Avoiding “Burn-Out” in Japan by Setting Achievable Goals

I hope you all had an enjoyable and safe New Year!  As per usual for this time of year, I had a lot of conversations with friends and acquaintances regarding resolutions and goals. The resolutions I heard ranged from “eat... More

2020 Important Events in Japan and the Japanese Real Estate Industry

The Tokyo Olympics are not the only big event that will take place this year in Japan. In this post we summarize the key events and dates that will affect the country, the Japanese real estate industry and life in... More

Japan New Year Holiday Schedule 2019-2020: When will shops, banks, and post offices be closed?

In Japan, the end-of-the-year and beginning-of-the-year holidays are combined into one long holiday, called nenmatsu-nenshi oyasumi (年末年始お休み).  Businesses, government offices, banks, and the post office will all be closed for a stretch of about nine days at the end of 2019 and... More

Living in Japan

What will 2020 bring for you? Here’s what Japanese people think about their prospects and how they plan to spend their money

The new year is just around the corner, and it seems that a large proportion of Japanese consumers are not sanguine about the prospects for the world economy or their own households in 2020. This is according to a survey... More

Japanese Bank Schedules for Year End Holidays 2019

If you’re going to be in Japan over the new year holiday (年末年始) you might want to keep in mind your bank’s operating hours. Although cashless payment options are growing in popularity, those who rely on cold-hard cash will need... More

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Japanese Christmas

First off: I’m not implying that Japanese Christmas is inferior to other Christmases.  All I’m saying is that it took me some time to understand its nuances and embrace it for what it is – and for what it isn’t.... More

6 Uniquely Japanese Christmas Customs

Christmas as it exists in Japan is just ever so slightly different from what you might be familiar with in your home country. The traditions here have evolved separately from western versions of Christmas, creating a one-of-a-kind celebration that might... More