How to Buy Tokyo 2020 Olympic Tickets: Ticket Lottery Starts on May 9th
Residents of Japan will be able to enter the lottery application process for buying Tokyo 2020 Olympic tickets on the Tokyo 2020 Official Ticket website at 10AM on May 9th. Overseas residents aren’t eligible to buy tickets from the official... More
April 27th Update: Services that Will be Open and Business Hours for the long Golden Week in Japan
The long Golden Week of 2019 starts today! Below we provide an update on some of the essential services that will be open during the 10-day holiday, from ATM hours to trash and mail service to English-friendly hospitals and clinics.... More
Living and Working in Japan
Looking for a job in Japan? The rules are about to change, as big Japanese companies agree to shift to year-round recruiting
The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the alliance representing big business in Japan, has reached an agreement with the country’s universities to expand recruitment of new university graduates to a year-round hiring system. This agreement marks a major shift from the... More
Shibuya Scramble Square – 230-Meter High Skyscraper With Open-Air Observation Deck to Open in November 2019
Tokyu Corporation has announced that “Shibuya Scramble Square” a 230-meter high mixed-use skyscraper located directly above Shibuya Station, with indoor and outdoor observation decks, will open for business in November. The opening of what will be the tallest building in... More
Getting connected
Can I Use My Cell Phone in Japan? Here’s how to get local phone service and data with JP Smart Call
Having a local phone number is indispensable to setting up your life in Japan. This is because it’s almost impossible to look for a job or apply for an apartment in Japan without one. Landlords and real estate agents in... More
How good is your Japanese? Japan to Set Up New Standardized Index to Measure Foreigners’ Japanese Language Proficiency
The Cultural Affairs Agency, a special body of Japan’s Ministry of Education, has announced that it plans to establish a new standardized index to evaluate non-native speakers’ level of Japanese language proficiency. This is in line with the recent revision... More
Specified Skills Visa to Start on April 1st: How Ready (Or Not) is Japan to Receive New Foreign Workers?
On April 1st, Japan will make a sea change to its immigration policy by officially opening the doors to significant numbers of lower-skilled workers through two new residency visa statuses. Over the next five years, two Specified Skills Visas will... More