GaijinPot Japan

End summer on a high note! From art exhibits on miniatures to traditional yokai (demon) festivals, there’s always something to look forward to. Here are some Osaka events for September 2026 that you won’t want to miss. September 1 – 7Bakusou Kyoudai Let’s & Go!! 30th Anniversary Pop-Up ShopJapanese & English Language ExchangeSeptember 8 – 14September 15 – 21September 22 – 30 September 1 – 7 Water Margin: Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts 90th Anniversary Special E

Looking for things to do to cap off your summer? From anime exhibits to language exchange meet-ups and curry festivals, check out our top picks for Tokyo Events for September 2026. September 1 – 7September 8 – 14September 15 – 21September 22 – 30 September 1 – 7 Invitation from Hogwarts, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo Marking 25 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, this limited add-on traces the film’s origins through recreated sets, a Sorting Ceremony e

In 2026, Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) closed enrollment to non-residents in Japan, with very few exceptions, such as holders of provisional stay permits. In other words, if you do not yet have a residence card, even if you hold a Certificate of Eligibility and will be living in Japan on test day, you are not allowed to apply for the JLPT locally. So how do you take the JLPT outside of Japan? This is especially frustrating for incoming students or workers who miss applicatio

For years, permanent residency in Japan (PR) has been treated as the ultimate achievement for foreigners: work for a decade, pay your taxes, stay out of trouble and earn the right to live here without depending on an employer or spouse. The dream, right? Over the past couple of years, that whole assumption has been challenged. Following major legal revisions in 2024 and 2026, Japan is overhauling its permanent residency rules—proposing to raise approval fees from ¥10,000 to ¥200

If you’re looking to work in Japan, check back here each week as we review our database of the top jobs in Japan posted to GaijinPot and showcase some of the most interesting ones. You can apply directly to these companies by creating a profile on GaijinPot Jobs! {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Video Editor & Content Packager (Gaming & Media)","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"http:\/\/schema.org\/Organization","logo":"https:\/\/jobs.gaijinp

Finding honest, American homestyle baking in Tokyo often feels impossible. Japanese baking tends to lean European. You get endless displays of ultra-light strawberry shortcakes, delicate sponge rolls and miniature French tarts that cost ¥1,000 for barely two bites. Those are fine for special occasions, like your go-to Christmas Cake, but they never scratch that itch for something dense, spiced and rich. But if you are hunting for a thick, heavy slice of authentic American carrot cake topped

You can spend entire days exploring Japan’s big cities, going from place to place to see everything. However, between the major attractions, the cityscape can start to feel repetitive. Often there is so much concrete in Japan’s big cities that all the grey becomes an endless, charmless backdrop—something you tune out as you make your way from temple to temple. Discovering the world of street art in Osaka changes that entirely. Despite sometimes being maligned as the “u

Kimi Onoda is currently one of the most talked-about names in Japanese politics. A member of the House of Councillors representing Okayama Prefecture for Prime Minister Takaichi and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), she holds a hefty government title: Minister in Charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals. She is active on social media, strongly conservative and leading a major administrative push to tighten rules on foreign residents. Her

If you’re looking to work in Japan, check back here each week as we review our database of the top jobs in Japan posted to GaijinPot and showcase some of the most interesting ones. You can apply directly to these companies by creating a profile on GaijinPot Jobs! {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Japanese Kitchen Knives Store Staff (Kyoto\/Tokyo)","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"http:\/\/schema.org\/Organization","logo":"https:\/\/jobs.gaiji

I love cooking. Raised by a line of passionate home cooks, I never view cooking or baking as a chore. Now, cooking in Japan, I feed a large family and commit to scratch-cooked, veggie-heavy meals that stay strictly on budget—a balancing act that is always easier said than done. Moving to Japan changed my cooking in ways I both expected and didn’t. From years of trips spent in Airbnbs, I knew that my space would be constrained, for example. But, especially post-pandemic, I miscalcu

I have made my hatred for summer in Japan no secret. During my time here, I have had the misfortune to experience seven of these unbearable summers. After moving to Japan, I initially tried to explore the country during the July and August holidays. After my second summer, I gave up almost entirely. Yet I have always dreamed of visiting one specific place in Japan during summer: a heavenly oasis offering an escape from these hellish conditions. At least, that was my impression from reading ab

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