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 ]
HOPE International Development Agency Japan: Hope Charity Dinner 2024
By William Farrow
Every year, the HOPE International Development Agency organizes charity dinners across Japan to help provide access and opportunities to those in developing countries. The Agency has selected a theme of "from water to self-reliance" this year and is eager to help with a plethora of projects brimming with potential like...[ Click to read more ]
Hiroshima Cinemas
Nov 30, 2023 By Matt Mangham
We’re fast approaching the peak cinema season as the weather chills, the nights draw in and this year’s big winter blockbusters hit our screens. Japan has a rich culture of film-making and its citizens love going to the movies as much as anyone else. The cinema experience in Japan is...[ Click to read more ]
All About Higo Zogan
Oct 27, 2023 By Justin Hanus
A local craft you’ll only see in Kumamoto is Higo Zogan. It involves engraving an iron base with a design and inlaying with gold, silver, or both. Designs are often ancient (such as kuyokamon — the crest of nine celestial bodies) but are sometimes modern. The History of Higo Zogan...[ Click to read more ]
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 ]
Pottery Workshops and Galleries in Kumamoto
Sep 28, 2023 By Justin Hanus
The island of Kyushu is known worldwide for its ceramics. Kumamoto prefecture is the birthplace of the Shodai and Koda styles, and the city of Amakusa produces high-quality ceramics from porcelain called Amakusa pottery stone. You can see, purchase, and even make pottery yourself at several galleries and workshops around...[ Click to read more ]
Owning Pets in Kansai
By Justin Hanus
Are you moving to Kansai with a furry (or scaly) friend or looking to get one after settling in? Luckily, Japan is very pet-friendly, so you shouldn’t have too many problems if you follow the necessary guidelines. Here’s a brief overview of what you need to know. Popular pets in...[ Click to read more ]
Visit Miyoshi City in Hiroshima Prefecture
Sep 27, 2023 By Matt Mangham
I've already tried to lure you out to Mibu's rice fields. At the risk of being too insistent on the charms of the countryside, let me also suggest that it's time for a visit to Miyoshi. Miyoshi is a beautiful little city, the largest town in Hiroshima prefecture that isn't on...[ Click to read more ]
Big Traffic Brother Is Watching You
Aug 30, 2023 By Justin Hanus
In many places the eternal battle between motorist and traffic cop is carried on like a game of cat and mouse with law enforcement lying in wait for its prey undetected behind a billboard or at the bottom of a hill. Not so in Japan where the task is turned...[ Click to read more ]
Learning Japanese in Kumamoto
Aug 29, 2023 By Justin Hanus
Getting to grips with a new language is high up on the to-do list for many expats. Japanese can be daunting for many as it has its own unique writing system and linguistic structure. However, there are many classes that will walk beginners through the basics, as well as more...[ Click to read more ]
