daily-life/ Jan 6, 2026
When the Ground Shakes
Living with earthquakes in Japan - understanding warnings, knowing what to do, and why preparedness becomes routine

Living with earthquakes in Japan - understanding warnings, knowing what to do, and why preparedness becomes routine

Tatami floors, kaiseki dinners, and futons laid while you bathe - what to expect from a traditional ryokan stay and why it costs what it costs

Every winter, volunteers walk the streets clapping wooden blocks and calling out fire warnings - a tradition that refuses to fade

Four million vending machines line Japanese streets - selling hot coffee at mountain summits and cold beer at 3am. Why they work here when they fail everywhere else.

From bear invasions to a new prime minister - test your knowledge of what made headlines in Japan this year
