Latest Articles
Discover guides, tips, and stories for life in Japan.
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Japan Tax-Free Shopping Now Means Paying Tax First: 5 Mistakes That Cost You the Refund (Nov 2026)
Since November 1, 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan means paying tax at the store and getting it back when you…
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Typhoon Checklist for Japan: How Residents Can Prepare
Typhoon preparation in Japan for residents: a checklist, power cuts, planned train suspensions, work, when to evacuate, English info and…
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How Many Types of Wagashi Are There? Seasons and Shelf Life
Wagashi types, the seasonal calendar, shelf life, tea ceremony manners, top shops in Tokyo and Kyoto, and what vegans and…
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Mortgage in Japan Without Permanent Residency: Buying a Home
How to get a mortgage and buy a home in Japan, based on official sources: loans without permanent residency, Flat…
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Konbini Oden: How to Order, Ingredients and Prices
How to order konbini oden, with Japanese phrases for the register. Ingredients, prices at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, and whether…
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Halloween in Japan: Should You Dress Up? Work, Daycare, Home
Halloween in Japan comes up at work, nursery school, or your building. How to ask or decline, check with daycare,…
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Kansai Dialect Guide 2026: Osaka, Kyoto & Kobe Phrases
Learn Kansai dialect: Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe differences, grammar vs standard Japanese, common phrases, workplace replies, and when to use…
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Taiko Lessons in Japan for Residents: Join a Local Group
How residents of Japan can start taiko as adults: drum types, classes and community circles, fee examples, how to find…
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Tax Return in Japan (Kakutei Shinkoku): Who Files and How
Who needs to file a tax return in Japan, residency rules, key deductions, documents, e-Tax, refunds, and what to do…
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Christmas in Japan for Expats: Is It a Holiday? (2026)
Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Japan. Work and year-end days off, Christmas cake and KFC orders, English Mass, mailing…
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Osechi Ryori in Japan: Meanings, When to Eat, How to Order
Learn what osechi ryori is, what each New Year dish means, when to eat it, how to order it with…
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How to Order Christmas Cake in Japan: 2026 Deadlines
How to order Christmas cake in Japan: reservation deadlines at konbini, department stores and cake shops, early discounts, payment, sizes,…
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Job Interview Etiquette in Japan: Dress, Bowing, Visa Checks
Japanese job interview etiquette: the flow on the day, bowing, what to wear, online interviews, common questions, visa checks, and…
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How to Read a Japanese Payslip: Taxes and Deductions
What comes out of your salary in Japan: income tax, resident tax, health insurance, pension, employment insurance, payslips, and year-end…
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Japan Visa Renewal: When to Apply, Documents, Special Period
Residence card expiring? Learn when to apply for visa renewal in Japan, the new October 2026 fees, required documents, online…
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Running Late in Japanese: Phrases for Interviews and Work
Japanese phrases for running late to an interview, part-time job, or work: phone scripts, email and LINE examples, phrases by…
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Furusato Nozei in Japan: How It Works and How to Apply
How furusato nozei works for residents of Japan: who can use it, how deductions and limits work, how to donate,…
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Student Part-Time Jobs in Japan With Little or No Japanese
Can’t speak Japanese yet? Here are 5 student part-time jobs in Japan you can start with little or no Japanese,…
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Getting a Credit Card in Japan: Requirements and Screening
Getting a credit card in Japan: application requirements, documents, payment capacity checks, and credit history, plus how to view your…
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Cashless Payments in Japan for Residents: PayPay and Suica
Living in Japan? Go cashless step by step: PayPay signup and residence card ID checks, ATM top-ups, 2026 card changes,…
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ALT vs Eikaiwa: English Teaching Jobs in Japan Compared
ALT (JET or dispatch), eikaiwa, or international school? We compare pay, requirements, visas, and how to apply from inside Japan,…
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Freelance Visa in Japan? Statuses, Setup, Taxes, Invoices
Freelancing in Japan? There is no freelance visa. Learn which statuses allow it, sole proprietor setup, taxes, invoices, and how…
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Keigo for Work in Japan: Sonkeigo, Kenjogo and Key Phrases
Keigo for the Japanese workplace: the types of keigo, sonkeigo vs kenjogo, how to form them, a word list, talking…
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Can You Work Full-Time on a Spouse Visa? A Driver’s Story
Japan’s Spouse Visa has no work limits, so no extra permission is needed. A 30-year-old with N3 Japanese was hired…
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Japan Autumn Leaves 2026: Peak Timing and Popular Spots
When and where to see autumn leaves (koyo) in Japan: koyo vs momiji, the 2026 forecast, spots from Hokkaido to…
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Japanese Slang List: Common Words, Casual Speech and Tips
Japanese slang and casual speech explained with dictionaries and government surveys: yabai, maji, meccha, social media words, casual forms, and…
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Garbage Rules in Japan: Sorting, Bulky Items & Appliances
How to sort and put out garbage in Japan: finding local rules, plastics, collection times and bags, batteries and spray…
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What to Do After Arriving in Japan as a Student (2026)
Just landed in Japan as a student? Here’s what to do after arriving in Japan, in order: Residence Card, SIM,…
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Japanese Business Etiquette: Workplace Rules for Newcomers
Japanese business etiquette for newcomers: greetings, horenso, business cards, seating, overtime and paid leave, drinking parties, and getting help.
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Japanese Business Email & Phone Guide 2026: Work Templates
Copy-paste Japanese business email templates and phone scripts for working in Japan: addressing, set phrases, requests, replies, apologies, and taking…
