While Onsen 温泉 (literally hot source) exist for the pleasure of relaxation and the health benefits of bathing in nutrient-rich water, Sento 銭湯 (public bath) are local establishments mostly used for daily hygiene. Although Sento are less in the spotlight, they still are truly relaxing after a hard day of labor. Anyway, you can notice…

Kyoto is a beautiful city for sightseeing. It is hugely popular among both foreign and Japanese tourists and offers a wonderful array of historical and cultural landmarks, temples, shrines, walking trails, and opportunities to dress in kimono and walk along serene canals. Getting around Kyoto, and getting around easily and cheaply, is a question asked…

One of the most concerning news for foreigners living inside as well as outside Japan is the new type of visa, the “special skilled visa” (特定技能ビザ) allowing more than 340,000 foreigners to legally live and work in Japan up to 5 years. Moreover, this type of visa covers a wide range of industries, and there…

Tokyo is a bustling metropolis that over 13 million call home (38 million if you count the Greater Tokyo Area). With so many people coming and going, one can only assume how competitive the real estate industry must be. The question then is, where do people aspire to live in Tokyo? As all wants go,…

According to the Ministry of Defense, Filipinos are the 3rd or 4th largest foreign population living in Japan (depending on the year, it continues to be a toss-up with Vietnamese residents). photo-ac.com/ The population is also expected to grow thanks to Japan’s new visa policies that will make it easier for people from certain countries…

According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone who is living outside of one’s home country in fear of being persecuted on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, or social or political affiliation and is unable to return home. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as war, and regular…

You are probably planning to come to Japan, or you already are there. You are still a student, or a contract worker. You have / will have a visa or will be / are a simple visitor. But nothing is more sure: you have the will to improve your Japanese as much as you can.…

Do you want to find a cheap property in Japan? Good luck! Japan’s real estate prices are continuing to rise, making it more and more difficult for people to become homeowners. Renting is always a popular option in the archipelago, but if you desire to live close to the city centers of major cities like…

As summer nears, Japan’s most dangerous animal will start appearing in many places. We are not talking about bears, who roam Hokkaido and the northern part of Honshu. We are also not talking about the dangerous box jellyfish that shows up around Okinawa when waters start to warm. Oh, no. The beast we are talking…

Being an expat in Japan is the dream of many people. However, it is difficult to find a decent job in Japan, especially in Tokyo. If you come to Japan with no Japanese ability, working in the kitchen of a restaurant would be a good option. Many foreigners had chosen this career path to go…