North Americans might find that getting a drivers license in Japan is especially daunting. It sometimes takes people months just to get accustomed to the reverse flow of traffic while walking. Driving is a different story
Tokyo: How does it rank?
Mercer’s 2010 Quality of Living Survey was released yesterday, showing a ranking of what they believe to be the currently world’s most livable cities. Many here in Japan were curious to hear the results, although many might see the final numbers as somewhat lackluster.
Among the top cities globally there was no Asian city that scored higher than 28, that distinction falling to Singapore. The top ten, if you’re interested play out as follows:
In the interests of getting your Japanese up to speed both before and after your arrival, studying up on your nihongo by listening to as much Japanese as you can is certainly a big help. Japanese TV is always a smart idea, but if you’re not in Japan yet you can always try radio. And to that end, we’re going to list out a few of our favorite online Japanese radio resources.
As one of the most photogenic cities on the planet, Tokyo is not a place that you want to be without a camera. Evening photography in Tokyo can be particularly stunning in the core of the city, with its bustling nightlife and towers of neon.
Tucked in behind Mori Tower and the Asahi TV building, the rich greenery of Mohri Garden brings a certain calmness to Roppongi Hills. This classic Japanese garden only covers around 4,300 square meters
Komazawa Olympic Park began as the site of the second stadium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. So it was originally designed and built as a venue for sports such as track & field, soccer, wrestling and volleyball
Shiba Park is best known for its proximity to Zoujyoji Temple and as one of Tokyo’s original westernized parks from the Meiji Restoration. During the Edo period, the park was one large block and home to
One of the most intimidating things about coming to Japan’s capital city is trying to learn the intricate maze that makes up the Tokyo train system. Even if you get a good grasp of your local area and the surrounding
Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park (more commonly referred to as Arisugawa Park) is perhaps the most popular expat park in central Tokyo. It is a great little getaway nestled into a large city block in Azabu
After a tough financial year for pretty much everybody, the Japanese government is making some changes that it hopes will bring in some much needed cash-flow into the nation’s economy. According to a story by Kyodo News, Japan will ease visa restrictions for Chinese tourists hoping to visit. This builds upon similar rule relaxations from last year which helped bring in more Chinese shoppers, particular to the capital city of Tokyo.
Depending on where you live in Tokyo, growing your own vegetables is a worthwhile endeavor no matter how you slice it. If you reside outside of the city’s core, there are likely community farm plots where you can pay a certain monthly fee to grow your crops.
Recently many companies have been looking to the microblogging service Twitter.com as a way to reach new potential customers. More than a few have been offering sizable discounts to their Twitter followers
Good news for Tokyo-based Hawaiians (or Hawaii-based Tokyo-ites): Hawaii Airlines announced today that they’ve gotten a tentative green light from the United States Department of Transportation to fly its first route to Japan. While the details are not finalized, the proposed flight would see a midnight departure from Haneda with a next day landing at noon in Hawaii.
Travelers to Tokyo are often surprised by how hard it is to find open wi-fi spots in the city. And for newcomers here who move into a new place, this can be a huge pain as well because internet service providers in Japan can be slow to get your broadband installed
A 114-year-old woman from Okinawa died just a week before her 115th birthday, according to the Associated Press. According to the piece, Okinawa might be a good place to live if longevity is your ultimate life goal
This brand new designer house in Omotesando is now complete! As you will see from the photos below it is a showcase of high-end design – very well thought out spaces and luxiously interior finishings. It also features a large 2-car garage and rooftop balcony fully equipped for large outdoor barbeque parties!