Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Summer is almost here! In other words, I've got a couple months ahead of cicadas screaming outside my window all day. But there is a lot to love about Japan's summer. And there is a lot to do.So, I'll save the le...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Some people love Japan on the basis of having read a Murakami or some One Piece, downed a few matcha lattes, and eaten at Benihana's - and there's no shame in that!We are totally against gatekeeping Japanese cult...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!You've been looking forward to planning a trip to Japan, and now the big question: Where should you stay? Luxurious hotels and infinity poolside selfies have flooded our social media for years now, and they're gr...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!This is actually a pretty big thing in Japan that you never hear about outside of the country itself! Golden Week is basically Japan’s version of a spring holiday rush - kind of like if Thanksgiving, Christmas, a...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!All this Pocky and all those flavored Kit Kats... Is that really all there is to Japanese sweets? Nope. Unlike the West where we have a large, but typically stable, selection of sweets and snacks to choose from -...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!If you’re in Japan in March, you might notice stores filling up with elegant chocolates, plush gifts, and carefully wrapped sweets. That’s because White Day, celebrated on March 14th, is Japan’s answer to Valenti...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Japanese people are often very warm and receptive to non-Japanese folks demonstrating an awareness or interest in Japanese culture. Oftentimes, they're outright surprised that internationals are familiar with cul...

Akemashite omedetou from the Japan Switch Team!ことしもよろしくおねがいします！Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! This one is a little trickier to translate, but the gist of it is 'let's have another great year together!' If you're learning Japanese...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Wishing you all a happy holidays and a great start to the New Year! While you may be ready to put 2024 into a capsule and blast it into the sun, the final weeks before the new year are a great time to reflect on...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Christmas isn't actually a holiday in Japan, and it's typically celebrated on the 24th. What's more, it's more about romance than reindeer! Couples treat it like a second Valentine's Day, where fancy dinners, spa...