You, Me, And a Tanuki is a weekly featured blog run by Michelle, a Californian who is currently one of only two foreigners living in Chibu, a tiny fishing village on one of the Oki islands in Japan. Check back every Saturday for a new post or read more on her website here!
My husband and I live on a five square mile island with less than 600 inhabitants. To make matters even cozier, most of our island is mountainous so the houses are clustered together on the coasts where any flat land is available. As a result of our close proximity to our neighbors and the fact that we are the only two foreigners on the island, everyone knows where we live.
This is a great thing most of the time. People often come to our door to give us extra vegetables from their garden or fish they caught. When Khoa and I stayed on the island during New Year’s, the principal of the elementary school saw the light on at our house, figured we were home, and invited us over for a big New Year’s feast.
However, there is a downside to the entire island knowing our whereabouts.
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Exhibition on the 1,500 year-history of traditional Japanese women’s clothing to open in Shibuya
Temple with 600-year-old tree near busy Tokyo station is like a tranquil pocket dimension
Studio Ghibli croquettes not to eat, but to keep your stuff in, going on sale in Japan[Photos]
See-through Japanese maid’s uniform gives you the power of X-Ray vision
Japanese-style afternoon tea in this Japanese manor house outside downtown Tokyo is something special
Japan’s ultra-classy overnight bus gives you your own sleeping pod【Photos】
Pokémon Tokyo Banana’s latest offering is adorable Pikachu and Eevee chocolate cookie sandwiches
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Buy 2,000 identical CDs to visit hot springs with this idol group, save them from disbandment
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Pikachu to cuddle with kimono-clad beauty on Tokyo street as part of flower art event
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japanese-style afternoon tea in this Japanese manor house outside downtown Tokyo is something special
Japan’s ultra-classy overnight bus gives you your own sleeping pod【Photos】
Pokémon Tokyo Banana’s latest offering is adorable Pikachu and Eevee chocolate cookie sandwiches
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Buy 2,000 identical CDs to visit hot springs with this idol group, save them from disbandment
Studio Ghibli announces first new short anime film in 8 years, exclusive to Ghibli Park
Coca-Cola Japan releases new clear coke this month, we get to try it before it goes on sale
A Japanese tea house for inside your house? Tokyo company wants to offer micro chashitsu overseas
Foreign shoppers in Akihabara tip us off to an awesome souvenir idea: DIY Paper Theater kit【Pics】
Japan’s first-ever wanko soba conveyor belt restaurant opens in Tokyo
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Video of dancing girls reminds us of Japan’s weird ’90s street fashion
Here it is: The finalized map for Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (and its food)
7-Eleven Japan now sells fresh-fried doughnuts, but are they any good?【Taste test】