Want to get better at Japanese? Reading is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. It’s especially important to read a lot when you’re learning a language with a different writing system, like Japanese. Hiragana, katakana and kanji can be overwhelming at first. But with enough reading practice, reading these characters will … Read more
Japanese culture has a few staple greeting phrases used when leaving and returning home. These are a fundamental part of every Japanese person’s day. If you’ve ever watched any Japanese slice-of-life drama, movie or anime, you are very likely to have heard these greetings! These phrases are essential to learn if you want to immerse … Read more
Halloween is getting more and more popular in Japan every year. From pumpkin-flavoured snacks to huge costume parties in Tokyo, the spooky season is becoming a big event! If you’re learning Japanese, it’s a great chance to pick up some fun seasonal words. In this post, we’ll go over how to say ‘Happy Halloween’ in … Read more
Do they celebrate Halloween in Japan? The answer is yes – but not in the way you might expect! Halloween is still a fairly new holiday in Japan. It’s generally seen as a party night for young adults. You won’t see children going door to door for sweets. But you will find huge street parties, … Read more
When traveling to Japan, there are so many types of accommodation to choose from: from both modern hotels and traditional Japanese ryokan, to tiny capsule hotels and AirBnBs. Another underrated possibility is a home stay! This is an arrangement where you rent a room in someone’s home, often sharing common areas. Home stays are a … Read more
October in Japan is crisp, colourful and busy! Beautiful red and yellow autumn leaves begin to appear on the trees, and hundreds of autumn shrine festivals take place across the country. It’s one of the most comfortable months for travel weather-wise, and one of the best times to experience seasonal traditions. Whether you are visiting … Read more
In our previous post, we discussed the customs and habits to know when visiting a Japanese home, from taking off your shoes to bringing a small gift. Now we will learn what to actually say during your visit! Like the customs mentioned before, it is not that these phrases are necessary in order to make … Read more
Being invited into someone’s home is a lovely way to experience Japanese culture firsthand, beyond the tourist attractions! Japan is a country of strong, long-standing traditions and customs. This is of course true not only out in public spaces, but also in one’s home. It is not that there are strict rules per se, but … Read more
September in Japan sits between summer and autumn. The heat starts to ease off (although much of the country is still hot and humid!) and children are back at school. There is a sense of a change in season, although it’s not yet fully autumn. September traditions focus on reflection, harvest and respect. One of … Read more