Whether you're just starting out or hit a bump in your road, we're here to help.
The only comprehensive and user-friendly handbook for life in Japan on the internet.
We have everything you need to know. From the healthcare system to using a washing machine.
Life in Japan can be intimidating. We give you the information you need to live comfortably and confidently.
Welcome to Life Abroad
Health & Medical
The Health and Medical section covers a variety of important topics and provides essential resources, such as the structure of the Japanese healthcare system, downloadable bilingual patient intake forms, and popular over-the-counter medications, complete with dosage, instructions, and ingredients in English
Click to see Health & Medical »
Personal Care
The Personal Care section covers the products that people use every day. It can be hard to navigate things such as shampoo, toothpaste, or menstrual products when you’re unfamiliar with the brands or language the packaging is written in.
There is a comprehensive list of popular items in each category, complete with picture, description, and intended use.
Daily life
The Daily Life section covers the aspects of every-day life that may take some guidance. You can learn everything from how to use a laundromat or your own washing machine, to where you can buy home goods, to what services the Japan Postal Service offers.
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Blog
Check out our blog for informative articles, product reviews, and cultural lessons, and how-tos.
LINE
Use LINE? Add us to your friends list to get updates on our site and blog. You can even talk to us directly for 1-on-1 help or advice!
NEWS
We are adding more content all the time. Check back regularly or follow us on social media for updates!
New content
Updated Aug 2nd, 2020
More insecticides added. Click here to see it.
Updated Jul 7th, 2020
Cockroach Bug Spray Added. Click here to see it.
Updated Feb 9th, 2020
Surgical Masks in Japan and Mask Certifications Video Added. Click here to see it.
Latest Blog
Latest Blog
Updated May 4, 2019
In-Home Insect Repellents & Mold Preventers: 防虫剤（ボウチュウザイ）. Click here to see it.
In-Home Insect Repellents
Dehumidifiers 除湿剤（じょしつざい）
The Ghibli Museum
Hay Fever
Superstitions
Flowing Soumen
Video
Surgical Masks in Japan and Mask Certifications
Med+ (Medplus)
New service released at May 14th, 2019
Med+ is an answer to a call we experienced while operating our main site, Life Abroad. Through our analytics, we were able to see that the majority of visitors to our site came in search of medical information.
Med+ is an interactive source of information regarding over-the-counter medications available in Japan, with a social media aspect that allows users to recommend certain medicines to others through the use of comments, likes, Facebook, and Twitter.
Our goal with Med+ is to get more reliable information out to those who need it, and allow our users to communicate with each other regarding their own experiences with different medicines.
