The traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony (茶道, sadō or chadō, lit. “the way of tea” or 茶の湯, chanoyu. “hot-water tea”) has its history rooted in the principles of Zen Buddhism. It is an aesthetic way of welcoming guests. During this welcoming ritual – everything must be done according to an established order. It has lost its place […]
Are you looking for an Apartment in Tokyo? Do you already live in Japan? If you are a foreign resident in Tokyo you may have already experienced the headache of trying to find an apartment that matches your needs. In this blog, we have a suggestion for you as a foreign resident. The Best Kept […]
Kyoto is world famous for its Gion District and the Geisha that work there. If you would like to take pictures of Geisha or Maiko – there is a polite way to ask for a photo with them. These days there has been somewhat of a backlash against tourists taking photos of Maiko or Geisha […]
How to leave a crowded train in Japan – Getting off the train in Japan If you live in Japan, you are probably used to rush-hour trains. In the above VIDEO we break down politely getting on and off the train in Japan. What to do when leaving the train in Japan When getting off […]
If you’ve lived in Japan for a few years, you might eventually consider applying for a Permanent Resident visa. And it’s easy to see why. Unlike a regular working visa, a Permanent Resident visa in Japan allows foreigners to work freely without needing to renew their residence status every few years. It also makes it […]
Did you know that not until the Meiji era (1868 – 1912), Japanese surnames did not exist to ordinary men and women? Today, Japan has a shockingly high number of 100,000 surnames in total! During the Meiji era, the government required all citizens by law to register under a surname. While many decided to choose […]
Japanese Driver’s License? Most drivers in Japan drive in an orderly manner because of the strict process to obtain the driver’s license. To drive in Japan, you need to get a Japanese driver’s license in Japan. An international driver’s license issued by a signatory to the Geneva Convention or a driver’s license issued by a […]
Looking for a quiet place in Tokyo to study Japanese without having to pay any money? Want to be able to loan free study materials – such as Japanese learning textbooks, and dictionaries? If you are a short-medium term resident with a resident card in Japan – you can register for a free library card […]
