The school at which I teach is surrounded by the elderly.  There is no other way of putting it.  The buildings are old, the bikes are old, the cars are old, the shrines are old, but most important the people are old.  It is a rare day in which I see someone under the age of seventy exit one of the houses.  (more…)

One of the many challenges facing dog owners in Japan is finding a nice apartment that will accept you as well as your dog. The good news is that more and more of the newer apartment buildings not only allow foreign residents but they also allow pets.

There are a couple of ways to find a new apartment but using an English speaking agent is always going to be the best rout. Thankfully finding one is not very difficult these days.

Choosing the location of your new pet friendly apartment takes a little thought. You want to make sure it’s an area that is pet friendly in general; easy access to medical care, parks, and other dog services. It may be tempting to choose the first place you find but there are options out there so don’t rush it. There are several areas in Tokyo that are not only really nice but also pet friendly. Just a couple areas that you make consider are Yoga on the Den-en-toshi line and Okikubo/Nishi-Ogikubo on the Chuo line.

Have a look at the area before you sign that contract, it is vital!

The last thing to mention is that there will almost always be an additional month non-refundable pet deposit.

Happy apartment hunting!!

Most dogs need to get their exercise just like us. The question is where do you take your dog when you live in the middle of the biggest city on Earth?

Good news, Tokyo actually has many great places to take your dog where they can get plenty of exercise. I will list a couple favorites here but with a little research you will find even more.

(more…)