A growing collection
Japan,
by the numbers.
Practical calculators and articles about Japan. Verified figures, written from Kanagawa.
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For travelers
Plan smarter, spend less, and skip the small confusions.
Japan trip budget
Daily costs by city and travel style, in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, MXN.
Clothing & shoe sizes (Japan ↔ EU/US)
Convert Japanese clothing, shoe and ring sizes to EU and US.
Is the JR Pass worth it?
Enter your route. We tell you if the pass beats individual tickets.
Tax-free shopping (5,000 ¥ rule)
See if your purchase clears the tax-free threshold and what you save.
Japanese zodiac (eto)
Find your animal of the twelve earthly branches.
Japan jet lag calculator
Flight time, time difference and a practical plan to adapt to Japan time fast.
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For residents
Tools for the paperwork, taxes and life-admin of living in Japan.
Furusato nōzei (ふるさと納税) limit
How much you can donate this year and still get the full tax deduction.
Western ↔ Japanese era
Convert any year between Gregorian and Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji.
Japanese age (kazoedoshi)
Your traditional Japanese age, used for kanreki and certain rituals.
Japan net salary (gross → take-home)
Income tax, resident tax, pension, health insurance—done in one place.
Japan rent cost (move-in + total)
Reikin, shikikin, agency fees, kōshinryō—the real cost of renting in Japan.
Monthly commuter pass — worth it?
Compare IC tickets vs monthly pass for Tokyo and Yokohama routes. 2026 fares.
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Recent articles
Plain-language pieces about life and travel in Japan, written from experience.
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15 June 2026 · Yen & Zen
Japan's national football team: thirty years of a project nobody saw coming
From having no professional league to beating Germany and Spain at the same World Cup. The story of how Japan built one of the most interesting national teams in the world in under three decades.
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13 June 2026 · Yen & Zen
Japanese convenience stores: what they're actually useful for (and what they're not)
A practical guide to Japanese konbini for travellers: the ATM that accepts foreign cards, sending luggage to your hotel, what food is worth buying, and what most tourists don't know they can do from the corner shop.
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11 June 2026 · Yen & Zen
Japan's pension system for foreigners: how it works, how much you pay, and what happens when you leave
Complete guide to Japan's pension system for foreign residents in 2026: Kosei Nenkin and Kokumin Nenkin explained, how much you contribute each month, what you'll receive at retirement, how to reclaim contributions if you leave Japan, and how to check your records on Nenkin Net.