Life in Japan

The Akiya Dream: Life Beyond the Front Door - Metropolis Japan

The Akiya Dream: Life Beyond the Front Door

Can foreign akiya (vacant home) owners become neighbors, not just visitors?

The Agri-Girls Project - Metropolis Japan

The Agri-Girls Project

Can Aesthetic Farming Fix Japan's Labor Shortage?

English-Friendly Aesthetic Clinics in Tokyo - Metropolis Japan

English-Friendly Aesthetic Clinics in Tokyo

Where to get Botox, fillers, HIFU and skin boosters in Tokyo, with doctors who consult in English

Where To Pick Autumn Fruit in Japan - Metropolis Japan

Where To Pick Autumn Fruit in Japan

Japan’s orchards open to visitors each autumn for fruit picking

Tokyo Weather in October: What to Do, Wear & What’s Happening - Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Weather in October: What to Do, Wear & What’s Happening

Temperatures, rainfall, daily outfits and the seasonal events worth planning around this month

Japan’s Wild Mushrooms - Metropolis Japan

Japan’s Wild Mushrooms

When autumn settles over Japan's mountains, wild mushrooms emerge in abundance across the forests

Japan Drugstore Guide: Best Cough Medicine in Japan - Metropolis Japan

Japan Drugstore Guide: Best Cough Medicine in Japan

The best over-the-counter cough medicines at Japanese drugstores—and when it’s time to see a doctor

Out of the Bubble: Overcoming the International School Bubble in Japan - Metropolis Japan

Out of the Bubble: Overcoming the International School Bubble in Japan

Finding an identity in international schools

Free Support for Foreign Residents in Tokyo: Meet the Help Desk Solving Your Biggest Headaches - Metropolis Japan

Free Support for Foreign Residents in Tokyo: Meet the Help Desk Solving Your Biggest Headaches

A government-run service that helps international residents with everything from bank accounts to daycare

English-Speaking Nail Salons in Tokyo - Metropolis Japan

English-Speaking Nail Salons in Tokyo

Where to get gel nails, detailed nail art and manicures in Tokyo with English-speaking service

Tokyo Weather in September: What to Do, Wear & What’s Happening - Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Weather in September: What to Do, Wear & What’s Happening

A month-by-month look at temperatures, rainfall, daily outfits, and the events worth planning around

A Guide to Solo Hiking in Japan - Metropolis Japan

A Guide to Solo Hiking in Japan

Three hiking regions to join Japan’s hiking community

How to Use a Sento or Onsen in Japan - Metropolis Japan

How to Use a Sento or Onsen in Japan

A beginner's guide to Japanese bathhouses

The World’s First: Japan’s Viral Cold-Water Instant Noodles - Metropolis Japan

The World’s First: Japan’s Viral Cold-Water Instant Noodles

Inside the Hiyashi cup noodle craze

Guide to HIV Testing, Prevention and Free Clinics in Tokyo and Yokohama - Metropolis Japan

Guide to HIV Testing, Prevention and Free Clinics in Tokyo and Yokohama

What to know about the virus, warning signs, prevention, PrEP and PEP, and where to get tested for free in Japan—a complete guide for international residents and visitors

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000 - Metropolis Japan

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000

More about the process, eligibility rules, and paperwork

Tokyo Bear Hunting Ban Could End for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years - Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Bear Hunting Ban Could End for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years

As bear sightings hit a national record, the capital is reconsidering a policy it hasn't touched since 2008

How to Wear and Style a Summer Yukata  - Metropolis Japan

How to Wear and Style a Summer Yukata 

Your guide to styling Japan’s most iconic seasonal garment

What To Do In An Earthquake In Japan? - Metropolis Japan

What To Do In An Earthquake In Japan?

Tsunami and earthquake preparedness, evacuation tips and access guides

Tokyo Summer Festivals & Fireworks Guide 2026 - Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Summer Festivals & Fireworks Guide 2026

Here's the complete guide to Tokyo's summer festivals and fireworks in 2026.

Tokyo Disneyland Ticket Price Increase: What’s Changing This October - Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Disneyland Ticket Price Increase: What’s Changing This October

Peak-day admission will increase to a record ¥12,400 and ending the last free Fast Pass

What Is Reibobyo? Japan’s Air-Conditioning Sickness, Explained - Metropolis Japan

What Is Reibobyo? Japan’s Air-Conditioning Sickness, Explained

That fatigue from stepping out of Tokyo's summer heat into a blast of office AC has a name, it's not just in your head

Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan - Metropolis Japan

Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan

Best Japanese insect repellents recommended by pharmacists in Japan

Beating the Heat: A Practical Guide to Heatstroke in Japan - Metropolis Japan

Beating the Heat: A Practical Guide to Heatstroke in Japan

What the record numbers say, how to spot heatstroke early, and what to buy to stay safe