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View all articlesAinu Culture: Hokkaido's Indigenous People, Their Language, Beliefs, and Crafts, and Upopoy in Shiraoi
The Ainu are an Indigenous people centered on Hokkaido, with their own language, beliefs, and crafts. The Ainu Promotion Act, in force since 2019, was the first law to name the Ainu as an Indigenous people, and Upopoy, home to the National Ainu Museum, opened in Shiraoi in 2020; adult admission is JPY 1,200. Traditional Ainu dance was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2009, and many Hokkaido place names come from the Ainu language.
Ryukyu and Okinawan Culture: 450 Years of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shuri Castle, Kumiodori, Sanshin, and Bingata
Sho Hashi unified the Ryukyus in 1429, and the kingdom grew rich on entrepot trade centered on Shuri Castle. Satsuma invaded in 1609, and in 1879 the kingdom was annexed as Okinawa Prefecture. Shuri Castle's main hall, burned in 2019, opens to the public from November 23, 2026, when adult admission rises to JPY 1,000 and the hall requires booking. Kumiodori was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2010, and the sanshin, bingata dyeing, awamori, and eisa dancing are still part of everyday Okinawa.
Getting Help in a Disaster in Japan: 110 and 119, the 171 Message Line, Multilingual Hotlines, Shelters, and Recovery Grants
After a major disaster, calls are hard to get through. Call 119 or 110 when lives are at risk; many fire departments add a three-way interpreter on 119. Tell family you are safe with the 171 disaster message line, 30 seconds per message. Use the free 00000JAPAN Wi-Fi if mobile data is down, and the Japan Visitor Hotline for help in other languages. Foreign residents can use shelters, and households whose homes are destroyed can apply for up to JPY 3 million in recovery support.
The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake: Fire, Killings Fueled by Rumor, the Rebuilding of Tokyo, and Yokoamicho Park and the Sumida Bridges Today
At 11:58 on September 1, 1923, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Kanto region. About 105,000 people died, most in fires, including about 38,000 at the former Army Clothing Depot site in Honjo alone. Rumors after the quake led to the killing of Koreans and Chinese. The reconstruction of the capital produced Showa Street, the Eitai and Kiyosu bridges, new parks and schools, and September 1 became Disaster Prevention Day.
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View all guidesTransit Basics
Subway, JR, shinkansen, buses, IC cards, and transport passes.
Read guide02Renting Flow
Search, viewing, contract, move-in, fees, and documents.
Read guide03Mobile Plans
Carriers, signup paths, monthly costs, and short-term options.
Read guide04Japan Etiquette
Greetings, dining, public spaces, gifts, and everyday manners.
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