Life in Japan with 3 Bengal Cats

When I first considered joining Costco in Japan, the annual fee made me hesitate. Paying every year just for the right to shop felt unusual, especially when regular supermarkets do not charge an entrance fee. Here is the easiest way to look at it. If you save around ¥1,000 each time you shop , visiting about six times a year could cover the standard Costco Japan membership fee. For the Executive Membership, spending about ¥264,000 per year , or roughly ¥22,000 per month , on eligible purchases is the point where the 2% reward can roughly cover the extra membership cost. That does not mean you should spend more just to earn rewards. Costco works best when it replaces part of your normal grocery shopping rather than creating extra shopping. Which Costco Japan Membership Should You Choose? Costco Japan offers two main personal membership options. The standard Gold Star Membership is the simpler choice for people who visit only occasionally. It gives you access to Costco warehouses withou...

After moving to Japan, I started noticing more people checking the prepared food section in the evening. Some shoppers seemed to know exactly when to arrive, while I was still wondering why everyone was looking so closely at the bento boxes. The reason was simple: they were checking for discount stickers. If you are wondering what time Japanese supermarkets mark down food, the most useful answer is this: small discounts often begin in the late afternoon, while larger markdowns usually appear in the evening or during the final hour before closing. However, there is no fixed schedule across Japan. Each grocery store follows its own routine, and food does not always reach half price. What Time Do Discount Stickers Usually Appear? Many supermarkets in Japan begin reducing prices on fresh and prepared food sometime between late afternoon and early evening. The exact timing depends on the store, but this is a general guide based on what I often see. Time Typical Markdown Pattern 3:00–5:00 PM...

Before moving to Japan, rice was only one of several foods I might eat during the week. Bread, noodles, potatoes, and pasta were just as common. After living in Japan, though, rice gradually became part of my everyday routine. It comes with grilled fish at set-meal restaurants, fills most bento boxes, and forms the base of curry, gyudon, sushi, and countless convenience-store meals. Without really planning to, I started eating rice far more often than I had before. That got me thinking about the type of rice I was buying. Was white rice fine to eat regularly? Would brown rice be noticeably healthier? Or would mixing grains into ordinary white rice be a more practical choice? I started checking rice at local supermarkets, Costco, Amazon, and other online stores. The more I compared, the more I realized that choosing rice in Japan is not only about nutrition. Taste, preparation time, storage, price, and how often you actually want to eat it all matter. White Rice, Brown Rice, and Multigr...

How often should you wash your pillowcase? Washing it every day may be ideal, but for most people, that is not realistic or necessary. A more manageable pillowcase washing frequency is usually every three to seven days, depending on how much you sweat, the season, and your skin. I started thinking about this after watching a Japanese TV show that compared pillowcases to clothing. The idea was simple: both come into close contact with your skin and collect sweat, oil, and dead skin. It made sense, but I also knew I was not going to remove, wash, dry, and replace my pillowcase every morning. So I found an easier solution. I place a thin face towel over my pillow and change the towel each morning. I still wash the pillowcase about once a week, but the part touching my face stays fresher without creating much extra work. How Often Should You Wash Your Pillowcase? For many households, washing a pillowcase every three to seven days is a practical schedule. You may want to wash it more often ...

When I first moved to Japan, I was surprised by how common it was to take a bath every evening. I was used to quick showers, so filling a bathtub every day sounded expensive. I kept wondering how much it added to the water and gas bills, especially in winter. After living here for years, I ended up learning something I did not expect. A bath is not always the more expensive choice. It depends on how many people live in the home, how long the shower runs, and whether the family shares the same bathwater. A Short Shower Usually Costs Less for One Person For someone living alone, a quick shower is usually the cheapest option. A typical shower uses around 10 to 12 liters of water per minute. A five-minute shower may use about 50 to 60 liters, while a ten-minute shower can use around 100 to 120 liters. A standard Japanese bathtub often holds roughly 160 to 200 liters. That means a short shower normally uses much less water than filling the tub for one person. Since less water needs to be he...

I never really thought about my air conditioner’s airflow direction until one summer night in Japan. I wanted to sleep with the AC on, but I hate having cold air blow directly onto my face. So I tilted the vent upward and left it there. Then I started wondering whether I was giving up better cooling just to avoid the breeze. After all, cold air sinks and warm air rises. Wouldn’t that mean the AC should point down in summer and up in winter? I was wrong. For most homes, the basic rule is simple: Season Best Airflow Direction Summer cooling Up or slightly horizontal Winter heating Down That small adjustment can make the temperature feel more even and may help your air conditioner run more efficiently. Best Air Conditioner Airflow Direction in Summer In summer, the best AC airflow direction is usually upward or slightly horizontal. Cool air naturally moves downward. When the air conditioner sends it across the upper part of the space, it gradually settles and spreads through the living ar...

After writing about the best time to take probiotics, I kept noticing another question come up again and again: When is the best time to take vitamins? Should you take them in the morning or at night? Is it better before meals or after eating? When I first started buying vitamin supplements in Japan, I honestly did not think much about timing. I usually took them whenever I happened to remember. But Japanese drugstores have so many choices that I eventually started paying more attention to the instructions on the package. What I learned was reassuring: for most people, there is no single perfect time that works for every vitamin. The type of supplement, whether you have eaten, and how easily you can fit it into your day usually matter more. Does the Time You Take Vitamins Really Matter? Timing can make a difference, but it is easy to overthink it. Many people worry that taking vitamins at the wrong time will make them useless. I wondered about that too, especially after seeing differen...

If you've ever searched for the best time to take probiotics, you've probably found completely different answers. Some websites recommend taking them on an empty stomach, while others say they should be taken with food. After reading several articles, it's easy to wonder whether the timing really matters. The short answer is that it depends on the product. If you live in Japan, you may also notice that probiotic supplements here often come with different strain names, dosage instructions, and storage requirements. That can make choosing one even more confusing, especially when most of the packaging is written in Japanese. If your probiotic supplement includes specific instructions, those should always come first. If it doesn't, taking it shortly before breakfast or with a meal is generally a practical choice for most people. In this guide, I'll explain when to take probiotics, whether morning or evening is better, how to choose one for constipation or diarrhea, and ...

My husband recently needed to withdraw cash using his Japan Post Bank card. The nearest place was a FamilyMart, so I assumed it would have a Yucho ATM and suggested going there instead of walking farther to the post office. But when we arrived, there was no Yucho ATM inside. I opened Google Maps, searched for the nearest post office, and found one a little farther away. In the end, we walked there and withdrew the money without paying a fee. The experience made me realize that I had misunderstood how convenience store ATMs work in Japan. A FamilyMart may have an ATM, but it is not necessarily a Yucho ATM. After returning home, I checked where a Japan Post Bank card can be used and how much the ATM fees differ. Can You Use a Japan Post Bank Card at Convenience Store ATMs? A Japan Post Bank cash card can be used at several types of ATMs, including: Yucho ATMs inside post offices or Japan Post Bank branches Yucho ATMs in some FamilyMart stores, stations, and shopping facilities Seven Bank...

One of the least pleasant parts of summer in Japan is opening the kitchen trash can and immediately noticing the smell. Fish scraps are especially bad, but I was also surprised by how quickly watermelon and melon rinds could begin to smell. During Japan’s hot and humid summer, even a trash can with a tightly closed lid may become unpleasant before the next garbage collection day. When I first moved to Japan, I thought attaching a deodorizer to the lid would be enough. It helped a little, but it did not solve the real problem. The smell usually came from moisture and food scraps sitting in a warm kitchen for several days. After dealing with this for many summers, I slowly developed a routine using newspaper, baking soda, small plastic bags, and even the freezer. None of these habits began as part of a carefully planned system. I simply added each one after another leaking garbage bag or unpleasant smell. These are the methods that have remained part of our summer routine. Using Newspape...