📌 What you will learnYou do not have to read it all — jump to what you need.The one piece of Japanese furniture that ruins winter everywhere elseWhat exactly is a kotatsu?Choosing a kotatsu: six decisionsWhat to buy: the three-part shopping listLiving with a kotatsu:…
Category: Life in Japan
Expat guides, shopping, and everyday life in Japan
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Best Areas to Live in Tokyo for Foreigners (2026 Guide)
Choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a foreigner in Tokyo. The right neighborhood can mean an easy commute, English-friendly services, great food, and a community that helps you settle in fast. This 2026 guide breaks down the best…
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Getting Married in Japan as a Foreigner (2026)
Getting married in Japan as a foreigner is absolutely possible — but the paperwork can feel intimidating if you don't know the steps. Whether you're marrying a Japanese national or another foreigner, this 2026 guide walks you through exactly which documents you need, where to…
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Secondhand Shopping in Japan (2026): Mercari, 2nd STREET
Tax-free shopping in Japan changes on 1 November 2026 Until 31 October you show your passport at the till and simply pay without the 10% consumption tax. From 1 November you pay the full tax-included price in the shop and claim the tax back at…
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Going to the Dentist in Japan (2026)
Tooth pain never waits for a convenient moment. If you live in Japan and dread the idea of explaining a toothache in Japanese, this guide walks you through the entire process — finding an English-friendly dentist, what happens at your first visit, how much it…
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How to Quit Your Job in Japan (2026): Resignation Rules, Visa
Quitting a job in Japan can feel intimidating — the paperwork, the pressure to stay, the visa questions, the famous reluctance of some companies to simply let people go. Here is the good news: the law is firmly on your side. This guide covers your…
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Buying a Home in Japan as a Foreigner (2026)
Yes — foreigners can buy property in Japan. There are no citizenship or visa requirements to own land or a home, ownership is freehold and permanent, and property prices in most of the country remain remarkably affordable compared with other developed nations. The hard part…
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Japanese Daycare & School for Foreign Kids (2026)
Enrolling your child in Japanese daycare or school feels like a maze of paperwork, deadlines and untranslated forms — but once you understand the system, it is remarkably fair and affordable. This guide walks foreign parents through the whole path: hoikuen vs yochien, the application…
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How to Make Mochi & Daifuku at Home (2026)
Soft, pillowy, and just sweet enough — mochi is one of Japan’s most beloved treats, and the strawberry-filled ichigo daifuku has become a worldwide obsession. The good news? You can make fresh, squishy mochi at home in about 15 minutes with a microwave and a…
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How to Make Onigiri Like a Konbini Pro
Onigiri — the humble Japanese rice ball — is the country's original fast food: portable, endlessly customizable, and quietly perfect. If you've ever grabbed one from a konbini and wondered why yours fall apart at home, this guide is for you. We'll cover the technique,…
