SORABYCO | Life in Japan

Living in Japan outside central Tokyo, I drive almost every day. Going to the supermarket, visiting a clinic, or running a few errands usually means getting in the car. Many of the roads I use are narrow residential streets. Until recently, the thing I watched for most carefully was the Japanese 止まれ (tomare / stop) sign, especially on small neighborhood roads where intersections can appear suddenly. But since September 2026, there is another rule drivers in Japan need to know. From September 1, 2026 , the statutory speed limit on certain ordinary roads, including many roads commonly used by local residents, was lowered from 60 km/h to 30 km/h .  So, are all residential streets in Japan now limited to 30 km/h? No. A road does not automatically become a 30 km/h road just because it is in a residential area. A simple way to think about the new rule is: A speed-limit sign or road marking is present: follow the designated speed. No designated speed, and no center line or traffic lanes...

If you live in Japan, these are the care symbols you’ll commonly find on clothing, towels, bedding and other textile products sold here. At first glance, Japanese laundry symbols can look more complicated than they really are. I still sometimes pick up a new towel or shirt, look at the tag and think, “I know I’ve seen this before, but what exactly does it mean?” The easiest way to read a Japanese clothing care label is to start with five basic shapes: Wash tub = washing Triangle = bleaching Square = drying Iron = ironing Circle = professional cleaning After that, check the smaller details. Numbers usually show the maximum temperature, lines indicate a gentler process, dots are used for temperature settings, and an X means that treatment should not be used. Once I started reading labels in that order, they became much easier to understand. How to Read Washing Symbols in Japan The wash tub is the first symbol I check because it tells me whether an item can be washed with water and how ge...

Japan is preparing to make major changes to immigration fees from October 1, 2026. Under the government proposal, renewing or changing a status of residence could cost between ¥10,000 and ¥75,000, depending on the period granted. The fee for permanent residence could rise from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. These figures are still part of the proposed fee schedule, so anyone applying should check the latest announcement from Japan’s Immigration Services Agency before making plans. Even after living in Japan for many years, I still do not enjoy visiting immigration. I usually keep the whole day free because I never know how long the process will take. I take a book with me, collect a number, and wait. By the time everything is finished, half the day may already be gone. When I first saw the proposed fees, my reaction was not only, “That is expensive.” I also wondered whether the service itself would become faster and easier. How Much Could Japan’s Visa Renewal Fees Increase? At present, a success...

After writing about the best time to take probiotics, I kept noticing another question come up again and again: When is the best time to take vitamins? Should you take them in the morning or at night? Is it better before meals or after eating? When I first started buying vitamin supplements in Japan, I honestly did not think much about timing. I usually took them whenever I happened to remember. But Japanese drugstores have so many choices that I eventually started paying more attention to the instructions on the package. What I learned was reassuring: for most people, there is no single perfect time that works for every vitamin. The type of supplement, whether you have eaten, and how easily you can fit it into your day usually matter more. Does the Time You Take Vitamins Really Matter? Timing can make a difference, but it is easy to overthink it. Many people worry that taking vitamins at the wrong time will make them useless. I wondered about that too, especially after seeing differen...

In Japan, typhoons can arrive from summer into autumn, but August through October is the period when I pay the closest attention to the forecast. When I first moved to Japan, there was something I never quite understood whenever a typhoon appeared in the forecast.  The parking lot at my local home center would suddenly become much busier than usual. At first, I thought everyone was simply trying to finish their shopping before the rain began. But once I went inside, I realized that people were not browsing the usual gardening tools or household supplies. They were heading straight for the emergency-preparedness section. Shopping carts were filled with bottled water, batteries, flashlights, blue tarps, portable gas canisters, and rolls of tape. Standing there with everyone else, I finally understood why the parking lot had been so crowded. In Japan, typhoon preparation often begins before the wind and rain arrive. After living here for many years, I have developed the same habit. Wh...

I used to think grocery shopping in Japan was simple: go to the nearest supermarket, buy what I needed, and come home. For a long time, I never paid much attention to the day of the week. Then I began noticing that eggs were often cheaper on one day, vegetables on another, and bento boxes suddenly had discount stickers in the evening. The same supermarket could feel surprisingly different depending on when I visited. Many Japanese supermarkets have their own weekly sale days, point campaigns, and evening markdown schedules. However, there is no single day when every supermarket in Japan becomes cheaper. Even stores belonging to the same chain may offer different promotions depending on the area and the customers who shop there. Nobody really explains this when you first start living in Japan, but learning the habits of the supermarkets near you can make everyday shopping a little easier. Why Tuesdays Often Stand Out at Japanese Supermarkets Many supermarkets in Japan hold weekday promo...

As summer approaches in Japan, you may start hearing people at work or in your neighborhood asking: “When is Obon this year?” For many Japanese families, Obon is one of the most important times of the summer. People return to their hometowns, visit family graves, gather with relatives, or take a family vacation. However, Obon can be confusing when you are living in Japan as a foreign resident. Is Obon a national holiday? Do all companies close during Obon? Why do trains, airports, and highways suddenly become so crowded? And why do some regions celebrate Obon in July while others observe it in August? When I first started living in Japan, I also wondered why train tickets suddenly became difficult to book and why highways were packed with traffic in the middle of August. The most common Obon period in Japan in 2026 will be from Thursday, August 13, to Sunday, August 16. However, Obon is not an official Japanese public holiday. The actual holiday schedule may differ depending on your em...

My first summer in Japan was difficult for a reason I had not expected. The heat itself was manageable, but the humidity was not. Even after sunset, the air felt heavy, the bedding felt slightly damp, and I often woke up in the middle of the night feeling tired and sticky. At first, I tried to solve the problem by lowering the air-conditioner temperature. Over time, however, I realized that managing humidity was just as important as cooling the room. After spending many summers in Japan, I now rely on a few simple habits that help me sleep more peacefully during hot and humid nights. Why Is It Hard to Sleep During Summer in Japan? Japan’s summer climate combines high temperatures with high humidity. Before sleep, the body naturally releases heat and gradually lowers its core temperature. When the bedroom is warm and humid, sweat does not evaporate as easily, making it harder for the body to cool down. This is why humid nights in Japan can feel exhausting even when the temperature does ...