Archives

Here you'll find a list of archived how-to's and other posts. You can also try a site search. If you're feeling overwhelmed, try reading Start Here first. If you still can't find it - let me know! Catch me on Twitter @survivingnjapan. Or Facebook. Or send me an e-mail.

Choose a category below to go to that list, or feel free to scroll.

Daily Life (sub-categories listed below Daily Life header if you scroll down)
Electronics
Etiquette
Food
Health
Study
Travel
Other
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Parenting/Family
From the Sempai - series
Q&A - series
Lifelines columns - Japan Times



Daily Life


Getting Started
Packing for Japan Q&A
What you need to know when moving to Japan
Make life easy - 8 tools for surviving in Japan


Toiletries/Personal Care
HOW TO: Find (good) deodorant in Japan
HOW TO: Find the haircare you need
HOW TO: Find hydrogen peroxide in Japan
HOW TO: Find ibuprofen in Japan
HOW TO: Find organic/natural personal care products

A guide to sanitary napkins in Japan
A guide to tampons in Japan
how to find skincare in Japan
how to find (good) toothpaste in Japan
6 places to find organic/natural personal care products online

shop in English at Japan's #1 e-drugstore
Japanese Deodorant: What's in it, What best, and What you think
A Guide to Sunscreen in Japan
Looking for Floss in Japan?
A Guide to Toothpaste in Japan


Shopping (including online)
how to return an item (to a store)
words to know when ordering online
how to arrange a home delivery
HOW TO: Find a Farmer's Market in Japan


Transportation
how to find bus routes/schedules online - part 1
how to find bus times/schedules online - part 2

how to look up train times (in English)

how to get a driver's license in Japan - part 1
how to get a driver's license in Japan - part 2

HOW TO: Survive without a car in Japan
HOW TO: Deliver your luggage to the airport
About Cycling and Biking in Japan
What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 1

What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 2
What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 3


Banking
HOW TO: Do a furikomi (bank transfer)


Mail/Delivery
HOW TO: Get something redelivered (online) (Japan Post)
HOW TO: Arrange redelivery online with Yamato (Kuroneko)
HOW TO: Create an online account with Yamato (Kuroneko)  
HOW TO: Create an online account with Sagawa

Laundry
HOW TO: Use hot/warm water in a Japanese washing machine
HOW TO: Find out how fast your laundry will dry
A Guide to Laundry Detergent in Japan


Seasonal/Weather
8 ways to winterize your Japanese apartment (or house)
A guide to heaters in Japan
HOW TO: Find a Christmas tree in Japan
HOW TO: Check the (accurate) weather in Japanese
Surviving the rainy season in Japan: 40 tips

how to find a good hanami spot (cherry blossom viewing)
A Survival Guide to Mosquito Repellent in Japan
HOW TO: Find anti-itch, insect bite medicine in Japan
40 + 5 more ways to survive the rainy season
HOW TO: Prevent and kill cockroaches

2011 Summer in Japan Roundup
Deodorize and more with Activated Charcoal
Yellow Sand in Japan: How does it affect you?

HOW TO: Stay cool without air conditioning: "Cool Air Fan" or 冷風扇
Resources for a Very Merry Christmas in Japan
Where to Find "Illuminations" (Christmas/Holiday Lights) in Japan

Misc.
HOW TO: Get a library card
What to do if your alien registration card is lost or stolen
HOW TO: Find a hair salon in Japan
4 Tips to Maintain Black Hair While Living in Japan
What is "Calorie Off" and why should you care?

Deodorize and More with Activated Charcoal
6 ways to find English-language books in Japan
What You Should Know About Life in Rural Japan
Leaving Japan: Thoughts and Advice [Interview]


Electronics

HOW TO: Find a laptop with an English keyboard
make life easy - 8 tools for surviving in Japan
HOW TO: Use hot/warm water in a Japanese washing machine
Japan Goggles translates kanji from images
More Resources to Find a Laptop with an English Keyboard


Etiquette

How much money to give at a Japanese wedding?
How to not make a fool of yourself at a Japanese wedding
Sweat etiquette



Food

Where to find bulk, inexpensive nuts, seeds, spices and dried fruit
Where to find vitamins & supplements
Words to know when ordering online
What do I eat!?
HOW TO: Find a non-smoking restaurant in Japan

A list of Japan food blogs (useful for figuring cooking here in Japan!)
HOW TO: Find cheese in Japan
HOW TO: Find kale in Japan
What is "Calorie Off" and why should you care?
HOW TO: Find a Farmer's Market in Japan

Where to Get Veggie Box, Food Delivery Service in Japan
HOW TO: Sign up for a Veggie Box in Japanese (Oisix)


Health

Personal Care

HOW TO: Find the haircare you need
HOW TO: Find hydrogen peroxide in Japan
Where to find vitamins & supplements
Where to find bulk, inexpensive nuts, seeds, spices and dried fruit
HOW TO: Deal with allergies (rhinitis) in Japan

HOW TO: Find organic/natural personal care products
A guide to sanitary napkins in Japan
A guide to tampons in Japan
HOW TO: Find skincare in Japan
HOW TO: Find (good) toothpaste in Japan

shop in English at Japan's #1 e-drugstore
HOW TO: Beat hay fever in Japan
6 places to find organic/natural personal care products online
HOW TO: Find pollen counts in Japan (guest post from Paul of Just Another Day in Japan)
Japanese Deodorant: What's in it, What best, and What you think

A Guide to Sunscreen in Japan
Contraception in Japan: Condoms, IUDs and Calendar-based methods
Looking for Floss in Japan?
A Guide to Toothpaste in Japan
HOW TO: Find a pregnancy test in Japan

What is "Calorie Off", and why should you care?
A Survival Guide to Mosquito Repellent in Japan
HOW TO: Find anti-itch, insect bite medicine in Japan
Contraception in Japan: Getting an IUD

Medical

HOW TO: Translate medical terms (English to Japanese)
Dealing with a serious illness in Japan
How NOT to get a diagnosis at the doctor
A tool to translate symptoms online and print for doctor
HOW TO: Find ibuprofen in Japan 

HOW TO: Find medicine for a canker sore
7 words to know when you have a cold
HOW TO: Find Tylenol in Japan
A guide to birth control pills in Japan
HOW TO: Find motion sickness medication in Japan


Make life easy - 8 tools for surviving in Japan
Tweeting, studying and all things japanese
Tools for studying Japanese
Japan Goggles translates kanji from images


Travel

where to chill out in Shizuoka this summer
a beach off the beaten path
traveling in Hakone
wisteria in Shizuoka
how to check the (accurate) weather in Japanese

what you need to know when moving to Japan
how to make a hotel reservation online (in Japanese)
Fukuroi Fireworks Festival - with photos
how to find outdoor gear in Japan (list of resources)
how to find hiking trails in Japan

how to find bus routes/schedules online - part 1
how to find bus times/schedules online - part 2 

how to deliver your luggage to the airport
how to find a good hanami spot (cherry blossom viewing)

HOW TO: Take great travel photos when you visit Japan (guest post from Japan Dave)
HOW TO: Find motion sickness medication in Japan
Traveling the Izu Peninsula
HOW TO: Find and enjoy Autumn leaves (kouyou)

What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 1
What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 2
What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 3

Other

how to have a "cheap" wedding in Japan
surviving the rainy season in Japan: 40 tips
how to find outdoor gear in Japan (list of resources)
how to find hiking trails in Japan
how to find a Christmas tree in Japan

how to find a good hanami spot (cherry blossom viewing)
English Language Magazines in Japan
7 tips for going to the movies in Japan
6 reasons you should use bamboo charcoal (takesumi)
5 Ways to Not Stand Out in Japan

Alien Registration Card: Poll results and responses


Pregnancy & Childbirth

Pregnant in Japan: Resources
Pregnant in Japan: How to find a doctor, hospital or midwife
Pregnant in Japan: Diet, Nutrition and Weight Gain
Pregnant in Japan: Visiting the Doctor and What to Expect
HOW TO: Find a pregnancy test in Japan

Giving Birth in Japan: My Experience - Part 1
Giving Birth in Japan: My Experience - Part 2, Clinic Stay
How to Have a Baby (and Not a Nervous Breakdown) in Japan
Giving Birth in Japan: My Husband's Experience
Giving Birth in Japan: Reflections and Advice


Parenting/Family

Breastfeeding in Japan: Nursing Room Locator App
Breastfeeding in Japan: Nursing Room Locators
Choosing a School in Japan for Your Kids


From the Sempai - Series

HOW TO: Find skincare in Japan - Yu Ming of Beauty Box
Five tips from Rachael of Tokyo Terrace
Five tips from Shirley of Lovely Lanvin
10 tips from Nadia of Ethical Nippon
HOW TO: Take great travel photos when you visit Japan

HOW TO: Find pollen counts in Japan (guest post from Paul of Just Another Day in Japan)
5 ways to survive working for an Eikaiwa (conversation school) (from Ali of Haikugirl's Japan)
4 Tips to Maintain Black Hair While Living in Japan (from Amanda of Whoa I'm in Japan)
About Cycling and Biking in Japan (from Erica of Expatria Baby)
5 Ways to Not Stand Out in Japan (from Caroline of C. Life in Japan)

How to Have a Baby (and Not a Nervous Breakdown) in Japan (from Erica of Expatria Baby)


Q & A - series

QA: Squash in Japan?
QA: Downy Wrinkle Releaser in Japan?
QA: Satellite TV in Japan?
QA: How to send gift money to Japan from overseas?
QA: Looking for contact lenses...

QA: Eye makeup remover in Japan?
QA: Making friends in Japan?
QA: Swimming with a tattoo?
QA: How to avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Q&A: Order from Japan?

Q&A: How to find a hair diffuser?


Lifelines columns - The Japan Times

English Language Magazines in Japan - Part 1
English Language Magazines in Japan - Part 2
HOW TO: Navigate the switch from analog to digital TV this summer
Understanding the Japanese pension system
Preparing a Will in Japan

Immigration Changes Coming in 2012
Official Name Changes & Pension Pay-in Requirements
Choosing a School in Japan for Your Kids
Got mold? Tenant rights in serious situations

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