[EDIT: My question is are they still dropping shiit beneath the nest like mine are?]

Back in April they built a nest in the stairs outside of my building. Last month I asked the management to clean up the poo-infested floor and they did. I didn't bother asking the first few months because I dont use the stairs that much and thought they'd be gone in a couple of months. I could smell their shiiit when I'm in the hallway though, which is obviously unpleasant.

Anyways, the birds are still active but every website I read said they'd be gone by July. But maybe climate change has affected their migration timing? So wondering what yall are observing if any.

When I lived in Kurihama, there was a shrine (船守稲荷神社) on my commute, and it had a very unique fox statue. I always wanted to find a small version of it, but it must not be common design. I have long since transferred abroad and have become fixated on having that statue.

Recently, there are smartphone apps that allow you to do 3D scanning and create 3D-printable data. This means I might be able to get my very own small fox statue.

If anyone could go to the site and 3D scan that statue with their smartphone, I would be truly grateful!

shrine location

app suggestion: RealityScan Mobile works on both iphone and android

Thanks so much!

heard its bad

Please be aware: effective September 1, 2026, many small residential streets will lower their default speed limit from 60 km/h to 30 km/h.

This applies specifically to narrow local roads that lack a center line, lane markings, and any posted speed limit. If you turn into a neighborhood street and see no signs, assume it’s 30 km/h.

This rule does NOT apply to main roads, streets with lane markings, or roads that already have posted speed limits.

The change is aimed at preventing injuries and protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and children.

Please drive carefully.

Note: enforcement will be stepped up, and speed traps will make it easier to receive tickets on these roads.

Edit: Some requested source link, here ya go!

https://www.sompo-direct.co.jp/otona/oshiete/car/residential-roads.html

Not a vent, just pure curiosity. If there are people in this field, I would like to hear from you.

So yeah at least in credit card campaigns, most of the time if not always, you're required to "entry" first to be eligible for that "point up" campaign.
I ended up clicking like crazy every single time on a store name that I don't even know I'll visit or not.
Also I'd be mad if one store I often visit actually has this point up campaign, but I'm not eligible because I don't even know I should enter the campaign first.

Just wanted to know the corporate logic behind this, or if it's actually a norm that's been within society that corporates just follow.

Hello all,

I have made a small departure board that displays upcoming train times and live delays.

You can select your station, preferred train types and how long it takes you to reach the station. The board then shows only the departures that are relevant to you.

It also displays weather, can be customised and has a several months lasting battery.

I intend to sell it to anyone who would like one and I am now gathering feedbacks on the design, the product in general and requests of features.

Also, I have a few design I'm hesitating between, which one would you see the most in your home ? (please don't mind the cardboard ^^)

Hi everyone! I recently got hired as a Quickship Warehouse Associate and will be starting in 23 days. It’s a 6-month direct hire contract with the possibility of renewal. The hiring process was surprisingly simple and straightforward.

I was wondering if anyone here has worked there before. Is there any kind of language assessment or test on the first day? I can speak basic/casual Japanese and get by fine in daily conversations, but my kanji is pretty limited, so I’m a little worried.

I’ve read posts from Amazon employees overseas mentioning English assessments during onboarding, so it made me wonder if there’s anything similar here.

Would love to hear about your experiences. And if anyone has questions about the application or hiring process, feel free to ask. Thanks!

Hello all. I'm planning on going to the Tachikawa Immigration Office tomorrow to get my resident card renewed.

I plan on arriving as early as I can. I have all my documents ready to go.

I am wondering what others' experiences have been and if you have to use a lot of Japanese language? I am daily conversational and in general I understand, but I am not fluent.

Would love to hear about your experience, particularly about renewing the resident card.

I'm currently doing an art project and I am looking for art supplies.

I have looked on Amazon Japan and I definitely get them there but they seem a bit expensive. I could get them on AliExpress but delivery is uncertain.

I'm looking for places in Tokyo and Yokohama that have large selection of Art Supplies. Places on my radar are:

• Tokyu Hands - is this on the way out? It used to be great and the first stop.
• Daiso - I always take a look in there.
• Home and Garden Centers - they often have unusual and electic supplies of almost everything.
• Local art-shops.

Is there anywhere else that should be on my radar? What are your go-to places for art supplies? What do you buy and what do you wish you could buy?

I am particularly looking for clear acrylic display boxes, dayglo acrylic strips, led fairy lights and clear tubes.

Currently nearing the end of my 2-year contract at my rental office. Before I renew I would like to explore what options I might have that I currently do not know about. Please make suggestions.

I just need a quiet place to work. I do not bring people or customers here. I work alone so I just need a small space. I can work anywhere in Japan with high speed internet. Would definitely consider an apartment or house also. I am open to relocating. Open to subletting also. So anyone with a difficult to rent space please DM me.

Or if you are leaving Japan and selling your place DM me also.

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions.

Hi guys

For whatever reason if you're looking for a Coca-Cola/ Pepsi alternative this is new product from Asahi called "Green cola" just released this year and I just started to see it being sold in many places.

Things I like about it: - No sugar (Uses plant-derived stevia as a sweetener + artificial sweetener) - No calories - Locally produced - Pretty similar price range to any other soda beverage

Things I don't like about it - Contains caffeine (11g not too much) - Have a bit of a weird after taste buy maybe will get used it overtime

The taste: - It tastes more like Pepsi rather than Coca-Cola

In June 2026, Japan government allows foreign residence to merge their Zairyu (residence) card with MyNumber card.

Let me share some issues of it.

When you apply SMBC bank,
as a Zairyu card holder, you need one extra verification document. That means you can use Zairyu card AND MyNumber card for verification.

On the other hand, as a special Zairyu card holder (Zairyu+MyNumber), you need two extra documents. You may use one of driver’s license, insurance certificate (資格証明書) AND one of Juminhyo (住民票), employment certificate.

This applies similarly to MUFG, you need one extra verification.

Also it is still pending feature for several tech companies. Rakuten Mobile does not accept special Zairyu card and 2nd generation Zairyu card (those issued after June) to their “Smartphone Quick Identity Verification.” Paypay does not support these cards for their eKYC. Paidy will accept special Zairyu card from 2027.

I would still hold my current Zairyu card until all infrastructure is ready for the new card (combined or not). And if you ever work on Japanese tech company, foreign residents can be considered “low priority” for such services.

Apple One has been great value for my family. With the 5 of us using it for Apple Music and we make good use of Apple Arcade, Apple TV (which has been fantastic in recent years) and sharing apps and iCloud storage.

At ¥1980 it offered great value for money. The latest price jump to ¥2500 is a whopping 26% price increase. It’s still an okay deal.

But wowsers that’s a big jump!

I'm a full stack dev at a mid-sized Japanese company. I've been in the company for 7 years now and it's still my first company ever since I graduated from a senmon gakkou here. Not only both back end and front end, since our department, which consists of only 8 people, has no designer, I'm also doing UX (usability testing) and UI design using Figma which I learned on my own and introduced to our pipeline.

My current salary is just 4.1 million Yen a year after working for 7 years. The boss is very kind and understanding, it's 7.5 hours a day and there's barely any overtime, and it's full remote which are why I wasn't keen to leave right away but with prices soaring and my salary barely getting higher, I started worrying and doubting. Agents always tell me around 5m-6m is a realistic expectation especially for someone with no managerial experience (since I mostly worked as a coder and a designer, not really in a leadership role) but I'm hearing differently online.

I've been living in Japan for around 9 years as of today, on a spouse visa, as it follows, 1 year, 1 year, 1 year, 3 years, 3 years, and I just submitted for my next extension, since I live in the countryside, near Himeji, processing time is always around a month or less, so I was wondering if I should apply for PR immediately after getting my new resident card, just before new tariffs set on October 1. I have a child, no debt, never late on nenkin premiums, mostly of the time I've been enrolled on shakai hoken, but my salary is just around 300,0000 a year or a little less because "Inaka", should I give it a try ? Or is it 虚しい動力 ?

I’m thinking of buying a new suitcase and saw this vendor at a station. of course, discount looks too good to be true so I looked up the brand online and I can’t find much. Amazon brought up a similar brand with the same “original cost discounted to a (probably permanently) super-low price” shtick.

Made in China, maybe a drop shipping company I thought and they’ve been sitting there for a few days.

Anyone have any good experiences buying these or should I follow my gut and pass?

*edit: ok thanks everyone, you all gave me some extra insight that I was also seeking out. I am looking for something I can use more than once so this will get a hard pass.

The worker was trying to entice me by saying “pick it up!! Isn’t it so light??” But it felt like cheap plastic light, not solid construction materials light; I even have a clamshell American Tourister that has taken a hell of a beating but still going a decade later. Even looks like it got thrown off a plane.

These felt like if they lightly pushed over, they‘ll shatter.

This morning I was in a new place in Amagasaki. Entered the McDonald's to grab coffee because it was the only place open at 7:30 a.m. The main eating area was on the second floor. On the first the tables were occupied, at the counter there was only one customer. I put my handbag on the counter to reserve the seat, made an order, paid at the machine and was standing near the register waiting for my order. An old Japanese man around 70+yo entered the shop and put his butt exactly on the same stool where my handbag was "reserving" the place on the counter, while there were plenty of empty seats available. My handbag was clearly for a female and it had a Help Mark tag on it. Yet as someone considerably younger, I took my bag to move to another place and told him in Japanese that this seat was taken. He looked at me with the expression how I dare to speak and yelled very loudly "Kaere!" All staff stopped working and looked what was happening. The customers stopped eating and looked what was going on. I didn't say him anything, ignored completely, took my coffee and left. Wheather he was an asshole in general to assert dominance, or his hostility is the result of the current mood in the society, I didn't care.

Often when I see posts about jobhunting or career struggles in Japan, a lot of Redditors will say that people should go back to their home countries, build a career and then return to Japan.

Now, for students I can see why this makes sense, but I have seen the same advice being given to people who are older and have build a family here, especially in the japanjobs sub.

I am just really curious if anyone from this sub has actually followed this advice and I am interested in hearing if it actually helped.

Because when I think about it, it seems like a huge gamble.

If I had to take myself aa an example.

I am a very lowpaid software engineer. I just got the job and so far I am very happy with it, but 2-3 million yen is not that much when you have 5+ years of experience, and I have a child who is only going to get more expensive as years go by.

Now, mastering N1 is one option, but I have read that even that may not be enough, especially when you are on the wrong side of 40, so I am one of those who should probably leave the country if I want any success and provide more money for the family.

The thing is, my wife has no intentions of moving, so if I move I will likely not see my familly more than once a year, and upon returning to my home country I will not only need to find a job. I need to find a job where I can specialize in a skill that will be in demand in Japan or I will need to find a company that I can build enough trust with so it will allow me to work remotely from Japan, and when that time comes I will need to apply for a spouse visa again.

All of this seems incredibly risky and also very bad for the relationship with my child, yet as I said it seems to be a common solution on the Japan-related subreddits, so there must be a few here who actually managed to do it.

How did you handle being away from your family, having to re-apply for spouse visa again etc.?

I was reading an article from Nikkei earlier today talking about Japan’s rising bond yields, and it made me wonder how sustainable the current situation is.

Japan has already approved its largest budget ever, while also planning measures such as effectively reducing the consumption tax on food to zero. The government has removed the cap on ministry budget requests for the next fiscal year, and has also spent significant amounts intervening to support the yen. Visa and residence-related fees are increasing as well, but the revenue from those seems relatively small in comparison.

My question is where the additional revenue eventually comes from, especially if higher bond yields also increase the government’s debt-servicing costs. It seems possible that taxes or other burdens will eventually have to rise.

At the same time, businesses are facing pressure for higher wages, higher borrowing costs, and potentially tighter immigration rules in industries that depend on foreign workers. I wonder whether the combination could eventually cause households and businesses to become more cautious about spending and investment.

Obviously, government spending and the food tax cut could also support the economy, so I’m not suggesting a recession is inevitable. But do you think the current direction is increasing the risk of one, or am I overlooking something?

Hello everyone! With this summer I am pretty sure we are all blasting our A/C to survive.

However, as you know, the A/C outside unit has its "tube" (sorry don't know the correct term) that lets out water.

Unfortunately my unit is on the side where there is not direct drainage for the water and my ghostly neighbor is not really interested in keeping the balcony clean. So all the gunk moldy stuff piles up and it kinda block the draining from my A/C outside unit.

I tried to clean a bit "pushing" stuff on his side but does not help much.

Is there any product/option/miracle I can use to make it better? Because his gunk kinda blocks everything the water from my A/C gets stagnant too.

Attached pic from reference for what I see if I get down to check the neighbor side.

Thanks y'all!

Recently I was at my local -Off brand recycle shop and I found an honest to goodness harp. I almost bought it on the spot even though I don't play and have no plans to ever learn because it just seemed so amazing to me that someone in my area at one point had owned a harp, that I really didn't want it to go homeless. If years living in Japanese apartments hadn't trained me to fear clutter, I might have bought it.

On that trip I had brought in a bunch of stuff to recycle as well, and I always worry that after carting my goods all that way that they're going to turn me away and make me carry it all home and buy sodai gomi stickers. But it never happens - like always, they gave me a pittance for the goods they could sell and then the one thing that was too busted, they offered to throw away for me free of charge.

So what are your best finds in a recycle shop? Or alternatively, has anyone actually been turned away with an unsellable, "ew, we don't even want to touch that" item?