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 Expat's Guide to Japan
Everything you need to know about living and working in Tokyo & Yokohama
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Yearly Archives: 2015
8 Things You Can’t Do on a Bike in Japan
Cyclists will be required to put helmets 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…
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…
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.…
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.…
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 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…
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.…
Aoba-Japan International School
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…
Club360 – Physiotherapy & Sports Massage
Club 360 is Tokyo’s premier physiotherapy and multidisciplinary practice. Club 360 seeks to find and correct the root cause of your problem to provide long-term pain relief and a preservation of the lifestyle you enjoy. Their highly qualified therapists liaise with a…
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…
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.
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,…
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…
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.…
Dr. Passport App Out Now
One of the biggest worries for any foreign traveler is getting sick or injured while abroad. Explaining your condition to accommodation staff or health workers to get the attention you require can be a stressful proposition. From explaining your symptoms…
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…
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…
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…
The Dance of Fools – Awa Odori
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 flute, and heralded by the striking of a kane bell. This is…
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’…
Geography of Japan
Japan is an island nation located along the east coast of the Asian continent. The Japanese archipelago is composed of four large islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu—see below), the islands of Okinawa, and thousands of other smaller islands, with a…
Seasons & Climate of Japan
Summary Japan has 4 distinct seasons starting with a cold and dry winter. The welcome spring is mild and brings out Japan’s famous cherry blossoms. The summer starts with the rainy season in late June or early July, followed by…
The Japanese Language
Japanese (Nihongo 日本語), spoken by around 128 million native speakers, is the national language of Japan, though not officially designated as such. The literacy rate in Japan is said to be close to 100% of the population, and the country…
The Japanese Calendar & National Holidays
Japan Standard Time The standard time zone in Japan is Japan Standard Time (JST), which is 9 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+09:00). The 24-hour clock is widely used. Currently, daylight savings time (DST, summer time) is not observed in Japan.…
Japanese Customs & Practices
Japanese Manners Having cut itself from the rest of the world until the late 19th century, Japan has preserved many of its traditional customs, though western influences continue to grow. Many of these customs are closely linked with the changing…
Money in Japan
The Yen (¥ / 円 / JPY) is the official currency in Japan. Banknotes and coins The Bank of Japan issues four types of Japanese paper banknotes, and 6 different coins. The banknotes, with value denominations of ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥5,000,…
Measurements
Traditional Japanese Units Although the metric system is used in Japan, some traditional units of measurement are still in wide use as well. A common unit of area used when describing room size is , which is the size of…
Power Supply
The power supply is 100V/50Hz in Eastern Japan and 100V/60Hz in Western Japan, but most electrical items can be used in both areas. Electric outlets are identical to 2-pin North American outlets, and many portable electrical devices from the U.S.…
