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Bon Odori Festival 2025: A Short Guide to Japan’s Summer Dance Tradition

The All-Japan Dance Calendar 2025The Bon Odori dance is one of the most fun traditional pastimes in Japan, and during…

Start up Visa Japan

Japan is not just a great place to visit or live, but is an incredible place to do business. While…

Buddhism in Japan: History, Schools, Temples and Traveler’s Guide

Buddhism is the second most followed faith in Japan, and has been influential as a major religion in Japan since…

Japanese Slang Words 2025: Your Friendly Guide to Wakamono Kotoba

Japanese slang words can sometimes feel like a secret code, but cracking it is the quickest route to having relaxed,…

Commuter Pass Japan: Mastering the Teikiken to Cut Daily Travel Costs

1. What Is a Teikiken?A teikiken is Japan’s commuter pass. Load it onto an IC card such as Suica or…

What Does “Sumimasen” Really Mean in Japanese?

Picture yourself on a packed Tokyo train. Someone taps your shoulder with a gentle “Sumimasen.” In that split second, you've…

Best Apps For Learning Japanese (July 2025) – Reviewed by JLPT N1 & N2 Certified Authors

Learning and language is easier when you have the right tools, and Japanese is no exception. As someone who’s studied…

What is Shintoism?

Japan, as with many modern democracies, is home to people of many faiths. However, the most popular, and the most…

Where to Stay in Tokyo for First Time Visitors in 2025

Tokyo is the world’s largest metropolis, with a number of distinctive different wards, that have unique areas, all within Japan’s…

Japan Swimming Pool Guide 2025: Where to Swim, Soak, and Surf

Japan may be an island nation, but a refreshing dip is often closer than the coastline. Whether you crave Olympic-length…

Retro Games Japan 2025: The Foreigner’s Cheat-Code to Classic Cartridges and Consoles

Japan is one of the few places on earth where you can still walk into a shop, blow the imaginary…

Japanese Retro Café 2025: Your Guide to Nostalgic Kissaten Culture

Stepping through the beaded curtains of a kissaten is like stepping back in time: the aroma of flannel-filtered coffee, the…

Stories

Tokyo International University (TIU): A Graduate’s Perspective

Tokyo International University (TIU) is known for its commitment to global education and for offering a supportive environment for students…

How to Learn Japanese Without Paying For a Class

Learning Japanese is one of the most important things that people living in Japan can do. And even if you…

Getting Your Eyes Tested in Japan: A Sight for Sore Eyes?

Like any other part of your body, your eyes are very important in your life — both in Japan, and…

Eating Vegetarian In Japan: Can It Be Done?

Japan is known as a country that long ago adopted Buddhism, which typically prefers vegetarianism, as eating meat is a…

Going to a Sumo Tournament: What to Expect

Although Japan is well known abroad for its samurai history, and kendo (swordplay sometimes know as “Japanese fencing”) is a…

¥100 Stores: The Last Word in Bargains

Everywhere in the world has bargain stores. The US has dollar stores, the UK has Poundland, and of course, Japan…