23 Japan Blogs & Sites to Know in 2024

We asked Business in Japan members to recommend English-language websites and blogs on business in Japan topics. 

And—along with some sleuthing—we put together this list of sites and sources on business-in-Japan themes, which you might not know of but totally should. 

Japan travel tips

Matcha Japan

From Japanese cuisine to Japan travel tips to other interesting tidbits about traditional Japanese culture, the Matcha Japan blog provides in-depth writeups about hidden gems, popular destinations, beautiful temples, and other places outside of the usual writeups for larger cities.

Tokyo Weekender

Planning a Japan trip? Want to know what events are around the corner in Tokyo? Explore Japan with the handy roundups that the Tokyo Weekender provides. They cover incredible food and interesting spots to eat, such as the robot restaurant and other lesser-known tourist spots.

Zooming Japan

Zooming Japan is a Japan travel blog written by a German woman who has traveled extensively throughout Japan, loves Japanese castles, and covers a wide variety of travel-related topics. The articles catalog exciting experiences and many insights from her personal travel experiences. If you're planning a trip to Japan, don't miss this blog.

JP Bound

Article types include how to find ways to watch your favorite anime shows, Gundam watch guides, deep dives into time periods in Japan's history, the best types of noodles to buy in Japan and where to buy them, and much more. This site is a great travel companion to help provide context and color as you plan your next trip.

Japan Guide

From travel guides tailored to solo female travelers to articles on Mount Fuji tripes, capsule hotels, and other aspects of Japan's traditional lifestyle, Japan Guide curates plenty of information on Japan's rich culture, Japanese traditions, and exciting things to do in Japan's incredible country side.

MailMate's Out and About blog

If you're used to traveling in Western countries, you'll want to check out MailMate's Out and About category for Japan. Here, you'll learn about efficient public transportation tips for bullet train travel and other tips that are particular to Japan's cultural oddities. Stop by here before your first trip to Japan.

Logistics & legal for Japan

Otani Accounting

Otani Accounting. Tax-related resources and guides, plus explainer articles on finance and business in Japan. 📖 If your company provides e-services, you'll want to read: “Digital Tax in Japan: Alert for E-service Companies.” 

Tomohiko Akiyama's website

Tomohiko Akiyama's website, a Japanese lawyer, writing about Japan's business regulations and legal matters concerning starting a business in Japan.

👉 Start with the Personal Tax category. 

Japan External Trade Organization

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). 👉 Start with their encyclopedia of articles on how to set up businesses, subsidiaries, and more in Japan.

Japanese market entry & marketing

Freshtrax

Freshtrax Blog. A design and marketing company covering e-commerce, culture, and trends in Japan. 📖 Want to know the top 10 Japanese tech companies by market capitalization, revenue, or another metric?

Humble Bunny

Humble Bunny Blog. From Nathan Hoernig's team, social media in Japan, e-commerce, and SEO strategy from a marketing + design company. 📖 Start here: “The Impact of Covid-19 On Japanese Social Media (Short and Long Term).”

Export and Expand

Export and Expand Blog. From Rupert Sutton, covers international trade, consumer trends & business, and some Japan market topics. 👉 Start with the Japan category tag.

Business in Japan

Business in Japan Blog. Most people will know Business in Japan as the 67,000+ Linkedin group. But there's a site, too, by founder Jason Ball that covers market entry topics. 📖 This resource list is particularly helpful: "Chambers of Commerce in Japan (Foreign & Domestic)."

Japan's business, tech & culture 

MailMate blog

MailMate Blog. For those visiting Japan or who plan to visit Japan in the near future, the MailMate blog covers Japanese culture, travel tips, and other practical information that will help you understand Japanese society and Japanese people.

Wahl + Case blog

The Wahl+Case blog is from a tech recruitment agency in Japan which interviews many of the brightest minds in Tokyo's tech and startup scene and other of Japan's major cities. 👉 We're also partial to their podcast. 

Tekuni newsletter

TÉKUNI newsletter. A curated newsletter focused on Japan's tech news. 📖 Want to know what type of person purchases a pet robot? Read this interview with Yukai Engineering CEO Shunsuke Aoki.

Kokoro Media

Kokoro Media. Interviews with Japanese business owners, articles on culture, and more. 📖 If you're geeky about films, horror, or Japanese horror flicks in particular, check out: “A Talk with the Crew of Independent Japanese Horror Movie ‘Orange Juice.'”

NewsPicks

BONUS: NewsPicks (Japanese). Japan business news with commentary by select industry leaders, experts, and CXOs. Group company UZABASE's initial.inc started releasing English versions. 📖 Startups or anyone interested in Japan's startup scene will want to read: “Japan Startup Funding 2020.” 

Japan's Startup Scene

Rude VC

Rude VC. Mark Bivens' blog about venture capital, sumo, triathlon, reggae. 📖 Recommended read: “In Japan's vaccine rollout, the startup ecosystem delivers.”

The Bridge

The Bridge. English version of a Japanese media site helping to connect investors with startups & founders in Japan and Asia. 📖 Start with this article about a Japanese EdTech startup using AI to hack how we learn that secured $46M+ to go global. 

Disrupting Japan

Disrupting Japan. Tim Romero of Google Startups covers innovation & the startup scene in Japan. Articles are often transcripts from the podcast of the same name. 📖 Recommended read: “The new era of Evocative Machines. Why you're going to love it.” 

Japanese statistics & surveys

Japan's online statistics site in English

e-Stat. Japan statistics in English by the central government. Everything from consumer price fluctuations to road traffic statistics. 👉 Kind-of-hidden but absolute gold: Government Statistics Sitemap, which gives you an overview of statistics by gov branches.

Carter JMRN blog

Carter JMRN Blog. From Dominic Carter on Japan market research and surveys plus commentary.

MailMate's business blog

Read about business in Japan without the language barrier. The MailMate blog covers what business is like in Japan's big cities and its current trend toward digitalization and much more.