Q&A
Questions about life in Japan answered by those who live it
Hot Topic
6 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
14 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
All Questions
4 Answers
Entrance ceremony clothes
Soon my kid will have his entrance ceremony at school, and I'm looking for those typical Japanese style ceremony clothes for myself. I'm 1.80m, not so skinny woman, which has huge problems to even find normal clothes in Japan. Does anybody have the same problem and might have any advice, where to get those ceremony clothes in a taller size?
on Feb 17
3 Answers
Places you recommend in your prefecture
Which places of scenic beauty, historic importance, and modernization do you recommend to visitors to your prefecture? I'm not asking for the "top 10" popularly promoted, but your reccos. Maybe places that visitors from abroad and foreign residents aren't aware of.
on Feb 11
1 Answer
Making bread, no oven
Do you make bread without a full-fledged oven? How do you do it? What kinds of breada do you recommend to a noob baker without an oven? I have a cheapo toaster oven and a frying pan with a lid and would like to have a go at making yeast breads.
on Feb 10
7 Answers
What are your recommendations for Furusato Nozei?
This was our first time receiving Furusato Nozei gifts. We placed orders for fresh fruits since they tend to be quite expensive here in Tokyo so we don't tend to buy them often during our regular grocery shopping. Over the years what has been your best experiences while receiving the Furusato Nozei gifts and what are your recommendations?
on Jan 18
3 Answers
City-Cost feature posts you recommend reading
When I click on the Blog link, I see four "Pick Up" articles, one of them mine, that are a little stale... Which posts in the last 3 months or so are insightful, current, interesting, or helpful? What would you like to see in the "Pick Up"?
on Jan 18
9 Answers
What are you watching and where are you watching it!?
For many years I have been a member of Amazon Prime. I signed up to and pay for it for the "free" delivery and I like that much of Prime TV is then "free" too. However, in recent years, Prime TV hasn't been great. So I now pay for Netflix monthly and I find it very reasonably priced. But its not always easy to pick what to watch! What are you watching, where are you watching it and would you recommend it?
on Jan 14
7 Answers
Expo 2025 – excited or disinterested?
One of the biggest events for Japan next year is the 2025 Expo Osaka-Kansai. Do you have any interest in the event (planning to attend, etc.) or are you fairly disinterested? Curious to hear your thoughts!
on Dec 17
7 Answers
Grocery budget 2024?
How are you managing your grocery budget, for a single or a family? I'm finding my buying power for a single is diminishing, but I'm doing okay, cooking nearly all my meals and dining out infrequently. After going over my receipts, I'm still averaging 30,000 yen a month on groceries. For reference, I'm well outside Tokyo in a Chiba suburb. Have you had to change your grocery budget considering the rising prices?
on Dec 13
4 Answers
Japanese YouTube channels for interesting topics?
Are you listening and watching Japanese YouTubers who present interesting and quality content? I'm hooked on world traveler Bappa Shota, who treats global issues with great sensitivity. Although he appears to speak a few different languages, most of his narration is in Japanese. Which Japanese YouTubers do you recommend for interesting and insightful content?
on Dec 13
6 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
3 Answers
Do you have a My Number card?
I never got one - long story, possibly for a blog post! But I am just curious did you get one? From March you can use a My Number card as a driver's license. This interests me so I am now considering getting one. Pros / cons?
on Nov 10
14 Answers
How long does it take to get your PR status?
I am waiting to get permanent status. The official website says it should take about 4 months, but when I called Tokyo Immigration, they said it would take 1 year. What is your experience? :)
on Oct 31