Best Hanami Spots in Kansai

Feb 29, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Hanami is an annual event unique to Japan. The word means “flower viewing” and it relates to the springtime blooming of the flowers on cherry blossom trees (sakura) across Japan. Every year around late March to early April, regions all across the country have their Hanami season that is the...[ Click to read more ]

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Best Bars with Live Music in Kobe

Feb 28, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Despite being only a small city, Kobe has an active nightlife. In particular, it has a number of bars with live music — some with performances every night of the week. Although Kobe is best known for jazz, you’ll also find venues with many other styles of live music. 1....[ Click to read more ]

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Places You Can Go with Your Dog in Kobe

Jan 31, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Exploring Kobe is no fun if you always need to leave your dog behind. The good news is there are plenty of places you can go together throughout the city, ranging from parks to pet-friendly restaurants. Nagisa Park A pleasant place to take a short walk or relax outdoors with...[ Click to read more ]

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Top Musical Artists from Kobe

Jan 29, 2024 By Justin Hanus

Although it’s only a small city, Kobe is the birthplace of numerous musical artists of a range of genres. Checking out their music is a great way to gain a feel for what Kobe is about. Masaaki Suzuki In addition to being a musician, Masaaki Suzuki is a conductor and...[ Click to read more ]

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Packing the Right Clothes for Kobe in the Winter

Dec 27, 2023 By Justin Hanus

The weather varies greatly across Japan in the winter. Hokkaido is the coldest, with temperatures reaching as low as -11.4 ºC (11.5 ºF), whereas the Nanpo and Bonin Islands have a tropical climate year round. With mild winters, Kobe is somewhere in between. Using the average temperatures will help you...[ Click to read more ]

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New Year Celebrations in Kansai

By Justin Hanus

New Year (Shogatsu) is a time for big celebration in Japan. Seen as a period of cleansing and renewal as well as an opportunity to welcome in the New Year, festivities tend to last from January 1-3, with many people taking this period off work. There are various ways that...[ Click to read more ]

Best International Schools in Kobe

By Justin Hanus

It may not be among the most famous cities in Japan but Kobe is one of the best locations for international schools outside of Tokyo. This is on account of its diverse expat community, meaning that those moving to the city with kids have plenty of choice when it comes...[ Click to read more ]

Sample Kansai Utility Bills and Usage Notices

Dec 04, 2023 By Admin

In Japan, residents are signed up for water, electricity, gas and Internet as utility payments - with the exclusion of some properties that have no gas, and are all electric (or "all-denka"), or have Internet costs included as part of the rent. Electricity, gas and Internet are billed monthly, while...[ Click to read more ]

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Public Transport in Kobe

Oct 27, 2023 By Justin Hanus

One of the three main cities in the Kansai region, Kobe has good transport links that can get you around the city, the outskirts and further afield. Between 2-3 hours from Tokyo by train, it also has its own airport and seaport. Most of the city center parts can be...[ Click to read more ]

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How to Get an ETC Card in Japan

Oct 19, 2023 By Justin Hanus

To pay the expressway tolls in Japan, it helps to have an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) card. This allows you to make automatic cashless payments instead of needing to stop at tollbooths and pay in cash. There are even special lanes at the tolls for holders of ETC cards, which...[ Click to read more ]