Cultures

The Japanese convenience store is genuinely one of the best things about living in Japan. It’s not just snacks and drinks — it’s a full-service hub where you can pay bills, withdraw cash, print documents, eat a surprisingly good meal, and mail packages. Here’s everything it can do for you. The Big Three Chains Chain Stores in Japan Notes 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン) ~21,000 Largest network, best ATM for foreigners Lawson (ローソン) ~14,500 Great fried chicken (karaage-kun), strong snack game FamilyMart (ファミリーマート) ~16,500 Best hot food selection, popular famiチキ chicken There are also regional chains: Sunkus, Ministop, Daily Yamazaki — same concept, slightly different products. ...

Drinking in Japan isn’t just about alcohol — it’s how colleagues become friends and walls come down. Misread the room and you’ll stand out for the wrong reasons. This guide explains the unwritten rules so you can enjoy nomikai without the awkwardness. The Izakaya: Japan’s Social Drinking Headquarters An izakaya (居酒屋) is a Japanese pub-restaurant — the most common setting for social drinking. Unlike a Western pub, an izakaya serves a wide variety of food alongside drinks. You typically order both throughout the evening, and the atmosphere is relaxed and noisy. ...

Nobody expects you to be perfect — but a few missteps can leave a lasting impression you didn’t intend. Japanese etiquette isn’t complicated once you know the logic behind it. Here are the rules that actually matter in daily life. Public Spaces On Trains and Subways Silence your phone — calls on trains are considered rude Don’t eat on local trains — shinkansen and long-distance trains are fine Give up priority seats — marked seats near doors for elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers Don’t stand in doorways blocking exit Keep voices low — trains are generally quiet No strong perfume or food smells — considerate of others in enclosed spaces On Escalators In Tokyo: stand on the left, walk on the right In Osaka: the opposite — stand on the right, walk on the left Never block the walking side Shoes Off Remove shoes when entering: ...

Summer in Japan means festivals — and they’re unlike anything you’ve experienced elsewhere. But showing up unprepared means missing the best parts. This guide tells you what to wear, what to eat, and how to actually enjoy matsuri season. Major Annual Festivals by Season Spring (March–May) Cherry Blossom (花見, Hanami) March–April, timing varies by region Not a festival per se, but Japan’s biggest annual social event Gather in parks under blooming cherry trees with food, drinks, and friends Best parks: Ueno Park (Tokyo), Maruyama Park (Kyoto), Osaka Castle Park Sanja Matsuri (三社祭) ...

Stabbing your chopsticks upright in rice, pouring your own drink, leaving food on your plate — small habits that carry big meaning in Japan. Food is a social ritual here, and knowing the etiquette shows more respect than any Japanese phrase you’ll learn. Here’s what you need to know before your next meal. Before You Eat Itadakimasu (いただきます) Say this before every meal. It means roughly “I humbly receive” — an expression of gratitude for the food, the cook, and everything that went into the meal. ...

Quick Answer Which Japanese language school is right for you? If you’re coming to Japan specifically to study Japanese full-time → an accredited Japanese language school (¥700,000–1,200,000/year, student visa). If you’re already living and working in Japan and want to improve → NOVA or a private conversation school (no visa required, ¥8,000–15,000/month, 300+ locations). If you want flexible self-study + speaking practice → online tutors on italki (¥1,500–4,000/hour, no commitment). The biggest mistake: choosing a full-time school when you just need conversation practice. ...

Japan has a dense set of unwritten public behavior rules that nobody tells you about when you arrive. Breaking them won’t get you arrested, but it will earn you looks — and it matters if you want to actually fit in. Here’s what foreigners most often get wrong. On the Train The rules of Japanese train etiquette are semi-legendary, and for good reason — 40+ million people use Tokyo’s train system every day. The system only works because everyone follows the rules. ...

Your neighbors noticed everything on your first day. In Japan, how you behave in your building and on your street matters more than most foreigners realize. Get the basics right early and you’ll avoid complaints, tension, and awkward confrontations. The Greeting Visit (引越し挨拶, Hikkoshi Aisatsu) When you move into a new apartment, visiting your immediate neighbors to introduce yourself is standard practice. Who to Visit The apartments directly above, below, and on either side Sometimes the building manager (管理人) When to Go Within the first few days of moving in Avoid early morning or late evening — try mid-morning or late afternoon on a weekend What to Bring A small gift: ...

Japan transforms in the final days of December in a way you have to see to believe. Shops close, cities quiet down, and traditions that have lasted centuries play out on every street corner. Here’s your complete guide to experiencing Japanese New Year like a local. When Is Japanese New Year? Japan celebrates the new year on January 1st (not the lunar new year, unlike China or Korea). The holiday period effectively runs from December 29th to January 3rd, during which most businesses, government offices, and shops are closed. ...

New Year’s in Japan is nothing like New Year’s anywhere else. The streets go quiet, shrines fill up at midnight, and centuries-old traditions play out in ordinary neighborhoods. Here’s how to experience Oshogatsu the way it’s meant to be experienced. The New Year Timeline Date What’s Happening December 28–30 大掃除 (Osoji) — major home cleaning December 31 年越し (Toshikoshi) — New Year’s Eve; eat soba noodles January 1 元日 (Ganjitsu) — New Year’s Day; most important day January 1–3 初詣 (Hatsumode) — first shrine visit January 7 七草粥 (Nanakusa gayu) — rice porridge with 7 herbs January 11 鏡開き (Kagami-biraki) — break and eat the mochi offering Key Traditions 年越し蕎麦 (Toshikoshi Soba) — New Year’s Eve Noodles Long soba noodles eaten on December 31 before midnight. The length symbolizes a long life. Buy at any convenience store or restaurant — eating it while watching TV (Kōhaku Uta Gassen on NHK at 7pm) is the standard evening. ...