X-Pat Files

Habitat Japan, the new online book on JapanInfoSwap.com, is intended for expatriates who call Japan home, either temporarily or permanently. It aims to raise the reader's awareness of all the cool things Japan has to offer those who live here. Check out the new book, Habitat Japan, right here online.

Don't crank the air-conditioner this summer - it's not good for your body or good for the planet. Check out some of the things that the Japanese use to stay cool when the weather gets hot!

Katayama Children's Clinic in Kasugai (near to Nagoya International School) is a haven for sick children with a caring doctor who never seems to take days off, and an extensive range of printed matter and website in English.

Are you looking for something interesting to do and want something precious to remember it by? Why not try your hand at pottery with 14th generation master Hiroshige Kato at Kasen Studio?

The pool is the best place to spend the hot sultry summer in Nagoya. Before you go, make sure you know all the rules and regulations. Then, make a splash this summer!

Going to the dentist can be intimidating at the best of times, so it can be downright nerve-wracking in an unfamiliar land. The good news is, that dentistry is likely to be much cheaper here than in your home country, if you have national health insurance. Also, Japanese dentistry is of a high standard and once you've done the shopping for the dentist you like, you won't likely be disappointed. So take a deep breath, and just go to the dentist!

Losing your mobile phone in Japan can be frustrating - you've got to deal with everything in another language, without your phone, OR your contact list! Stay calm, practice your Japanese skills and your gesture language, and enlist the support of the larger community. You can't change what happened to your phone, but you can regain your sanity!