I recommend picking an actor or actress that you like and checking out their other dramas.
I’ve watched a lot of J-dramas, but we have very few in common.
Amachan 2013 (156) J 39 hrs - young girl aspires to be a diver and later an Idol.
Arakawa Under The Bridge 2011 (10) J 4hrs - weird people doing strange things as they live near the bridge.
Toki Wo Kakeru Shoujo 2016 (5) J 3hr44 - girl who leapt through time
The Little Girl Who Conquered Time (Toki o kakeru shojo) 1983 J 1hr44 - movie
Aquarium Girl 2016 (7) J 6hr30 - dolphin show
Deka Wanko 2011 (10) J 8 hrs - police procedural / Gothic Lolita
Kimi Wa Petto 2003 (10) J 8 hrs - old but good cohabitation story
Minami-Kun No Koibito 2004 (11) J 8hr30 - miniature girlfriend
Minami-Kun No Koibito: My Little Lover 2015 (10) J 7hr30 - remake
Saba Doru 2012 (12) J 4hr51 - Middle aged teacher by day, teen Idol in her free time.
Sakurako-san No Ashimoto Ni Wa Shitai Ga Umatteiru (Beautiful Bones) 2017 (10) J 7hr50 - similar to American Bones.
Slice-of-life
Gou Gou The Cat 2014 (4) J 3hr25 - mangaka and her cat
Gou Gou The Cat 2 2016 (5) J 4hr09 - sequel
Tsubaki Bunguten 2017 (8) J 6hr28 - letter writing
Watched Soft Subs (JDramaCity) since hard subbed sites had syncing issues.
Frankenstein No Koi 2017 (10) J 8hr08 - Frankenstein’s Love
Keishicho Ikimono Gakari 2017 (10) J 7hr48 - Police procedural involving pets