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Japan Links


As a longtime resident of Japan, it's been my good fortune to have benefitted from a number of wonderful websites thru the years.

In an effort to provide value to my visitors, this page is a short list of Japan links to some of the more noteworthy Japanese websites I've bookmarked while residing here.

I update this page periodically, so please stop by again as you find time, and by all means please give me a heads-up if you know of any other sites that need to be on the list, thanks...

Mountain Climbing in Japan Links


Kanto Adventures 
Kanto Adventures brings a team of professional administrative staff and wilderness-certified trip leaders to provide mountain trekking, climbing (rock and ice), snow mountaineering guiding, and instruction. They offer group guided trips as well as private trips, specifically for visitors from all over the world.

Hiking around Tokyo
An informative hiking blog with stunning photos by David Couvreur, mostly covering hiking up and around non-famous mountains in the vicinity of Tokyo.

Climb Japan 
Climb Japan is a comprehensive resource for some of the great climbs, alpine routes, hikes, and trail runs of Japan. The blog is run by Tony Grant, a passionate Tokyo-based alpine, rock, & winter climber who also works as a mobile learning content editor for the British Council.

Ridgeline Images 
An amazing blog by photographer/hiker David Lowe with pics & a guide to hiking trails in the Tokyo area. Some of the most stunning photos I think I've ever seen.

Yamagirl.net 
A site (in Japanese) dedicated to the new breed of outdoor women, called yama girls (山ガール, mountain girls), who are young urban women who enjoy doing outdoor activities in their free time, but wanting to look cute & fashionable while doing so. Includes the latest news, events, fashion & beauty tips, recommended gear, route guides & maps, and a blog.

"Hiking in Japan" group @ Facebook
Set up & run by longtime Japan resident & climber Wes Lang, this very active Facebook group is a place to share cool hiking info, ask for advice, and meet hiking enthusiasts. Must be a Facebook member to join.

International Outdoor Club - Kansai
A group of people of different nationalities in Kansai who regularly participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, weekend backpacking, mountain biking, cycling, skiing, and take part in running events.

Outdoor Club Tokyo (OCT)  -  アウトドア・クラブ・東京
An international outdoor club in Tokyo for Japanese and foreign people to enjoy outdoor and social activities together: hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, skiing, running, diving, kayak, barbecue parties, social events, etc. Get a workout or some gentle exercise in the beautiful Japanese countryside.

Outdoor Club Japan (OCJ) アウトドア・クラブ・ジャパン
A volunteer international outdoor club in Tokyo for Japanese and foreign people to enjoy outdoor and social activities together: hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, skiing, running, diving, kayak, barbecue parties, social events, etc. 

Evergreen Outdoor Center
Based at the foot of the Japan Northern Alps in Hakuba, the Evergreen Outdoor Center has been operating bilingual, professionally guided adventure & eco tours as well as outdoor education and team development programs in and around Nagano's Hakuba Village for more than a decade.

"The Japan Alps" photo book
Japan-based, Canadian mountain photographer/writer Peter Skov has captured the spectacular beauty of all 3 ranges of the Japan Alps with his absolutely stunning photos, taken during all 4 seasons. To my knowledge, this is the only photo book in English about the Japan Alps. Preview all 120 pages at the link above.

Welcome to the Beautiful Northern Japan Alps
A very informative site, mostly in Japanese, but includes a brochure in English, Chinese, & Korean about this spectacular area, including an access map, map of the mountain huts, mountain hut phone numbers and URLs, course hiking times, & mountain climbing safety guidelines (click on flags for trilingual brochure).

Hiking, Climbing & Mountaineering in Japan
Extreme climber & Facebook friend Chris White has a way with words and takes some of the most stunning mountain pics I think I've ever seen.

Hiking in Japan
Longtime Japan resident Wes Lang provides a comprehensive site on hiking throughout Japan. Wes has also set up a very popular group at Facebook by the same name, Hiking in Japan.

The Tozan Tales
Wes Lang's collection of stories of his 7-year quest to scale the "Nihon Hyakumeizan," Japan's 100 Famous Mountains.

Hana the Border Terrier Hikes the Hyakumeizan in Japan
A man & his dog climbed Japan's 100 Famous Mountains and have recently published a book detailing their journey.

One Hundred Mountains
Another blog by a Brit on Japan's most famous 100 mountains, based on the forthcoming English translation of "Nihon Hyakumeizan."

Hakuba Alpine Guides
Backcountry ski and snowboard guiding in all of Hakuba, the Kita Alps, Nagano, and Japan by certified mountain guides.

Jambo International
JAMBO is an international volunteer organization, open to all, providing activities for hiking, environmental improvement, and charities in the Tokyo area and innumerable opportunities for personal fulfillment. Day hikes are scheduled at least once monthly, year-round.

Outdoor Japan
The online community for Outdoor Japan Magazine, Japan's first bilingual magazine featuring diverse outdoor activities, including hiking & climbing.

Live Webcam of Mt. Fuji
From an office in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture (UT + 9 hrs. = Japan time).


Finding a Job/Doing Business in Japan Links


Career Development Corner 
Mostly English teaching jobs, as listed in The Language Teacher, a bimonthly publication by JALT (Japan Association for Language Teaching).

Jobs in Japan
Japan's #1 English Job Site.

JACET 
Listing of university teaching positions in Japan offered thru the Japan Association of College English Teachers.

JREC-IN 
The Japan Research Career Information Network aims at providing informational support to expand the researchers' career path by collecting and providing information on job openings and job-seeking members.

DaiJob.com
Work in Japan. Jobs in Japan and Japanese jobs.

Japan Times Jobs
Bilingual jobs, careers, and employment site run by Japan's largest English newspaper.

CareerEngine
Bilingual job site providing online job posting, resume search, and advertising for international companies and job candidates in Japan.

CareerCross
Jobs in Japan for bilingual professionals.

Gaijin Pot
The biggest community site for finding jobs, apartments, news, classifieds, and a guide to business and living in Japan.

Office Space in Tokyo
An easy to use service for finding professional, affordable office space throughout Tokyo.


Japanese Culture Links


Japanese Buddhism
Canadian Hugo Deslippe explores the beliefs, history, and symbols of Buddhism in Japan, where art and aestheticism are strongly influenced by the Zen school.

The Imperial Household Agency
An introduction to the official duties and various public activities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and other members of the Imperial Family.

Engrish.com
Fourteen-year-old highly-ranked site featuring hilarious English mistakes that appear in Japanese advertising signs and product designs.

PhotoGuide Japan
One of Philbert Ono's two sister sites dedicated to introducing Japan in English with photos, video clips, articles, and blog entries. Online since 1996, the site features over 36,000 images from all 47 prefectures.


Japan Travel Links


Japan National Tourism Organization
JNTO promotes travel to Japan by maintaining 13 offices in key cities around the world, as well as operating Tourist Information Centers in Japan for foreign visitors.


Foreigners' Rights Links


United for a Multicultural Japan (Oops, it appears their link, www.tabunka.org, went south. Pls. educate me if you know the new one, thanks.)
Non-profit organization working to promote the welfare and legal rights of non-Japanese people married to Japanese nationals, and other long-term or permanent residents of Japan.

Debito.org
Longtime permanent resident, university professor, and foreigner rights activist Arudou Debito (formerly David Aldwinckle) of Hokkaido provides useful info on all social issues facing foreigners in Japan.

 

English Print Media Links


The Japan News
Formerly called The Daily Yomiuri, Japan's leading English-language newspaper is published by The Yomiuri Shimbun, which has the largest circulation of any newspaper in the world.

The Japan Times Online
Daily news and features on Japan from the most widely read English-language newspaper in Japan, covering national news, business news, sports news, and commentary.

Metropolis Magazine
Japan's #1 English magazine is a 60-page free weekly city guide with a focus on entertainment, events, Japanese culture, news, and classified ads, targeting English-speaking foreigners in Tokyo.


Japan Transport Links


JR East (East Japan Railway Company)
Official website of East Japan Railway Company shows routes, maps, timetables, fares, & passes.

Tokyo Metro
Official website for Japan's largest subway sytem provides information on tickets, commuter railway passes, and sightseeing in Tokyo, as well as subway network maps.

Narita International Airport
Official website shows flight info, airport access, terminal guides, and area hotel reservations.


Japanese Dictionary & Translator Links


Jim Breen's WWWJDIC
Almost every day I visit this awesome romanized Japanese to English and English to Japanese site by Jim Breen, research fellow at Monash University in Australia.

Rikai.com
Tokyo software engineer Todd Rudick's site uses javascript pop-up windows to enable you to read Japanese kanji in blocks of text or on entire webpages.

Bing Translator
Translate text or webpage URL in or out of 38 languages, powered by Microsoft.

Google Translate
Google's free online language translation service instantly translates text, web pages, or documents in over 50 languages.

WorldLingo
Free online text translator in and out of over 30 different languages.
 

Emergency Services Links/Phone numbers


Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory information new icon
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) also has a hotline providing information about the coronavirus in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day: 050-3816-2787 (Overseas: +81-50-3816-2787)

Tokyo Metropolitan Government new icon
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government recently boosted its capacity to take coronavirus inquiries at their call center, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. including weekends and holidays. It is aimed only at residents in Tokyo and is available at 0570-550571 in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. "We have expanded this because there are a lot of foreigners living here,” said an official from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also offering a medical hotline for speakers of English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Thai and can refer people to relevant public health centers as necessary. The service is provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Information Center "Himawari" from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day including weekends and holidays. The phone number is 03-5285-8181.

Guide for when you are feeling ill (For safe travels in Japan) new icon
Another site by JNTO listing almost 2,000 medical institutions nationwide with foreign-language services. Users can filter results by prefecture, language and medical department, as well as specify a keyword in the search box.

Tokyo English Life Line (TELL)
TELL is a non-profit community service organization dedicated to helping foreigners with advice and counseling on a wide variety of problems they may run into living in Japan, including free telephone counseling from 9am-11pm daily.

Japan Helpline
Japan's only 24 hour non-profit, nationwide emergency assistance service for the international community. Call 24 hours a day, from anywhere & anytime about anything, from a simple question to emergency assistance.



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