Is the new Japan Marriott Bonvoy Amex Premium card still worth it?

In 2024 i wrote a post about what credit card i applied for, and why. Spoiler alert, its the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Premium card. Some things have changed since then. Here's the main section of an email i got from Amex back in August - you don'

Using an ATM in Japan is not as straightforward as you think.

This feels like it could be esoteric knowledge, which is precisely why i'm sharing it. The long and short of it is, * ATMs at 7-11 read the IC chip in your card * Other banks read your card's magnetic stripe Why this does matter? Well, a few

What's it like to convert your license in Japan?

May marked the end of a long and trying period of my life. Trials and tribulations abounded in the form of paperwork, waiting, more paperwork, more waiting, a grumpy Japanese man, and a ten-minute drive that, supposedly, can tell a grumpy Japanese man everything he needs to know about my

What's a fintech card like in Japan?

In what feels like a lifetime ago, i travelled to Europe from Japan to unwisely pit my yen against the euro. Why is this worth writing about? Well because i'm at heart a Singaporean, and at the risk of over-generalising (but not by much) Singaporean's love

Using the CAFEC Flower Dripper DEEP 27

My experience with the CAFEC Flower Dripper Deep 27 coffee brewer. A little foray into what you think about when you brew coffee.

What do you do when your Rakuten account gets blocked?

Overcoming the odds. Surviving the trials and tribulations of being falsely accused. Losing and finding one's Rakuten account again. Inspired by true events

What's it like to do a surgery in Japan?

A loose guidebook to navigating a surgery in Japan.

What is kafunsho to a person living in Japan?

A perspective on a springtime phenomenon and what seems to be an essential part of Japanese identity.

My preferred credit card in Japan, and why

A follow up on my experience applying for a credit card in Japan. At the risk of being reductionist, to my mind there's really only 1 credit card worth getting...

How do you get a credit card in Japan?

One year in the making. I've finally gotten the credit card i wanted in Japan. Here's what i've pieced together about the process, and how i view improving your odds for getting one.

What are Imabari towels and why do they matter to you?

Well, they don't. They matter to me. Which is why i'm writing about it. Maybe a little hyperbolic, but using one was a moment of exposure to little luxuries. These towels don't matter to you now, but they could by the end of this post.

What is furusato nouzei and how do i use it?

Furusato nouzei is a great way to get something back for paying your taxes - this post covers what it is, how it works, and what to watch out for.