Last updated: September 2025 In times of serious stress it can be good to contact a professional counsellor or the peer support line. Sometimes isolation, physical or linguistic, can make simple problems very stressful, and sometimes very disheartening. Rather than letting problems get on top of you, have a look at these options and find […]
In autumn, your school/BOE should give you a form with the title “JET Programme Re-contracting Procedures.” This is the form that you use to indicate if you want to recontract, apply for a transfer, or apply for a type-change. If you want to apply for a transfer and you haven’t received this form, talk to […]
Whether you need to extend your period of stay or change your status of residence, at some point you will probably need to head over to one of the joint government buildings (合同庁舎) in Hyogo. You have two places to choose from: Kobe and Himeji. In addition, if you live up in the Tajima region, […]
Last updated: September 2025 For those who are interested in volunteering whilst on the JET Program, here are some opportunities for you! The organisations or initiatives currently listed are friendly for English speaking people, so don’t be afraid to participate! If you would like to feature a particular volunteer initiative in Hyogo/Kansai – please comment […]
It’s still a bit cold but without a doubt one can say that spring is approaching! Perhaps you have also seen some plum blossom flowers blooming in your neighborhood too! Cherry blossoms bloom after plum blossoms and this year it is expected that cherry blossoms will be in peak , in Hyogo, from the week […]
While Japan is often touted as being a “safe country” it is important to acknowledge that many serious crimes still occur here . This particular post will contain resources in addressing how to report assault, specifically sexual assault. It is recommended that you read National AJET’s post on Sexual Harassment to familiarize yourself with your rights and situation in […]
This page is a resource for running (marathons, etc.) in Hyogo-ken and Japan. Running is quite popular in Japan and races tend to be well organized, heavily participated, and a lot of fun. Note that in Japanese the word “marathon” (マラソン) tends to be used to mean any length of race. Thus a マラソン could […]
Kanji Many Japanese teachers and language texts advise learners to hold off on studying kanji. There are a few reasons for this: they believe that kanji are too difficult for foreigners to learn. they think that the learning of kanji will take away from the time needed to study grammar, vocabulary, etc. many of their […]
There are a number of proficiency tests for Japanese. The most well-known is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験 nihongo noryoku shiken), called the JLPT for short. There is also the Business Japanese Proficiency Test. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) The JLPT is held twice a year, in summer and winter. You can take […]
The Hyogo International Association in Kobe offers evening Japanese classes for foreign residents for a nominal price of 2,000 yen per semester: Hyogo International Association. (Find the English PDF at the middle of the page.) Sign-up is on a quarterly basis and first-come first-served. There are a number of other places in Hyogo Prefecture that […]