Winter is here and snow season is slowly approaching us! Here are some of the places where you can ski/snowboard in Hyogo. Most ski slopes are scattered around northern Hyogo (Tajima region), where Mt. Hyono (氷ノ山), the tallest mountain in Hyogo is located. There is also a small ski slope in Kobe at Mt. Rokko […]
Category: Life in Hyogo
Natural Disasters in Hyogo – Important Apps to have
Last updated: September 2025 Natural disasters happen all year round right across Japan. Although some areas do have it lucky to not experience tsunami due to it’s inland location, other disasters such as earthquakes and flooding will occur no matter where you are. A notable weather event in Japan is the rainy season (梅雨), which […]
Volunteering Opportunities in Hyogo
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 […]
Japanese Holidays
Every year, Japan experiences a total of 16 public holidays. These special days occur at least once every month (except for June). If a public holiday falls on any day apart from Saturday, like many countries in the world, it becomes a day off for most workers. Sunday is a special case, where the Monday […]
About the Apartment
Last updated: August 2025 With burdens like language barriers and “key money”, finding an apartment in Japan is not a pleasant business. One of the blessings of the JET Program is the Contracting Organizations (CO) usually arrange housing for participants. Of course, that means we get plenty of questions about housing. My friend’s apartment is […]
Trains: Lines, Fare, Vocab and Tips
Last updated: July 2025 With numerous different train companies in Japan, hundreds of train lines and heaps of people all trying to cram on the same train, public transit can be a little overwhelming at times. The following information should hopefully help make traveling on trains a little easier. Travel between Himeji and Osaka There […]
Credit Card
Hyogo AJET provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Credit card terms, conditions, interest rates, fees, eligibility, and policies may change, and individual financial circumstances vary. Always verify details directly with the card issuer or consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions. Credits to Jason Yang. […]
Moving to Hyogo
Last updated: June 2025 Landing in Japan Apart from the Early Departures (arriving in April), you will arrive in Japan around late July or early August. You will land at either Haneda or Narita International Airport, where after immigration and customs, you’ll board a bus that will take you to Keio Plaza Hotel. Although you […]
Banking in Japan
Hyogo AJET provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Banking regulations, account requirements, fees, services, and policies in Japan may change, and individual circumstances vary. Always verify information directly with financial institutions or official regulatory sources before making any banking or financial decisions. Credits to Jason Yang for providing […]
Getting a Driving License in Hyogo
If you’re intending or decided to stay for more than a year, getting a Japanese driver’s license is mandatory after 12 months. You cannot renew your international driver’s permit (IDP) and is only valid for a year from the date it was issued. It is illegal to drive without a valid driver’s license and the […]