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The Saga of the 50cc license (2007) images

The Saga of the 50cc license (2007)

I've been struggling to get a 50cc motorbike license since May. You would think it would be easy but the thing is that I was determined to take the test in Japanese like all the other Japanese people in this country. After I went to day school for the certificate showing that I had taken a 50cc dri…(512 words)

Kenji image

Kenji

Saga City Bus English May Stay School Rain speakers
Cute Japanese Cheerleaders part of Japan's semi-professional league, X League images

Cute Japanese Cheerleaders part of Japan's semi-professional league, X League

I actually used to cheer for the semi-pro X league back in the day. This was when it was kind of a group of companies that sponsored teams. Now, the sponsors are still there but the whole thing is much better organized (called the X League) and the games and competition are really exciting. From wh…(145 words)

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Japan Cute Japan Game American football English Stay used cheerleaders cute japanese cheerleaders
World's Most Comfortable Economy-class Seats on Skymark Airlines images

World's Most Comfortable Economy-class Seats on Skymark Airlines

When I boarded my Skymark airline flight last weekend for a short trip down to Fukuoka, I was shocked by how large the economy seats were. Initially I miss took the economy seats to be business class seats and kept going till the back of the place. Skymark used to be the low quality, cheap-o ai…(231 words)

GenS image

GenS

Skymark Airlines Airline Cheap Travel Trip Business Fukuoka Stay Japan
2-Day Trip to Fujigoko (Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji) in winter 1/3 images

2-Day Trip to Fujigoko (Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji) in winter 1/3

What do you think about visiting Mt. Fuji in winter and enjoy snow and Japanese high quality Omotenashi? Most people climb or visit Mt. Fuji during either spring or summer time. Unless you really love mountain climbing, many of you might want to have something extra besides Mt. Fuji viewing. For th…(1090 words)

ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP image

ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP

Trip Winter day trip Visit Summer Spring view Mountain Stay Snow
Kusatsu Onsen (Hot Springs), relaxation Japanese style images

Kusatsu Onsen (Hot Springs), relaxation Japanese style

Going to hot springs in Japan is high on the list of great things to do and is a fantastic way to calm the nerves and get refreshed. Few things are as an authentic Japanese experience as going to a Japanese hot spring and enjoying the local Japanese cuisine and accommodations. Amongst hot springs, …(338 words)

Aron image

Aron

Onsen Stay Trip style Japanese Japan Spring Nature Cuisine Eat
From a Hawaii-grown Japan Fan: The Mind-Whopping Truth Behind Japan’s Kikaida Super Hero images

From a Hawaii-grown Japan Fan: The Mind-Whopping Truth Behind Japan’s Kikaida Super Hero

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x89val_人造人間キカイダー-op-ed_shortfilmsMy elementary-school friends and I in Hawaii in the late 70s would rush home on Wednesday afternoons to watch this show. It started at 3 p.m. and my sister Joy and I would go directly to the waiting school bus at Pearl R…(1199 words)

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Japanese TV shows History Airport Flower Playing Garden Stay Japanese Pop Culture Japanese Culture and Style Tera (Temple)
Dont Forget to Manga-fy Yourself at Purikura! (part 2) images

Dont Forget to Manga-fy Yourself at Purikura! (part 2)

What would it be like to be a fairy princess? What would it be like to have that little pointy chin, big eyes and pouty mouth? Ever since my PuriKura “print club” experience in Kumamoto, I now know exactly how, at least, I would look.Found in almost any game center or resort (ski, hot spring, e…(607 words)

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Manga Photo booth Tokyo Japan Music Japanese Kids Stay Souvenir Amusement arcade
How to be successful at a japanese-english bilingual fair. Be an explorer. images

How to be successful at a japanese-english bilingual fair. Be an explorer.

Career Forum is a bilingual job fair organized by DISCO International worldwide (Boston, Tokyo, Osaka, London,etc). You have to register through the CFN website. Rome wasn't built in one day. Finding a job is a lengthy process. Furthermore, nothing could guarantee you to win the first prize: a …(645 words)

Naoka image

Naoka

English Japanese Work Tokyo Japan Event Etiquette Business Osaka Stay
Learn how to arrange a beautiful, traditional Japanese bouquet images

Learn how to arrange a beautiful, traditional Japanese bouquet

Well, one of my favorite things about traveling around Tokyo is the Ekibana (Station flower arrangements) you can find at many of the local stations. I wrote about this in my book because it is such an amazing way to welcome people back after a long day at work as well as to send them off in the mo…(153 words)

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Flower Traditional Tokyo Art Station master Stay Work
Experience Japanized Style American Breakfast images

Experience Japanized Style American Breakfast

There is a Denny's just down the street from my house and I used to go there all the time for bacon and eggs with a side of toast. But....in Japan, Denny's also offers the opposite of the all-american breakfast. Fried fish, white rice, miso soup, umeboshi, dry nori (seaweed), an egg and some otukem…(127 words)

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breakfast Soy sauce Miso soup Toast Umeboshi Stay
A Car License the Old-fashioned Way images

A Car License the Old-fashioned Way

After being in Japan a while you might feel the need to drive, especially if you live outside a big city. Getting a car license if you are from abroad can be a daunting task for some people but there are actually several ways to go about it.You can transfer your license from your home country. …(324 words)

Kenji image

Kenji

City Live Stay School Work car license
Scenic Cafe in Tokyo Tower Japan images

Scenic Cafe in Tokyo Tower Japan

With the recently built 634m tall mega tower Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower has lost attention. Although it is much shorter than Sky Tree and cannot compete in terms of height, it has a better, more central location in Tokyo. The views from the tower are still undeniably beautiful. To attract more cou…(143 words)

GenS image

GenS

Tokyo Tokyo Tower Coffee view Stay lost night view Couples
Look for the "Uketsuke", Hospital Care in Japan images

Look for the "Uketsuke", Hospital Care in Japan

Although my experience at hospitals in other countries is limited, I don't think the process at a Japanese hospital is particularly unique. All you have to do when you get to a hospital is to find the "uketsuke" (front desk), which is usually located right by the entrance, and talk to a nurse about…(212 words)

GenS image

GenS

Hospital Japan Visit English Stay Doctor health
Cozy Places to Stay for Foreigners in Japan images

Cozy Places to Stay for Foreigners in Japan

The very strict laws about hotel licenses in Japan require all serviced apartments to rent from only one month or longer. These are fully furnished, have cleaning service and best of all a 24 hour toll-free hotline in English so that if you need assistance during your stay, there is always someone …(169 words)

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Stay Japan places to stay Tokyo Yokohama Hotel Nagoya Summer
I like this place... I could live in Japan images

I like this place... I could live in Japan

Whether you've had a passion for Japan since you were young, developed it through study, perhaps through seeking adventure through travel or considered it because of work or business opportunity (yours, or a partner's), one day you might find yourself seriously considering living here.Unless yo…(1469 words)

GoodPeople image

GoodPeople

Live Visit Restaurant Hotel Ticket Work Visa Stay Working Holiday Certificate of Eligibility
Many concerts and events happening all the time in Japan images

Many concerts and events happening all the time in Japan

I have had a long and happy relationship with Japan as I cover so many artists visiting for amazing events here in the Land of the Rising Sun.I interview various people on my podcast at Japan Today and invite you to tune in to find out about special events and interesting opportunities to explo…(195 words)

Kong image

Kong

Tokyo Building Event view Exhibition Stay
Thoughts on Japan Entry Documents images

Thoughts on Japan Entry Documents

We often describe what to do once you arrive in Japan but I am in the process of returning to Japan and decided to write an article to inform you what you will be going through to get through Japanese Customs whether your flight arrives in Narita, Haneda, Osaka or any other Japan port of entry.…(567 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo Visit Hotel Shinjuku Osaka Live Stay Airplane custom Phone
Tourist Tip #3 (Revisited): Stay Away from Souvenir Shops images

Tourist Tip #3 (Revisited): Stay Away from Souvenir Shops

In one of my previous "Tourist Tip" posts, I suggested staying away from conventional tourist-trap omiyageya (souvenir shops) and visiting instead some of the cooler places where there's more to shop for at better deals:http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3317There are many such places to visit. Som…(171 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Souvenir Tourist Tip Stay Visit Shop Yokohama Shopping Beer
Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo images

Drop-in Yoga Workshop at Temples in Tokyo

The following links (I believe their sites are all in Japanese....)are temples in Tokyo area, where they do provide a yoga workshop:@"Kongoin," Toshima-ku every Mon.(10am-) and Wed.(7:30pm-) starting from Aug 4 and 6豊島区 金剛院(8月4日~、6日~開講)※毎週月曜日、水曜日開催詳しくは:h…(249 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

Tokyo Chiba Shinjuku Trip Tera (Temple) Stay
Yokohama China Town : A Great Mixture of New and Old images

Yokohama China Town : A Great Mixture of New and Old

Yokohama China Town, which has a long history, is a place where old traditions and new styles coexist. Just last week, they opened another new restaurant specialized in Peking duck. They look very clean and fancy. I need to check it out sometime.On the other hand, there are some very old hi…(203 words)

Suetsumuhana image

Suetsumuhana

Yokohama Hotel china town Restaurant History Stay Futon
Join the Tokyo Harvest Festival in Roppongi images

Join the Tokyo Harvest Festival in Roppongi

We have traditional customs to thank for a successful harvest on the autumn. As harvest of each year becomes important stock for the country to survive, it is said the customs started about 1,500 year ago. November 23 is designated as a national holiday called “Labor Thanksgiving Day". Autumn is th…(295 words)

Eddie image

Eddie

Roppongi Hills Event Food English Roppongi Tokyo Autumn Stay
Stay at Your Home Sweet Away From Home images

Stay at Your Home Sweet Away From Home

I recently required a place to stay at to finish up some work-related projects, but I dreaded the distractions from working at home. I needed somewhere that was enough like home but far enough away from it where I could seriously knuckle down, concentrate, and get things done. I thought about becom…(506 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Stay Roppongi Hotel Luxury Tokyo Dining Visit Convenience store
How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately.... images

How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately....

Well, you may be a bit disappointed. But these days, more and more family stay away from home for the New Year's days. As you may know, New Year's Days is much more important than Christmas (or Hanuka or whatever you call "happy holiday") holiday season. Everybody takes at least these three-day …(397 words)

KIH image

KIH

New year Hotel Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Soba noodles Stay
Backpack Essentials for Better Sightseeing Throughout Japan images

Backpack Essentials for Better Sightseeing Throughout Japan

There are countless sights to see when you visit Japan, which means you'll probably want to fit as much as possible into your itinerary while you're here. Packing efficiently will help you cross as many off your list as possible.Based on my own experiences, these are the 10 essentials I would r…(625 words)

Petra image

Petra

Tourism Transportation Packing health Subway Stay Camera Public Bath
Popular ski resorts in Japan images

Popular ski resorts in Japan

The “ski-hotels.jp” provides information about the popular ski resorts in Japan such as Niseko , Sapporo , Hakuba , Yuzawa , Zao and Nozawa Onsen , and recommended accommodation of the area.You can compare the price of accommodations listed in more than 30 online room-booking websites and find th…(76 words)

OH image

OH

Skiing Onsen Stay Sapporo Niseko Hakuba Snow
8 Hotel: A cute, convenient place to stay at in Fujisawa images

8 Hotel: A cute, convenient place to stay at in Fujisawa

If ever you need to stay in-or-around the Fujisawa area (think Enoshima, Kamakura, Odawara), then 8 Hotel could be just the place for you. 8 Hotel is a no-frills boutique budget hotel, perfect for a one-night stay for single travelers or couples who don't mind sharing close quarters.Located jus…(217 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Hotel Stay Fujisawa English Walk Kamakura Cafe Enoshima Island Bicycle Restaurant
A mind for the other images

A mind for the other

As Japan becomes more like any other country, it's not so easy to see clear evidence of "a mind for the other" in everyday life, but it does still influence the way people behave. This "mind for the other" stuff isn't sappy altruism; it's the legacy of a pragmatic approach to getting things done, s…(233 words)

Adam F image

Adam F

Japan Survival mindset Stay Japanese Work Disaster sustainability
Easy and Affordable Ways to Beat Tsuyu (the Rainy Season) images

Easy and Affordable Ways to Beat Tsuyu (the Rainy Season)

Tsuyu, the rainy season, is arguably one of Japan's lesser liked features. From late May to the end of July, people across Japan are treated to all manner of wet, from occasional sprinkles to intensive downpours. Add in the heat and humidity, and you can imagine how uncomfortable tsuyu can be.T…(253 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Tsuyu Convenience store Rainy Season Shopping Gatsby Japan Stay Yen love
Taking the Benefits of Onsen Home images

Taking the Benefits of Onsen Home

I’m a sucker for a good gift shop. Before most every trip, one of the first things I’m researching online is what the best local souvenirs are to take home from a destination. When it comes to Kusatsu Onsen, one of the best ways to remember the experience is to take home some of the unique skincare…(409 words)

Petra image

Petra

Shop Kusatsu Onsen spa Onsen Hotel Trip Yen Stay used Bath
Tips for Staying in a Japanese Hotel images

Tips for Staying in a Japanese Hotel

To properly enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, you really should make it an overnight trip. Staying for two or three days allows you the chance to fully explore the town and enjoy the benefits of the hot springs. Believe me, you’ll leave feeling like a new person.When booking your accommodations, there are t…(337 words)

Petra image

Petra

Hotel Japanese Japanese inn Trip Art Onsen Traditional Stay Shoes activities
Kamikoya Washi Studio and Boutique Accommodation images

Kamikoya Washi Studio and Boutique Accommodation

Rogier is originally from The Netherlands and arrived in Japan in 1980 when he decided to journey to Japan to explore and discover the roots of paper making. After 40 years of living and dedicating his adult life to the art of washi making he has become the notable foreign master in this field.Ro…(125 words)

JudithMikami image

JudithMikami

Japan Art Mountain Stay workshop find Kochi
Stay Healthy on your Travels in Sendai(2/2) images

Stay Healthy on your Travels in Sendai(2/2)

While traditional camping is always a refreshing experience to provide a contrast to our daily lives, the possibility of having all the needed gear while on a vacation is quite low. "Glamping" at Sendai Royal Pearl Hotel makes camping possible on vacation, but also adds a "glamorous" side to it, gi…(482 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Sendai City Nature Stay Japan Park Summer Hotel Winter Traditional