Aoba-Japan International School is a K-12 school that is IB PYP and DP accredited. AJIS is rich in Japanese culture throughout the school, and is also proud to be a “real international school” as they are not affiliated with any…
The Expat's Guide to Japan
Everything you need to know about living and working in Tokyo & Yokohama
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Yearly Archives: 2015
Autumn Leaves in Tokyo
Though Tokyo is often viewed as a concrete jungle, there are plenty of places where the effects of the changing seasons on nature can be seen and appreciated. This guide contains some of the best locations, both in the city…
Seasonal Food – Autumn
Seasonality is an important aspect of Japanese culture, and in no area does it play a greater role than in the world of food and drink. The concept of “shun” (旬) refers to ingredients that are at their seasonal best,…
Extreme Weather
Tokyo is especially prone to weather related disasters, including typhoons, heavy rains, windstorms and snow. In the event of such disasters it is important to safeguard against injury and damage caused by falls or by flying debris.
Earthquake Preparation
Basic Facts and Disaster Prevention Earthquake Intensity (Shindo) When an earthquake occurs in Japan, in addition to the standard magnitude scale a second scale known as is employed. This scale is unique to Japan and measures the degree of shaking…
The Dance of Fools – Awa Odori
Awa Odori Tokushima will be held from 12th – 15th August, 2023. If you visit one of the many festivals held across Japan this summer, chances are you will hear the distinctive Awa Yoshikono, played on shamisen, taiko drums and…
8 Things You Can’t Do on a Bike in Japan
Cyclists put helmets as much as possible from 1st April, 2023 onwards with the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act. Japan is well known for the safety of its streets and low crime rate – helped, no doubt, by…
Tokyo Flowers in Spring
The smell of spring is in the air, and it seems like everyone is looking forward to the cherry blossoms and making plans for hanami…but what are the other flowers that blossom in the city? Here are some flowers that…
Star Kids International Preschool
It is Star Kids’ mission to provide every child with a quality, early childhood experience. They work to create a safe, nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment which fosters each child’s individual needs. Their inquiry, play and objective based activities make…
St. Luke’s International HospitalRecommended
Recommended
St. Luke’s International Hospital has been offering high quality healthcare to Japan’s international community since 1902. The hospital consists of more than 40 departments with an emergency center operating 24/7. Physicians are well experienced with patients of various nationalities, and…
Japanese Clinics & Hospitals
The first challenge facing anyone seeking medical attention in Japan is finding the right facility. Read about the differences between clinics and hospitals, and why you should choose a clinic for non-emergency cases, on this page.
Eating Out
Japan may have a reputation for being an expensive country, but you will find that there is a wide range of options where it comes to restaurants and food stands, and eating well doesn’t have to cost a lot. Below…
International Food & Drink
Japan has a wide selection of foodstuffs available at its convenience stores and supermarkets, including many products of international origin. However, many expats in Japan find themselves missing certain items from home that just aren’t sold at the average supermarket.…
Ambassador Dental Office Tokyo
Located across from the ANA Intercontinental Hotel, Ambassador Dental Office is run by Dr. Kojima, who has practiced in the US and licensed both there and here in Japan.…
American Clinic Tokyo
American Clinic Tokyo is an American-style practice founded in 1954. Serving the English speaking community for 60 years. Located adjacent to the U.S. Embassy in Akasaka, Tokyo.…
Azabudai United Dental Office Tokyo
UCLA dentist and NYU children’s dentist with 30 years’ experience serving the international community. High-tech facilities close to Tokyo American Club.…
Dr. Kaku’s Office
Specialist In Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry.…
Japanese Airlines and Airports
Airlines Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are the two largest Japanese airlines, operating both domestic and international routes. In recent years, a number of LCCs (low-cost carriers) including Skymark, Peach and Jetstar, have begun operating routes within…
Garden Clinic Hiroo
Garden Clinic Hiroo is a bilingual dermatologist’s office in Hiroo. Dr. Keong, a board-certified dermatologist, has over 20 years of specialist experience in the field. Allergy testing and childhood vaccinations are available. Lasers, Botox, IPL hair removal, skin rejuvenation treatments…
Poppins Active Learning International School
PALIS provides a vibrant preschool experience rooted in hands-on active learning, inspired by the esteemed British curriculum. The curriculum boasts authentic specialty programs in Ballet, Coding, and Piano, enhancing the overall development of young learners. In collaboration with Harvard University,…
Japanese Food
Here are some common Japanese food descriptions that will help you dine in Japan with more ease. Sushi and Sashimi is raw fish served only with soy sauce and wasabi (Japanese horseradish). is raw fish, vegetables or other items served…
Kameda Kyobashi Clinic
Sending & Receiving Money Overseas
There are a number of options to consider when sending or receiving money from overseas in Japan. International remittance is possible at post offices and banks, though fees can be quite high, especially when the transfer goes through intermediary banks.…
A&C International
(This service is offered by Yoshihide Kurihara, judicial scrivener for A&C International) For many years, A&C has assisted foreign companies expanding into the Japanese market with incorporation registration procedures. A&C has supported enterprises large and small from many different countries…
Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution
This addition to Japan’s World Heritage List from July 2015 comprises 23 locations, mainly concentrated along the coast of Kyūshū, which capture the history of Japan’s industrial revolution during the Meiji Era. Japan developed quickly during this period and was…
Tokyo Winter Illuminations 2015-2016
Every year, the city of Tokyo responds to the dark of winter by lighting up brighter than any other time of year. Check out the highlights of the city’s Winter Illuminations below. Baccarat ETERNAL LIGHTS -Yorokobi no Katachi- The centrepiece…
Kusumi Morikage: From Adversity, a Gentle Gaze at Familiar Things
Kusumi Morikage (久隅守景) was a student of Kano Tan’yu, one of the foremost painters of the early Edo period. Much of Morikage’s work focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people, exemplified in his depictions of village life through the…
“My number” – What you need to know
If you are resident in Japan, you may have heard talk about a new social security number system that was introduced in 2015. Nicknamed “my number” in Japanese, this Individual Number system identifies each resident by a single 12-digit number…
Tokyo Citizen’s Day
The 1st of October is Tokyo Citizen’s Day (都民の日, tomin no hi), on which many public parks, museums, galleries and other facilities offer free entry. Though not a public holiday, when it falls on a weekday most public school children…
Machiawase: Tokyo’s Famous Rendezvous Spots
Tokyo is the biggest city in the world, and if you haven’t gotten lost here at least once, you’re not trying hard enough. Even if you manage to keep a track of where you are, arranging to meet someone in…
Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade Contest
This year, Expat’s Guide attended the 34th Annual Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade Contest . There aren’t many things that can make the humid Japanese summer feel even hotter, but if anything can, it’s samba! The Asakusa Samba Carnival has been…
Sumida River Fireworks Festival from Skytree
One of the oldest and largest displays of its kind, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival is attended annually by thousands of people who brave the intense summer humidity and crowd the nearby streets and designated viewing venues to enjoy the…
Retro Japanese Junk Food, DAGASHI
You may know wa-gashi (和菓子, Japanese sweets) but do you know da-gashi (駄菓子)? Though best known for its traditional, refined confectioneries, Japan has its own unique selection of cheap and novelty candy that is as terrible, weird, wonderful, and cavity-inducing…
Wa no Akari x Hyakudan Kaidan
If you’d like a taste of summer culture from across Japan, look no further than the Wa No Akari x Hyakudan Kaidan exhibition at Meguro Gajoen. Running until the 2nd of September, the event showcases paper lanterns and other illuminations…
Eco Edo Art Aquarium 2015
Art and life are intertwined this summer at Eco Edo Nihonbashi Art Aquarium, running at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo. Featuring hundreds of live goldfish in uniquely shaped aquariums, the exhibition is the brainchild of Tokyo-born aquarium designer, Hidetomo Kimura.…
Tanabata Matsuri
Perhaps the most evocative of Japan’s annual matsuri (祭り, festivals) , tanabata (七夕) marks the beginning of the summer festival season. Closely linked with the stars, tanabata is celebrated by the writing of wishes on strips of paper, which are…
Edo-Tokyo Museum Reopens
What is that looming structure, slightly reminiscent of a walker from the Star Wars saga, poised to beam down the Ryogoku Kokugikan (sumo hall)? Yes, it is the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which reopened to the public on March 28 after renovations.…
Michi no Eki: Japan’s Roadside Stations
Japan’s toll-based kōsokudōro (高速道路, expressways) stretch the length and breadth of the country, offering faster and more direct routes between cities than ippandōro (一般道路, regular roads). To make cross-country road journeys more manageable, the expressways have regular service areas with…
Shika no Tsunokiri (deer horn cutting)
For almost 330 years, the Shika no Tsunokiri has been a marker of the fall season in Nara since the Edo Period. The event was started to protect townspeople, as well as valuable cultural properties from being damaged by bucks’…
