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Go! Go! Nihon blog
Author: Go! Go! Nihon Staff
How to
When you think of travel in Japan you may first think of trains and the bullet train or Shinkansen in particular. However, what you may not realise is that you’re missing out on a much...
Food&Drink
Breakfast in Japan is quite different from what most people are used to, especially if you come from the western part of the world where breakfast food is very distinguished from the other meals of...
How to
Japan often seems to be at the forefront of many things, but when it comes to zero waste living, it can feel like it’s in the dark ages. Living zero waste in even the most...
Japanese Culture
Japanese green tea (茶, cha) is a very important part of Japanese culture and the accompanying ceremony is one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement. The Japanese tea ceremony is called sadō (茶道) or...
Life in Japan
Fukuoka was rated one of the most livable cities in the world for several years in a row. It is Japan’s 4th largest urban area in Japan with a population of 1.5 million. Tokyo, on...
Japanese Culture
It’s hard to imagine communicating these days without the use of emojis – but do you know their history? Read on to learn more about the history of emojis and the significant role that Japan...
Japanese Culture
Japanese calligraphy is one of the most well known and popular of the traditional arts of Japan. It’s called shodō (書道) in Japanese, which literally means way of writing. Shodō has a very long history....
Food&Drink
If you’re walking around in Tokyo and your stomach suddenly growls, how about treating that hunger with some Japanese ramen? It’s savory, filling, and can literally be consumed whenever, wherever, and however you like it....
Learn Japanese
We all feel under the weather sometimes. Whether you’re visiting on a trip or studying abroad in Japan, in the case you are feeling ill, it’s important to know how to take care of yourselves...
Food&Drink
Japanese sweets are as beautiful as they are delicious. Japanese traditional sweets, wagashi (和菓子), are an art practice in and of themselves and are designed to stimulate all five senses. As a culture with a...
Only in Japan
Spring is perhaps the most popular season of the year in Japan. Snow has been melting, the weather has begun to warm, and beautiful cherry blossoms are blooming to paint the landscape in soft pink...
How to
When traveling anywhere in the world it’s important to think about what you’re packing and most importantly what you can and can’t bring into a country. Japan is no different, so we’ve put together a...
Japanese Culture
Early in spring every year families with daughters celebrate Girls’ Day in Japan. It’s referred to as Hinamatsuri (雛祭り) in Japanese, which means doll festival. And for this reason it’s also known as Dolls’ Day....
Only in Japan
You might have heard of this otaku hub of Tokyo. and want to find out where the best shops in Akihabara are. Akihabara started as an important crossroad for trade between what used to be...
Food&Drink
The world of Japanese hot pot (鍋物 nabemono or 鍋 nabe) is vast and rich. The word is a combination of kanji which means “cooking pot” (鍋, nabe), and “thing” (物, mono). Simply put, the...
Learn Japanese
We’ve prepared a list of Olympics vocabulary you can study to be in the know once the Games officially begin. Learn game terminology, and phrases used to discuss the Games with friends or express joy...
Only in Japan
It has been 56 years since the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, and much has changed. In the 1964 games, there were 19 sports represented, compared to the 33 sports we expect to see...
Life in Japan
If you’re moving to Japan to study long-term, then you’ll want a comfortable place to stay that won’t break the bank. But finding accommodation in Japan as a foreigner can often be tricky. That’s why...
Only in Japan
What could be so interesting about the randoseru? It’s just a Japanese backpack, right? It seems like a pretty standard concept. Children around the world cram them full of books and throw them over their backs...
Life in Japan
Living in Kofu is a unique experience compared to the other major cities in Japan. Of course, this city, the capital of Yamanashi, is a busy place but it’s a lot quieter and more relaxed...
Only in Japan
With the New Year around the corner, why not take a chance and grab a lucky bag in Japan? Fukubukuro (福袋) or lucky bag is a tradition on New Year’s Day in Japan where merchants...
Japanese Culture
Sending postcards from your visit abroad is a must, particularly when visiting Japan where you can find original and very special postcards. In fact, there’s an endless variety of types, colours, shapes and motifs for...
Life in Japan
Education has the power to change your life, but without a high level of Japanese it might seem impossible to study at a higher level in Japan. But, for those who are serious about higher...
Life in Japan
Living in Japan isn’t all Tokyo centric. There are some amazing places outside of the capital. One of our favourites is Sapporo in Hokkaido. You may be familiar with it from the Snow festival but...
Learn Japanese
Is it really possible to learn Japanese from manga? Well, maybe not completely but it can actually be a very effective tool for practicing reading. Just make sure that you combine it with some properly...
News
Christmas is here and although it’s not an official holiday in Japan, you’ll see a number of Christmas markets pop up in Tokyo. Completed with hot cups of mulled wine, heartwarming food, twinkling lights and...
Japanese Culture
The concept of Japanese hospitality, otherwise known as omotenashi (お持て成し), has come to light recently. Though translated simply as hospitality, the word omotenashi has a meaning deeply rooted in the Japanese psyche. It’s not simply...
Life in Japan
You’ve settled into your new home in Japan and your Japanese language lessons have started, so it’s time to get down to business and start studying hard. Of course your school and your home are...
Japanese Culture
Japan’s new era has begun and it’s called Reiwa (令和). It technically began back on the 1st May when Emperor Akihito abdicated the throne and his son Naruhito ascended it and this means there is...
Learn Japanese
Japanese cuisine is delicious and one of the best ways to get an understanding of it is to visit restaurants and try the food. However, you’ll need to navigate your way around it with some...
How to
Japan’s weather can be variable across the year with its 52 micro seasons. What’s more, with the country stretching from Hokkaido to Okinawa, there’s a range of temperatures from city to city. It’s no surprise...
Food&Drink
A trip to a Japanese izakaya is a must if you’re visiting Japan and probably a regular part of your life if you move here. Even if you don’t drink it’s a great place to...
Life in Japan
At Go! Go! Nihon, we love hearing from Japanese students and their experience: we hope you do too! Talking to them offers us the unique opportunity to see and share things from their point of...
Life in Japan
For some, Japan can seem like a costly country but as with many cities around the world, you just need to know the tricks to living cheaply. We love Japan and don’t want you to...
Only in Japan
Halloween in Japan isn’t as all-encompassing as it is in the west but with major parties taking place in the centre of Tokyo, it’s still the perfect excuse to get dressed up. So what are...
Food&Drink
Japanese food is delicious! And although eating out in Japan is quite affordable, as a student or someone not residing in Japan it can be a good idea to learn to make Japanese food yourself....
Life in Japan
Teaching English in Japan is often seen as a way to live and work in Japan without necessarily knowing a lot of Japanese. But actually knowing the language will dramatically improve your quality of life...
How to
Bringing your pet to Japan is a process that can be both time-consuming and expensive. But, it is absolutely possible to successfully bring your fur friend to Japan, with a bit of patience and a...
Life in Japan
When living in Japan, you’ll likely find that whether you’re in a share house or your own apartment you’ll have somewhat limited space. This is pretty common for a densely populated country so you’ve got...
How to
While in Japan you’ll probably get some recommendations or instructions to go to a specific place or address. Finding your way there might be a bit tricky if you can’t read a Japanese address, so...
Learn Japanese
Apps are a great learning tool to supplement your Japanese lessons. In this article we explore some of our favourite and best apps to learn Japanese with. Note that we recommend using these apps together...
Learn Japanese
It’s often said that Japanese is a complex language to learn and one of those reasons is the use of keigo, or honorific speech in Japanese. You might think you’ll never need to learn Japanese...
Life in Japan
The student life may be all about frugal living, but did you know you can actually work part-time while on a student visa in Japan? Read on to find out how you can get a...
Japanese Culture
Japanese folklore encompasses a wide variety of mythical monsters yōkai (妖怪), some scary, some lucky, and some a bit more on the mysterious side. Amongst these is the Tanuki (狸), or Japanese raccoon dog. It...
Japanese Culture
If you’re out and about in the summer in Japan you’re like to see people beautifully dressed up and enjoying the warm weather. But what is the yukata (浴衣), when do you wear it and most...
Life in Japan
It’s no secret to anyone that Japan loves paperwork. And the Japanese student visa application process is certainly no exception! So, when is the right time to apply? In this article, we give more information...
How to
In Japan, millions of commuters board trains and subways everyday, and if you’ve ever been on a train in Japan you know that it’s usually a very orderly and smooth experience. The train etiquette in Japan...
Life in Japan
You’ve chosen your school, completed the application, now you just need to book your flights and sort out somewhere to live. But what are your accommodation options in Japan, how do you make a choice...
How to
In Japan there’s so much more to do at the post office than you might think. It’s the place to go to send mail and parcels, but also to withdraw money and even get souvenirs! In...
How to
It’s been a long day and you just want to get in the bath and have a nice long soak. But wait, while having a bath might seem like a relatively straightforward task, it’s not...
Learn Japanese
Getting the conversation started in any language or culture is important and saying hello in Japanese is no different. There are different forms, different levels of politeness and certain rules that you must follow depending...
How to
When you’re settling into your new life in Japan you’ll think that you won’t have to worry about some of the basic things like setting the heating or using a Japanese washing machine but if...
Life in Japan
Understanding what your embassy in Japan can do for you is important, if you get in trouble or just need some support then it can be incredibly useful to know what support is available. It’s...
Learn Japanese
Are you familiar with the saying “kill two birds with one stone”? Well, it turns out that it’s quite the universal phrase and even exists in Japanese too. This Japanese proverb is written as: 一石二鳥...
How to
We’ve already introduced you to the mysteries of this magnificent mountain but if you want to climb Mount Fuji then you’re going to need a little more information so that you’re ready for your trek....
Life in Japan
When the time has come for you to leave Japan, there are quite a few steps to take before boarding the plane to go back home. The procedure of leaving Japan might differ a lot...
How to
Recycling in Japan can have some pretty tricky rules and these rules change from town to town. It takes a little bit of time to get the hang of, but that just means cleaner rubbish...
Learn Japanese
It can be very useful to learn things like parts of the face when starting a new language. Particularly in Japanese where the parts of the face are often used as general descriptors in everyday...
Life in Japan
If you’ve looked around our site you may already know a few things about us. But here’s a little background in case we’ve not met you yet and you’re wondering if you should apply through...
Japanese Culture
The Sumō Tournament is an event that is famous around the world. A martial art that is all about brute force and using your weight to beat your opponent. But what exactly is it made...
Life in Japan
When imagining what life looks like in Japan, everyone has their own idea of how things are, but what about reality? We are taking some time to interview one of Go! Go! Nihon’s students, Matthew, who...
News
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be held 56 years after it was last held in Tokyo from July 24th to August 9th. The Paralympics follow 16 days later and run from August 25th to September...
How to
Coming from the US, redelivery—Fuzaihyou (不在表) in Japan—can be a touchy subject. It’s a common joke over there to hear about our postmen ringing the doorbell and slapping a “We missed you! We’ll try again...
Japanese Culture
If you’ve been into a Japanese home or even just seen some pictures of one, it’s likely that you will have seen a kotatsu table proudly taking centre stage in the middle of the living...
Life in Japan
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a language student living in Osaka? Lee, a Go! Go! Nihon student, has taken the time to answer a few of our questions about his experience. Hi Lee, tell...
Japanese Culture
As every culture has its ghosts and ghouls, so too do the Japanese in the form of yōkai (妖怪). Made up of two kanji that represent “bewitching; calamity” and “apparition; mystery; suspicious,” they also come...
Only in Japan
Japanese arcades (ゲームセンター)are everywhere in Japan. You have probably seen quite a few while walking about in busy areas. Usually referred to as game centers here in Japan, these tall buildings exist for the sole purpose...
Life in Japan
Do you know how Go! Go! Nihon was born? How was it for its founder, Davide Rossi, to live and study in Japan? We ask him directly in this interview about the Go! Go! Nihon...
How to
You’ve picked your language school, you’ve booked your flights, there’s just the packing left. It can be a tricky task when you’re moving country whether studying short term or long term, so we’ve put together...
Japanese Culture
Japanese animation is a big industry and some of you may already know that there’s one name that has dominated this world for some time: Studio Ghibli. Many people that come to Japan, come with...
Learn Japanese
If you’ve ever come across any manga or anime, you’ve probably already heard people referred to as –san, –chan, –sensei, or maybe even –kun. These are Japanese honorifics and they are used in the same...
News
Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market, with its bustling turret trucks transporting fresh fish around the grounds early every morning, has moved to Toyosu. As you can imagine, an 83-year old fish market of these proportions didn’t...
Food&Drink
Celebrating New Year’s in Japan isn’t complete without taking part in the traditions, including enjoying a traditional Japanese New Year’s meal. Called osechi-ryōri (お節料理), this meal is all handmade, with each piece thoughtfully added with...
Life in Japan
When looking to study a new language there are a few options to help you reach your goal. With Japanese, this is no different and we think that the benefits of studying Japanese in Japan...
Japanese Culture
Japan celebrates each of the four seasons in very special ways. That’s why when the rainy season ends and summer starts to fire up, there’s an endless list of things to do or events to...
Japanese Culture
Dragon Ball, Naruto, Cardcaptor Sakura… these manga (漫画, まんが) are known throughout the world and have brought Japanese comics fame across the international scene. A genuine institution, Japanese manga have a unique style that sets...
Japanese Culture
Tattoos in Japan have a long history, winding past the forbidden image it has in present Japanese society. It’s an integral part of the country’s culture, and its unique style separates itself from western tattoos....
News
Once you’ve finished your studies or maybe even during your studies in Japan, you’ll want to start thinking about working in Japan and how to build your future here. Unfortunately, things can be a bit...
Japanese Culture
When you think of Japanese music, more often than not modern J-Pop will spring to mind as the popularity of idol groups spreads around the world. However, there’s a rich and varied history behind Japanese...
Life in Japan
You’ve arrived in Japan, you’ve moved into your new home, you’re starting to make friends but you’ve got one more, rather large hurdle to face, a trip to the ward office in Japan. This is...
Japanese Culture
Anime (アニメ) is a word derived from “animation” and is used by Japanese people to refer to any animated drawings, no matter their country of origin. In English, it is mostly used to refer specifically to...
Life in Japan
Is there anything simpler or more mundane than going to the supermarket? When you’re well-acquainted with the local supermarket, going for the peanut butter in aisle four, next to the home cooked-style jams doesn’t even...
Only in Japan
Japanese drinking culture is just as good as you might hope it is. If you like a tipple then you won’t be disappointed. However, it’s worth having a bit of an overview before you get...
Japanese Culture
In August of 2018, I finished up my job in Tanegashima and started a 3 month journey from the southernmost island of Japan all the way up to the very top, and finally settling down...
Only in Japan
Head to Japan and you’ll notice that many Japanese people wear face masks. Even before the time of COVID-19, it wasn’t unusual to see people donning white masks while waiting for their trains, or out...
Only in Japan
This isn’t the US, where you might sit down at the bar and belt out a couple songs in front of a small TV at the bar. This is Japan, the land where Karaoke was...
Only in Japan
The 100 yen shop in Japan is the stuff of legends and yes, it lives up to its name. Japan is often mistaken for an expensive country and while in some respects it is, in...
News
Have you ever wondered how much it costs to study in Japan? What kind of service does Go! Go! Nihon offer? These are some of the questions we answered about living and studying in Japan....
Life in Japan
It used to be quite difficult finding wifi in Japan, but recently there are more and more locations with internet access. When you arrive to a new country, one of the first things you look...
Food&Drink
Japan is well known for its food, with every region having its own specialty. Unfortunately, being vegetarian in Japan makes it harder to find tasty food to suit your palate. Although worry not, it’s not...
How to
If you don’t already know it, you’ll soon realise that Japan is still a very cash-based society and it’s not unusual to carry large amounts of cash around. Soon after you’ve arrived in Japan you’ll...
Life in Japan
There are many accommodation choices available when moving to Japan but one of the most immersive experiences is to stay with a Japanese host family, generally known as a homestay. It’s an excellent alternative to...
How to
It’s hard enough finding an apartment in your own country, let alone searching for a Japanese apartment! On top of the standard criteria to keep in mind, there are a couple uniquely Japanese fees to...
Life in Japan
When moving to Japan, you have a few choices to make about your life there and one of these is where you want to live. One of the more popular options that gives you a...
Food&Drink
It may be harder to eat gluten free in Japan than in other countries, but it is not impossible. As compared to Western countries, East Asians, including the Japanese, are less prone to gluten intolerance,...
How to
Congratulations! You’ve got an interview scheduled. As with interviews anywhere else in the world, you should be prepared to answer some of the most common questions asked in a Japanese job interview. We’ve listed the...
Life in Japan
Yes, Japan has an excellent transport system. But, one of the best ways to get around is by bike. Because it’s such a popular way to get around and because it’s Japan, there are a...
Life in Japan
You’ve moved to Japan, you’re having a great time but you’re missing home and have asked your friends and family to send you some treats to cheer yourself up. You need to get them prepared...
Learn Japanese
When you’re in Japan, you’ll hear a variety of apologies in many situations. Respect for others is a valued virtue in Japanese culture, and apologizing plays a large part of it. As you may know,...
Only in Japan
When you first move to Japan, there’s a lot of things that need arranging but the first step is to set up your new home. There’s everything from sorting bills to buying a lot of...
Who we are
Go! Go! Nihon Live and Study in Japan!
In 2009, after meeting and studying at a Japanese language school together, Davide and John start working on a project that will make the process of living and studying in Japan much easier. The idea for Go! Go! Nihon is born. The service and website is launched with Italian, Swedish, and English language support. There is an immediate positive reception to the service and the first long-term students start the October session that year.
