Hello, this is NIFS!
2008-08-22

[Seasonal Life Tips / Watering around the outside of house and garden reduces the temperature by 2 degrees]

Try to water around the outside of the house and garden.
As the water evaporates it cools the surrounding air by about 2 degrees.
Using leftover water from the bath is also eco friendly.

[Nara Lifestyle Guide / Bank Transfers (Overseas) ]
http://www.nifs.or.jp/mobile/eng/guide/lifestyle/lifestyle06.html

[Ask a Foreigner: What I like about Nara living / Birds singing around Todai-ji temple in the morning and evening is charming]

I live about 5 minutes on foot from Todai-ji temple.
I can see the temple from my house and I like it best in the morning and evening.
There are many kinds of small birds in Nara which sing cheerfully in the morning and evening and I have fallen in love with this.
Between early and mid-summer, croaking frogs join in to add to the cheerful natural orchestra.
There are no frogs in my hometown so for me this is a strange and charming sensation.

(Male from Taichung (Taiwan), 3 months residence in Japan)