What is the average annual salary bonus in Japan?
Bonuses are an important component of total compensation for most workers in Japan. When you move to Japan for a job, it’s important to understand how bonuses can affect your total annual salary so you can plan out your life... More
Living in Tokyo
What is the average salary in Tokyo?
In this article, we give an overview of the average salary in Tokyo. What is the average salary in Tokyo? The average annual salary in Tokyo for a full-time employee is ¥5,507,040 ($50,655). This works out to a monthly average of... More
Letter to Myself when I Moved to Japan Five Years Ago
Five years sounds like a long time, but it doesn’t feel like it. I’m not sure if I (you?) ever imagined myself (yourself?) staying in Japan for this long. It’s a little hard to remember the exact mix of emotions... More
Stores in Japan to be Required to Charge for Plastic Shopping Bags Starting July 2020
Starting on July 1, 2020, all retailers in Japan, including supermarkets and convenience stores will be required to charge for plastic shopping bags. A joint panel of Japan’s industry and environment ministries approved a draft plan on November 1st to require... More
10 Incredible Views from Shibuya Scramble Square: Opening Day Photo Tour
Today (November 1, 2019) marks the grand opening of the Shibuya Scramble Square building. The building packs a dizzying array of shops and restaurants, but the pièce de résistance is the awe-inspiring unobstructed view over Tokyo from the rooftop. Observation... More
Tiny House Festival 2019 to be Held at Minami Ikebukuro Park
An exhibition and talk on tiny houses will be held at Minami Ikebukuro Park in Toshima Ward, Tokyo from Saturday, November 2nd to Monday, November 4th as one of the pre-events for the Tokyo Biennial 2020. Tiny houses, sometimes built... More
Highly-Skilled Foreign Professional Visa for Japan: How and Why to Apply
The Highly-Skilled Foreign Professional visa is a working visa designed to attract highly-skilled professionals (scientists, engineers, lawyers, and business executives, among others) to come work in Japan by giving them preferential visa processing and residency benefits. In the past few... More