GaijinPot Japan

August in Japan is well known for its intense mid-summer heat, which regularly sweeps across Tokyo and the country’s coastal cities. Fortunately, Japan features a national holiday tailor-made for escaping the sweltering heat: Mountain Day (Yama no Hi). Started in 2016 and celebrated annually on August 11, Mountain Day in Japan was created to encourage people to connect with the nation’s majestic peaks and appreciate its rich mountainous landscape. Because the holiday falls at the

Summer in Japan starts with a few weeks of rain right after Golden Week. From then on, it gets progressively hotter and more humid. Thankfully, it’s not all that bad. Throughout the centuries, Japanese culture has found ways to celebrate each passing season. Each prefecture has its own share of summer festivals, from fireworks to serving up regional specialties to cool you off. While not definitive, here’s a quick roundup of 10 Japanese summer traditions you need to try (if you haven

It’s the middle of summer in Japan, which means matsuri (festival) season. But attending a matsuri often means dressing the part, and no garment captures the season quite like the yukata (summer-style kimono). For a few months each year, muted wardrobes give way to bold colors and vibrant summer patterns. If you’re planning to wear one, here’s how to do it properly. So what exactly is a yukata? It’s an unlined summer-style kimono. Originally worn as a bathrobe, it has

Nestled on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan, Kumamoto Prefecture is known for its abundant nature and warm local communities. It is a region deeply cherished by residents and travelers alike. On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 4:27 p.m., a violent magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the area. The Kumamoto Earthquake cut off power and water to tens of thousands of households, caused extensive damage to regional infrastructure and resulted in at least several casualties across southern Kyushu.

It’s officially summer in Kansai. Despite the heat, there are tons of events all over the city that are sure to get you out of the house. We’ve compiled a list of our top picks of Osaka area events for August 2026 to make this a summer to remember. August 1 – 7 Konami Style Pop-Up Store  Konami’s official online shop opens its first physical outlet in roughly 11 years. Stock spans Metal Gear, Power Pros and Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side, plus apparel and posters

August in Tokyo is all about fireworks, lanterns and open-air beer gardens. Every weekend brings something new. Slip into a colorful yukata (summer kimono), grab an ice-cold drink and dive into the city’s energy. From traditional matsuri (festivals) to futuristic pop-ups and unforgettable fireworks, these Tokyo events for August 2026 are sure to keep you busy! August 1–7 Yukata de Ginbura – Ginza Summer Festival 2026 Slip into a festive yukata (light cotton kimono) and join the cr

Under proposed updates to Japan permanent residency requirements, foreign residents could soon face a monthly earning baseline of ¥479,000. Japan may soon require many permanent residency (PR) applicants to meet a household income benchmark. Many foreign residents—and even many Japanese people—do not meet it. The proposed changes are part of a broader immigration policy overhaul under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration. As part of the overhaul, the Immigrati

For five years, Richard Thomich built a massive internet following by cracking hyper-specific jokes about life in Japan—all without actually living there. Working out of his bedroom in the UK under the handle ricchaadotv, he relied on green screens, viral skits and a fluent command of Japanese to build a loyal fanbase. Today, however, the green screen is gone. On GaijinPot’s Behind The Feed, Richard sat down to discuss what happened when he finally packed his bags for Tokyo—

The LDP-led government kicked things off with a massive 5x hike to visa fees. Then came the sweeping overhaul of the Business Manager Visa. That move jacked up the minimum capital requirement from ¥5 million to a staggering ¥30 million. There are now strict Japanese-language and hiring mandates. It is also now possible to revoke Permanent Residency. What’s next on Takaichi’s list? Japan is hiring ex-military officers to crack down on foreign overstayers. Naturally, the exp

From legacy media to social media, immigration has become a key topic in Japan today. While there’s a fair amount of discussion about changes to Japan’s official policies regarding immigration and tourists, there’s also a lot of anti-foreigner rhetoric. If you read enough of this stuff, it can be pretty depressing. For me, talking to taxi drivers became another way to stay grounded and to find common ground beyond the headlines. While it’s easy to start feeling powerle

Japanese air conditioners are essential home appliances because of their cooling, dehumidifying and heating functions. But unlike other appliances, which you can shine up with elbow grease, cleaning an air conditioner requires a little more technical know-how. While removing and cleaning your air conditioner’s filters is easy, giving your unit a deep clean requires careful preparation. It’s ideal to deep clean your air conditioner before periods of high use, like the summer and winte

Air conditioners, or エアコン (eakon) in Japan, can help you through sweltering heat waves and blistering snowstorms because each unit can operate in both cooling and heating modes. As the labels on the リモコン (rimokon) are written in various combinations of kanji characters and katakana, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to distinguish one setting from another. Accidentally blasting the heater on an already sticky June afternoon o

Every year on the third Monday of July, Japan celebrates Marine Day (Umi no Hi, Marine Day). This national holiday is dedicated to giving thanks to the ocean’s bounty and appreciating the seas that surround this beautiful island nation. What better way than to seek out the best hidden beaches in Japan? Most locals flock to crowded resort beaches. But modern travelers are looking past traditional guidebooks, instead relying on social media and personal blogs to find &ldquo

Maybe you’ve been to the Izu Peninsula, probably to Atami, or you’ve made it all the way down to Shimoda. But have you ever been to Numazu? Why should you consider a day trip to this little city tucked in a coastal corner off the deepest bay in Japan? For that very reason. Lying right next to Suruga Bay, Numazu Port is unparalleled in one thing: access to deep-sea fish. The World’s Only Dedicated Deep Sea Aquarium Under the sea. Numazu Port has capitalized on this

If you have lived in Japan between July and September, you already know the grim reality of natsubate (summer fatigue). The humidity hits you like a warm, wet blanket the second you step outside, but tracking down authentic Japanese summer festival food is the absolute best way to beat the heat while enjoying the seasonal matsuri (festival) vibe. But there is a huge silver lining to the sweltering heat: the matsuri (festival) season. There is nothing quite like slipping into a breeze-frien

Is there anything more fun than planning group travel to Japan? Sorry. Did I say fun? I meant horrible and stressful. The mix of personalities and viewpoints can lead you to experience things you’d otherwise never be interested in and visit places you’d never even considered. I still thank my friend group for exposing me to the joys of thrash metal bars on a particular wild trip, but organizing the rest of the trip was a lesson in frustration. Unfortunately, large groups are prett

Look at a map of Okinawa, and you probably think of blue sea and palm trees. A little deeper, and perhaps you picture a glass of habushu (snake wine) and chinsuko cookies. However, what you do not typically think of is cheddar. Neither did John Davis, the Cheese Guy in Okinawa. John arrived in Japan back in 1976 as a guy in his 20s looking for an adventure. He spent 30 years teaching English first in Tokyo and then in Sapporo. By the mid-2000s, he was ready to retire. He packed his car with a

If you happen to travel around rural Japan by rail, there’s a chance you’ll encounter a cat stationmaster. Japan has a few remarkable local train lines where a friendly feline will see your train out in the morning or greet you as you pass through the ticket gate. Japan’s aging population directly led to the emergence of the cat stationmaster, driven by economic challenges in rural areas as young people move to larger cities for school and work. However, kawaii (cute) cultur

Summer in Kansai has officially begun! Start the season with our best picks for Osaka area events for July that range from historic art exhibits to traditional Japanese festivals and more. July 1 – 7July 8 – 14 July 15 – 21 July 22 – 31 July 1 – 7 Sanno Museum of Art: Renoir’s 185th Anniversary Exhibition This collection presents about 50 Renoir works in the Sanno Museum of Art, tracing the painter’s warm, light-filled approach to portraits, figures, and scenes of everyday life.&nbs

Tokyo celebrates summer in July with fireworks, lantern festivals, flower fields and festival food. Wear a yukata and enjoy some of the city’s best events. From traditional matsuri to modern summer fun, check out our picks for Tokyo area events for July 2026. July 1–7July 8–14July 15–21July 22–31 July 1–7 Iriya Morning Glory Festival (Asagao Matsuri) Japan’s largest morning glory festival fills the streets around Iriya Kishimojin Temple with more than 100 stalls selling colorfu