What is the actual total cost of signing a 2-year mobile phone contract in Japan? Gov’t to require carriers to tell you upfront
From October this year, Japan’s major mobile phone carriers will be required to inform consumers upfront of the total cost of signing a two-year mobile phone contract in a move to increase price competition and make it easier for people... More
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Area Guides
Live closer to nature and pay lower rent, while still being within commuting distance of central Tokyo. An excellent neighborhood for international students studying at Tokyo Gakugei University, Chuo University Tama Campus, and Meiji University.
Harajuku Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreginers
Harajuku in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo is made up of bustling world famous fashion centers wrapped inside quiet, cozy residential areas. The neighborhood’s vibe differs drastically depending on whether you live there or whether you see it as a destination. Main... More
Sakai Osaka Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners
Sakai's proximity to Osaka but relatively inexpensive real estate makes it ideal for families looking for more space or for those looking for somewhere peaceful that’s not too far from the beaten track.
Shibuya Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners
Shibuya is everything to everyone. Every little neighborhood around the station has its own vibe. It runs the gamut from low cost single-room micro-apartments to massive, luxurious seven-bedroom manors. Street food to Michelin-starred gourmet dining. Back alley smoking areas to young, fashionable vape cafes. Mass market department stores to one-of-a-kind designer boutiques. It’s every aspect of Tokyo life distilled into one location.
Guides to Tokyo Residential Neighborhoods
Tokyo area guides to residential neighborhoods popular with foreigners.
Azabu Juban Area Guide
Home to numerous embassies, excellent public and international schools, quiet narrow streets, expat-dense, international influences vie with Edo-period appeal. Popular with expats and cosmopolitan Japanese alike, this family-friendly suburb boasts top-class amenities.
Jiyugaoka Area Guide
Jiyugaoka is a neighborhood and train station on the southern edge of Meguro Ward. With its leafy tree-lined streets, fashionable boutiques, and many small restaurants and cafes, it is known as Tokyo’s Little Europe and is synonymous with “calm and sophisticated.”... More
Hongō Area Guide
Hongō is a neighborhood located in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, west of Ueno Park and north of the Imperial Palace, that is synonymous with Japan’s top institution of higher learning, Tokyo University. It is also home to Juntendo and Toyo Gakuen... More
Chitose Area Guide
Chitose City, with a population of about 96,500, is located about 45-km southeast of Sapporo. Its main claim to fame is its proximity to New Chitose Airport, the main airport serving Hokkaido, but it is also known for being surrounded... More
Ōokayama Station Area: Tokyo Neighborhood Guide
Ōokayama (大岡山) Station in Ota Ward, Tokyo is a relaxed and student-friendly neighborhood. Near the station is the area's most famous landmark, The Tokyo Institute of Technology. Not to be confused with Okayama Station in Okayama Prefecture.
Kyobashi Area Guide
Kyobashi is as central as you can get in Osaka. It has the distinction of being one of the city's largest business districts while being close to many tourist attractions, most notably Osaka Castle Park. It is known for its shopping and nightlife, especially its numerous izakayas and tachinomi, or standing bars.
Kyobashi Area Guide
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo and one of the largest in the world with a population of more than 19 million. It is located in the southern portion of Honshu, Japan’s main island, on... More
Living in Roppongi
Famous for its iconic nightlife scene and more recently the upmarket Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown mega-complexes. Home to many foreigners living in a microcosm of Tokyo's many urban delights.
Living in Nagoya
Nagoya is situated about midway between Tokyo and Osaka. Many foreigners who have lived in both Tokyo and Nagoya will tell you that Nagoya offers everything Tokyo does, only on a much more liveable, convenient, and affordable scale.
Living in Kichijoji
A youthful and creative neighborhood situated in Musashino City, just west of Tokyo. Close enough to the central wards to be convenient but far enough away to have a relaxed and bohemian atmosphere. Its diverse and vibrant shopping center is surrounded by peaceful residential areas and home to the famed Inokashira Park.
Living in Meguro
A residential area that’s as well connected and convenient as anywhere in the world’s largest city can be. But distinctly calmer, quieter and far more liveable than many other parts of Tokyo.
REJ Room Finder
Finding the perfect apartment in Japan can be stressful. Let the REJ Room Finder do the work for you!
REJ Room Finder
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Living
From October this year, Japan’s major mobile phone carriers will be required to inform consumers upfront of the total cost of signing a two-year mobile phone contract in a move to increase price competition and make it easier for people... More
Living
You deserve this…You need this…It’s time to get away from the madding crowds of Tokyo. Cue music… “Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama Key Largo Montego, baby why don’t we go Ooh... More
Living
When apartment hunting in Japan, many people consider proximity to the nearest station to be a make-it or break-it factor. This is with good reason. If you spend anywhere from 30-minutes to an hour or more riding the train to... More
Living
What is considered a spacious home in Japan? For the country as a whole, on average, each person in Japan has about 22.3-square meters (240-sqft) of living space. In the Tokyo 23 Wards, this number is a bit lower at... More
Living
[UPDATE] The JMA has lifted all tsunami warnings as of 1:02AM June 19th (JST). Original post is below. ======================= The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued tsunami advisories for the coastal regions of Yamagata prefecture, Niigata prefecture, and the Noto area... More
Living
In response to the growing number of foreign children living in Japan who are not enrolled in compulsory education and who cannot speak Japanese, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has recently released a report outlining how... More
Living
TATERU, the construction and property management company listed on the first board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is to be issued an order to cease operations by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, in connection with TATERU’s falsifying... More
Living
By Jeff Wynkoop Mortgage rates in Japan are historically low, and a majority of borrowers don’t think interest rates are going to go up any time soon. In its April 2019 meeting, the Bank of Japan was clear in announcing... More
Living
In order to make it easier for consumers to switch mobile phone contracts and increase competition among mobile carriers, the Japanese government will require the country’s three major carriers to cap the penalty fee for mid-term cancellation of 2-year contracts... More
Evacuation Advisory
The Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA) has issued a Level 4 evacuation advisory for parts of Hiroshima Prefecture due to extremely heavy rain that may lead to landslides and overflowing rivers. A Level 4 advisory is the second highest level on the... More