Living in Japan

LIVING IN JAPAN

The Zairyu Card App: An Invasion of Privacy

A government app designed to spot residency card forgeries puts the foreign community of Japan on edge, increasing feelings of alienation.

LIVING IN JAPAN

Tochigi Forest Fires Show No Sign of Stopping

Forest fires in Tochigi show no sign of slowing down - and evacuation of residents has been hampered by COVID-19 complications.

LIVING IN JAPAN

10 Cultural Differences in Japan That Surprise Foreigners

We asked our readers about the surprising cultural differences in Japan they experienced while living there. Here's what YOU had to say!

LIVING IN JAPAN

Pandemic Translates to Low Turnout at Shibuya Halloween 2020

Is Shibuya's (in)famous Halloween party dead? A subdued 2020 event due to the pandemic leads some to speculate on its future.

LIVING IN JAPAN

Halloween in Japan: From Kid’s Marketing to Shibuya Chaos

How did Halloween in Japan go from being a holiday for foreigners to an annual event that draws out millions across the…

LIVING IN JAPAN

Residents Upset as Charmless Japanese Prefecture Now Less Charmless

For the first time in eight years, this prefecture is no longer the least charming in Japan - and that has some…

LIVING IN JAPAN

New Harajuku Station Leaves People Pining for Its Predecessor

Many people aren't happy with the new Harajuku Station building. But why? For many, it seems, it was more than a mere…

LIVING IN JAPAN

Kyoto Cracks Down on Barkers in Tourist Trap Districts

A revised law aims to eliminate harassment of locals and tourists from Kyoto's top tourist areas. But will it work?