Read about life here, and enjoy it

Daily life in Japan

Small discoveries about the seasons and culture, and reading that helps with everyday life.

This month's read

Knowing this makes life a little easier.

Back view of a person entering a convenience store through its entrance

Things You Can Do at a Convenience Store

At convenience stores in Japan, besides buying food and drinks, you can use services that make daily life more convenient. It's useful to know these 5 things first.

Start Here First

Your First Days Living in Japan

Things worth knowing first when you start living in Japan.

A person pointing at a menu with photos to tell the staff their order

From Entering a Restaurant to Paying the Bill

At restaurants in Japan, the way you order and pay differs by store. If you go through it step by step from the entrance, you'll be fine even at a restaurant you're visiting for the first time.

A person from behind, choosing a button on a restaurant's ticket machine

How Do I Use a Meal-Ticket Restaurant?

At ramen shops, cafeterias, and similar places, some restaurants have you buy a meal ticket first at a vending machine near the entrance.

A 3-way comparison of shoes lined up at a home entrance, a shop shoe cubby, and in front of a tatami room

Where Do I Take Off My Shoes?

In Japan, there are places to take off your shoes not only at home, but also at restaurants, ryokan (traditional inns), hot springs, and more. You don't need to memorize them all.

A hand pressing a button on a toilet's control panel

All You Need to Know About Japanese Toilets

Japanese toilets can have a lot of buttons. You don't need to use them all. First, it's enough to know just how to "flush."

When You're in Trouble

What Do You Do in Situations Like This?

Things to check calmly when you run into trouble.

A hand taking a missed-delivery notice out of a mailbox

A Missed-Delivery Notice Was in My Mailbox. What Do I Do?

You come home and find a delivery notice in your mailbox. This might be a "missed-delivery notice" (fuzaihyo). Let's check it calmly, step by step.

A person from behind, looking up at a route map on a station platform

I Got on the Wrong Train. What Do I Do?

Even if you end up on a train going the opposite direction, or one that doesn't stop at your destination, there's no need to panic.

A hand holding an IC card up to a ticket gate reader

My IC Card Balance Is Insufficient. What Do I Do?

If you touch your IC card at the ticket gate and can't get through, and the screen shows something like "insufficient balance," charging it may let you through.

Good to Know

Know It, and Life's a Little Easier

Things that make everyday life a little more comfortable once you know them.

A night view of a Japanese town with the moon visible from a home's window

Autumn reading

What Is Tsukimi? An Autumn Tradition in Japan

A gentle introduction to a Japanese seasonal pleasure — gazing at the moon on an autumn night.

A hand tucking a small piece of trash into a small pouch while out

There Are Few Public Trash Cans in Japan. What Do I Do With My Trash?

In Japan, you may not find a trash can at stations or on the street. It's convenient to carry a small trash bag with you when you go out.

A hand picking up a discounted item to check its supermarket label

Labels That Can Be Confusing at the Supermarket

There are terms at Japanese supermarkets that make shopping easier once you know them. Just these 5 are enough to start.