It&apos;s always best to know some of the local customs and laws if you are traveling or moving to another country. But what about laws that are so strange you wonder if they can actually be true or are ever enforced? With Japan now introducing new guidelines for residents to enjoy going out to restaurants and bars in cities following a dramatic drop in COVID-19 case numbers nationwide, Ben and Burke decided to look at some of the country&apos;s strangest laws related to marriage, divorce, childbirth, transportation, social drinking, clothing, and more.Referenced articles from TimeOut Tokyo and The Smart Local. Voices in Japan sponsors:Bearfoot BarA variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbarThe Red HouseLocated in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, free pick up available from the bus stop, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. https://hokkaidoguide.comUse our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!Website: https://www.voicesinjapan.com/Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch:voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

Voices in Japan

Strange Laws in Japan

October 14 was the day that restrictions were lifted in restaurants and bars, so people can finally go out to eat and get lashed again !No more drinking until 7pm and going home at 9 o clock. Hoooray! But, you still gotta wear a mask!When going to restaurants in Japan, you will come across some interesting concepts that you probably won&apos;t see anywhere else. so on today&apos;s show Burke and I talk about some useful things you should know when eating out in Japan. We talk about Food samples, restaurant vending machines, sharing food, and much much more. Enjoy the show!Sponsors:Bearfoot BarLocated in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar The Red House Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!  Website:https://www.voicesinjapan.com/ Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch: voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

6 Things you Should Know When Dining Out in Japan

Fan favorite Matt (from Australia) joins Ben and Burke to discuss his recent motorbike trip around Hokkaido. Despite the trip being cut short by bad weather and a modeling gig that came up, he describes some amazing spots he was able to see in eastern Hokkaido, and then gives details on the strange things that occurred as he explored a spooky abandoned (and supposedly haunted) old school in the desolate town of Yubari. We also discuss the almost free houses that small towns in Japan are offering to attract potential residents, a recent fire at a fireworks factory in the woodlands of Otaru, living in the countryside, and much more.Previous episode mentioned: The Wacky World of Japanese MascotsVoices in Japan sponsors:Bearfoot BarA variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbarThe Red HouseLocated in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, free pick up available from the bus stop, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. https://hokkaidoguide.comUse our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!Website: https://www.voicesinjapan.com/Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch:voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

Exploring a Haunted Japanese School

Sadly, it&apos;s officially the end of summer. However, the good news is we are coming into one of our favourite seasons in Japan, so we thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss the best and worst times to visit this country. We talk about golden week, Autumn Fest, Halloween, winter around Japan, the unbearable heat in Honshuu, Japanese traditional clothing, and much much more. Enjoy the show!Sponsors:Bearfoot BarLocated in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar The Red House Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!  Website:https://www.voicesinjapan.com/ Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch: voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

The Best and Worst Times to Come to Japan

Anywhere you live in the world will have its negative points, and Japan is no exception. Ben and Burke review things about Japan that tourists, new residents, and perhaps even long-term residents might have issues with. Those include cultural differences in eating habits, natural disasters and regional instability, ever-present English problems, toilet troubles, gaijin enemies, and much more. A little bit of venting in this episode, but all in good fun as always. Enjoy the show! (Referenced article: 67 Reasons You Won&apos;t like Japan)Voices in Japan sponsors:Bearfoot BarA variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbarThe Red HouseLocated in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, free pick up available from the bus stop, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. https://hokkaidoguide.comUse our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!Website: https://www.voicesinjapan.com/Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch:voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

Reasons You might not like Life in Japan

It is coming up to Burke&apos;s 20th year of living in Japan. That&apos;s almost half of his life, and for me, I have just passed the 14 year mark, so we thought that it would be the perfect time to talk about the main reasons that have kept us in Japan for such a long time. I&apos;m not going to give away the biggest reasons for staying in Japan long term, so please listen to find out. Enjoy the show!Previous episodes mentioned in the show:The 6 Best Spots to Enjoy in SapporoSlave to the Salaryman LifeSponsors:Bearfoot BarLocated in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar The Red House Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com Hokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!  Website:https://www.voicesinjapan.com/ Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch: voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

Top 5 Reasons to Stay in Japan Long Term

On this episode, Ben and Burke closely look at a few different Japanese behaviors and customs, including the proper way of eating white rice, being mindful of others and not disturbing them on public transportation, the difference between shrines and temples, and much more. They discuss these topics while reviewing an article on Japan Wonder Travel Blog.  The earlier Voices in Japan episode mentioned about proper etiquette on Japanese subways is "Don&apos;t Do That on the Subway!" Enjoy the show!Voices in Japan sponsors:Bearfoot BarA variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbarThe Red HouseLocated in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, free pick up available from the bus stop, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.comHokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. https://hokkaidoguide.comUse our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!Website: https://www.voicesinjapan.com/Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch:voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

A Close Look at Japanese Behaviors and Customs

Are you visiting or have just moved to Sapporo? Ben and Burke talk about some of the best spots to visit in the city, from the perspective of locals (i.e. Ben and Burke), so the places mentioned in this episode are not the usual recommendations that you would find on the web, so hopefully some of them will be new to you, and if you have a chance to visit Sapporo, we are sure you will enjoy them, as much as we do. We mainly talk about parks, hiking spots and places to go for a day activity, and much much more. Enjoy the show!Previous episodes mentioned in the show:Foods Lost in Translation Sponsors:Bearfoot BarLocated in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar The Red House Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/ Rusutsu LodgesOpen all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com Hokkaido GuideEstablished over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There&apos;s information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!  Website:https://www.voicesinjapan.com/ Follow us and check out our other content:https://twitter.com/voicesinjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/Get in touch: voicesinjapan@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan)

The 6 Best Spots to Enjoy in Sapporo

Discover what Japan is REALLY like. Every week, join Burke and Ben, as they share their personal experiences and opinions about living in Japan, covering all topics such as working, studying Japanese, customs, holidays, traditions and much much more. Whatever you want to know about Japan, you can find it here.

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Voices in Japan

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