How to Stay Warm During Winter in Japan

Those who live in Japan know that summer and winter in Japan can be brutal. Japan has eight regions spanning quite a few lines of latitude. That means depending on what part of the country you’re in, the weather will vary a lot during any given season. Winter in Japan starts in December and goes […]

how to stay warm winter japan

15 Must-Try Winter Foods in Japan: Nabe, Fugu, Crab & More

With temperatures dropping and the chilly winter months quickly approaching us, what better way to stay nice and toasty than to savor some comforting food? If you’re in Japan, there is no shortage of mouth-watering options to choose from when selecting a tasty meal to warm your stomach during the winter months. In our list […]

winter food in japan

Nenmatsu Chosei: How to Do Japan’s Year-end Tax Adjustment 2025

If you’ve been working in Japan for a while, you’ve probably noticed a flurry of emails from HR as the year winds down about nenmatsu chosei (年末調整). Nenmatsu chosei is a year-end tax procedure in Japan where your employer calculates your final income tax for the year and adjusts for any overpaid or underpaid amounts. […]

how to fill out nenmatsu chosei

16 Top Gen Z Japanese Slang and What They Mean

The words rizz, no cap, and slay might be taking over Gen Z lingo in English, but did you know that Japanese Gen Z has its own unique set of slang and phrases? Language is fluid, constantly evolving with each generation, and Japan is no exception. Gen Z has developed a variety of expressions that […]

Gen Z, incluing Japanese, grew up with more phones and technology than ever before allowing Gen Z slang to spread and evolve.

How to Order with a Japanese Ramen Vending Machine

One of the most surprising things about getting a hot bowl of ramen in Japan is that you often have to order from a vending machine. Most ramen specialty stores have you select and pay for your choice of ramen at a vending machine, or rather a meal ticket machine called 食券機 (shokkenki) in Japanese. […]

Ramen ordered from a ramen vending machine

How Long It Takes for Chinese Speakers to Learn Japanese

It is well-known that the Japanese language is considered one of the hardest languages to learn. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains U.S. diplomats and government officials in languages and cultures, Japanese is classified as a “Super-Hard” language. But there’s an important caveat: FSI’s rankings are based on how long it takes […]

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