Content map โ
Overview of all pages
Guides
- Ishigaki guidebook
- This guidebook is created by the hosts of Me-Fi-You Ishigaki Island
- Kyushu (ไนๅท) Trip
- Notes on Kyushu highlights, including Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Beppu, plus a sample itinerary.
- Yakushima guide
- Yakushima is a lush, subtropical island located off the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan. Covered in ancient cedar forests, Yakushima is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and unique wildlife.
Shinkansen (bullet train) guide ๐
- Platt Kodama - discount Shinkansen tickets between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka ๐
- Guide on using Platt Kodama plan for discounted travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen, including booking, pickup, and free drink perks. Stations include Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka.
- Tokyo to Kanazawa Shinkansen guide ๐
- Overview of Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa and discounted tickets.
- Tokyo to Nagoya Shinkansen guide ๐
- Comparison of Shinkansen travel times and discounted ticket options between Tokyo and Nagoya.
Start Here ๐ช
- Apps for Japan
- Useful iOS apps for travel, payments, and daily life in Japan.
- Mobile data in Japan
- Quick notes on getting mobile data or cell service when traveling in Japan.
- Places to book ahead for a Japan trip
- Attractions in Japan that require advance reservations, including booking windows and tips.
- ZIPAIR tips
- Practical notes on flying ZIPAIR, including seat selection, meals, and luggage policies.
Kansai region guides
- Kyoto trip
- Ideas for things to do, itineraries, and food options during a Kyoto visit.
- Nara trip notes
- My quick notes for a Nara trip.
- Osaka trip notes
- Ideas for things to do in Osaka and quick notes from a prior stay.
- Studio Ghibli Park notes
- Tips for visiting Studio Ghibli Park, covering tickets, lockers, and suggested routes.
- Trip to Nagoya
- Notes on traveling to Nagoya, including transport options, attractions, and routes onward to Takayama.
- Wakayama Prefecture trip ideas
- Suggested itineraries and places to visit across Wakayama, including Koyasan, Shirahama, and the Kumano Kodo.
Tokyo guides
- Biking in Tokyo
- Quick link to bike-sharing locations in Tokyo, including the Docomo Cycle map.
- Studio Ghibli Museum - Tokyo
- A guide to booking tickets for the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.
- Tokyo neighborhoods overview
- Breakdown of major Tokyo neighborhoods, including highlights, drawbacks, and key attractions for travelers.
- Tokyo trip ideas
- Notes on things to book, neighborhoods to explore, and hotel tips for a Tokyo itinerary.
Weekend Trips from Tokyo
- 3-day weekend trip to Chichibu
- A nice nature escape from Tokyo to the mountains of Chichibu where you can enjoy hiking, parks, hot springs, and more.
- Ajisai (Hydrangea) in Kamakura ๐
- Where and when to see ajisai (็ดซ้ฝ่ฑ๏ผhydrangeas) in Kamakura during the June rainy season, plus tips to beat the crowds.
- Hakone weekend trip
- Enjoy a long weekend in Hakone with hiking, art museums, hot springs, and views of Mount Fuji.
- Izu and Hakone weekend trip itinerary
- Itinerary for a long weekend trip to Izu peninsula and Hakone from Tokyo that covers Shuzenji, Mishima Skywalk, and Hakone attractions.
- Kamakura and Enoshima
- Discover historic temples and coastal charm in Kamakura (้ๅ) and Enoshima (ๆฑใฎๅณถ).
Notes for expats living in Japan
- Helpful housekeeping notes
- Handy links and tips for washers, dryers, and drying clothes in Japan.
- Hiking in Tokyo
- Hiking trail recommendations near Tokyo, from beginner-friendly outings to challenging full-day treks.
- Kichijoji notes
- Quick lookup list of gyms in Kichijoji with memberships, fees, and links.
- Notes on international shipping from and to Japan
- How to use Japan Post's International Mail My Page Service, including EAD rules, contact uploads, and label creation.
- Passport renewal via My Number Card
- How to renew your Japanese passport using the My Number Card online portal.
- SoftBank to Y!mobile: online eSIM transfer guide
- A guide for transferring your mobile line from SoftBank to Y!mobile online with eSIM, including procedures, costs, and tips.
- Tokyo food recommendations
- My favorite restaurants and cafes in Tokyo.
- Useful Websites for Locals
- Useful websites for living and traveling in Japan.
Furusato Nozei - Hometown Tax System
- Introduction to the hometown tax one-stop special exception system and special application form
- English overview of the hometown tax one-stop special exception system, including eligibility, benefits, and filing steps.
Kichijoji Neighborhood
- Food options in Kichijoji
- Lunch and dinner ideas in Kichijoji, grouped by price range.
Moving to Tokyo
- Buying second-hand furniture and appliances
- How to find second-hand furniture and appliances in Japan.
- Internet and cell service in Tokyo
- How to choose internet and mobile plans in Tokyo, including store tips, payment methods, and plan advice.
- Useful things to buy for your Tokyo apartment
- Items that make life easier in a small Tokyo apartment.
Roppongi Neighborhood
- Roppongi and Azabu spots
- Notes on supermarkets, food options, cafes, and parks around Roppongi and Azabu.
How to renew Japanese visa online with a Mac
- How to Check Visa Renewal Status
- Quick guide on how to check the status of your Japanese visa renewal application when you applied online.
- JPKI User Software Ver.3.5 Installation Guide
- English machine translation of the JPKI User Software Ver.3.5 installation guide.
Tech
- AI prompt - Japanese writing
- ChatGPT prompts for translating, editing, and writing Japanese text.
- Chrome tip - Simplify disabling ad privacy settings
- Shortcut to quickly open Chrome ad privacy settings to turn off tracking.
- Coding fonts for VS Code
- My choice of fonts for VS Code: install and setup guide.
- Export a Garoon event to Apple Calendar with a bookmarklet
- A bookmarklet that turns the open Garoon event into an iCal file you can import into Apple Calendar, with a full breakdown of the code.
- Figma plugins for UX writers
- Figma plugins that help UX writers move faster when editing copy inside design files.
- Google Doc automation - append weekly report with a template
- Example of a Google Apps Script automation that appends a Google Doc with a template on a given schedule.
- How to share audio to multiple AirPods on Macs
- Steps to share audio to two AirPods sets using a Multi-Output Device on macOS.
- How to unlock an AT&T iPhone
- Steps to check eligibility, request an AT&T device unlock for an iPhone, and use the phone with another carrier or a local SIM.
- Migrate macOS apps with Homebrew
- Export and import macOS applications using Homebrew and Brewfile.
- My Favorite Mac Apps
- A list of great apps for Mac users.
- nightTab - Custom new tab setup
- Tailor your browser's new tab page with the nightTab extension.
- Writing roles
- Compare UX writing, technical writing, developer relations, and customer support in tech companies.
Tips
- Apps for a United States trip
- List of iOS apps to download before traveling to the United States.
- Australia travel notes
- My notes after traveling to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania in Australia.
- Figma's Config conference tips
- Tips and suggestions for attending Figma's Config conference.
- Multi-currency accounts for travel
- Overview of Wise and Revolut
- Shows and movies with Japan vibes
- List of shows and movies to get you in the mood for Japan.
- Taiwan travel notes
- Travel tips for Taiwan covering payments, transit cards, and eSIM data.
- Tips for a long layover in Beijing
- Travel tips for a 20-hour layover at Beijing Capital International Airport.
- Yen & Moving Out of Japan
- How to hold yen when moving out of Japan.
Europe travel tips
- Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels trip
- Notes for planning a combined trip to Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels.