Q&A
Questions about life in Japan answered by those who live it
Hot Topic
10 Answers
YouTube channels for life in Japan?
Recently ToneToEdo put me on to JapaneseCooking101 on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@JapaneseCooking101) where you can find a variety of easy to follow recipe tutorials for a myriad of eats. I was wondering if anyone knew of other useful "life in Japan" style YouTube channels. It doesn't have to be cooking, anything that helps you out with day-to-day stuff here would be great to know about!
on Dec 4
On Going
17 Answers
Any idea for snowboard destination?
What's the best ski resort in Japan that is accessible by bus or train? I have been to Nagano. Any other recommendations?
on Jan 3
Looking for answers
0 Answers
Favorite eco-friendly Japan brands
I posted this morning about an initiative that repurposes parts from retired Osaka Metro train cars and turns them into bags, chairs, and more. I'm also a big fan of the Nozomi Project, who make jewelry items with broken pottery found after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami. Do you have any favorite Japan-based brands that have a focus on upcycling or eco-friendliness?
22 hours ago
All Questions
0 Answers
Favorite eco-friendly Japan brands
I posted this morning about an initiative that repurposes parts from retired Osaka Metro train cars and turns them into bags, chairs, and more. I'm also a big fan of the Nozomi Project, who make jewelry items with broken pottery found after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami. Do you have any favorite Japan-based brands that have a focus on upcycling or eco-friendliness?
22 hours ago
0 Answers
What's a Japanese autumn tradition you've really come to love?
I mentioned in a blog yesterday that one of the things I love about autumn is the yakiimo warmers that pop up in convenience stores, supermarkets, and farmer's markets at this time of year. What's an autumn tradition that you've come to love during your years here? It could be anything...food-related things, autumn festivals you really enjoy, or possibly something else entirely!
on Nov 2
1 Answer
Autumn travel trends in Japan, and where you might opt for instead
I saw a press release this week from the travel platform Agoda about travel trends in Japan for autumn. The biggest jumps in searches since last year were for Kagawa Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Hiroshima Prefecture. Have you visited any of those places in autumn, or maybe even lived (or currently living!) there? Any places you might opt for instead?
on Nov 1
3 Answers
Job-related platforms that get you attention?
I'm on LinkedIn and get some positive attention from employers. I'm also on Hello Sensei, a platform for English tutoring. Occasionally, I get bites from employers. I get that we, City Cost correspondents, are in different fields. But which outlets do you use to broaden you employement prospects?
on Oct 24
3 Answers
Have you ever been skydiving?
Today is Parachute Day. Have you ever used a parachute / been skydiving? If so, in Japan? And / or have you seen / watched skydiving in Japan at all?
on Oct 22
3 Answers
The newspaper and you!
Do you get a newspaper delivered to your house or buy one in a shop or subscribe to / read one daily online? Or just read it every now and then? Or can you not remember the last time you read the newspaper?
on Oct 21
2 Answers
Japan's best bready offerings
You may have seen my recent blog, but Japan's kare pan was named one of the world's 50 best breads by CNN. What's your favorite bakery item here in Japan? Would love to hear your thoughts!
on Oct 20
3 Answers
What's your favorite aspect of Japan's culture?
With Culture Day coming up next month, I'm curious to hear what tradition, habit, or value my fellow City-Cost bloggers most appreciate about living here. I know there's a lot to choose from, so if you have to mention a few things go right ahead!
on Oct 20
4 Answers
Has life in Japan improved your body image?
I think overall I've become more accepting of my body during my years in Japan, and I would say a big part of that is because of onsen culture. It has made me realize that bodies are just that...bodies...and they come in all different shapes and sizes. I'm wondering how you feel about your own body image based on your time here. Has it helped or hindered your perception?
on Oct 19
7 Answers
What is your least favorite household chore in Japan?
Today is "Enjoy Laundry Day". I personally don't mind doing laundry that much, but there are things I don't enjoy so much. There are also chores I don't mind too much, such as hoovering and dusting, BUT I find them more taxing in Japan because they have to be done way more often in Japan than in my home country, because Japan has an inexplicable amount of dust! What household chores do you really dislike? And / or are there any household chores you don't mind doing too much in your home country, but find them more time consuming in Japan?
on Oct 19
5 Answers
Do you go to Karaoke in Japan? Your home country?
I just wrote about Karaoke Culture Day and in September about Family Karaoke Day, so it begs the question: Do you go to Karaoke often in Japan? And while we're at it, some other questions; Do you like it? love it? Only go because somebody makes you!? And how about in your home country - have you ever been to Karaoke in your home country?
on Oct 17
7 Answers
Which prefecture do you think is the most attractive?
I posted this morning about the recently released Prefectural Attractiveness Rankings. Obviously there's an element of subjectivity to this, because what one person deems attractive can be very different to someone else's opinion of it. Hokkaido was ranked the most attractive prefecture in Japan, but the full list can be found below (image source is the article here: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/39c11474715641625a5720b86bc9b72dfe59e4cd). Of the prefectures you've visited, which would you say is the most attractive, and why would you rate it that way?
on Oct 17