If you’ve been dreaming about buying a property in Tokyo, Yen Loans is pioneering mortgage loans for non-residents of Japan.

This is a huge deal as it’s not something that’s been done before. While non-residents can purchase property in Japan, they normally have to pay the entire price upfront.

Yen Loans is making it way easier for foreigners to finance property in Tokyo, creating the opportunity for you to purchase a vacation home, investment, or both.

In addition to opening doors for international buyers, Yen Loans is a friend of Japan or Die. Please check them out!

Mustard Hotel Shimokitazawa

This was written on a small sign in my room:

Becoming “The Secret Ingredient” of a Town from Tokyo Japan

I’d say they’re succeeding.

I’m not generally one to write hotel reviews, but I recently stayed at the Mustard Hotel Shimokitazawa, and I feel it deserves one. I’ve wanted to stay here since it opened a few years ago in the Fall of 2021, but it was always booked on the dates I needed.

Now that I’ve recently spent 8 days at the Mustard Hotel, I can tell you it’s a wonderful place. 

I’m always going on and on about meeting people in Japan and making interesting connections, even on short holidays. The Mustard Hotel is the type of place that fosters those encounters. The lobby with its cafe and communal table, and the giant deck right off the lobby are prime areas for random conversations. This is a place that will drastically increase your luck surface area for meeting people (locals and other travelers) who will genuinely enjoy chatting with you.

In just two days, I met several Japanese people who gather every morning on the deck with their adorable dogs. They have a “standing after dog walking coffee” hang out here. I got to pet some kawaii inu and chat with their people who gave me tons of restaurants to check out in Shimokitazawa and beyond. Local places. Places you’d never learn about otherwise.

Then I met an entrepreneur from Orange County, CA which is near Los Angeles, my hometown. We spent a few hours talking and there’s a good chance we will collaborate on something in the near future.

Later that day, I ran into a friend I made twelve years ago when I lived in Shimokitazawa for a few months. An excellent musician, and all-around great human person. He happened to be performing a few days later at a music festival here in Shimokita. So, I went to his show and, of course, he sings like a freaking angel.

My buddy from LA enjoyed discussing Japanese rappers and got new music recommendations from the bartender in the attached bar, which is not affiliated with Mustard Hotel, but is a nice, vibey place to relax, and is stocked with a great selection of mezcal of all things.

If you’re looking to start off your Tokyo adventure with the opportunity to cross paths with lots of people, you could do a lot worse than staying at the Mustard Hotel.

I was tempted to keep this to myself, but I want you to experience the magic of Tokyo. My friend who lives in Shimokitazawa said the openness and friendliness of the people here is a special quality of Shimokitazawa and is stronger in Shimokita than in many other parts of Tokyo. 

In the past, if you wanted to stay in Shimokita, you had to book an Airbnb, but now there’s the Mustard Hotel. If you want to be in Shimo, but prefer something fancier, I’ve heard the Yuen Bettei Daita is incredible.

In case you want a more balanced review, here’s a few extra notes:

Reasons why it is good:

Everyone I came across who worked here whether it was front desk, cleaners, baristas at the cafe, or bartender at the unaffiliated bar was invariably wonderful. Even when they didn’t speak much (or any) English, they always tried their best to accommodate me.

Reasonably priced. At least when I stayed.

Incredible opportunities to meet people.

Great location in Shimokitazawa, which is one of the best areas of Tokyo.

Reasons you might not like it:

It’s not a fancy place. The rooms are minimalistic.

The laundry situation leaves something to be desired. Two washers (one was broken when I was there), and two wimpy dryers.

The type of person likely to get the most out of the Mustard Hotel:

You like people and you want to chat with them.

Staying here can help you create your own personal Tokyo based on connections you make and recommendations you receive from locals.

Here’s a link for the Mustard Hotel Shimokitazawa.

Craft Beer

Craft beer lovers will be happy to know craft beer in Japan has taken off. 

If you’re interested in trying a variety of Japanese craft beers, the famous Isetan department store in Shinjuku has a craft beer bar inside with an outstanding selection. There are over 220 kinds. About 70% of them are from domestic Japanese breweries.

Even if you’re not that into craft beer, but you want something to do other than shopping while your partner shops in the department store, this is a fun way to take a break.

ISETAN Shinjuku B 1F, 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Open - 3 pm - 8 pm (Last call 7:30)

Night Photography

Japan is an unbelievably photogenic country, and with its unique mixture of modern and traditional, Tokyo is a photographer’s dream. 

Lukasz Palka has been exploring and photographing Tokyo for almost two decades and in this video, he shares his tips on street photography at night.

He discusses the influence cinema has had on his shooting, his general approach of being open to whatever the evening has in store instead of having a pre-conceived notion of what he will find, his love for Shinjuku (Kabukicho in particular), and, well, watch the video if this sounds interesting to you. I loved it.

Also, he has photo tours you can sign up for. I haven’t met Lukasz and am not affiliated with his tours in any way, but they look like a cool way to explore Tokyo at night, get some memorable shots, and improve your photography skills. 

The most clicked link from the previous issue was for this video about 8 Japanese Aesthetics.

The 2nd most clicked link from the previous issue was for this conference for working travelers, digital nomads in Fukuoka this year.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post, please share!

—And if someone sent you this post, you can subscribe here.

NB: We sometimes use affiliate links.