Welcome to November! By now you’ve reflected on all you heard at the Skills Development Conference and might even have plans to put some of those key learnings into action. A big thanks to our fellow ALTs who organized the conference and a final round of applause for all those who presented. Moving forward,…
Harry Potter World at USJ A magical village of wizarding wonders has opened at Universal Studios Japan this summer! If you’ve been harboring childhood fantasies of Butterbeer, magic wands, or singing toads, read on to learn more about making the most of your magical journey! The Harry Potter World at USJ is significantly smaller…
Is it humid? It feels a little humid to me. As a second-year ALT, I knew it was coming. I knew that summer would make a grand entrance, bringing high temperatures, blazing sunlight, and moisture levels that seem to turn the air into a solid mass. No matter where you’re from originally, nearly…
If April’s article “The Do’s and Don’ts of Yakushima Hiking†by Paige Ngo intrigued you, read on for details about the most popular hikes on Yakushima and getting around the island without a car! First things first: don’t expect your typical walk in the woods! The many forces of nature combine to…
Print your tickets! Pack your bags! The most celebrated week of the year (at least in Japan) is here: Golden Week!　By now you’ve heard of the series of national holidays clustered at the beginning of May.　Perhaps it was a fellow ALT or a friendly JTE who first made you aware of this spectacular feat in…
Along with a lot of other ALTs, sumo wrestling is on my (very long) list of “things to see†while in Japan. Luckily, Hyogo is right next to Osaka, one of only four cities in the country to host Grand Turnament competitions. Tickets went on sale February 2nd and a good friend was kind enough…
During winter vacation, I traded Hyogo’s rice paddies and fallen leaves for the pineapple fields and mangrove forests of Okinawa! Hoping to take advantage of off-season prices and fewer crowds, a fellow ALT and I embarked on a journey of island hopping, ocean kayaking, coral reef snorkeling, and a long list of other exciting activities….