Daily Life in Japan

The Perfect Shirakawa-go Travel Guide – Gassho Houses & Winter Magic

Tucked away in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is one of Japan’s most iconic rural destinations. Famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses—steep thatched roofs designed to shed heavy snow—it’s a place where time slows down and tradition lives on.The village is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and draws visitors year-round for its fairytale-like…
Nature Love in Japan | Japanese Culture Guide

Nature love is all around in Japan. What’s the history of Japan’s relationship with nature? And how can you immerse yourself in nature when you travel to Japan?
Top Relaxing Activities in Japan for Mind and Body

Do you want to return from your trip to Japan completely refreshed? Why not end your holiday with a day or 2 of these relaxing activities?
Maglev Super Fast New Train in Japan

Maglev is a super fast train that uses magnetic levitation. Japan is currently building a maglev train that will run up to 500 km/h. See where you can already experience this train in action.
How Japan Embraced the Super Solo Lifestyle

Recently, cities in Japan have become much more solo-customer-friendly. The so-called ‘super solo culture’ has taken off and will probably only grow larger. What gave rise to this culture, and where can you go to experience it?
Golden Week Holiday in Japan

Between late April and the beginning of May, there are four national holidays. We call this period Golden Week. Let’s find out how the Japanese like to spend this period and how you should travel to avoid the crowds.
The 100 Yen Shop in Japan | Very convenient and very popular

The 100 yen shop (dollar store) is very popular in Japan. It is a convenient shop because you can find almost anything you are looking for, including great affordable souvenirs for foreign tourists. Let’s find out what they sell!
Happy New Year’s Day in Japan

Just like in other countries, Japan has its own way to ring in the new year and its own traditions on the first few days of January. Let us give you some travel tips for Japan in the first week of January!
A Spectacular Japanese Festival at the end of the year

Learn more about Japan’s traditions surrounding the end of the year, and find out how to have a good NYE in Tokyo!
Gambling in Japan

Although gambling is officially illegal in Japan, there are still ways to enjoy a wager. How do Japanese people enjoy a gamble, and how does that work with the law?
How Japan Generates Its Energy

Japan has historically relied heavily on nuclear energy generation until the 2011 disaster has shown the need for alternative power sources. Is renewable energy on Japan’s agenda? And what other resources are (still) used?
Happy Coming of Age Ceremony

You can do a lot of things once you become an adult, so many young people look forward to this event. In Japan, it is no different, and there is even a special day for new adults. Read more about what it means to turn of legal age in Japan.
High Tech Toilets in Japan

Toilets in Japan are some of the most advanced in the world. What are the newest functionalities? And what on earth is going on with those sound buttons in public toilets?
Japan’s super-aging society among the top in the world

Japan’s population is decreasing, bringing economical problems with it. What is going on, and what is Japan planning to do to remedy this?
Earthquake Safety in Earthquake-prone Japan

How is earthquake damage mitigated in Japan, and what can you do yourself to stay as safe as possible in the rare event of a large earthquake?
Special Real Estate Trends in Japan

Our tour customers regularly ask the guides about the real estate market in Japan. Let us give you an overview of the housing market in Japan and likely trends in the near future.
Surgical Masks used for various purposes in Japan

Why have Japanese people been wearing masks even before Covid-19 hit? Besides protecting yourself and others from viruses, there are interesting other reasons as well.
Fun vending machines unique to Japan

What’s the deal with all those vending machines in Japan? And what can you buy from them? Learn more about the history and raison d’etre of these convenient parts of daily life in Japan.
Minimalism Glimpsed Everywhere in Japan

Minimalism has been linked with Japanese culture for a long time, and it goes back to even before Zen Buddhism emerged in Japan which made minimalism here to stay. Learn more about minimalism’s history, and how minimalism is alive today in Japan.
The Daily Life of Office Workers in Japan

Have you always wanted to know what a day in the life of a Japanese salaryman or office lady looks like? Read this first-hand account from a former salaryman from Japan.