Japan Stories - Ali in Japan

🧘‍♀️ The Japanese Concept of Wabi-Sabi: Finding Beauty in Imperfection

I was fascinated when I first came to Japan. Everything looked beautiful, from the perfect gardens to the quiet tea houses.But over time, I realized that Japanese beauty isn’t about perfection at all.It’s about accepting imperfection — and finding peace in it.That’s the heart of Wabi-Sabi. 🍃 What Wabi-Sabi Really Means “Wabi” once meant the […]

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🤝 Best Apps to Make Japanese Friends in 2025 (Real Reviews & Tips from an Expat)

Culture & Society, Life in Japan, Tips & Resources

Making friends in Japan can be tough — not because Japanese people are unfriendly, but because social norms, language, and lifestyle rhythms are totally different from what most foreigners are used to. But the good news? In 2025, there are more apps than ever designed to help you meet locals, practice Japanese, or just share

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🏮 The Unwritten Rules of Living in Japan (That Foreigners Always Learn the Hard Way)

Culture & Society, Life in Japan

Japan’s Hidden Social Code Japan is famous for its clean streets, punctual trains, and polite people. But behind that order lies a world of unspoken rules that shape daily life — rules that foreigners often break without even realizing. When I first moved to Japan, I thought “politeness” was just about saying arigatou or sumimasen.I

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🏡 How Japanese Minimalism Changed My Life (And Why the West Got It Wrong)

Culture & Society, Life in Japan, My Journey

When I first moved to Japan, I wasn’t a minimalist.I was the opposite — my suitcases were full of “just in case” items I never used.But after five years of living in Kyoto, I learned that Japanese minimalism isn’t about less stuff.It’s about more life. 🍵 The Truth About Japanese Minimalism If you search “minimalism”

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🏠 Why Japanese Apartments Are So Small — and What They Teach About Life

Culture & Society, Life in Japan

When I first moved to Japan, one of the biggest shocks wasn’t the language, food, or culture — it was the size of my apartment.Imagine a space smaller than most American bedrooms, yet somehow it still had everything I needed: a bed, a desk, a washing machine, and even a mini bathtub. So why are

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☕ The Secret World of Japanese Vending Machines (Why There Are 5 Million of Them!)

Culture & Society, Life in Japan, Travel in Japan

🏙️ Introduction: A Machine on Every Corner If you’ve ever walked the streets of Tokyo, Osaka, or even a quiet countryside town, you’ve seen them. They are the glowing lights of vending machines.Japan has over 5 million vending machines. That is roughly one for every 25 people. This makes it the highest density in the

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