Real Life Story
Three Small Islands in Japan for Your Next Getaway
Time flows differently on Japan’s remote islands. Here are three of my favorite hidden getaways and why you should visit them yourself.
By Burcu Basar 5 min read
Big Fish, Small Pond: Finding Purpose in Rural Japan
City life isn't for everyone. Here's how I found my place in rural Japan with a bit of luck and skill.
Yakushima: Exploring Japan’s World Heritage Destination from a Different Perspective
Monkeys, a rocket launch and a volcano eruption—all on one journey through this ancient island in Japan.
What It’s Like Working in an Izakaya in Hokkaido
A personal account of working at a bustling Japanese restaurant in Hakodate—including crushes, unforgettable characters and a lot of spilled beer.
Essential Products for Surviving the Japanese Summer
Feeling like you're melting in the oppressive humidity can only mean one thing—it's summer in Japan.
Saving the Bears and People of Nagano
Last year, 95% of captured bears were put down. A wildlife organization in Nagano is helping to lower that statistic and reduce encounters between wild bears and humans.
How to Self Sponsor Your Work Visa
Want to be a freelancer in Japan or work in the gig economy? Here's how to navigate the process from one part-timer's perspective.
Tokyo’s Club Kids: The Avant-Garde of Gender-Bending Fashion and Drag
An interview with Sisen Murasaki aka DJ Sisen.
The Strange Story of Tokyo Narita Airport’s Haunted Hotel
Mummified bodies, bizarre cults, and reincarnation—and that’s just the beginning.
True Japan Ghost Stories from GaijinPot Readers
Things that go bump in the night and haunted English schools are amongst these ghostly encounters, just in time for Halloween.
Japan’s Toxic Drinking Culture No One Talks About
Japan has a problem but is too addicted to admit it.
Divorce with Kids in Japan: The Stress of No Joint Child Custody
Advice, resources and why one writer wishes he would have prepared for the worst after divorce.
