The Expat's Guide to Japan
Everything you need to know about living and working in Tokyo & Yokohama
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Basic Rules of Business in Japan
Working for a Japanese company or doing business in Japan involves a certain degree of ceremony and ritual, so it’s best to know the proper etiquette to avoid potential embarrassment or offense. Continue reading for a basic rundown on approaching…
Sakura Spectacles
Cherry Blossom Forecast: 10th March 2026 in Tokyo Please check the detailed information for each park, since time and venues to be able to have “Hanami Parties” are limited. Cherry blossoms are one of Japan’s most famous attractions in spring…
Fast and convenient online visa application
AIRVISA is an online service that covers the whole process of visa renewal, from application through to getting your residence card. Complete your application error-free and without all the usual hassle. With a specialist on hand to review your application…
Five great things about Japanese courier services
It should come as no surprise to anyone who’s visited Japan to learn that the Japanese approach to customer service isn’t found only at shops and restaurants. The care, attention and user-friendliness you find in the hospitality sector extends to…
Things to Know about Winter Driving in Japan
(original photo by Dave See; CC BY 2.0)
Winter driving can be pretty treacherous, and you can never be too careful. When driving in Japan in the winter, remember to be aware of the road conditions. You might think that December is too early to think about heavy…
Food Allergy Labeling
Expats with food allergies know that they need to be extra careful when dealing with foods in a new country. Besides the obvious language barrier they deal with when trying to decipher the backs of food labels, labeling regulations may…
Tokyo Bay International School
Empowering Students to be Smart and Successful Global Citizens Located in the heart of Tokyo’s eastern “shitamachi” area, Tokyo Bay International School offers families a progressive international education at affordable rates. The school works to ensure an inclusive environment where…
Kotatsu: A Traditional Way to Stay Warm and Save Energy
(original photo by sakura_chihaya+; CC BY-SA 2.0)
Although temperatures rarely fall below 0℃ in Kanto, winters can seem especially cold in Japanese houses with little insulation. Places without central heating, are often heated by kerosene and electric space heaters, or electric wall unit heaters. Along with allowing…
Closing out the year – A winter scene in Ameyoko
There are few places in Tokyo like Ueno’s Ameyoko. A remnant of the from the post-war days when basic food staples like white rice and sugar were in short supply, maintains a tradition of outdoor vendors hawking goods, yelling prices…
Japanese Tax Return Season
Application Acceptance Period: generally from mid-February to March 15 each year February and March mark tax season in Japan, when individuals who are required to file a tax return submit a . Not all residents automatically receive a tax return…
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…
Renting in Japan – A Beginner’s Guide
The system of renting in Japan, while not overly complex, can be daunting due to a lack of foreign language assistance. Employees of international companies dispatched to Japan will usually gain assistance through their employers, who often use large relocation…
Harrow International School Appi Japan
Harrow International School Appi Japan (Harrow Appi), which draws on the 450-year heritage of Harrow School in the UK, opened as a full-boarding international school in August 2022 for students aged 11 to 18 (Year 7 to Year 13). Set…
Tsuyu
Right in between Japan’s multicolored spring and scorching hot summers is a period of about 40-50 days, when the otherwise pleasant summer months become unusually gloomy, wet, and humid. This is tsuyu, Japan’s official monsoon season. (Also called plum rain…
Back to School Japanese Style
April in Japan not only means cherry blossom viewing and streets flooded with university job hunters, but it also marks the beginning of another school year for Japan’s youngest. Now, most expat families choose to send their kids to international…
Would you like to improve your Japanese language skills as fast as possible?
Please note that some information in this advertorial may be outdated. For the latest details, please visit the TCJ official website directly. Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ) Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ) in Shinjuku, Tokyo, provides high quality…
Immunotherapy: Advanced cancer care (Tokyo Cancer Clinic)
A cancer diagnosis is a life changing event. Navigating the medical system in Japan and knowing what treatments are best for you can be overwhelming. Without inside knowledge or a specialist to advocate for your care, you wouldn’t know that…
Malvern College – A British School Shaping Global Learners
Malvern College Tokyo is an international school located in Kodaira, western Tokyo and part of the Malvern College Family of Schools whose founding college in the UK has a history of 160 years. The school places inquiry at the heart…
