Homestays offer a valuable opportunity for young people to experience everyday life in the context of another culture. However, not everyone who would like do a homestay abroad has the financial background to able to. NPO Chokkura Homestay is an…
The Expat's Guide to Japan
Everything you need to know about living and working in Tokyo & Yokohama
Blog Archives
Overcoming the Odds: Bilingual Education in Japan
I’m at one of Tokyo’s international preschools, observing the morning session. Two boys around the age of four are playing with toy cars; one is dragging his over a play roadway made of fabric, the other is racing an ambulance…
National Center for Global Health and Medicine
The Center Hospital provides the best general healthcare services to overcome diseases and improve health with the aim of contributing to society. As one of the most advanced treatment hospitals in Japan, they provide patients with the best care and…
NTT Medical Center Tokyo
An inner-city general hospital with a high level of medical care and foreign patient support, which has received both JCI and JMIP accreditation, as well as certification from public bodies including Medical Excellence Japan, which designates “Japanese International Hospitals” in…
Ginza Kokoro
Serving the chef’s recommended course menu using seasonal ingredients. Enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine along with wine and sake.…
Edomae Sushi Hattori
Enjoy a sushi course menu made with seasonal ingredients carefully selected by the head chef.…
Antique Nishikawa Tokyo Shop
Discover the real Japan and Japanese beauty through a world of Japanese antiques you will not find anywhere else.…
Hudson Market Bakers
100% handmade baked goods, from cakes and pies to bars, cookies and granola, by a baker with extensive experience working in New York. Hudson Market’s cornbread, gingerbread and brownies are particularly beloved by the Tokyo expat community for their authentic…
PLAZA HOMES
Founded in 1969, PLAZA HOMES holds updated information on a large number of sale and rental properties. With their vast experience, they will help you find the best property for you from the over 3,000 listings on their website. Their…
Traditional Japanese Craft Workshop at Suntory Museum of Art
For those interested in traditional arts and crafts, Suntory Museum of Art is hosting an English-language workshop focusing on urushi (lacquerware) on October 29th. Held in cooperation with The Japan Kogei Association, the workshop will be led by Murose Kazumi,…
Summerhill International School – An Environment of Beauty and Wonder
Making the decision of where to send your child to school can be a time of stress and uncertainty. There are many options and styles in Tokyo and it is important to choose a school that matches your needs and…
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…
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…
Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art
Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art was established in 1964 by industrialist Issey Hatakeyama, who was an avid art collector. The museum aims to preserve Japanese, Chinese and Korean art objects and has a particular focus on items related to…
Ikedayama – A suburban oasis in central Tokyo
Get off the train at Gotanda and walk north from the station about five minutes and you’ll come to this surprisingly serene Tokyo neighborhood. Ikedayama is named after the Ikeda family of Okayama Castle, whose residence was located here during…
Bread & Coffee IKEDAYAMA
A cafe and bakery at the base of Ikedayama, close to Gotanda Station. A windowed partition lets you see the bakers at work as they produce tasty breads and pastries.…
A Personalized Approach: Tokyo Children’s Garden Preschool
These days, parents in Tokyo have a great deal of choice when it comes to international education. New schools are established each year, keeping pace with a steady increase in both the number of expats in Japan, and in interest…
GOOD LIFE FACTORY
An organic salad specialty restaurant incorporating “superfoods” including hemp seed, chia seed, goji berry and quinoa. Choose from a range of delicious signature salads or create a custom salad choosing a base, toppings and dressing. Enjoy a wide range of…
Genki Mobile
Genki Mobile offers affordable pocket Wi-Fi routers to visitors in Japan. They provide data usage of 1GB/day and full English customer support, making them stand out from their competitors. Genki Mobile uses NTT Docomo, one of the most popular service…
Painting and Weaving Opportunity: Yohji Yamamoto・Yuuka Asakura
A collaboration between acclaimed fashion designer Yamamoto Yohji and artist Asakura Yuuka, Painting and Weaving is an exhibition of artworks and clothing-based installation pieces running at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery until mid-March. The Japanese title is “Ga to Ki”,…
SAKURA -JAPAN IN THE BOX-
Meijiza is a theatre with over 140 years of history, located in the Nihonbashi area of central Tokyo. While the venue has over the years been host to traditional forms of drama including kabuki and shinpa, and more recently to…
5 things to do for Setsubun
The 3rd of February is Setsubun, a special day marking the transition of winter into spring. While in reality the cold weather will probably continue well into March, it’s fun to get into the spirit of things by doing some…
The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR
Cancer Institute Hospital is Japan’s first and largest hospital specializing in cancer care. Its Screening Center offers examinations not simply for confirmation of overall health status but focusing on the prevention and the early detection of cancer. The examinations are…
Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Conveniently located right in the very center of the city, Tokyo Medical University Hospital (TMUH) is a large facility providing cutting-edge medical care to many patients. The International Medical Care Department was launched in 2016 with the aim of serving…
Tokyo Takanawa Hospital
State-of-the-art facilities are fully equipped with the latest medical technology and staffed with highly trained medical personnel with a wide, multidisciplinary background who are experienced in handling even the most serious medical problems. The hospital includes an international clinic, with…
Asakusa Disaster Prevention Seminar – Report
On Friday 25th November, Expat’s Guide staff attended a disaster prevention seminar at Taito Kumin Kaikan in Asakusa. The seminar included a lecture and a panel discussion, with an aim to increase awareness of both the dangers faced in the…
Matsumotokiyoshi Ginza 5th Store
A drugstore that also sells a wide range of cosmetics.…
How to: Karaoke in Japan
Japan is the birthplace of karaoke, and no trip to the country is complete until you’ve thrown your inhibitions aside and stepped up to the mic. Karaoke machines are common staples at “snack” bars, but by far the preferred setting…
Inside the State Guest House
Visiting Akasaka Palace on one of its open days, you can take a tour through a series of lavishly decorated rooms on the second floor. Signage is in English and Japanese, and audio guides in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean…
Akasaka Palace – The State Guest House
Wander south of Yotsuya station at the south-east corner of Shinjuku ward and you will find the road widens as it splits, towards Akasaka to the left and Meiji Jingu Gaien to the right. In between, behind tall gates of…
Lost in Translation – Wasei Eigo
The mass importation of foreign words into the Japanese language can make communicating in Japan that little bit easier. English words are used for many foods and drinks, household wares, and a host of other items and concepts. However, some…
5 Tips – Buying a Home in Japan
Tokyo rent might not be as expensive as London or New York… but it’s still pretty high! With interest rates in Japan so low now, however, this could be an excellent time to buy. There are a few things you’ll…
LOCAVORE
A short distance from Yoyogi-Uehara Station in a quiet back street is this small eatery run by a husband (chef) and wife (sommelier) team. In the style of a Parisian bistro, the bright red exterior is easy to spot. The…
SAGEMONOYA
Looking for antique NETSUKE? Sagemonoya, opened more than 25 years ago, is still the only gallery in Japan specializing in genuine antique Netsuke. A wide selection and price range of these miniature carvings are available, together with Inro, Ojime and…
Counselling Tokyo
Jungian-based psychotherapy by Dr Gabriel Symonds, a British medical doctor licensed in Japan. In Dr Symonds’ experience, many patients with anxiety and depression are suffering from ‘problems of living’ rather than mental illnesses. This is discussed further on the website.…
5 Tokyo Stations for Anime Fans
Sound effects and jingles are a big part of everyday life in Tokyo. Among the sounds heard most often in the city are so-called , the tunes played on station platforms when a train is about to leave. In the…
Asakusa Yabusame
Among the lesser known of Japan’s martial arts is yabusame, a form of horseback archery. Yabusame events take place across the country throughout the year. Expat’s Guide went along to this year’s Asakusa Yabusame event, held at Sumida Park. Yabusame…
Manekineko
Experience the joy of singing any time at Manekineko! With a large English song selection on the latest, easy-to-use machines, as well as a wide variety of food and drink on offer, Manekineko is an excellent place to enjoy singing…
7 Tokyo Rail Hacks
Once you get used to the overcrowding, get to know which lines intersect at which stations, and which lines are operated by which companies, Tokyo’s rail network is not so difficult to navigate. Still, there are a few tips and…
Japanese Tax Return Season
February and March in Japan is tax season, when all residents receive a tax return form from their local tax office. The two main forms of tax are income tax and . The rates you pay for both kinds of…
Samurai & Ninja Show in Asakusa
Samurai, ninja and geisha are among the most evocative aspects of Japanese culture, but events and tourist attractions that feature them are relatively few and far between. The “Samurai & Ninja Show in Asakusa” aims to rectify that. Expat’s Guide…
Cocokara Fine
Cocokara Fine is a drugstore that sells cosmetics, everyday items and food in addition to medicines and healthcare goods. Priding itself on its wide selection, Cocokara Fine carries a range of famous brands, including some that can only be purchased…
Seasonal Food – Winter
To chase away the cold, warming dishes like nabe and oden are particularly popular in winter in Japan. Both can be made with a wide range of ingredients, with some of the most popular being in season (or “shun” in…
Hatsumōde
Despite the ubiquity of temples and shrines all over the country, the Japanese people tend to hold rather casual spiritual beliefs. However, there is one spiritual event that virtually everyone takes part in at the start of the year, and…
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…
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…
