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Useful Daily Living Information
Information on everyday life for foreign residents in Tokyo
If you are not familiar with the local community rules and systems where you are living, you may become overwhelmed by unfamiliar menial tasks in your daily life. By knowing and understanding the ins and outs beforehand, you will be able to navigate daily life in Japan more effectively and comfortably.
Below, we have gathered and assortment of information related to daily life in Japan, in English, covering such topics as how to discard garbage, or how to pay the bills.
Mail Forwarding in Japan: Domestic and International Options
Whether you're moving to Japan, leaving Japan, or taking an extended vacation, you still need to make sure that you will have access to your mail. There are many considerations for expats living in Japan depending on the situation and length of time that you’ll be away from home. Below is essential…
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How to Use a Japanese Washing Machine
Japan’s future-tech society has created many solutions to keep a nation looking its best, but when you’re living in a foreign country sometimes even the simplest tasks like doing laundry can be difficult to understand. Have no fear, though — PLAZA HOMES is here to help you by walking you through th…
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How to find the right laundry detergent in Japan
Finding detergents for laundry in Japan can be quite the challenge, especially for those who are unable to read Japanese. Here is a great guide to shop laundry detergents in Japan. Main keywords you should know when buying laundry detergent in Japan 洗濯 Sentaku Laundry / Washing 粉末 Funmatsu (…
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Convenience Store Services in Japan
In one sense, convenience stores or "conbini", as they are known in Japan, are the same anywhere you go in the world. They sell inexpensive toiletries, prepared food items, and miscellaneous goods that you might need. But, Japanese conbini do not stop there. They offer a variety of unique services…
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Japanese Dry Cleaning and English-Speaking Dry Cleaning Services in Tokyo
One of the biggest challenges many Westerners in Tokyo face is the difference in living footprint. Space is the most expensive commodity in Tokyo, and engineers are always looking for ways to maximize living space. One vital appliance that often gets cut the earliest is laundry machines. Some apart…
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Paying Bills in Japan Conveniently: A Simple Guide
Paying bills is no one’s favorite thing to do, regardless of where you live. When it comes to paying though, the easier it is the less painful it will be. This is another area in which Japan stands out among the rest. There are a variety of convenient ways you can pay your bills in Japan, whether i…
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Plastic Shopping Bags will be Charged in Japan Starting in July 2020
This page contains affiliate links. Since July 2020, retailers in Japan have been charging fees for plastic bags and it is mandatory. The law applies to all retail stores including convenience stores like Familymart, Seven-Eleven or Lawson. It is handy to carry a shopping bag with you and preserve…
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International Money Transfers to Japan
When sending money to Japan, using one of the international money transfer service has certain advantages over traditional bank transfers. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of overseas remittance services that you can use to send money to Japan from a number of countries around the world…
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BOOKOFF: How to Sell Your Unwanted Items in English in Japan
BOOKOFF is the most famous second-hand shop in Japan and they have about 800 shops in Japan. In this article, we introduce BOOKOFF's purchase service and its "on-site" purchase service that you can use in English.
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Fighting Humidity and Mold During Japan’s Rainy Season
Summer in Japan can be an exciting time, full of bright summer festivals, fun beach trips, and shaved ice in myriad flavors. However, summer is also a time of high humidity, long sticky days, and mold. Fighting mold in the home is a constant exercise for many who live in Japan. Fortunately, there a…
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