Hiroshima’s Takehara and Tomonoura in a Day
Apr 24, 2019 By Matt Mangham
With a nice little string of holidays at the beginning of May, you may be thinking of braving the roads for a day trip. From Hiroshima, there are any number of directions you might set off in, but if you’re fond of historic districts and traditional Japanese scenery, one sure...[ Click to read more ]
How to Get Your Car Inspected in Japan
Apr 22, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Over the years, we’ve told you about the process of getting a driver’s license and buying cars and motorcycles in Japan, but we’ve never gone into detail on the inspection and taxation process that all vehicle owners must deal with every two years or less. It can be a real...[ Click to read more ]
Takamatsu Pond in Iwate: A Place for Every Season
By Jade Brischke
If you’re looking for an easily accessible place to chill-out that’s relatively close to downtown Morioka, why not head to Takamatsu Pond (高松の池)? Located about a 30-minute walk from the center of town (depending on which way you walk or how fast/slow you are!), you can also take a bus (E01...[ Click to read more ]
2019 Heisei Abdication & Reiwa Coronation
Apr 20, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Unless you’ve made a concerted effort to avoid Japanese news headlines for the last two years, you already know that the current patriarch of the world’s oldest royal family, Emperor Akihito, will step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne and make way for his son Prince Naruhito to be crowned. A...[ Click to read more ]
Things to do in Tokyo For Golden Week 2019
Apr 15, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Golden week is the longest public holiday period in Japan, and many residents make a trip abroad, or to a tourist area like Kyoto over the break. Trains and airports can be crowded, and the traffic into any area worth a visit is going to be heavy at best, standstill...[ Click to read more ]
Finding an English-speaking Personal Trainer
Mar 29, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Personal fitness is something that takes dedication, and mental training more than the physical will to push weights or run miles down the road. Moving to another country and embedding oneself into a different culture is hard enough without sacrificing our physical health in the process. Some years ago, I...[ Click to read more ]
Hanging Out at Forest Adventure Shinshiro in Aichi Prefecture
Mar 28, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Do you feel at one with nature? Do you prefer to be up in the trees than down on the ground? Or perhaps you have a little monkey who is climbing the walls this holiday? If you find yourself nodding along, or even just curious, get yourself along to Forest...[ Click to read more ]
Ten Nagoya Suggestions for the Ten Days of Golden Week (Part Two)
By Bert Wishart
You may have noticed, that people are starting to get excited about Golden Week. Of course, people always get excited around Golden Week, when public holidays combine to make an extended block of time off, but this year it's even better! With Emperor Akihito abdicating this year, another holiday has been...[ Click to read more ]
Ten Nagoya Suggestions for the Ten Days of Golden Week (Part One)
By Bert Wishart
You may have noticed, that people are starting to get excited about Golden Week. Of course, people always get excited around Golden Week, when some public holidays combine to make an extended block of time off, but this year it's even better. With Emperor Akihito abdicating this year, another holiday...[ Click to read more ]
Toyota MEGAWEB Showcase
Mar 27, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
Tokyo can be a tough place to find something cool for the whole family to get into without either needing to travel a way into the countryside or dropping copious amounts of yen on the adventure. However, here’s something that is both close to the center of the Metropolis and...[ Click to read more ]
