Howard Lee Regner, Artistic Director of Gold Salon Tokyo, tells us about the philosophy behind his business and some of the things expats/visitors should be wary of when looking for a hairdresser in Japan. How did Gold Salon come about?…
The Expat's Guide to Japan
Everything you need to know about living and working in Tokyo & Yokohama
Blog Archives
Mexican Dining and Catering
Having a party? Tired of the same flavors all the time? Why not try Mexican food? Guzman y Gomez (GYG)caters to and serves easy to eat Mexican food for parties and large group events. GYG’s concept is to share, as…
Colombin
The flagship store of colombin, the first bakery to offer genuine French cakes and sweets in Japan. Enjoy a meal or dessert in the salon’s retro-modern atmosphere.…
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.…
Guzman y Gomez
Guzman y Gomez (GYG) is an Australian-born Mexican diner that serves authentic burritos, tacos, nachos and more. Foods prepared from fresh ingredients and use spices from Mexico. Event catering service available, includes corporate orders, delivery, booth set up, outside catering.…
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…
Taqueria Mexico Bar EL CARACOL
A quaint little bar where you can enjoy Mexican street tacos and margaritas at reasonable prices. A friendly couple manages the place, offering a cozy at-home feeling with menus in English and pictures available.…
Sanno Hospital
Tokyo International Dental Clinic Roppongi
Knowledgeable dentists provide precise diagnoses and treatment, supporting your oral health.…
Yokohama Museum of Art
Located at the center of Minatomirai, collecting and showing modern and contemporary are created since the late 19th century.…
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…
UniGroup Worldwide Moving
Provides stress-free and satisfactory moving experience globally. Specializes in relocating household goods and commodities, such as precious household goods, cherished pets, and even items such as pianos and vehicles, domestically and internationally.…
Tokyo Bay International School
TBIS is a Cambridge accredited K-G5 co-ed school providing child centered education. The school will gradually accommodate students until Grade 12. The classrooms are spacious, hi-tech, and well equipped with modern facilities including robotics and coding labs. It provides extracurricular…
Kids World
Kids World believes in the limitless potential of children. Through cultivating dynamic creativity, they aim to promote a positive future for all. Children from diverse backgrounds can grow alongside each other, to promote the development of a fertile international world.…
Aoyama International Education Institute
From everyday conversation to business Japanese and JLPT prep, AIEI offers Japanese education suited to learners’ needs based on 30 years of teaching experience. For adults to learn a new language, it’s important to dedicate a specific amount of time…
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.…
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,…
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…
ai International School
This is a preschool and kindergarten where children learn to respect differences and develop borderless friendships through an international atmosphere in the classrooms and during activities. As children experience many new things at their first school, they make it their…
Ayla International School
Ayla International School is a one of a kind boutique preschool. It is located in front of Donguri Park, where children spend most of their time playing and exploring. The school focuses mainly on art, music and nature. Ayla method…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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 is being introduced this autumn. Nicknamed “my number” in Japanese, this Individual Number system identifies each resident by a single 12-digit…
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…
8 Things You Can’t Do on a Bike in Japan
Japan is well known for the safety of its streets and low crime rate – helped, no doubt, by the visibility of the country’s police force. With so little serious crime to contend with, you may wonder what it is…
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.…
Jimbocho: Heaven for book lovers
One of the largest secondhand book markets in the world is centered on the intersection of Yasukuni-Dori and Hakusan-Dori in the Kanda district of Tokyo. Known as Tokyo’s book town, Jimbocho (神保町) is home to a concentration of over 170…
Things to Know about Winter Driving in Japan
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…
Shima Onsen
A four-hour bus ride away from Tokyo, overflows with nostalgic charm as well as healing spring waters. The unique hot spring experience found here continues to draw visitors to this isolated spot, deep in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture. The…
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…
