Experience
Superstitions…. A few months after my colleagues and I had settled into our new office, a fashionable residence to the north of Shibuya, I stretched back in my chair and sighed contentedly. “I love the feel of this place!” I said absent-mindedly. Two colleagues – both Japanese – froze and looked at each other. “Really?”…
Eating & Drinking
Ah, the humble izakaya, a foundational element of Japanese social life. A place to drink, eat, catch up with friends, and make new ones. It’s a place where low-key dinners can quickly and seamlessly transform into a night of wild debauchery. It’s also one of my favorite things about Japan.
Experience
Perhaps one of the most unusual jobs I have is that I work in the Japanese idol industry. Westerners don’t really know about idols, but I completely fell down the “idol rabbit hole.” It’s not your… usual form of escapism, but then again, nothing in Tokyo is, is it?
Eating & Drinking
Among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, Tokyo is often mentioned as one of the most crypto-friendly cities in the world. Recently, it has especially become known for Bitcoin Cash (BCH) adoption, which is a cryptocurrency that has the characteristics of the original Bitcoin (BTC), as intended by the mysterious creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin Cash is meant to be…
Experience
As someone who was surrounded by some of the most dangerous predators growing up down-under, facing disaster-prone Japan should be a sinch, no? After all, years of residing in this catastrophe infested wonderland have provided me with many luxuries. These include living through the geological shakes, rattles and rolls that rival any of Nihon’s premium…
Traveling
Japan is the pinnacle of convenience and there’s no better symbol of this than the venerable Japanese vending machine. From the mundane to the magnificent, Japan offers something for nearly everyone with just a couple coins and the push of a button. If you’re looking for a truly Japanese experience, we’ve got 13 vending machines…
Shopping
I never knew I wanted a tiny sniper guy pointing at me sneakily from inside a candy wrapper. But when I saw it pop out of the gacha capsule, I swear Akihabara echoed with my laughter! See, I caught toy fever in Tokyo, thanks to Tokyo Survival Channel who challenged me to buy a 100…
Traveling
By now I’m sure you’re well acquainted with the vast number of Area 51 memes that have flooded every corner of the internet. What started as a jesting call to arms by one guy rallying a bunch of neckbeards to storm area 51 has grown into a massive cultural phenomenon, albeit for a blip in…
Shopping
Spending the day in cosplay at ACOSTA in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district can be fun and exciting, but also expensive. Follow us as we show you how to cosplay on the cheap in Tokyo! The Do’s and Don’ts of Cosplaying in Tokyo Cosplaying in Japan has its own set of rules and etiquette. Not following these…
Experience
Tokyo is well-known for being one of the world’s safest cities – if not the safest. Violent crime and thefts are exceptionally low. People leave their brand new MacBooks on the tables in Starbucks to reserve their seats. An efficient transport system, clean facilities and a genuine willingness among locals to help out with directions…
Traveling
You’ve always wanted to visit Japan, but hemmed and hawed over booking your trip after hearing stories of how expensive it can be — well, whoa whoa whoa, pump the brakes on that line of thinking. Long gone are the bubble days of the ’90s where the yen reigned supreme. Japan is more accessible than…
Experience
Tattoos — still a controversial topic in Japan? It’s a country known around the world for unequaled hospitality, with the exception of the inked. And while Japan continues to increasingly open itself to international tourists and Western culture, it can still be difficult to navigate the world of being tattooed. There’s plenty of information already…
Eating & Drinking
Is Japan one of the most expensive countries to live in? While it occasionally appears on top 10 lists, your wallet could be doing a lot worse in other parts of the world — that still doesn’t mean Japan’s not expensive. One of the biggest complaints foreigners have when moving to Japan is the cost…