When it comes to teaching languages, the grammar-translation method has become the child nobody loves or wants to acknowledge. But is it really hell on toast?

Tsumago Village is a beautiful traditional village located in the heart of Nagano Prefecture. We drove all the way along the river, watching the sun rise, then arrived at the the village when it is still asleep. Everything was quiet besides the jumpy river on the stones.

What’s the best way to learn Japanese? After pouring years, beers, and tears into the question (pretty much in that order), I finally have an answer. Man, it has been one long decade.

Traveling in Japan doesn’t have to be expensive, even in regards to finding a place to sleep. Last time, I introduced 10 Free (or Very Cheap) Accommodations in Japan, and this time, I wanted to introduce 10 more cheap accommodations for your budget trip to Japan.

Everyone knows Japanese people aren’t exactly Masters of the Universe when it comes to speaking English, despite receiving six years of English education. Six years? Are you kidding? You could build yourself a Great Pyramid in less time. I’m pretty sure. Just chop up some limestone and stack it up. Probably take you a couple of years at best.

When incorporating a company in Japan or registering a Japan branch of a non-domestic company, you will need to consult with various different types of specialists. This is because the Japanese legal profession is divided into several types of specialists, each with their unique field of specialization.

Tokyo. Japan’s capital and home to roughly 12,790,000 people, making it the world’s most populous metropolis. Running through this great city is one of the world’s most extensive urban rail networks, composed of surface trains and subways that carry some 40 million passengers daily.

Accommodation in Japan can be expensive, but that doesn’t mean that is has to be. Ranging from the predictable to the creative, I’ve listed ten ways to find free, or at the very least extremely cheap, lodgings in Japan.

When most people think of Japan a flood of visuals rise up in the mind’s eye: samurai, geisha, sushi, bonsai trees, a single red sun on a white background—all of them gorgeous cliches. But the fact that it is easier to attempt to describe Japan in terms of the visual is no coincidence.

Hiragana? Fine. Katakana? Piece of cake. There’s not that many of them, so whatever. But kanji? Yeah, let me get back to you on that. I mean, who wants to take the long route to learning Japanese? I was determined to find a shortcut.