NorthWest Wa
Wa (和) means harmony.
Rooted in BC, shaped by Japan, NorthWest Wa makes practical tools for stress-free living, renting and travel.
Travel
Japan guides, onsen map, food, shopping and etiquette.
Explore Japan →☘Stress-free living
Calm trackers for bills, subscriptions and life admin.
See home & money tools →⌂Renting
Landlord kits, inspection forms and renter tips.
See renting tools →Find your perfect onsen
Our interactive map covers 50+ hot springs and public baths across Japan, with water type, local history, famous local foods and how to get there.
Explore the onsen mapBrowse all onsen guides
Find your perfect meal
Our interactive food map covers 61 places across Japan, from sushi to Osaka street food, with local history and how to get there.
Explore the food mapSee Japan food guide
Featured kits
Complete Alberta Landlord Kit
Our full set of landlord tools in one bundle, including move-in/move-out inspection forms.
View on EtsyCondo Landlord Starter Pack
The essentials for renting out a condo, ready to print or fill in.
View on EtsyRenting
For small Canadian landlords and renters
- Walk through the unit with the tenant at move-in and move-out, and both sign the inspection report.
- Take dated photos of every room, including floors, walls and appliances.
- Put repair requests in writing and keep a log of dates and fixes.
- When house hunting, be wary of anyone who wants a deposit before you've seen the place or signed a lease.
- Proof of a rental's condition so deposits aren't disputed Available
Move-in/move-out inspection forms with room-by-room checklists. - Repair requests that get answered, and a maintenance log Available
Track requests, dates and fixes in one place. - Organized rental search with scam red flags Coming soon
Compare listings and spot warning signs. - Moving checklist: who to notify in BC and Alberta Coming soon
Address changes, utilities and agencies in one list. - Short-term rental host kit Coming soon
Welcome book and turnover checklist for hosts.
Home & Money
Calm, simple trackers for everyday life admin
- List every bill and subscription once, with its due date and amount, then review it monthly.
- Check your bank and card statements for small recurring charges you forgot about.
- Self-employed? Set aside part of every payment for tax, and keep receipts as you go.
- Keep a family info sheet that says where important documents are, but never write passwords in it.
- One place to track every bill and due date Available
A household bill tracker with due-date highlights, plus a fillable spreadsheet. - Find and cancel forgotten subscriptions Available
Subscription audit plus Canadian cancellation letter templates. - An "if something happens to me" family folder Coming soon
Where documents are kept. Never passwords. - Crypto records for Canadian tax time Coming soon
Wallet, transfer and cost-basis log. Not tax advice. - A budget for irregular or side income Coming soon
Set aside money for tax as you earn. - Simple expense and receipt tracker for side businesses Coming soon
Built around Canadian self-employment expense categories. - Debt payoff and savings goals Coming soon
Watch the balance go down and the savings go up. - Bill-lowering and refund request scripts Coming soon
Ready-to-use wording for those awkward calls and emails. - A low-overwhelm weekly planner Coming soon
A simple, stress-free week layout. - Seasonal home maintenance checklist Coming soon
Prairie and BC seasons, month by month.
Travel & Food (Japan / BC)
Shaped by years of living in Japan
- Plan your Japan route before you go, then decide whether a rail pass actually saves money for that route.
- Carry some cash. Many small shops and shrines still prefer it.
- Get a rechargeable IC transit card for trains, buses and convenience stores.
- Check current entry rules and prices with official sources before you book, since they change.
- Easy Japan trip planning Available
Itineraries, yen budget tracker, phrases and etiquette. - "What's for dinner?" made easy Coming soon
A Japanese-inspired weekly meal planner with grocery list.
Get notified when new tools launch
Want a "Coming soon" tool? Email signup is coming shortly. For now, send a quick note and say which tool you're waiting for.
About
NorthWest Wa is run by a founder who grew up in British Columbia, lived in Japan, and now lives in north Edmonton with his family. He makes the simple, calm tools he wished he'd had.
Get in touch
Questions or ideas? Email hello@northwestwa.com.