Hi hi! I’m An — born and raised in Nagoya, right in the heart of Japan, and proud of it!
I’m a mom of two energetic boys, and my days are full of school runs, bento boxes, and hunting down the latest beauty finds. I’m the kind of person who will track down a discontinued makeup product just because I love it that much. New releases from 100-yen shops? I’m there. A skincare product everyone’s been talking about? Already in my bag.
My personality? Easygoing, spontaneous, and a little mischievous. On lazy days, dinner is whatever’s easiest — no apologies. And I’m the type to suddenly announce “let’s go somewhere!” and watch my family scramble to keep up. Honestly, I love seeing their reactions 😄
I used to work outside the home, but as I moved up at work, I started losing the thing that mattered most — time with my kids. So I made the decision to step back. Now, when my boys come home from school and I get to say “welcome home” — that’s my favorite part of every day.
What’s this blog about?
I started Japan Next Door to share real, everyday Japanese life with people around the world. Japan’s products are already loved globally, but there’s still so much that hasn’t been discovered yet — hidden gems, honest reviews, local favorites, and practical tips for visiting or living here.
I’ll share the good and the real: what’s worth buying, where to go, what to watch out for when you visit, and plenty of beauty, snack, bento, and everyday life content along the way.
Who is this blog for?
Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, curious about Japanese products, or just love following everyday life here — this blog is for you. Feel free to leave questions in the comments too. I’ll do my best to answer! 😄
And it’s not just questions — if there’s something about Japan you’ve always wanted to know, drop it in the comments! I’ll go check it out myself or ask friends around me 😀 After all, this blog is called Japan Next Door. That’s what neighbors do — share information and look out for each other!