Can Foreigners Buy Property in Japan: An Ultimate Guide How to Buy a House in 2026
Before you start mentally arranging your tatami mats, though, there’s one rather important question: can foreigners buy property in Japan? The short answer is yes, absolutely. Japan allows foreigners to purchase houses, apartments, and most types of land, whether they live in Japan or on the other side of the planet. You don’t need Japanese […]
Best Toy Stores in Tokyo: 11 Brilliant Shops (2026)
There is a particular kind of trouble you can get into in Tokyo: you pop into a toy shop for a ¥500 souvenir and emerge an hour later carrying a miniature Shinkansen, three plush animals, and an elaborate robot kit you absolutely did not plan to buy. We understand. Toy shopping in Tokyo is a […]
Best Japanese Jewelry Brands: 21 Labels to Know (2026)
There is a moment in a Japanese jewelry shop when a perfectly arranged display makes you forget you only came in to browse. One minute we are admiring a tiny pearl pendant; the next, we are seriously considering whether a designer ring counts as a travel souvenir. (We think it does.) Japan does understated elegance […]
Best Shoes to Buy in Japan in 2026: 10 Japanese Brands Worth Shopping
There’s something dangerously tempting about shoe shopping in Japan. You walk into a store in Harajuku looking for a comfortable pair of sneakers, and suddenly you’re admiring beautifully crafted leather shoes, limited-edition ASICS, and minimalist canvas trainers that look suspiciously like something you’d find in a Tokyo design museum. Japan has a serious footwear obsession, […]
Mori Girl Fashion (2026): The Ultimate Guide to Japan’s Dreamy Forest-Girl Style
Imagine wandering into a tiny Japanese vintage shop, past racks of floaty cotton dresses, oversized knitted cardigans, embroidered blouses, and lace-trimmed skirts. Everything looks as though it belongs to a slightly eccentric fairy-tale heroine who spends her afternoons collecting wildflowers and reading old books. Welcome to Mori Girl fashion: Japan’s answer to the question, “What […]
Best Watches To Buy In Japan: From Affordable Classics to Luxury Timepieces (2026)
Discover the 7 best watches to buy in Japan, from affordable Casio and Seiko to luxury Grand Seiko, Credor and Kurono Tokyo, plus buying tips for Japan. Walk into a watch department in Tokyo, and you’ll quickly discover that the Swiss don’t have a monopoly on excellent watches. Between the retro Casios, beautifully finished Seikos, […]
Everything About Japanese Gyaru Fashion: History, Styles, Makeup & Where to Shop (2026)
Picture Shibuya in the late 1990s. Schoolgirls in impossibly loose socks drift past record shops, platform boots clatter along the pavement, and somewhere upstairs in SHIBUYA109, the latest must-have outfit is selling out. The hair is blonde, the skirts are short, and nobody seems remotely interested in blending in. Welcome to Japanese gyaru fashion: one […]
Visual Kei Fashion in Japan: Complete Guide to Styles, Brands & Where to Buy (2026)
Imagine a Japanese rock star stepping onto the stage wearing a Victorian-inspired coat, towering boots, silver chains, dramatic eye makeup, and a hairstyle that seems to defy several laws of physics. Now imagine another musician in a pastel hoodie covered in cartoon characters, with bright pink hair and matching accessories. Both could belong to the […]
Jirai Kei Fashion in Japan (2026): Style, Makeup & Where to Buy Jirai Kei Clothes
Black lace, powder-pink ribbons, impossibly chunky shoes, and enough frills to make a Victorian doll jealous. Welcome to jirai kei fashion, one of Japan’s most fascinating alternative fashion trends. At first glance, it’s all sweetness and innocence. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll notice something darker lurking beneath those oversized bows. That’s exactly the […]
Best Tokyo Station shopping in 2026: Best stores, specialty food halls, character shops & underground malls
Tokyo Station is dangerous territory for anyone who loves Japanese snacks, adorable character merchandise, and souvenirs they absolutely didn’t plan to buy. You might arrive with 30 minutes to spare before your Shinkansen, only to find yourself debating whether you really need another Pokémon plushie, three boxes of Tokyo Banana, and a suspiciously large bag […]