Japan Travel

2 articles

What It's Really Like Living in Japan as a Foreigner

March 31, 2026 · 6 min read Intermediate

I moved to Japan in my twenties. That was over twenty years ago. In that time I’ve run a guesthouse, started a property business, built software, had kids, dealt with immigration bureaucracy more times than I can count, and had roughly ten thousand conversations with people who want to know what it’s really like to live here. This is my honest answer.

The short version: Japan is an extraordinary place to live, and also a deeply frustrating one. Both of those things are true at the same time, and neither cancels the other out.

Best Craft Beer Spots Near Hamamatsucho Station

March 31, 2026 · 5 min read Intermediate

The Hamamatsucho–Shimbashi corridor is one of the most underrated drinking neighborhoods in Tokyo. Most visitors head straight to Shibuya or Shinjuku, which is fine — but if you’re into craft beer specifically, this stretch of Minato-ku has a quietly excellent scene. It’s where I drink most often, partly because I live and work in the area, and partly because the bars here tend to attract people who actually care about what’s in their glass.

Here are the spots I keep going back to.

tokyo craft beer hamamatsucho nightlife japan travel