Hi, I’m YUU
I’m a Japanese mom of two, living in Japan. YUU is the illustrated version of me — the silver-haired mom you’ll see in the pictures on this blog and in my short videos.
On A Little Japan, I share the little things locals know about Japan: trains, food, what to wear, and Japanese finds you can enjoy at home. There are 60+ free guides here so far.
Prefer to watch? Here I am in 30 seconds.
Add a Little Japan to Your Life — Trip or Not
Some of you are planning a trip — maybe your first, maybe with kids in tow. Others won’t be boarding a plane this year but love Japan anyway. This blog is for both.
For trips, I focus on the practical bits that make a day go smoother: which station to stay near, how much cash to carry, what to wear in November. For home, I look at Japanese things you can actually get where you live — towels, tea, water bottles, rice cookers — and how to tell the real Japanese version from a lookalike.
Either way, the idea is the same. Add a little Japan to your life, and make every day a bit easier and cozier.
Why I Started This Blog
At the station, I often see families from abroad standing in front of the coin lockers, bags in hand, not sure where to start. For locals, it’s second nature. We don’t even think about it.
But the things locals know by heart are nowhere in English guides.
So I started writing them down — the unwritten rules, the magic words, the small joys. One little thing at a time.
The same goes for Japanese products. What’s genuinely worth your suitcase space, or your shipping fee, is easier to judge when you live with these things every day.
What You’ll Find Here
Planning a trip? Start with the 7-step guide. It puts every article in order, from when to go to what to bring home.
Japan Trip Planning Guide (7 Steps)
Travel & Sightseeing — where to stay, getting in from the airport, theme park tickets, and family rooms that really sleep four.
Japanese Culture & Etiquette — the unwritten rules at restaurants, convenience stores and trash cans, and the one word that solves almost everything.
Seasonal Essentials — what to wear month by month, and how to stay comfortable in Japan’s heat and cold.
What to Wear in Japan in November
Beauty & Skincare — Japanese sunscreens, drugstore skincare and winter dry-skin care, plus where to buy them outside Japan.
Home & Zakka — rice cookers, water bottles, towels, knives and loungewear: Japanese things for everyday life at home.
Japanese Gifts You Can Buy From Home
Snacks & Drinks — Japanese tea and treats, starting with which tea to buy first.
Japanese Innovations — clever Japanese ideas the rest of the world hasn’t caught up with yet.
A Sheet That Makes Your Car Float
How I Write
If I’ve tried it, I’ll tell you. If I haven’t, I’ll tell you that too. When a recommendation comes from my own home, I say so — and when it’s based on how a product is known here in Japan, I say that instead.
Rules, prices and schedules change, so I check them against official sources before I write.
And I’ll tell you the downsides. No product or plan is perfect, and you deserve to know before you spend your money — or a day of your trip.
Follow YUU
Short videos and quick tips live on social media. Here’s what you’ll find where:
- Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts — a short Japan tip video, almost every day
- Pinterest — guides and checklists to save for your trip
- Threads — one unwritten rule, magic word or small joy, every day
- X — a weekly tip from Japan
Not sure where to begin? Start here.
Affiliate Links & Contact
Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the blog running, and it never changes what I recommend.
Questions, corrections, or a little thing about Japan you’d like me to explain? Send me a note through the contact form. Full details are in the disclaimer.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope A Little Japan makes your trip — or your everyday — a little easier.
— YUU