Your Guide to Life in Japan
Practical advice with a touch of humor for foreigners navigating daily life, culture, and paperwork in Japan.
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Three practical reads to get oriented quickly
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A curated set of frequently referenced guides
Blue Tickets for Bicycles: Japan's New Fine System from April 2026 (Basic Guide)
Comprehensive guide to Japan's "Blue Ticket" system for bicycles starting April 2026. Learn about 113 types of violations, fine amounts, sidewalk riding exceptions, and important points for foreign residents.
How to Report a Stolen Bicycle in Japan: Real Experience at a Koban
Step-by-step guide to filing a bicycle theft report at a Japanese police box (koban). Based on real experience: what documents you need, what happens if the koban is empty, and how to file even without your registration card.
Essential Hot Spring Items for First-Timers | 3 Must-Have Items - Face Towel is All You Need
Essential hot spring items carefully selected for beginners. Learn why a single face towel is sufficient and discover the 3 minimal items you truly need, explained through actual experience.
Hay Fever Survival Guide for Foreigners in Japan โ Remedies, Medicine & Hospitals
A practical hay fever survival guide for foreigners in Japan. Prioritized countermeasures, OTC vs. prescription medicine, how to visit a hospital, and a pre-season checklist.
Latest Articles
The newest practical guides published on OhashiJozu
No Purchase Receipt? How to Dispose of Major Appliances in Japan When the Store Is Unknown or Closed
Routes for secondhand appliances, gifts, and leftover items from previous tenants: municipality pages, cooperative stores, self haul, and collection transport.
How to Dispose of TVs, Fridges, Washers & AC Units in Japan (Appliance Recycling Law Guide)
A practical hub guide for foreign residents: why Japan's four major appliances are not sodai gomi, the two fee types, and which route fits your situation.
Post Office Appliance Recycling Tickets in Japan: What to Bring and How to Fill Them Out
Step-by-step guide to paying for a home appliance recycling ticket at Japan Post or Yucho Bank, what information you need, and what to do before drop-off.
What Does โDopagakiโ Mean? Japanese Slang, Music, and Dopamine Culture
Learn what the Japanese slang โdopagakiโ means, why it appears in music and meme discussions, and why Japanese learners should understand it carefully.
Recently Updated
Guides refreshed with the latest information
Japan's Employment-for-Skill-Development Program: How It Differs from Technical Intern Training (2027)
The Employment-for-Skill-Development Program (่ฒๆๅฐฑๅด) starts April 1, 2027โnot in 2026. Compare it with Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker No. 1, with timelines and transitional rules from official ISA sources.
Medical Costs in Japan for Tourists: Insurance, Payment, and Unpaid Bill Risks
A practical guide for short-term visitors: hospital flow, travel insurance checks, and what happens if unpaid medical debt is reported to immigration after April 2026.
Foreign License Conversion in Japan: What Changed in October 2025
A practical guide to converting your foreign driver's license in Japan after the October 2025 reformsโdocuments, tests, exemptions by country, and who cannot apply.
Japan's Foreign Residents Hit 4 Million: Who Lives Here and What It Means
ISA statistics show Japan exceeded 4 million foreign residents for the first time at the end of 2025. Nationality, visa status, regional spread, and everyday life impacts explained.
Why "OhashiJozu"?
If you've lived in Japan as a foreigner, you've probably heard "Ohashi jozu desu ne!" (Your chopstick skills are good!) or "Nihongo jozu desu ne!" (Your Japanese is good!) - even when you've only said "Konnichiwa."
Our name is a playful nod to this common experienceโacknowledging the small cultural misunderstandings that make life as a foreigner in Japan both challenging and charming.
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