In 2019, I remember the moment I knew autumn was here during my first year back in Japan after living in Australia for nearly 20 years🍁. It is always the same. It is the strong and sweet fragrance of kinmokusei that catches my attention every time I walk past it. Often I have to look … Continue reading Japanese autumn fragrance: kinmokusei
At times, I feel like my brain is between a tightening clamp, my heart palpitates, and I force my face to configure to have as neutral facial expression as possible when I listen to some expats in Tokyo. The people I spend the most amount of time with in Tokyo are expats. To clarify, expats … Continue reading Reflection on Expats in Japan
This week, Native Expat explores the Japanese quintessential date spot, aquarium to see what it's all about.
Finally from October 11, the Japanese government will relax the rules by increasing the number of people who can enter Japan and opening up the international airports at every airport in Japan.
Weekly typhoon has been hitting some part of Japan nearly every weekend this September. Typhoons have caused a lot damages in parts of Miyazaki and a number of other prefectures. In Tokyo, it's just been rainy and windy (then a bit sunny resulting in intense humidity) and slowly, it's feeling more like autumn.Max temperature is … Continue reading Autumn is for art. Visiting Kadokawa Culture Museum
With the rest of the world, Japan is in the midst of DX or digital transformation where many things are moving across to digital. This can be ranging from moving invoice from paper to a digital version, official government registrations doesn't all have to be a ward office or opening up a new mobile phone … Continue reading Stamp, not sign with hanko/inkan culture in Japan
As the world mourns a 96 year old Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on September 8, our family mourns our 96 year old grandma who passed away 4 days earlier. Luckily, I was back in Japan since September 1st that upon hearing the news, I booked a flight to Kagoshima in Kyushu for the … Continue reading The final farewell, funeral in Japan
This week, we landed back in Tokyo after being away for nearly 2 months!Unfortunately, we couldn't quite escape the hot and humid Tokyo summer altogether and we landed in muggy 30 degrees day in Tokyo. Hot summer and cold winter can be taxing on the body but we are rewarded by amazingly delicious and juicy … Continue reading Savoring summer fruits from Yamagata
From Sept 7, Japan will become a little bit easier to enter. Negative Covid test 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to Japan will no longer be necessary and the daily cap of entry quota will be increased (more information on this article). This has been much anticipated as many transit visitors were "passing" … Continue reading One step closer for Japan to reopen
I have been away from Japan for nearly a month and a half since my husband I am on a family and friends reunion trip in Australia and New Zealand. This is the longest time I have been away from Japan since moving back in 2019.I have visited cities that I used to live in … Continue reading 4 things I miss about Japan
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