Being in Japan, you’ve probably heard of119 and110 but have you heard of the hotlines for when you’re unsure whether you should call the emergency numbers or not? How about a number that could help you escape from a boring date or any unpleasant situation where you just need an excuse to leave? Oh yes, there’s…
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Hi readers! I hope you’ve been staying safe. Today, I would like to answer some questions that you might have about Japan’s “Go To Travel” campaign. All answers are based on my very own experience as I went on a short trip to Nagano last week. I booked and stayed in a hotel for 2…
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From the current data and the daily count of cases, it seems that the coronavirus pandemic in Japan is not going away soon, but the government as well as the private sectors are actively finding ways to keep the economy going. Apart from the 100,000 cash payout for all Japan residents, several other subsidies are…
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Amidst the drop of foreign visitors in Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism agencies are finding ways to encourage people to travel domestically by offering special promos. Even the government has launched Go To Travel campaign to further entice residents to travel. As for East Japan Railway Company or JR East, they have announced a…
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Good news! From the 29th of June, the Japanese government has expanded the target scope of the freelancer subsidy program aimed to help small business owners affected by the COVID-19 crisis. What is this freelancer subsidy program? It is a program where freelancers in Japan can apply for up to 1 million yen in subsidies…
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[Updated on 7th of July] For the past month, I have been posting about the different subsidies that the Japanese government is offering to people who are affected by the pandemic. Recently, a new one has been announced and it’s a financial aid to help pay the rental fee of shops, offices, or any establishment…
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On April 8th, 2020 the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had an announcement about opening a system for residents to apply for a reduction or total exemption regarding health insurance payments. This is the letter to the municipalities on April 8th. Who can apply for a reduction or exemption? There are 2 basic conditions to be…
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More than 30 million visitors flood DisneyLand and DisneySea every year, being one of the most popular destinations for tourists coming to Tokyo. However, this year has been a different story as Oriental Land Co, the one in charge of operations and management of Tokyo Disney Resort, implemented the closure of both parks in line…
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Yesterday, May 25th 2020 the Japanese government lifted the state of emergency in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa. Before Prime minister Shinzo Abe officially made the announcement, the head of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Yasutoshi Nishimura had a press conference about the “Go To campaign”. What is the “Go To Campaign”?…
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Hi everyone, For those of you who already got the application form for the ¥100,000 COVID-19 cash payout from the Japanese government, I would like to give a very important notice. If you make this mistake, you won’t be able to get the ¥100,000! So here is the thing: There is a “□” beside your…
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Hello, I’m Akiko!
From my own experience, I know how difficult it is to live in a foreign country where almost everything works differently. Being in a non-English speaking country like Japan, even a simple task such as booking a taxi by phone can be daunting. My goal is to ease some of your burden so you can focus on the more important things in your life.
I am excited to meet and help you in many ways!
