This 100ha (240 acres) nature park has many attractions including a farm and even a mini steam locomotive.…
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
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Tokyo
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center is designed specifically for children aged 3-10 years to enjoy – everything is kid-sized. An indoor attraction filled with more than 3 million LEGO bricks and fun attractions.…
Mother Farm
Interact with the animals and enjoy its rich nature and seasonal flowers.…
THOMAS LAND
Children can enjoy “Thomas the Tank Engine” rides at this amusement park located inside Fuji-Q Highaland.…
Parks & Gardens
In spite of what is said about Tokyo being a concrete jungle, there are some centrally located parks and gardens. Ueno Park, Shinjuku-Gyoen and Yoyogi Park are all famous for their cherry blossoms in spring, and they offer an urban…
Arisugawa-no-Miya Memorial Park
Arisugawa-no-Miya Memorial Park (有栖川宮記念公園), originally the urban villa of feudal lord Minonokami Nambu, is now a tranquil park located within central Tokyo. Surrounded by foreign embassies, and located behind Hiroo station, the park provides a wide variety of natural scenery,…
Chidorigafuchi, Kitanomaru Park
Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ケ淵) is one of the most famous cherry-blossom viewing spots in Central Tokyo. A part of Kitanomaru Park (北の丸公園), north side of the Imperial Palace.…
Hama-rikyu Gardens
Though it is rare to see fields carpeted in bright yellow blossoms in the middle of the city, the 300,000 nanohana plants in bloom in mid-March, against the background of Tokyo high-rise buildings.…
Inokashira Park
Outside of the center of the city, this park offers the same hanami experience with a little less crowding. There are a number of universities nearby, and so most hanami partiers will be student groups. There are facilities that rent…
Jindai Botanical Gardens
Japan’s first botanical garden, the are located about Jindai-ji Temple on the Musashi plain and house approximately 4,500 varieties of plants. The garden displays a flower show every month of seasonal blooms.…
Koganei Park
The second largest park in the Metropolitan Tokyo. Inside the park there is an Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum where you can enjoy restored buildings and scenes of daily life from Edo-period to post-WWII period.…
Koishikawa Botanical Garden
The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science’s botanical garden in Tokyo is one of the oldest in Japan. Used for research, these gardens are open to the public and have large collections of flora, including a 300 year forest…
Mizumoto Park
The largest park with water landscapes within municipal Tokyo. Features many species of plants and trees which grow well near water and a sanctuary for wild birds.…
Mukoujima-Hyakkaen Gardens
A flower garden established in the early 19th century, it was originally designed to house a variety of Ume plum trees but has since come to accommodate a wide variety of annually blooming flora.…
ShinjukuGyoen National Garden
One of Tokyo’s foremost parks, the , former residence of the daimyo noble Naito family, is one of the most popular places in Tokyo for cherry blossom viewing. Aside from the cherry trees, the park has over 20,000 varieties of…
Showa Kinen Park
The largest park in Tokyo area (165.3 hectares / 408.4 acres). So many areas to explore, including the entire 14km of cycling course, many sporting activities, outdoor barbeque, and variety of kids playground equipments such as giant bouncing domes.…
Todoroki Gorge
One of Tokyo’s more idyllic places, this stretch of green is surrounded by trees and follows the course of a river. Quiet and featuring one or two shrines, it’s perfect for a quiet stroll to escape the hustle and bustle…
Rinshi no Mori Park
Beginning life as a nursery and forestry research station, this park was opened to the public when the station was moved to Tsukuba. Located in Shimomeguro, some of its trees can be traced back hundreds of years and provide excellent…
Ueno Park
This is one of the most popular locations for hanami in Tokyo. If you can handle the crowds that gather here, you are in for a real treat. While Ueno is a beautiful sight at any time of the year,…
Yoyogi Park
This lush and green park offers the grandest panorama of Tokyo’s sky and is also famous for its cherry blossom viewing. The area was first used as a US army housing site and then as the grounds for the Olympic…
Immigration
The Immigration Bureau controls all matters regarding entry and residency for foreigners in Japan. Its website contains information on immigration matters, procedures, sample forms and contact information for immigration centers throughout Japan. It should be noted that the immigration system…
Visa and Entry to Japan
Entry Procedures Temporary Visitors If you are from one of the 67 countries and territories with whom Japan has a visa waiver arrangement (check the MOFA website for the full list) and are staying less than three months (15 days…
Residency
Residence Cards All mid- to long-term foreign residents are required to obtain a “Residence Card” (previously: “Alien Registration Card”, see below) , which serves as the primary form of identification in Japan. Foreign nationals residing legally in Japan are subject…
Registering a Personal Seal
Inkan (personal seal) is a seal stamp of an individual or an organization’s name that is used in place of a signature on documents in Japan. Hanko is the physical object pressed on the paper to create the seal. They are made of hard materials such as plastic, wood, or ivory, not rubber.
Museums & Galleries
Tokyo has a wide selection of museums and galleries. Department stores often host temporary exhibitions, which are convenient and economical. Tickets can be bought on site, but there are often long lines for the more popular exhibits. the…
Housing Types and Terminology
Japanese Mansion and Apāto The most common forms of housing in Japan are mansions and apāto. A is typically a concrete apartment/condominium complex of three or more floors. Buildings with at least five floors usually have elevators, and more modern…
Foreigner-Friendly Housing Contracts and Agencies
Serviced Apartments Serviced apartments include all the furniture, linen, cutlery and electrical appliances you need, as well as regular cleaning and concierge services, providing the comfort of home with the convenience of a hotel. Many people stay here with their…
Duplex
Duplex offers stylish and upscale residences in premier locations in the heart of Tokyo. Perfect for both short and extended stay.…
Enplus Inc. | Tokyo Apartments
Tokyo One Stop Housing Solution | Offering a wide selection of premium serviced apartments, and furnished & unfurnished rental apartments. Serviced apartments available from 1 night stay. Tokyo Apartments is one of the very few real estate agencies in Tokyo…
MORI LIVING (Mori Building Co., Ltd.)
Fully furnished residences for 1 month or longer with access to exclusive swimming pool and gym. 4 convenient locations in central Tokyo: Roppongi Hills, Atago Green Hills, ARK Towers and The Prudential Tower.…
Oakwood Tokyo
Oakwood offers the finest serviced apartments for business and leisure travelers for extended stays with three choices of living, Premier, Residence and Apartments. In wanting to offer more luxuriously furnished apartments and greater service quality, Oakwood has taken pride in…
Kenedix Property Design.
Operating quality serviced apartments for 20 years with 7 Locations in Tokyo/Yokohama. Customized flexibility with quality made in Japan. BUREAU/B-SITE: Serviced Apartments with full kitchen, fully functional facilities and high-end furniture. For short-term monthly stays to extensive yearly stays. Various…
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.
They carry a rich number of apartments in convenient locations in central Tokyo. From unfurnished to fully furnished, their apartments can be arranged accordingly to the resident’s needs.…
Tokyu Stay Service
Tokyu Stay specializes in premium serviced apartments in central Tokyo, perfect for business trips and vacations.…
Renting through a Japanese Agency
If you are planning to stay in Japan for a long time and have enough funds to pay the initial fees, it may be more cost-effective in the long run to get a traditional Japanese-style contract. You may need a…
Arkios K.K.
Arkios’ bilingual agents, specializing in homes for rent in central Tokyo, will support you in every aspect of your relocation.
Century21 SKY Realty, Inc.
Century21 Sky Realty has 25 years of experience finding their valued customers amazing homes at miracle prices.
VALIENTE BARCO Co. Ltd.
Harajuku-based domestic property management company with more than 10 years’ experience. Entrust them with the management of your own residential property.…
