Why are take out and eat in prices different in London?

If you’re eating in coffee shops, cafes or takeouts in the UK, sometimes you will see two prices listed, one for eat in and one for takeaway. The reason for this is that in theory the level of sales tax, or VAT, applied should be different (lower) for takeout food compared to food eaten on the premises. It’s nothing to … Read More

Why are Japan’s ticket barriers always open in railway stations?

Example of lean thinking in Japan's railway ticket gates

It’s true that on Japan’s railway network and especially in major cities, the ticket barriers are always open. But try to go through without buying a ticket and you could be in for a nasty shock! The ticket barriers are designed to only close if someone attempts to pass through without having already presented a valid ticket (a paper ticket, … Read More

How to get a job in Japan as an expat

how to get a job in japan

If you’ve been to Japan and fallen in love with the place, you may be thinking, “how can I stay here longer, for six months, a year, or even longer?”. Japan isn’t the easiest country to emigrate to. The immigrant population is tiny relative to other countries like the US, Australia, UK or Germany, and there is not a shortage … Read More

Is it safe to eat raw egg sauce in Japan?

Many dishes in Japan, especially Sukiyaki (a hotpot of meat and vegetables) and Donburi (meat on rice), are meant to be eaten with a ‘golden egg sauce’ – but egg sauce is basically a raw egg, or sometimes just the raw yolk of an egg, slightly beaten. Sometimes it may have lemon juice or soy mixed in with it. But since … Read More

One day in Kyoto trip guide

kyoto day trip 24 hours guide kiyomizu dera temple

Kyoto might not be as big a city as Tokyo but there’s still more to see that can easily fit into one day. It is possible however, if you catch an early enough bullet train from Tokyo (before 7AM at the latest), to see many highlights of Kyoto if you really only have time for one day there. Arriving by about … Read More

Make your own McDonald’s Melon Ice Cream Soda at home

This is a McDonald’s melon ice cream soda from Japan. Common throughout Asia, McDonald’s offer a Coke variant as well, while in other regions like Singapore, you can get a ‘McFizz’ ice cream soda, made with Sprite mixed with fruit cordial to provide other flavours. In the case of Japan, it’s a Fanta Melon soda, melon being a popular soda … Read More

Kyoto to Tokyo and back again – the cheapest, fastest way to travel

kyoto to tokyo

The Japanese bullet train, or Shinkansen, is probably the best way to travel around Japan – fast, comfortable, smooth and reliable. But unfortunately also, expensive. Return journeys between major cities can cost more than US $400. Single trips can cost more than $200. About 20 years ago, foreign tourists used to be able to buy heavily discounted Shinkansen rail pass, … Read More

Great article on Japanese convenience stores at nippon.com

Live in Japan, or indeed anywhere in east asia, and you quickly become reliant on the ubiquitous convenience stores (or konbini in Japanese) of 7-11, FamilyMart and Lawson, not least because of their wonderful egg sandwiches and other ready to eat snacks. Over at nippon.com they have a detailed report on the origin of these nourishment-giving centres of excellence, check … Read More