Jul 21, 2026

Stressful cities in Japan?

Today I blogged about a ranking I found online about the world's "most stressful" cities. Tokyo and Kyoto tied for 5th place, which to me was a bit of a surprise. For the most part I find those places to be pretty chill (especially on a world scale), even with tourists aplenty. Are there any cities or locations here you've found to be stressful in any way? Is it crowds, the vibe, the transport, or something else entirely?

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genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).

2 Answers

BigfamJapan

5 hours ago

For me, it's about the crowds. I don't do crowds well - my stress switch flips on in crowds! This year Kawagoe has calmed down thankfully, but last year and the year before that it got to the point that I avoided the tourist town - at certain times of the day - because of the stress of crowds.

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genkidesu

5 hours ago

@BigfamJapan I hear you, I get really anxious in crowded places and I think it's part of why I like countryside living a whole lot more! I definitely think the crowds have gone through the roof in Tokyo/Kyoto over recent years, so that's probably a big factor in their high ranking.

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2 Answers

Stressful cities in Japan?

genkidesu

10 hours ago

4 Answers

Around the World in Japan

I've just written a post with 10 'foreign-themed' places you can visit within Japan. What ”international" (foreign-esque / foreign themed) places have you visited in Japan? And would you recommend them? Post for reference: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/G762R-living_fukushima_saitama_chiba_tokyo_kanagawa_mie_hyogo_nagasaki_okinawa

BigfamJapan

on Jul 18

11 Answers

AC in the school gym?

I was wondering does your local school (or the school you work at or the school your kids go to or any school that you are personally familiar with) have air conditioning the gym? My four children are all at different schools this year, and not one of them has AC in the gym. They all have AC in the classrooms now, but as you know, that has only been the case in recent years. I presume all schools have AC in the classroom now? For your reference: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/zKnyR-living_medical_education_saitama_tokyo

BigfamJapan

on Jul 13

5 Answers

How do you celebrate Tanabata?

Do you mark Tanabata? If so, on July 7th or August 7th? Do you do something at home to mark the occasion, be it special food, crafts, storytelling etc? Or maybe you go to a Tanabata Festival at some point during the summer?

BigfamJapan

on Jul 7

15 Answers

What cooling items have you tried, tested and approve?

Cooling towels and / or gel sheets, ice-gel technology, portable mist fans, wearable air conditioners... the list goes on and on. But which of Japan's cooling items actually work? What have you tried and tested and give a seal of approval?

BigfamJapan

on Jul 4

7 Answers

Summer only foods

Are there any foods you only eat in the summer in Japan? Or, if you prefer, foods that you associate with summer? One that comes to mind for my family is somen - we usually only eat somen in summer, with the very odd exception. One of my kids sometimes craves somen when she's feeling poorly! 'Goya' is another. Do you eat somen and goya only in summer or would you eat it at other times of the year too?

BigfamJapan

on Jun 24

4 Answers

Baby Showers in Japan

Yesterday I wrote about "Baby Shower Day". But now I am curious - have you ever been to a Baby Shower in Japan? And if so, was it for and / or organized by a Japanese person or a foreigner? And FYI, in case you haven't noticed it yet, we can now see how many views our posts are getting again! Baby shower post: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/weBpJ-living_saitama_tokyo

BigfamJapan

on Jun 7

3 Answers

Taking the bitterness out of Goya?

Today is "Goya Day" and as I wrote in my post about it, my MIL is growing some this year so no doubt we'll be given some to cook. I am not a big fan, because I find it unpleasantly bitter. So, following in the same vein as tonetoedo's mentaiko / karako question - what way do you serve goya? Have you any tips for taking the bitterness out of it?

BigfamJapan

on May 8

5 Answers

Your 2026 food omiyage / souvenir picks?

I know this question has probably been asked several times in the past, but it is also the kind of question to which the answer changes frequently! So, I am curious - what are your top food souvenir picks for 2026? I am going home again soon, and I want to get food omiyage for several people, including the school where my son is about to finish a one-year exchange. I would love to hear your thoughts on the BEST Japanese food omiyage around this year! And / or the food omiyage you buy each and every time you are going home because it's always a big hit? I just had the photo in this post to hand, and it is not a recommendation per se, it's not bad and fits well into a suitcase, but it's not the best strawberry daifuku I ever had.

BigfamJapan

on Apr 24

6 Answers

What's your favorite 'kushiyaki'?

Just for fun; what type of skewered food do you like best in Japan? Or, if you feel like sharing, what are your top 3?

BigfamJapan

on Apr 11

2 Answers

Movie locations near you worth visiting?

The live action version of テルマエ・ロマエ Thermae Romae (2012) was shot at Nokogiriyama, Kyonan Town, Chiba Prefecture. It's one of my favourite getaways for hiking, the temple complex, and catching sea breezes. The movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Which Japanese live-action movies do you recommend, and are the filming locations worth a visit? Tell us the original title, English title, the year, and the location.

TonetoEdo

on Mar 23

4 Answers

Recent vending machine discoveries?

I always get a little kick out of finding a vending machine that dispenses something other than drinks or ice-cream. I have been seeing an increase in vending machines that sell religious items lately. I also like finding vending machines with unusual or attractive wrapping. Have you come across any unusual vending machines lately? Either vending machines that sell something other than the norm or a vending machine with eye-catching wrapping?

BigfamJapan

on Mar 21

Stressful cities in Japan?

2 Answers

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