Today most foreign tourists in Japan usually have a cell phone, so it seems to be easy to get various kinds of information such as famous sightseeing spots and restaurants. Translation sites also may help them a lot. However, they might need locals’ help while travelling. You might be confused when you come across Japanese manners. The picture above shows… Continue reading 3 most common helpful Japanese words ~For super beginners in Japanese~
Category: Life
life in Japan
Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: Part 2
This is the sequel to a previous article that introduced national holidays observed in Japan from January to April. Let’s continue our endeavor of finding the significant meanings behind Japanese holidays by looking at holidays in May!! May 3rd :憲法記念日 (Kenpou Kinenbi: Constitution Memorial Day) This is the day to celebrate the enactment of the post-WWII version of the Japanese… Continue reading Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: Part 2
Amazing Japanese magazine giveaways!
“Not for reading to buy books, for giveaways.” In this day and age, it’s no exaggeration to say that a quite appealing giveaway boosts sales during the depression of the publishing industry caused by e-books and depopulation. You might be surprised by seeing giveaways like toys for kids, pouches for young girls and card cases for young men, etc. There… Continue reading Amazing Japanese magazine giveaways!
Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: part 1
Do you know there are 16 national holidays observed in Japan? Although it is said that Japan has the highest number of national holidays among major developing countries, in my eyes, most Japanese people, including myself of course, aren’t really aware of the original meanings of each holiday. I will introduce the meanings behind them and some trivia that might… Continue reading Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: part 1
Koban: 9 Cautionary Tales for Keeping Your Valuables Safe While in Japan, and Japan’s Impressive Culture of “Lost and Found”
Today, we’re going to talk about Koban. But before we can talk about what Koban is, let’s take a closer look at something that will help you better understand Koban later: your valuable items. Your Valuables What do you do when you lose or leave your valuables, not only being in your country but during your travel abroad? Do you… Continue reading Koban: 9 Cautionary Tales for Keeping Your Valuables Safe While in Japan, and Japan’s Impressive Culture of “Lost and Found”
Convenient Payment Options in Japan
Hello, and thank you for dropping by my article. While cashless payment has already been prevailing in South Korea, China, and many of the European countries, Japan has been called a “cashless-underdeveloped country”. In 2018, however, the Japanese government established a goal of raising the cashless payment rate up to 40% by 2025, considering inbound sales or international events held in… Continue reading Convenient Payment Options in Japan
Onsen Etiquette – The Dos and Don’ts at Japanese Onsen
Have you ever been to an Onsen in Japan? It’s a Japanese hot spring where you remove all of your clothes. Onsen are familiar to Japanese people and they’re linked to Japanese culture deeply. Japan has more than 20,000 Onsen sources and facilities, and many of them have been developed as tourist spots called Onsengai. For Japanese people, using Onsen… Continue reading Onsen Etiquette – The Dos and Don’ts at Japanese Onsen
The Three Rudest Behaviors in Public
Many people have mentioned that rude behaviors are different depending on the country and the generation. You might think of one behavior as rude but other people don’t think so. In this day and age, since how we think about rude behaviors has been changing, we can’t decide on it one-sidedly. Plus, there are a lot of rude behaviors out… Continue reading The Three Rudest Behaviors in Public
Top 5 Annoying Sounds in Japan
When most people think of Japan, they imagine an elegant and quiet country with a culture that emphasizes good manners. However, there are some surprisingly common and annoying sounds that many Japanese people take for granted. Here are the worst ones. 1. Slurping noodles On their long awaited trip to Japan, many tourists want to try ramen or soba. When… Continue reading Top 5 Annoying Sounds in Japan
To All Sports Lovers! – Live Sports You Can Enjoy in Japan
Hello, sports enthusiasts from all over the world! We all know how wonderful sports are, right? I’m writing this article because I want you to enjoy live sports here in Japan as well! If you have a chance to visit Japan, why don’t you consider watching live sports? I’m going to introduce some sports you can watch in Japan! I… Continue reading To All Sports Lovers! – Live Sports You Can Enjoy in Japan