Recent Posts

Is It Coffee or Tea? What You Need to Know About Japan’s New ‘Tea Coffee’ Drink
This new hybrid drink released in Japan last week hints at the fact that we might be missing something in our lives, so we had to find out more.
By Victoria Vlisides on April 24, 2018

36 Hours in Tottori
How does this tiny prefecture with a population of less than 600,000 make you feel so connected to a culture that isn’t your own? Hope you’re up for the answer and 36 hours of discovery in Tottori.
By Victoria Vlisides on March 26, 2018

6 Tips To Start the Post-ALT Job Hunt in Japan
Japan is increasingly looking to hire skilled foreign workers across many job categories. With these six tips, you can set yourself up for meaningful employment outside the English teaching industry.
By Victoria Vlisides on January 30, 2018

Japan’s Schools Are In Total Denial Over Diversity
The term “hafu” in Japan means being half-Japanese. With increasing diversity in Japan’s classrooms, the Hafu2Hafu project is a way to educate students (and ourselves) about cultural identity.
By Victoria Vlisides on January 26, 2018

Travel Inspiration for Japan’s 8 Holiday Weekends in 2018
The year 2018 has plenty of opportunity for weekend getaways in Japan. Here’s where and when to go!
By Victoria Vlisides on January 25, 2018

GaijinPot’s Top 10 Japan Destinations in 2017
A few surprises and some old favorites in 2017’s most-read travel articles.
By Victoria Vlisides on December 28, 2017

GaijinPot’s Top 12 Articles for 2017
This year, our most popular articles cover pretty much everything we believe the GaijinPot beast to be: all the info you need to navigate a successful life in Japan.
By Victoria Vlisides on December 20, 2017

We Asked Readers to Describe Japan in Just 2 words
The responses were hilarious, thoughtful, weird and a little angsty. Vote for your favorite!
By Victoria Vlisides on December 7, 2017

Ditch the Train! See Japan in a Camper Van
This is what happens when you rent a camper in Japan and unexpectedly drive up a mountain.
By Victoria Vlisides on October 27, 2017

Japan Wanderlust: You Will Get Lost!
How to transcend this and other negative travel expectations when visiting Japan, plus more than 10 resources for first timers.
By Victoria Vlisides on October 14, 2017

Japan’s Tourism ‘Fails’ Make it a Perfect Travel Destination
The anti-tourist’s wet dream: Japan — and all its quirky charms — is waiting for you, despite the government’s befuddling missteps at promotion.
By Victoria Vlisides on October 6, 2017

Autumn Mystery Fruit in Japan: Akebi
Somewhere in northern Japan, someone is cooking this fruit and making it taste fantastic. That person, though, is not me.
By Victoria Vlisides on September 29, 2017

Japan Wanderlust: The Joy of Getting Naked
Going commando at Japan’s natural hot spring baths make taking a dip an other-worldly experience. We answer questions for first-timers and highlight five hot springs for you to get “eau naturale” during your fall and winter travels.