Living Guide
Living Guide is the section to offer practical information, including suggestions, tips and advice on living in Japan or travel to Japan.
Housing
Taxes
Foreign resident registration
Family care
Education
Japanese customs
International Communities in Japan
Language help etc.
Jichikai or Chokai, a neighborhood association
Jichikai (自治会 )or Chokai (町会) is a neighborhood association, consists of residents living within the same area, in town or housing complex, where community activities are organized to keep a cozy and comfortable living environment. Jichikai or Chokai are basically the same types of association and there is no different in their activities.
Traditional Japanese Units used in measurement
Suppose you were at an Izakaya bar on a cold day, felt like drinking something hot, you called an attendant to order hot Sake or Japanese rice wine, then the attendant asked you “How much would you like to have?” and you answered “one bottle please”, when, a question would arise; How much Sake is in a bottle of Sake?
Japanese words used in daily life | Washing
Here is a list of Japanese words and phrases used when doing washing 洗濯 (せんたく) .
An(Anko) or Azuki Bean Paste for Japanese Sweets
Japanese sweets are called "Wagashi (和菓子)" and they are quite different from western style sweets. Generally, traditional Japanese sweets are made with paste of sweet beans; white beans, green beans and red beans, all of which are called "An (餡)"or !Anko (餡子)) in Japanese, derived from the word meaning “filling”. In particular, the red bean called Azuki (小豆) is so popular that people usually refer to the Azuki paste as An. Recently, pumpkin or sweet potatoes are also used for "An" as well as beans, however, the Azuki paste is by far still the most popular.
Internet access in Tokyo, Japan | Wireless and Mobile Internet
Internet Access in Tokyo -
Finding Wireless (WiFi) Internet access in Tokyo and other cities in Japan
While sitting, relaxing and catching your breath after another manic tour of Tokyo, why not try looking for a cafe, hotel lounge, bar or any public space with wireless internet connection and catch up on your email Or, search for another whirlwind tour of Tokyo :-)
In Tokyo and other major cities in Japan, there are quite a number of places to take advantage of an Wi-Fi (wireless ) Internet connection.
Shopping for food at Depachika, Eki-biru and Ekinaka
Depachika デパ地下 is a food market in the basement at department stores in Japan. Depachika stands for Depart-chika-shokuhin-uriba デパート地下食品売り場, which means, "A food-floor in the basement of a department store" in English. That name is quite long and is shorten to the Depachika which is now familiar to most Japanese people.
