Daily Life
Our New Kei Truck Has Arrived
Life with a Kei Truck My husband and I spend from May through October living between two homes, maintaining his family house in Hokkaido during that stretch. It's out in the Niseko area — genuinely deep in the mountains. In a place like that, there's one thing you absolutely cannot live without: a vehicle. And […]
What Japanese Expats Miss Most — Plastic Wrap
Does Your Country Have Plastic Wrap Too? Plastic wrap exists in plenty of countries around the world — it's a pretty universal kitchen item. But here's something that might surprise you: plastic wrap is actually one of the things Japanese people living abroad end up missing the most. There are many types of plastic wrap […]
Bath-Cleaning Slippers — A Uniquely Japanese Household Item
Why the Japanese Take Their Shoes Off Indoors If you've ever visited a Japanese home, you'll know the first thing you do is take your shoes off at the entrance. This custom goes back a long way, and there are actually a few reasons behind it: Slippers Actually Originated in Japan Out of this shoes-off […]
Mosquito Protection in Japan — Old Traditions and Modern Must-Haves
Summer in Japan means one thing you can always count on: mosquitoes. Over the years, Japan has developed its own particular culture around keeping them at bay — some of it charmingly old-fashioned, some of it seriously effective modern science. Let me walk you through both. １．Traditional Mosquito Repellents １－１．The Ceramic Pig — Kayari-buta (蚊やり豚) […]
Annual Vehicle Tax (自動車税) in Japan
This is a tax you pay every year, and it's one of the biggest financial advantages of kei cars. While regular cars are taxed based on engine displacement — ranging from ¥25,000 to ¥110,000 per year — kei cars have a flat rate. Here are the rates as of 2026: Kei cars Type Standard rate […]
Kei Cars — Japan's Beloved Mini Vehicles
Have you heard of kei cars (軽自動車 / keijidōsha)? They've been getting some attention overseas lately, and I think they deserve it. Let me give you a proper introduction to what they are, who drives them, and why they make so much sense in Japan. What Exactly Is a Kei Car? To officially qualify as […]
Comparing Four Areas I Know Well (as of 2026)
Here's a side-by-side look at the rules in four places that are personally significant to me. Setagaya, Tokyo1 Categories: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, recyclables, PET bottles, large/bulky waste Burnable: food waste, cooking oil, clothing, rubber/leather, hygiene products, paper, plastics Non-burnable: glass, ceramics, blades, spray cans, gas canisters, lighters Recyclables: used paper, glass bottles, cans Pickup […]
Garbage Sorting in Japan — It's Even More Complicated Than You Think
Today I want to talk about something that trips up almost everyone living in Japan: garbage sorting (ゴミの分別 / gomi no bunbetsu). It's often said that Japan's waste separation rules are incredibly detailed — and I know other countries have their own strict systems too. But let me walk you through what it actually looks […]
We Live in Two Places — Life Between Hokkaido and Kanagawa
We Live in Two Places — Life Between Hokkaido and Kanagawa My husband and I split our time between two homes: one in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and one in Hokkaido. From spring through autumn, we go back and forth between these two very different worlds. It's a lifestyle called dual-base living (二拠点生活 / nikkyoten seikatsu) in […]