Articles
Pieces in plain language about living and travelling in Japan, written from the perspective of a foreign resident. New articles every few weeks.
-
28 June 2026
Climbing Mount Fuji: what you need to know before you attempt it
Practical guide to climbing Mount Fuji in 2026: season, trails, gear, altitude sickness and why you shouldn't do it in the middle of the night without preparation. With personal experience on the Fujinomiya trail.
By Yen & Zen
-
26 June 2026
Mobile in Japan: which SIM or plan to choose for your situation
Practical guide to mobile phone plans in Japan for 2026: tourist SIMs, resident plans (ahamo, IIJmio, Rakuten) and what's changed in recent years.
By Yen & Zen
-
24 June 2026
Nara in a day: the deer, the Great Buddha and what nobody tells you
Practical guide to visiting Nara from Osaka or Kyoto: how to get there, what to see, how long you need and why the deer will steal your onigiri.
By Yen & Zen
-
21 June 2026
Travelling to Japan with kids: what changes when you bring the little ones
Practical guide for families visiting Japan: getting around with a pushchair, what to see that children will actually enjoy, where to eat, and why Japan is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the world.
By Yen & Zen
-
20 June 2026
Kinoko no Yama Hokkaido Milk (Meiji): good, but expensive for what it is
Review of Meiji's Kinoko no Yama Hokkaido Milk special edition: taste, price, and whether it's worth buying as a souvenir from Japan.
By Yen & Zen
-
19 June 2026
My Number in Japan: what it is, what it's for, and how to get the card
Complete guide to Japan's My Number system for foreign residents in 2026: the difference between the number and the card, how to apply, current uses as a health insurance card, and the procedures you can no longer do without it.
By Yen & Zen
-
17 June 2026
Eating in Japan without speaking Japanese: the practical guide
How to navigate Japanese restaurants without speaking the language: ticket vending machines, photo menus, plastic food displays, how to pay without incident, and the apps that actually help.
By Yen & Zen
-
15 June 2026
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.
By Yen & Zen
-
13 June 2026
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.
By Yen & Zen
-
11 June 2026
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.
By Yen & Zen
-
9 June 2026
Onsen in Japan: the guide for first-timers (and people who got it wrong)
How a real onsen works: the etiquette nobody explains, the tattoo question, the difference between onsen and sentō, and the best options near Tokyo for a first Japanese hot spring without surprises.
By Yen & Zen
-
7 June 2026
Health insurance in Japan for foreigners: how it works and what it costs
Complete guide to Japan's healthcare system for foreigners: employer insurance vs national insurance, what it costs, what it covers, how to see a doctor, and special coverage for children. With an honest comparison to other Western systems.
By Yen & Zen
-
4 June 2026
Suica card in Japan: the complete guide for tourists 2026
Everything you need to know about the Suica card: how to get one, top it up, use it, and get your deposit back. Comparison with PASMO and ICOCA, options for children, and the iPhone version.
By Yen & Zen
-
1 June 2026
June 2 in Yokohama: 167 years since the port opened to the world
On June 2, 2026, Yokohama marks 167 years since its port opened in 1859. What happened then, why it's a school holiday in the city, and how locals celebrate the anniversary.
By Yen & Zen
-
29 May 2026
Eating in Japan with kids: the family restaurant guide
Japanese family restaurants are a category that doesn't exist in most Western countries: chain restaurants with kids' menus, a toy included, tablet ordering and very reasonable prices. A guide from real experience with three children.
By Yen & Zen
-
27 May 2026
Kamakura day trip from Tokyo and Yokohama: the guide your hotel won't give you
How to do Kamakura properly: the Kita-Kamakura walking route, Zeniarai Benten, Sasuke Inari, the Great Buddha, dressing as a samurai, and the tips that actually make a difference.
By Yen & Zen
-
25 May 2026
Hydrangea season in Japan 2026: when they bloom and where to see them
Complete guide to ajisai season in Japan: bloom dates by region, the best spots in Kamakura, Hakone, Nara and Kyoto, and how not to miss the Hakone night hydrangea train.
By Yen & Zen
-
23 May 2026
JR Pass in 2026: price, routes and whether it's actually worth it
An honest look at the Japan Rail Pass in 2026: updated prices, which itineraries make it worth buying, when to skip it, and what the alternatives are. Written from Japan.
By Yen & Zen
-
20 May 2026
How to open a bank account in Japan as a foreigner
A real guide to opening a bank account in Japan: which banks accept foreigners, what documents you need, the six-month rule, and what nobody tells you about having a Spanish double surname.
By Yen & Zen
-
18 May 2026
Yokohama day trip from Tokyo: how to actually do it right
A full-day guide to Yokohama written by someone who lives here. Chinatown, Yamate, the port, two stadiums, and the places most travel blogs miss entirely.
By Yen & Zen
-
14 May 2026
Traveling to Japan in summer (May-October): the honest reality of heat, humidity, and typhoons
How Japanese summer actually feels month by month, why 30°C in Tokyo isn't the 30°C you know from home, how to prevent heatstroke, and what to plan if your trip lands in these months. Verified JMA data for 2026.
By Yen & Zen
-
11 May 2026
Understanding the Japanese pay slip (給与明細) in 2026: a visual guide for foreign residents
How to read a Japanese pay slip concept by concept: payments, deductions, taxes, and why your take-home changes. Realistic annotated example with verified 2026 calculations.
By Yen & Zen
-
9 May 2026
Furusato Nōzei explained for foreigners: how it works, what you save, and the mistakes we paid to learn (2026)
Complete guide to Furusato Nōzei for foreign residents in Japan in 2026: how it works, your donation limit, the platforms, the One-Stop Exception, and the real-world mistakes that cost money.
By Yen & Zen
-
6 May 2026
Japan Arrival Guide 2026: forms, SUICA, and luggage shipping
Everything you do between boarding the plane and getting to your hotel in Japan: Visit Japan Web QR codes, customs declaration, buying SUICA, and the luggage shipping hack most tourists miss.
By Yen & Zen
-
3 May 2026
Japanese era year converter: what year is it in Japan and how to convert any year (2026)
Convert any Japanese era year to the Western (Gregorian) calendar and back. Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji — full reference table, conversion formula, and a free online calculator.
By Yen & Zen
-
1 May 2026
Tokyo + Kyoto + Osaka in 10 days: real cost breakdown for 2026
What a classic 10-day Japan itinerary actually costs in 2026: real Shinkansen fares, real hotel prices, when the JR Pass actually pays off, and how much tax-free shopping really saves you.
By Yen & Zen
-
30 April 2026
The real cost of living in Tokyo for foreigners (2026): three honest budgets
What life in Tokyo actually costs in 2026, broken down through three concrete profiles: single professional, double-income couple, and family with two kids. Real rent, real take-home, real numbers.
By Yen & Zen
-
29 April 2026
Japan's Business Manager Visa just got 6× harder: what the October 2025 reform actually changed
The October 2025 reform raised the capital requirement from ¥5M to ¥30M and added five more conditions. What changed, who's affected, and what your options are.
By Yen & Zen