Did you know there are tons of options for fruit picking during this season of this year? You will love it if you are a fruit lover and so would your kids. Fruit picking is a very kid-friendly weekend activity […]
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Rubella is rapidly spreading around Tokyo and the surrounding areas this year – especially among males in their 20s to 40s. The accumulated total numbers of the rubella patients marked 952 as of end of September: Tokyo holds the largest […]
Dear art lovers in Tokyo – as you may be aware, the 9 great works of Vermeer will be in exhibited at the Ueno no Mori Museum until Feb, 2019. There is a special website for this exhibition (unfortunately in […]
How many Japanese cartoons do you know? Watching or reading cartoons or mangas is a very good way to learn new Japanese words and culture 🙂 Giving you some suggestions… Sazaesan サザエさん Chibi Maruko-chan ちびまる子ちゃん Anpan-man アンパンマン Slamdunk スラムダンク Sailermoon セーラームーン If you […]
As it is getting chilly every day, you may be wondering if you could add some warm dishes to your table at the end of the day. Here are some hotpot “nabe” choices you may want to consider. It is very […]
A very strong typhoon “Trami” hit Japan from 29 Sep to 1 Oct. First attacking the Okinawan islands with making more than 200 flights cancelled, it also made Kansai International Airport completely closed the following day. In the eastern side […]
How many of you are looking forward to Halloween? You will see a number of Halloween events taking place even very near from your place, because Halloween has now become a very popular day here in Japan as well. You […]
Wondering how many of you are living in a house or an apartment with tatami rooms? Although tatami floors are getting less and less these days, we still see at least one room with tatami mats even in newly built […]
Japan is a country with the world’s largest numbers of national holidays. Apart from the New Year’s holiday (most Japanese companies close from around Dec 29 to Jan 3) and the Golden Week (consecutive holidays in the beginning of May), […]
Flower arrangement in Japan is called Ikebana, a tradition to arrange and observe seasonal flowers. Kado is a type of Ikebana – it is an art to combine flowers and trees which is said to be established during the mid Muromachi […]
Here are some images of autumn you will see in Japan. Here we go! Mexican aster Autumn leaves Rice harvest Fruit harvest Tsukimi (Moon viewing) Sports day Enjoy autumn season in Japan! Not a member yet? Be a member […]
The Meguro Sanma Festival is one of the popular autumn festivals in Tokyo. Annually there are two sanma festivals held near the Meguro station and this year the first one will be held on Sep 9th at the east side […]
Summer heat is still going on – just thought of introducing ice creams and popsicles you will generally see in grocery stores and convenience stores in Japan. What a fun topic 🙂 ガリガリ君 Gari Gari Kun A very famous product […]
QuickHelpJapan participated in Win Off-the-Pitch 2018 talk sessions & awarding ceremony hosted by Sport for Smile last Sunday as simultaneous interpreting volunteers. Sport For Smile is the first-ever platform in Japan to use sport for social change. We were able to […]
Camping is attracting people’s attention these days – especially getting more and more popular among families with children. Let us share with you a camping experience in Ibaraki Prefecture, near Naka river. Camp Site Location: Nakayoshi Camp Ground (5-2 Kami-Isehata, […]
Have you ever heard of Shochu-Mimai（暑中見舞い） or Zansho-Mimai （残暑見舞い）cards? There is a tradition in Japan to write to families and friends offering best wishes for the hot season. Shochu-Mimai cards are for the first half of the summer season. To be […]
Have you ever thought of utilizing the car sharing service here in Japan? The most popular car sharing service here is “Times Car Plus” ran by a major pay-by-the-hour parking lot company. These days, it is less common for young […]
If you go house hunting in Japan, you might be interested in looking for the below conditions: South Facing / 南向き: Unlike houses in other western countries, houses in Japan have very limited space and are not exposed to all […]
What do you do with your photos taken with your smart phones or cameras? Do you save them to hard drives or clouds? Why not create your own physical photo album online? It is not expensive and can be done […]
Where do you usually go to when thinking of redecorating your place or welcoming another family member? Do you know the right places to look for your own taste? Here are some possible options in Tokyo at affordable prices. – […]
Hope all of you are surviving in this terrible heat especially this week in Tokyo. The weather forecast is marking 36 degrees centigrade on Monday, 23rd with serious caution against heatstroke. Be sure to take bottles of water with you […]
Have you ever thought of sending your child/ren abroad only by themselves? There are certain services you can look into – many air carriers have services to help children to get onboard without the help of their guardians. Japan […]
Having and taking care of kitchen garden in Japan, especially during is rainy and humid season, sometimes requires knowledge and experience. But for those who are new to this, some vegetables are very strong to weather change and relatively easy […]
Sushi is a big treat for Japanese families. Eating sushi at a sushi counter in a popular restaurant is probably the best you could ask for, but still, quality of sushi delivery is not that bad. Gin no Sara Sushi […]
How many of you have experienced staying at Risonare hotels? There are 3 Risonare hotels (Yatsugatake / Atami / Tomamu (Hokkaido)) and are all run by Hoshino Resorts. Each hotel has their own concept that attract families and children, making […]
If you are looking for a short trip destination during this rainy season, here is my recommendation – Hasedera in Kamakura. It is known for its beautiful Japanese gardens with a walking trail which takes you to a viewing platform […]
A new taxi service was launched recently in the Kanagawa prefecture – currently used only in Yokohama and Kawasaki, but is on its way to expanding to other regions. Have you ever had any trouble communicating with taxi drivers in […]
Up for a summer party? How about a Japanese style party with flowing somen? If you don’t go with the traditional way it’ll be pretty easy and quick to prepare, and kids will definitely love the noodles! Traditionally, flowing somen […]
This is to let you know the opportunities to participate in the RWC taking place here in Japan next year! We all have a chance to become a part of this dream tournament. Recruitment schedule (provisional) Recruitment period: 12:00 on […]
Here comes the rainy season with typhoon risks. For those who are not familiar with how to gather disaster information, here are some major sources to check. Go to Japan Meteorological Agency website for detailed weather warnings and advisories of […]
Usually, parents receive explanations regarding rules and what to prepare prior to the start date, but let’s take a look at some of the common stuff used in Japanese elementary schools for quick your reference. Bookbags – Traditionally red […]
Sanno Matsuri is one of the 3 major festivals in Tokyo, and also counted as 3 great festivals in Japan together with the Gion festival (Kyoto) and Tenjin festival (Osaka). Sanno Matsuri is held yearly in mid-June, at Hie Shrine […]
June is the only month without a national holiday in Japan. Rainy days and no long weekends may make you feel a bit blue.. But that is not just it! Here are some bright side images of June in Japan […]
Sumikko Gurashi characters became one of the most popular and loved characters among Japanese children in the past few years. Sumikko means “in the corner”, and Gurashi means “live”. These set of characters were originally targeting the Japanese who […]
Dear Meatlovers – Have you ever wondered how to order at Yakiniku places here in Japan? Are you aware of your favorite meat part? Here’s a brief explanation. 牛タン Gyutan – tongue Sliced very thin and cooked quickly at […]
According to a recent announcement, a new Studio Ghibli entertainment park will be opened by 2022 in Aichi, where the Expo took place back in 2005. Studio Ghibli is nationally popular within Japan – but is also acknowledged worldwide […]
For those who play sports, do you have the right environment around you to keep it up? Some sports, tennis for example, require a specific environment to play – and sometimes the procedure is hilariously complicated to get to […]
Curry in Japan is very different from Indian curry. It is a Japanese soul food, very easy and quick to cook. Here is a common recipe for 4 dishes of Japanese curry. Ingredients: 140g Curry blocks, 150g Chicken Leg, […]
Here are some of the signs of spring that could be found around you here in Japan, other than cherry blossoms, peach branches, and tulips. Enjoy the beautiful season 🙂 Dandelions Field Mustards Horsetails Tadpoles […]
Sharing some tips and advises how to clean your futon (Japanese mattress) used daily. Spring is a season of new beginnings in Japan and it’s a perfect season to reset & refresh your bedroom to get better sleeps! It is […]
Second version of Japanese public elementary school life. As you may know, public schools are free – parents would have to pay for the school lunch that cost around 5,000 yen per month and some school supply fees that are […]
For those who haven’t started planning for Golden Week: Check out the annual Yokohama Parade with history of more than 60 years. Date: 3 May 2018 Starts at: 10:45 am near Yamashita Park Image cited from https://www.enjoytokyo.jp/amuse/event/1177581/ There will be marching […]
For those who are interested in actual school life in Japan, here is some unfiltered report of a 1st grader in a Japanese public elementary. My daughter usually gets up before 7am, eats breakfast, changes, gets ready and quickly goes […]
Sharing some top hot home appliances now in Japan. BALMUDA The Toaster Image cited from https://www.balmuda.com/jp/toaster/ With its special steam technology and temperature control function, this toaster will ensure maximum flavor. The outside will be crisp, and the inside will be moist […]
How many of you have experiences attending a Japanese friend’s wedding? Weddings held in Japan are somewhat different from the western ones. There may be things in common but most of the customs here are Japan-specific. After a Japanese couple […]
Have you ever wondered why there are so many national holidays in Japan? Here is a list of national holidays in 2018. Date Weekday Holiday Name 1-Jan Monday New Year’s Day 8-Jan Monday Coming of Age Day 11-Feb Sunday […]
Legoland Japan is celebrating its first anniversary by opening a Legoland Hotel on the premises. I am sharing a few points based on my own experience taking a 2 year old, 4 year old, and two 7 year old girls […]
If you have a dog and you decide to go on a trip with him/her, what would you think of first? I recently found an interesting service carried out by Japanese air carriers that allows dog owners to fly with […]
What are the food delivery options in Tokyo now? We currently have more choices than ever before now that Uber Eats and other new business started its service in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures. Traditional delivery options in Japan are […]
Most schools are out until early April, and spring vacation is the only vacation throughout the year with no homework for children attending Japanese schools. They can simply rest or spend time doing whatever they like before another school year […]
100 yen shops and convenience stores assume a significant role of “efficient” shopping in day to day life in Japan. Sometimes you can even get lost when you visit huge 100 yen shops searching for a specific item, and you […]
It is very common to see children participate in multiple after-school enrichment lessons these days in Japan. Listed below are said to be the most popular ones recently: Swimming: In addition to maintain a healthy body and mind, swimming is said to have a […]
How many of you have experiences standing in front of a Japanese laundry machine thoroughly confused? Home laundry here in Japan might be a huge surprise for people who were brought up in other countries. It is not common for […]
According to the Sakura (cherry blossoms) forecast, Tokyo residents will be enjoying the beautiful pink colored season by the 4th week in March. Forget about the lousy hay fever for now, and let’s review some popular viewing spots so that […]
Delivery services are called 宅急便 Takkyubin in Japan and the major companies are Yamato Transport Co., Sagawa Express and Japan Post. Today we will go through the basics of how to send and receive packages using Yamato. Sending Packages Customers […]
For those who have their children attend Japanese schools, we are about to enter the ceremony season. Starting from graduation ceremonies in mid-March, it’s common for students and parents to host thank-you parties for teachers and school staffs, and next […]
Many of you may already know about the Japanese traditional soaking tubs. Although many people in Japan love to visit public baths such as Onsen (Hot Spring) or Sento (Shared Public Bath), they also have a special way to relax […]
Japan is an ideal country to be in for fruit lovers. With historical background as an agrarian country, farming has always been an active area of research here in Japan. Nowadays Japanese fruits are gaining more and more attention for their high […]
Although Japan has an efficient public transportation network, it can save you a lot of time if you drive especially in smaller cities or when you travel around the country. Today, we will be taking a look at the basics […]
With loads of museums, hot spring facilities and great nature worth to visit, Hakone is a very popular weekend / day trip destination for Tokyo residents. Hakone is only 85 minutes away from Shinjuku station by Odakyu Limited Express “Romancecar”, […]
For some of you with preschool children, childcare system in Japan may appear a little complicated. There are two types of childcare centers called “Hoikuen” and “Yochien”, and both facilities take care of preschoolers during the day. Well, the difference […]
Just a heads-up as we are gradually approaching the end of the fiscal year. Have you ALL finished having your annual health checks? Employers in Japan have a legal obligation to offer annual health check-ups to their employees, […]
Unlike schools in other countries, Japanese school year starts from April and ends in March. There are said to be a few reasons for this, such as coordination with the Japanese fiscal year (which also starts from Apr.), or due […]
As it is getting colder and colder everyday, today we are sharing some indoor play-areas for kids in the Tokyo area. Check these out when your little ones are fully charged for a fun filled day but the weather is not looking good enough. […]
On 16 February, we will feel the festive and joyful atmosphere all around Yokohama Chinatown, also known as Yokohama Chukagai, which is said to be the largest Chinatown in Asia. There will be a number of colorful dragons and […]
Have you ever seen politicians, celebrities, Sumo wrestlers throw beans at temples? Well, this is a very popular event in Japan. Setsubun is yearly celebrated on 3Feb in Japan, which used to be the day before the first day […]
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