About Best Living Japan
Best Living Japan (ベストリビングジャパン) was founded in 2015 is a Tokyo based blog about raising kids in Japan, and providing Japan-specific lifestyle information for globally-minded families living and traveling to Japan. We share activities, events, and information that we believe is useful and fun for families in Japan. The Best Living moms are not “experts” on Japan, but we have a lot of useful real-life info as two moms who have combined six children ages (24-7 years), and over 30 years living in Japan. The blog was closed on 12/2021 an content is not maintained. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lauren at Blisskawasaki@hotmail.com. thank you for your support.
We also run an art studio gallery (Tokyo Art Studio) next to our Best Living Japan Studio. Tokyo Art Studio strives to provide a platform for the global community of emerging artists based in Japan. Through exhibitions and programming, TAS encourages our community to creatively connect with one another through the power of art and dialogue.
Our motto is Learn, Laugh, and Live!
Contact Best Living Japan
Best Living Japan Studio Rental Request: Our studio is available to rent for 1/2 or full days. Room for 12 people hands-on crafts and cooking, or 25 seminar style.
Write for Best Living Japan: We are always looking for Japan-based and traveling moms who want to share their experiences. Check out our contributor criteria here.
Teach at Best Living Japan: Partner with Best Living Japan to offer your skills and services to the global community living and traveling to Japan. If you are interested in offering a class or course send us your ideas and we will be in touch! info@BestLivingJapan.com
Advertising & partnerships: To pay our bills we do have some associate and advertising relationships with 3rd party companies which we believe in and use on a regal basis. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please send us an email to info@BestLivingJapan.com
Who are we?
Lauren Bliss Kawasaki (川﨑ﾌﾞﾘｽ ﾛｰﾚﾝ) – Co-Founder, Best Living Japan
I am an American mother of four curious and creative kids (elementary, high school & college) and one very supportive husband who is a Japan native. In total, I have lived in Japan for 25 years (over three stints). For 20+ years, I was on the corporate track; gaining an MBA from Harvard Business School, working brand management at Clorox, helping to start BabyCenter.com and finally working 14 years at Amazon.com and .jp. In 2014, I retired from corporate life and am now a mompreneur. Best Living Japan is me following my passion and sharing it with others. I hope that you enjoy the information and classes & workshops we provide. We also launched an Art Gallery in Tokyo (The Tokyo Art Studio) which has 3-6 shows per year. Stop by the studio and say hi! We are located at 3-17-12 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Sandra Takada (高田 サンドラ） – Retired Co-Founder, Best Living Japan
I’m an asian-American mother of two elementary school age kids living in Tokyo. I studied software engineering in the U.S.. After 5 years of programming & consulting I took a sabbatical year and moved to Japan, traveled around Asia, and met my husband in Tokyo. I gave birth to my son in 2011 and founded a web-blog called Tokyo Stroller soon after. In late June 2015 Tokyo Stroller merged with Best Living Japan. Although, retired from blogging now I was the Co-Founder, of Best Living Japan from 2016 – 2020.
This is going to be absolutely fantastic and fun for me to read! Way to get creative Lauren! I will definitely be watching this space! Thanks for sharing! – Lucy
Very Informative and a pleasure to read. Lots of places to visit and explore!! Can’t wait for the next additions! Well Done Lauren!!!
This is going to be a fantastic resource. Thanks so very much. Looking forward to your perspectives.
Terrific idea! Hope to visit one day and this will give me a great head start. Bravo!!!
Thanks Lauren! Great ideas!
Congrats….will be fun to live Japan vicariously through you. Of course we always hope you make it back to SF some time!
Thanks all for their positive feedback and support. Still a lot more to work! Keep following Best Living Japan!
A new friend shared your sight today. We are empty nesters having moved back here to Tokyo one month ago. We previously lived in Tokyo 30 years ago for 3 year working for GM. Now back for a one year business assignment for my husband, I am anxious to follow your site and hopefully pick up some ideas for enjoying life in Tokyo.
Hello Lauren,
Like many others I do also like your site as I’m frequently travelling into Tokyo for business and staying there for extended periods. Its not always easy to get started in a new city, I mean after first week or so exploring, you start to need proper tips and tricks to really open every city. Having personal guides (e.g. not commercially focused) like yours helps greatly as its far easier to trust and relate to.. Great job!
Thanks Lina, I appreciate the feedback, and hope you continue find the information and community on http://www.bestlivingjapan.com helpful.
Lina, Sorry for the late feedback! I am so happy to hear BestLivingJapan is making you trips to Japan more fulfilling! Thanks for being a loyal reader. Lauren and Sandra
Hi .. Loved reading your blog and happy to get all the useful and most needed information.. Thankx a ton
Dear Lauren and Sandra,
We ask you to promote our annual Swedish Christmas Bazaar! As you did last year.
Thanks in advance!
Kind regards
Anna
Hi Anna, Thank you! We`ll add your bazaar to our weekend activities post! -Sandra
Hi Lauren: I was giving your name by Beth Cohen. She used to live in Tokyo. She said she’s stayed at your Airbnb after moving back to the States. Beth highly recommended getting in touch with you about staying there. My husband, adult son & I are planning our first trip to Japan in October 2018. We would like to stay in your Airbnb while in Tokyo, but we have been unable to book through Airbnb. All dates seem blocked. We haven’t booked flights yet & are flexible. Do you have any availability? Please let me know. If not, any other recommendations? We’re first timers to Japan & were really hoping to connect with with you. Love this website!! Many thanks! Sharyn Zuch
Hi Sharyn, I have forwarded your message to Lauren@bestlivingjapan.com. -Sandra
Hi Lauren & Sandra,
We are wondering whether we could ask you to post various summer programs that our
school offers on your website.
If so, please let us know how we go about it.
Thank you and looking forward to your reply.
Mayumi
Hi Mayumi, Yes we will get in touch with your directly. Kindest Lauren
Dear Lauren and Sandra,
I love bestliving japan, so helpful for our family to explore living in Japan.
Nong.
Dear Nong, Thank you for your lovely comment. We appreciate your support. -Sandra
Dear HIMAWARI
I would like to communicate with you through email to follow up a case that you recommended to me a clinic (TOSHIMA CLINIC) claims with doctors that speak English. This turned out to be NOT.
Please contact me via email and I will tell your the entire story. I hope you can help me to solve a problem
Thank you very much in advance
Shing LAU
Dear Shing LAU, we`re sorry to hear about your experience. We are not Himawari, however you can state your claim on their opinion site here. -Sandra
Hi Best Living Japan,
I’m a freelance photo editor working with AFAR media on an upcoming online guide to Tokyo.
One of the entries in the guide will be Ito-ya Paper Shop and I found some wonderful photos in an article on your site and I’m wondering if you would be willing to send us some of your photos so we could select one to use in our guide? Here’s the link to the article: https://bestlivingjapan.com/itoya-ginza-flagship-store-tokyo/
Would you please contact me at kategiel@gmail.com so that I may give you project details? Thanks much, hope to hear from you soon.
All best,
Kate
Kate Giel
Freelance Photo Editor, AFAR Media
Hi Kate, email sent. Please check your Inbox. Thank you. -Sandra
I am so happy to meet you Lauren and learn about your website. Your website has information for helping me navigate and enjoy Tokyo all that Tokyo has to offer. I wish I had known about this site four years ago when I arrived in Tokyo.
Hi Tamara, Thank you for the positive feedback. We also love your twitter account “The Noisy Librarian”. Also thanks so much for getting my daughter to love books and reading at ASIJ!
Hi Lauren!
Happy New Year and hope all is well! Greetings from Farmington and Boston. Got your website address from your parents’ recent Christmas Card. Hoping you can respond to my email address below.
Thanks,
Kristie Russell
Former Resident of 77 Reservoir Rd
Hi Kristie, Nice to reconnect. I will send you an email. Lauren
Hello,
My name is Chiaki Watanabe, Japanese native living in Copenhagen via New York (originally from Tokyo).
I am looking for a venue/studio space to do my Japanese art inspired calligraphy art workshop in Tokyo this summer during July to early September. It will be held in English and it is for children and adults.
I saw your site and I am interested in your studio for my workshop.
Please let me know details if your studio is available.
My link : asobolab.net
Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Best
Chiaki of ASOBO LAB
CHIAKI WATANABE
……………………..
asobolab.net
Hi Chiaki, thank you for your interest in our studio. I have sent you an email to your account.
Kindest Lauren
Hello,
Myself, my husband and our twin four year olds will be living near Ookayama station near the Tokyo Institute of Technology starting on April 1. We’re a family that travels internationally frequently, and we’ll be in Tokyo for 2 months. I’d love to find some local kids and parents who speak English to meet up with. Can you tell me which groups I should be contacting? I’ve never been to Japan and don’t know the area.
Thank you,
Leah
Hi Leah, Please take a look at our Parents Resources List. There are some really good groups on the list. https://bestlivingjapan.com/japan-parenting-groups-and-resources/
Hello, I am organizing a guide to Hokkaido website and just listed your link under our Japan Links section. Keep up the great work!
https://nandalow.com/index.php?page=catalogues&type=category&id=9
If you visit Hokkaido let us know.
Cheers
Stevyn
Hi Steve, Very nice Guide, If we create guides or references by locations we will add your site! Lauren
Will there be a chabako class offered anytime? Thanks!
Yes, we have Chabako classes this Spring. Check on http://www.bestlivingjapan.com/classes
Hello,
Would love to have more washi Easter egg classes please.