Living arrangements can be a puzzle, especially in a country as vibrant and dynamic as Japan where apartments can be small for one person, let alone two or three.   One option that’s gaining popularity is room sharing with friends. Whether it’s because of the opportunity to save money, or simply to spend more time with friends, there are many pros to living with room mates.   At the best of …

Cockroaches. The mere mention of these resilient insects is enough to send shivers down the spines of many homeowners.   In a country like Japan, where the hot and humid climate provides the perfect breeding ground for these pests, without proper care and foresight cockroaches can quickly become an unwelcome guest in your home.   But fear not! With some proactive measures and a bit of know-how, you can keep these …

Convenience stores, or konbiniensu sutoa in Japanese are ubiquitous in the country as trees are in a forest. Though there are no definitive records as to when the first convenience store popped up, many point to the year 1974, which is when the first 7-Eleven opened in Japan.   As of 2021, there were over 56,000 convenience stores operating in Japan, and they make up an integral part of the …

Paid Leave in Japan  The paid leave system in Japan is known as yukyu and according to jobsinjapan.com, the amount of paid leave granted to an employee is dependent on a) employment status (full-time, part-time, contract worker) and b) the number of years working at the company.  In general, after an initial probation period of 6 months at the company, a full-time employee is awarded 10 days of paid …