Shop & Serve

SABON opened their first cafe-spa in Nakameguro Tokyo. SABON offers a rich variety of quality cosmetic products focused on natural ingredients and beneficial minerals from the Dead Sea. They carry homemade soaps, bath products, among others. SABON has locations all over the world with over 50 locations in Japan, and …

Tokyo Urban Garden Planting Calendar – Autumn. Whether you`re an accomplished gardener or a novice, gardening is a great opportunity to partner with Mother Nature and bond with family and friends. Gardening teaches patience, care and offers a pathway to better health and nutrition. Our advice for novice gardeners is to …

Whether you live in Japan or are visiting chances are you enjoying the 2019 Rugby World Cup this autumn. Such a great spirit in the air as the Japan player host country. To commemorate the 2019 Rugby World Cup make sure to pick up a shirt or ball! They also …

When I worked in the corporate world and was 10-20 years younger, I dreaded the annual mandatory company Ningen Dock (Japan Physical Check-up). Now I am a mompreneur and who has to pay for my medical care mostly, so I had not had an annual Ningen Dock in four years. …

Electrically assisted bicycles is a great way to save money while burning off some extra calories! When you take a stroll down the street mums riding electrically assisted bicycles are bound to soar by. The number of people purchasing electrically assisted bicycles escalated after the March 11 earthquake in 2011; as …

Guide to Strollers in Japan – Brands, Types and Where to Buy You can find a wide variety of strollers in Japan – both domestic and imported brands are equally popular here. It can be difficult finding the right stroller for you and your needs, but strollers in Japan are …

Weaning is an important milestone in a baby’s growth. To help you here is our Guide to Japanese Baby Food Brands and Ingredients. As parents, we want to make the right choices regarding baby’s food and diet. In Japan, weaning typically begins when babies are around 5 or 6 months …

Guide to Baby Diapers in Japan Added to the stress that comes with a new baby comes selecting the right diaper to suit your baby’s needs. Any advertising catchphrase will tell you “__ percent of moms love xx brand!” So, how do you chose the right brand of diapers for …

When you move to Japan with kids one of your top priorities is to find a Tokyo English speaking pediatricians. Luckily for us, there is an increasing number of skilled pediatricians in Tokyo to choose.  Below is a list of seven Tokyo based English speaking pediatricians that my friends and I …

Here is a curated listed of Tokyo-based English speaking OBGYNs that we (Lauren and Sandra) and many of my Tokyo Expat friends have used and recommend.  If you are choosing an OBGYN for pregnancy, you will also want to check which hospital or clinic the doctor has delivery access.   …

Zusso Kids Hair Salon is a great place to get your kids first haircut. They have everything a child needs to keep them entertained; mini cars to sit in, small toys for toddlers, and a selection of Japanese and Disney movies to keep them entertained. They will shampoo, cut, blow …

In an effort to improve the nutritional diets of our families we looked more closely into Japanese packaged kids snacks. Below is calorie, tutorial and allergen comparison of  14 of the most common package snack foods sold in Japan. We all know fruits and veggies are the best but we …

Guide to Baby Wipes in Japan As with diapers, there is a large variety of baby wipes available on the Japanese market. According to a survey by Unicharm, a leading producer of sanitary items and the manufacturer of Moony and Mamy Poko diapers, the top three qualities that Japanese mothers …

School is in session which means sports and sitting close to each other, but also some contagious children’s ailments. Be prepared and know what to look for. Here are five common contagious children’s ailments in Japan.  We also have a list of skin conditions which are causes by heat and …

One of the most helpful and free services the Tokyo Metropolitan Government provides to Japanese and foreigners is the Himawari Medical Information Service. If you are looking for a doctor or pharmacy, you can call or look on the Himawari English language website.  Himawari also provides emergency medical translation services. …

We`ve listed a few of the most common illnesses among young children in Japan; the Japanese pronunciation, English translation and ways to describe sickness / pain. Please keep this list handy when visiting your local Japanese clinic. If you have some to add please leave in the comment section below. Japanese …

Tokyo is a clean city on the surface but the everyday pollution and fast pace of life can take a beating on your clothes, so here are our top Japanese laundry products to help you out. As a mom of four and a pet owner I highly recommend these Must …

Akachan Honpo baby goods store offers one of the widest selection of pregnancy and baby items in Japan. You can find most Japanese and foreign baby gear brands across strollers, car seats, toys and feeding accessories. Although shopping online is awesome when one does not have time, a visit to …

Shopping in a Japanse supermarket can be overwhelming, but navigating the cleaning aisle can be a search in dispiriting. Don’t struggle any longer. I have probably tested every cleaning product in Japan and here is my recommend Must Have Top 10 Japanese Cleaning Products. If you miss your favourite home …

If you are looking for art supplies for a school project, new crafting passion or a Halloween costume here is a short list of the best Tokyo arts and crafts supply stores.  I have listed up a few places that are my go to locations in Tokyo; many of these also …

If your child suddenly has a skin rash the cause could be heat to a virus – check out six common children’s skin rashes in Japan. The summer months in Japan are warm and moist with lots of outdoor play which can lead to skin rashes and bug bites. Inspect …

Nitori is the IKEA or Bed Bath & Beyond of Japan selling affordable furniture and interior goods.  Nitori is a nationwide chain with more than 300 stores throughout Japan and around 50 stores outside the country. It’s a great place to shop if you are setting up a home in Japan or if you want …

Dirty Dishes is well known amongst the Tokyo & Yokohama expat community as the “Best” place to stock up on Japanese tableware. Dirty Dishes is a family owned dish trading company actually called Okuno Shokai located in a  sleepy residential area of Kawasaki, Kanagawa-ken. If you have a car and …

If you are heading to the beach in Japan, here is our Family Beach Bag Packing List.  This list will differ slightly depending on the age of your kids, but I have four kids 19-6, and we still pack the same stuff. Most beaches in Japan have convenience stores and …

Summer in Japan is hot and humid, but it brings plenty of opportunity for kids to go out and enjoy themselves. While kids take advantage of school vacations and longer day light hours, we must also be vigilant in keeping them safe from insects, intense heat, harmful UV rays and …