A Swiss Perspective on Life in Japan

The Swiss Alps, as see through Japanese eyes. When we visited a souvenir shop in Hokkaido this summer, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks. A box of biscuits. On it was a familiar little girl, standing against an Alpine landscape. And underneath her: “Heidi, a girl of the Hokkaido” in English, which somehow made the whole thing rather confusing. Because Heidi is Swiss. Isn't she? The original Heidi was written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri in 1881. It tells t

Cheap dinners, expensive cheese and the strange mathematics of the yen On our recent trip to Hokkaido, my brother flew over from Switzerland and quickly developed a habit. Whenever we bought something, he would convert the price into Swiss francs in his head. Then he would look puzzled. Surely there must be some mistake. Things couldn’t possibly be that cheap. But they were. At least to him. A lavish dinner with a starter, dessert and wine – the sort of meal that can produce

Hokkaido roads, Swiss memories, and full-service petrol stations On a recent road trip through Hokkaido – my first visit to Japan’s northern island after 30 years in the country – I discovered something I had almost forgotten existed in Japan: A straight road. Not just straight by Japanese standards. Properly straight. Some seemed to disappear directly into the horizon, without a bend, traffic light or elderly driver deciding to turn right at the last possible moment. One roa

Thoughts on Switzerland's balance vs Japan's harmony 💼 Work-Life (Un)Balance Switzerland respects healthy work-life balance. Japan has a word for dying from overwork. One country treats vacation like sacred scripture, the other treats it like a forbidden fruit. In Switzerland, taking time off means vanishing into the mountains, lakes, or some budget-friendly exotic destination, returning emotionally stable, tan-faced, and ready to smile at colleagues. In Japan, vacation time

Why Japan may be the safest place in the world to lose your wallet There aren't many restaurants with outdoor seating in Japan, particularly traditional Japanese ones. That may be because al fresco dining simply isn't part of Japanese culture – or because summers are far too hot to sit outside. There is, however, a yakitori restaurant just a couple of hundred metres from our local station with a single terrace table, which is one of our favourite spots. One table. That's all

A story about wine, customer service, and why Japan does things differently The other day, I ordered eight bottles of rosé wine from a large online retailer whose name I shall not mention. Not because I fear legal consequences. Mainly because they have just given me twelve bottles of wine for free, and I don't want them changing their minds. For reasons that remain unexplained, our household wine reserves had fallen to alarmingly low levels. The order was placed on Saturday,

What a loudspeaker truck in Japan taught me about the Swiss love of peace and quiet On a recent Sunday afternoon, I was enjoying what I consider one of life's greatest inventions: the weekend nap. A gentle breeze drifted through the open balcony door. Weekend bliss. Then it happened. A loudspeaker crackled into life somewhere outside. 'Old washing machines! Scrap metal! Broken appliances!' The voice slowly drifted through the neighbourhood, accompanied by the unmistakable hum

Where rainy-season storms meet trembling ground The other day, I was reminded that living in Japan means accepting that nature occasionally likes to keep things... interesting. Take last month. We were in the middle of the rainy season – that damp stretch from early June to mid-July that every resident complains about while quietly acknowledging that, without it, the country would have a slight agricultural problem. After all, it provides around 20–30% of Japan's annual rainf

Driving on Japan’s expressways can be challenging at times. There is speeding. There is frequent undertaking. Many drivers appear to believe the fast lane is a perfectly acceptable place to live permanently. And tailgating is apparently a favourite pastime. I experienced the consequences of that last year, when the driver behind me failed to stop in backed-up traffic and crashed into my then three-week-old car. Two months of chiropractic treatment and three months of negotiat

A Swiss expat hunting for familiar flavours, traditions, and identity in Japan After our monthly team meeting at work, we usually order lunch. Sometimes bento boxes. Sometimes curry. The other day, somebody suggested biryani. Then one colleague suddenly asked: ‘Are there any Swiss restaurants that do food deliveries in Tokyo?’ The question caught me completely off guard. Because despite having lived here for many years, I genuinely didn’t know. Someone else then pointed out:

Everyday routines revealing Japan’s culture, quirks, and how it's changing Japan is changing. Not everywhere. Not all at once. But occasionally, small experiences make you stop and wonder whether something is quietly shifting beneath the surface. At the same time, some things stubbornly hold onto the past. Some desired change doesn't happen. And sometimes you get it without asking for it. The other day, I visited our usual dry cleaner. It requires a ten-minute drive, but for

Language misunderstandings and cultural nuance The other day at the supermarket, I found myself in a situation that has become increasingly common ever since shops stopped automatically giving you plastic bags and instead ask whether you would like to purchase one. All for the environment, of course. And, conveniently, a little extra income. Shop assistant: ‘Fukuro wa go-riyō ni narimasu ka?’ Would you like a bag? Me: ‘Daijōbu desu.’ I’m OK. Shop assistant: ‘Kashikomarimashit

Tokyo encounters and expat reflections The other day, while eating a matcha ice cream, I found myself reflecting on the extraordinary global rise of matcha. It’s everywhere now. Matcha lattes. Matcha KitKats. Matcha cocktails. Matcha facial products. At this rate, someone is probably developing a matcha-flavoured matcha. Japan, meanwhile, can barely keep up with demand. Exports continue to hit record highs as the world collectively decides that bright green powder is the answ

Tokyo encounters and expat reflections May is my favourite month in Japan. No heating. No air conditioning. The bedroom window stays open all night, and the cool air drifting in before dawn keeps the room at exactly the right temperature. The sun rises before five, the birds begin their morning conference outside the window, and getting out of bed suddenly feels far less offensive than it did in January. By six o’clock, the temperature is already pleasant. Around twenty degre

Swiss traditions reimagined through Japanese life If you’ve ever visited Japan, you’ve probably encountered the country’s legendary high-tech toilets. And if you haven’t, somebody has almost certainly told you about them in the tone normally reserved for spiritual awakenings. 'Heated seats!' 'Automatic lids!' 'It plays waterfall sounds while you do your business!' Western travel articles and blog posts love describing Japanese toilets as 'like operating a Boeing cockpit,' whi

Switzerland’s demographics and cultural evolution In recent years, something has caught my attention whenever I visit Switzerland. Increasingly, I’m greeted not in Swiss German, but in standard High German – proper, crisp, newsreader-level High German. In shops. In restaurants. On support lines. Everywhere. For those unfamiliar: Swiss German is a spoken language, and it differs considerably from standard High German, which in Switzerland is mainly reserved for writing – and t

More reflections on two disciplined cultures 📢 Public Serenading Switzerland treats public announcements like a medical report: neutral, concise, and 100% emotion-free. The train is late? Delivered in a neutral, matter-of-fact tone, as if reporting the weather. Lost luggage? A swift update, no drama, no sympathy – just facts delivered at Swiss efficiency speed. Meanwhile, Japan has decided that announcements should be full of sensory experience. Train stations bust into chee

Space, culture, and daily life in Japanese homes The other morning, my wife and I had breakfast on our balcony. One of our two balconies, I should say. The one off the living room (on the middle floor) is wider but shallow, so it functions as our miniature garden – ivy, herbs, the illusion of rural life. The one on the top floor, off the bedroom, is narrower but deep enough for a table. Not massive, but sufficient. One learns to compromise. So, breakfast on the balcony. Nothi

Swiss diaspora life and cultural identity abroad I recently realised something mildly unsettling. I'm officially one of the 340,000 Swiss people who have emigrated since 1993. That’s right. I’m not special. I’m a data point. According to the latest figures, more than 838,600 Swiss nationals live abroad — about 11% of the population. Roughly one in nine Swiss people has looked at Switzerland, nodded politely, and said, “Lovely country. I’ll take it… but from a distance.” Which

Japan’s sleep culture and public transport habits The other day, on the train home from a weekend outing – fortified by a lunchtime beer – we managed to secure seats. It took me approximately three minutes to nod off. Fortunately, my wife was sitting next to me to inform me – at the appropriate moment – that our stop had arrived and it was time to get off. The incident reminded me of one of Japan’s most refined life skills. A skill that does not appear to exist anywhere in th

Swiss winter culture meets modern quirks Even high up in the Swiss Alps, winter is drawing to a close – finally, most will agree. The Olympians and Paralympians towards the south of the border have returned home – with or without medals – and what's on most people's mind now is where to catch some guaranteed summer sun this year. Yes, Switzerland likes to think of itself a a winter sports nation, but essentially, winter sports happen only in winter. Makes sense. Yet, somewher

Swiss geography, identity, and cultural contrasts As a Swiss person living in Japan, I’m occasionally reminded that my homeland is famous for two things: mountains and not having a coastline. Ah, and chocolate and cheese. So, four things. And neutrality. Five. But definitely not beaches. Japan, meanwhile, is basically all coastline. Fish is fresh. Sea breezes are real. Children grow up knowing which direction the ocean is. In Switzerland, we grow up knowing which direction th

More insights into Swiss–Japanese cultural order 🐶 Animal Priorities Switzerland worships cows, and their right to roam fields freely is practically sacred. Swiss cows are local celebrities; annual cow parades celebrate their return from summer grazing, complete with bells, flower crowns, and more enthusiasm than most human festivals receive. And if the cowbells in the field next to your house keep you up all night? Tough luck. They are an important part of Switzerland's tra

Seasonal shifts and cultural rhythms in Japan As the days begin to warm, there comes that hopeful moment each year when we realise we can finally turn off the heating and open the windows. Fresh air enters the living room. Spring announces itself. Life feels lighter. In a densely built neighbourhood, however, fresh air rarely travels alone. It arrives accompanied by sound. Last year we discovered one particularly dedicated contributor to the urban soundtrack: a neighbour acro

Swiss traditions collide with Japanese celebrations February in Switzerland is carnival season. Which means that for a few glorious days each year, the Swiss are officially permitted to lose control. This may not sound remarkable if you come from cultures where public enthusiasm is a daily occurrence. But Switzerland runs on restraint. On order. Emotional moderation calibrated to within acceptable tolerances. Carnival is the exception. This is when otherwise respectable banke

Wildlife, culture, and unexpected comparisons The other day, my wife suddenly looked up from her morning coffee and asked a perfectly reasonable question: 'Where have all the crows gone?' This may not sound like a big deal. But if you’ve ever lived in Tokyo, you’ll understand the gravity of the situation. For years, our mornings weren’t greeted by the delicate chirping of sparrows, but by the full-volume cawing of crows that sounded like they were holding an emergency meeting

Memory, longing, and life between two countries The other day my wife and I went to see Bryan Adams in concert. This guy really rocks. And I don’t just mean in a 'good for his age' sense – which is usually polite shorthand for 'still upright and not entirely embarrassing'. No, he genuinely rocks. Especially when you consider that he’s 66. Sixty-six! An age where most people start complaining about their knees, their eyesight, and music all sounds the same these days. Meanwhil

Pandemic habits and cultural differences in Japan It’s flu season. And Covid is also still doing the rounds. At this point, I’m beginning to suspect we’re not getting rid of it anytime soon. Walking around Japan at this time of year, it can sometimes feel as if the pandemic never really left. Masks everywhere. On trains. In shops. On the street. Sometimes even outdoors – alone, in wide‑open spaces. Or worn by drivers sitting solo in their car, presumably protecting themselves

Emigration, identity, and Swiss diaspora stories In 2026, I will have lived in Japan for 30 years. Thirty years. Long enough to forget that Sundays once meant closed shops, but still short enough to be asked, every now and then, when 'I’m going back home.' What I only realised recently is that this urge to leave Switzerland – to look over the mountains and think maybe somewhere else would be nice – is not a modern phenomenon at all. It’s about 2,000 years old. What I’m refer

Continuing the cultural comparison of two tidy nations 🚗 Driving Culture Switzerland treats speed limits as sacred laws, written in metaphorical stone and enforced by hidden speed cameras lurking like highly trained snipers. Step even slightly over the limit, and you've instantly won yourself a surprise photo souvenir courtesy of Swiss law enforcement. It's efficient, relentless, and guarantees that every Swiss driver develops a built-in speedometer through sheer fear alone.

Swiss politics and humility from afar On December 10, Switzerland’s parliament elected Economics Minister Guy Parmelin as president for 2026. If your immediate reaction to this news was a polite nod followed by 'Wait, Switzerland has a president?'. Congratulations, you are responding correctly. Because Switzerland’s presidency is one of the most Swiss things imaginable. It exists, it functions perfectly, and it makes absolutely no fuss about itself. In most countries, becomin

Mountains, identity, and Swiss nostalgia abroad If there is one thing Japanese people know about Switzerland, it is this: Mountains. Alps. Snow. Yodelling, possibly while skiing downhill. As soon as they find out I’m Swiss, the conversation inevitably drifts upwards. Literally. 'You must have grown up surrounded by mountains.' 'You probably went hiking every weekend.' I usually nod politely, because explaining reality takes longer than smiling. The truth is this: yes, Switzer

Japan’s festive feasts and cultural abundance After living roughly half my life in Switzerland and half in Japan, I’ve learned one crucial thing about New Year celebrations: Switzerland and Japan are celebrating the same holiday – just facing in completely opposite directions. In Switzerland, New Year’s Eve is the main event, with a long meal (often meat fondue, which has become somewhat of a tradition), good wine, and fireworks. New Year’s Day exists mainly for recovery and

Searching for Swiss comfort food in Japan Growing up in Switzerland, bread wasn’t just food. It was infrastructure. Bread had a starring role at breakfast, a reliable supporting role at lunch and dinner, and a quiet cameo appearance whenever someone felt a bit peckish. With roughly 200 officially recognised types of bread, there was enough variety to keep life interesting, balanced, and pleasantly crumb-filled. One thing united all of them: it had to be fresh. This wasn’t dif

Language mastery without literacy in Japan Japanese people usually assume that because I speak Japanese – more or less fluently (and sometimes noticeably less than more) – I must also be able to read it. After all, there are "only" 2,135 daily-use kanji characters. Out of roughly 50,000 in total. So surely, after 29 years in Japan, I should have picked them up by now. Plenty of time, right? One per week and I’d have finished the lot before my hairline started its slow, steady

Swiss winter nostalgia meets Japanese life I’m writing this from Nagano – roughly 230 km away from Tokyo – where we are spending our Christmas and New Year's Holidays. When people hear Nagano, their brains immediately start projecting skiing montages: powder snow, mountain peaks, and some heroic skier flying through the air in glorious slow motion. Understandable, since Nagano Prefecture is often referred to as the "Roof of Japan", surrounded by enough mountains to make a Swi

Japan’s unique Christmas traditions explained The KFC near our house has finally re-opened after months of refurbishment. I haven’t stepped inside yet, but peeking through the door I spotted the shiny new self-ordering machines, which are on the rise wherever you look. Because nothing says ‘holiday cheer’ quite like tapping a screen to beg for fried chicken while a robot silently judges your choices. But with staff shortages and rising cost, it’s the world we live in. You wan

Japan’s festive season through Swiss eyes Every December, my inner Swiss wakes up and begins reminiscing about a very specific childhood ritual: the annual hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. We would head to the supermarket or the village square, where hundreds of trees were lined up like contestants in a beauty pageant. Tall, short, skinny, round, slightly wonky – all waiting to be chosen as someone's living-room centrepiece. And if you were feeling extra rustic, you would

Missing Swiss flavours while living in Japan No matter how long we live abroad, how well we master the language, or how convincingly we nod at jokes we don’t quite understand, our stomachs eventually betray us. Assimilation may work on the outside, but deep inside, the gut is waving a little national flag and shouting, “Feed me what I grew up with!” Take my Japanese wife. Though our daily meals are mostly Western, she is occasionally seized by an undeniable, primal urge for p

Swiss food, nostalgia, and economic quirks It’s that magical time of year again – the air is crisp, the leaves are turning gold, and my inner Swiss is screaming for those Swiss delights that remind me of my childhood. Yes, winter is here, and with it comes the irresistible craving for raclette and fondue, those glorious dairy-based dishes that warm both the belly and the soul. So off I trotted to our favourite upscale supermarket, visions of bubbling cheese and crusty bread d

Swiss politics and identity through cultural symbols There are moments in life when you realise just how differently countries operate. Take car licence plates, for instance. Here are some facts about Swiss number plates that may surprise you. 🏷️ 1. Licence Plates for Life – Like Marriage, But More Binding In most countries, plates belong to the car. Easy. Logical. Efficient. Predictable. Switzerland looked at that idea and said: “Nein. Too easy.” In Switzerland, your plates

Seasonal traditions compared between Japan and Switzerland Halloween is firmly behind us, and the ghostly costumes and plastic pumpkins are packed away. And now – in countries like Switzerland and Japan, where Thanksgiving doesn't exist to provide a buffer – nothing stands between us and the overwhelming, glittery dominance of Christmas. Well, almost nothing. First, we must navigate that seasonal no-man’s-land where society collectively debates: Is it socially acceptable to p

Digital life, bureaucracy, and living abroad Last week, my wife and I went to see Back to the Future in concert – 40 years after its premiere. Forty years! Sometimes I do feel old. As the orchestra launched into that epic opening theme and the DeLorean thundered to life, I felt chills – partly from nostalgia, partly from the dawning realisation that humanity has somehow managed to invent AI that writes poetry, but not a single functioning time machine. And frankly, some days,

Getting lost in Japan’s tech wonderlands Let’s set the scene. It’s the third day of a long weekend – that blissful stage where you’ve lost all sense of time and start to believe you might never have to work again. My wife and I had just purchased a shiny new washing machine at our local tech wonderland, also known as the electronics store – where reason goes in with you, but somehow never makes it back out. All that was left was to pay. Simple, right? A quick beep of the cred

Japan’s home gadgets and cultural obsessions One of the things I’ve always loved about Japan – apart from the polite people, super-efficient trains, and vending machines that sell everything short of life insurance – are the gigantic electronics stores. These are not just shops. They are cathedrals of consumer technology, temples where you can lose yourself for hours among the latest gadgets, futuristic household appliances, and mysterious contraptions you didn’t even know ex

Swiss politics seen from a Japanese perspective Last month, I once again did my civic duty (or privilege, as I prefer to view it) as a Swiss citizen: I voted in a national referendum. Other countries argue over national elections every few years and then leave it to the lawmakers to make the actual decisions. But not so in Switzerland, where democracy is served four times a year, fondue-style, and every citizen is invited to dip their bread into the bubbling pot of policy. On

Blending in, standing out, and expat identity Living in Japan as a Western foreigner can be rather interesting. People spot you, freeze, and then quietly decide not to engage unless absolutely necessary. It's entertaining, frustrating, and occasionally useful, depending on how much social interaction you're trying to avoid that day. No matter how long I've lived here, my face will always be a dead giveaway that I'm not from around here. And with that comes a whole bouquet of

Marking years abroad and life in Japan On 30 September, I will be celebrating my 29th Japaniversary – that's right, 29 years since I started a new life in the Land of the Rising Sun, with almost zero language skills and no job, but with a Japanese wife and a suitcase full of optimism. Now, I hadn't just stumbled into Japan like a confused tourist looking for Mt. Fuji. I had visited twice before. The first time was to spend a few weeks with my then-girlfriend, criss-crossing t

Japan’s tech quirks and nostalgic surprises Last week I made the bold decision that our loyal, 8-year-old car had earned its pension. Time for a shiny new replacement, I thought. A monumental decision, to be sure... at least for me. My dearest wife was considerably less enthused. While she made a contribution to the choice of colour, the rest was left to me as the sole driver: the heroic expedition to the Mazda dealership, the epic quest for the perfect chariot, and the gladi

Heatwaves, weather extremes, and cultural reactions It’s official: The Japan Meteorological Agency has confirmed that Japan just survived (barely) its hottest summer on record. The national average temperature from June to August came in at a sweaty 2.36°C above the norm. That may not sound like much, but trust me, in meteorology it's colossal. And this wasn’t a one-off. This comes hot (pun 100% intended) on the heels of the previous hottest summers of 2024 and 2023. Japan is