Home from Humidity and Mold During Japan's Summer When you think of Japanese summers, you may think of festivals, people wearing traditional yukatas, and spectacular fireworks shows. But with the summer fun comes extreme humidity that can cause big, long-term problems for your home. Protecting your home from humidity and mold is a constant battle from the onset of the rainy season until the fall...
May 03. 2024 Topics 10 Japanese Gestures, Mannerisms, and Customs You Need to Know In Japan, body language and gestures are as important, if not even more important, than words. A lot of what Japanese people think or feel goes unsaid and is instead conveyed through how they move or behave. If you want to fit in when you are in Japan, or at least be able to understand some of what people are telling you through their actions, the...
Apr 26. 2024 Topics What to Expect at a Wedding in Japan Every country in the world has its own unique wedding styles and customs. In Japan, traditional Shinto weddings are still commonly held, though modern Western-inspired ceremonies are popular too. If you find yourself invited to a wedding in Japan, it is important to know what to expect at the ceremony and reception so that you can prepare properly...
Apr 19. 2024 Housing What is Key Money in Japan? Do You Have to Pay? Moving is never cheap, what with paying the first month's rent, security deposits, real estate agency fees, and all the costs of hiring movers or buying new furniture and appliances. In Japan, it can be even more expensive to move into an apartment than in many other countries, and a big chunk of that cost comes from key money. Key money, or "rei...
Apr 12. 2024 Topics Golden Week: Japan's Busiest Holiday Season Golden Week is one of the three main holiday seasons in Japan, generally falling between April 29th and May 5th every year. It isn't actually one long holiday, but rather several different holidays that happen to fall within the same week. Since Golden Week is the only long holiday season in Japan where it isn't traditional to return to one's home...
Apr 05. 2024 Topics A guide to the Post Office in Japan When you are living in another country, especially one where you may not speak the language, something as simple as mailing a letter can seem that much more challenging. But if you are living in Japan, there is a good chance you will need to go to the post office to mail something, and this can seem daunting. So let's make going to the post offi...

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