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…
Read more
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…
Read more
[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…
Read more
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…
Read more
Hi everyone, If you’ve been reading my blogs, you’re already aware of the 3 kinds of cash subsidies in Japan during this coronavirus pandemic. They are: ¥100,000 for everyone in Japan who has a residence card since April 27, 2020 ¥500,000 (Tokyo) for small business owners or freelancers (Amount differs per prefecture) ¥1,000,000 for freelancers…
Read more
Not everybody can choose the online option to apply for the ¥100,000 coronavirus Japan subsidy. Of course there’s the application by post mail, too, but the process will definitely be so much faster if done online. So who can do the online option? Here are the requirements: You should be the head of your household…
Read more
Today May 4, 2020, the prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has extended the country’s state of emergency until the end of May. As a result, the majority of the economic activities will definitely not be back in business and with this, the owners of small businesses and freelancers are once again hit hard. Fortunately,…
Read more
The Japanese government, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced a new conditioned subsidy to secure housing for the people who lost their jobs or has decreased income because of the coronavirus pandemic. What’s this subsidy to secure housing? If you have suddenly become unemployed or your income drastically dropped because of the COVID-19…
Read more
[Updated on July 2, 2020] On 13th of April 2020, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that there will be an available cash subsidy for small companies and freelancers if their income dropped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Who is eligible to apply for this subsidy? You are qualified to apply if you…
Read more
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!
