Joanna Pearce

Joanna first came to Japan in 1998 to spend a year as an exchange student at Kitakyushu University and was delighted to move to Tokyo in 2012 with her husband. A serial expatriate, she is a freelance writer and a meditation teacher who has been living in Asia since 2007. She recently had her first baby in Tokyo and loves exploring with her daughter!

Articles By Joanna

A Beginner’s Guide to Harajuku’s Lolita Fashion

The world of a Japanese Lolita girl is an alluring and yet mysterious one. For those of us with an interest in finding out more...

July 3, 2015 | Fashion

Pom Pom Purin Cafe, Harajuku

Pom Pom Purin is the lovable golden retriever character brought to us by Sanrio. He is never seen without his signature brown beret, and he...

June 29, 2015 | Food & Drink

Kurokawa Hot Spring Village, Kyushu

The charming hot spring village of Kurokawa in Kyushu is such a gem that I had a dilemma about whether or not I wanted to...

February 12, 2015 | Adventures, Lifestyle

Meditate on Your Noodles at Ichiran Ramen

As a language student in Fukuoka prefecture in the 1990s, one of my regular hangouts was a discreet noodle bar called Ichiran Ramen. It was...

January 23, 2015 | Food & Drink

Smoothie Stands for Moms on the Run

When you are out exploring Tokyo with a little one it can be tough to find time to eat lunch and even harder to find...

November 19, 2014 | Families, Food & Drink

Cha Cha no Ma Tea Room, Harajuku

Tucked away on a lane behind the popular Cat Street shopping area in Harajuku is an enticing Japanese tea room called Cha Cha No Ma,...

October 13, 2014 | Food & Drink

Colorful Gifts and Clothes at Sou Sou, Aoyama

If you are looking for unusual Japanese gifts with a modern twist then you will love the Sou Sou boutique. Sou Sou (which means “yes,...

October 9, 2014 | Families, Fashion, Lifestyle

Five Baby-Friendly Tokyo Cafes

If you are tired of frequenting the big coffee shop chains with your baby and are looking for somewhere new to quench your thirst and...

July 24, 2014 | Families, Food & Drink

How to be a Yummy Mummy in Omotesando

We’ve all seen those yummy mummies that seem to stroll effortlessly down the tree-lined streets of Omotesando—one of Tokyo’s most glamourous locations. With their state-of-the-art...

June 26, 2014 | Families