Water Sports in Kansai
Aug 20, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Are you looking for a chance to try your hand at some water-based activities in the Kansai region? You can find plenty of lakes, rivers, and beaches where qualified instructors offer the chance to try a range of sports ranging from the relaxing to the nerve-racking. Sumo Tubing on Lake...[ Click to read more ]
Walk with the Animals, Talk with the Animals…
Jul 31, 2020 By Hugh Cann
Look I’m just going to say it. I’m not a fan of zoos and my first visit to Japan and see the zoo in the 1980s left me indignant and determined never to go again. HOWEVER. Japanese notions of animal care have evolved a lot and while it’s not Taronga...[ Click to read more ]
Golfing in and Around Nagoya
By Bert Wishart
Though Mark Twain once remarked of golf that it was 'a good walk spoiled,' it seems that the witticism didn't quite make it out to Japan where golfing is a trendy sport, particularly amongst women. Previously, golf was a prohibitively expensive pursuit in Japan, however recently, prices have dropped dramatically,...[ Click to read more ]
Great Camping Venues in Kansai
Jul 30, 2020 By Justin Hanus
Camping is a great way to experience the outdoors in an authentic fashion. Camping is a popular pastime for those wanting to escape the crowded neon-lit urban areas of Japan. With an abundance of parks, beaches, mountains, and forests surrounding its cities, Kansai offers many natural delights to campers. You...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo Foreign Resident’s Support Center
Jul 29, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
As a foreigner in Japan, dealing with governmental bureaucracy takes a few more steps than you might be used to. Finding information about starting (or relocating) a family and/or business here, or what is needed to navigate the legal system, can be a real challenge. There’s the expected nuance that...[ Click to read more ]
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
By Jason Gatewood
It may seem like a no-brainer, but 2020 is probably the year that many of us looked at how we are dealing with our health through a magnifying lens. The Novel Coronavirus pandemic is currently raging around the world, and many of us (including myself) are dealing with the anxieties...[ Click to read more ]
How to Clean Your Air Conditioner
Jul 20, 2020 By Mita
We would like to share with you how to clean an air conditioner (AC) filter in Japan. There are several types of air conditioners used in Japan, but we will focus on the two most common types; the air conditioning unit, and the central air conditioner. Cleaning Unit Air Conditioner Filters...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo’s Best BBQ Spots
Jul 13, 2020 By Bert Wishart
The best barbecue is the one you grill yourself. You may think this would be difficult in the city, what with a limited yard and garden space, but in actual fact, there are plenty of spots around Tokyo in which to get your grill on. Sona Area Tokyo BBQ Garden...[ Click to read more ]
Here’s what has changed with Japan’s new cycling laws
Jul 01, 2020 By Jason Gatewood
You’ll be forgiven for thinking that many of the bicycling laws you may have grown up within your home country are heavily enforced in Japan as well since there is more bicycling traffic here than most other places in the world, but the reality is starkly different. While there are...[ Click to read more ]
Let’s Tour: Western Tokyo’s “backcountry”
By Jason Gatewood
I’ll be the first to admit that 2020 has not been kind to we who like to explore, trek, and wander outdoors. We’ve all become more adept at video conferencing apps, picking out the most stylish face coverings, and knowing which restaurants in our area. But nothing can replace the...[ Click to read more ]
