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2026 (Page 26)

7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 31, 2026
• Tweet

7-Eleven will finally let you buy baked-in-store pizza without making you buy a whole pizza.

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• Japan
• (7-Eleven • 7-Eleven Japan • convenience stores • food • Japanese convenience stores • pizza • Seven Cafe Bakery)

Okayama man arrested for catching butterflies in central Japan

• Master Blaster
  Jul 31, 2026

It’s becoming a regular Gotham City out there.

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• Japan
• (butterflies • crime • endangered species • Gifu • insects • Kita Alps • Kohyomon Modoki • Mellicta ambigua niphona • Norikura Kogen • Okayama)

Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms

• Oona McGee
  Jul 31, 2026

New Japan-exclusive collectibles are only available at select locations.

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• Japan
• (capsule toy • capsule toy machines • capsule toys • cool • cute • drinks • Frappuccino • Frappuccinos • gacha • gacha gacha • gacha toy • gacha toys • gacha vending machine • Matcha Republic • Reserve Roastery • Reserve Roastery Tokyo • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo • vending machines)

Kumamoto Castle left illuminated all night long as symbol of hope for earthquake victims

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 30, 2026

The castle itself is still undergoing repairs from an earthquake from 10 years ago.

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• Japan
• (diasaster • earthquake • Kumamoto • Kumamoto Castle • Kumamoto City • kumamoto earthquake • moving • touching)

Katana of one of Japan’s most famous swordsmen goes on display to help Kumamoto earthquake victims

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 30, 2026

The sword of the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi is being called into action once again in a touching story of repaying kindness.

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• Japan
• (culture • disaster • Hijikata Toshizo • history • Katana • Kumamoto • kumamoto earthquake • moving • museums • shinsengumi • swords • touching)

Sanrio’s newest item looks like dog butt, exactly like it’s supposed to [Photos]

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 30, 2026

If you’ve ever wanted to take a nap while burying your face in Pompompurin’s butthole, this is the cushion you’ve been waiting for.

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• Japan
• (COK • crazy • cushion • cute • funny • interior • nap pillow • pillow • plushies • Pompompurin • Sanrio • weird)

Starbucks Japan unveils new coffee drinks… for people who don’t drink coffee

• Oona McGee
  Jul 30, 2026

Created with Shibuya109 Lab, this new release aims to bridge the gap between traditional coffee and sweet Frappuccinos.

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• Japan
• (coffee • drinks • Frappuccino • Frappuccinos • Japanese Frappuccino • limited edition • Limited edition flavours • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • summer)

Official Final Fantasy beers are going on sale in Tokyo this month, giant Aetheryte appearing too

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 30, 2026

Two brews, inspired by the world of Final Fantasy XIV, are joining the taps at an Akihabara craft beer bar.

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• Japan
• (Akihabara • alcohol • beer • COK • craft beer • drinks • Final Fantasy • Final Fantasy XIV • Square Enix • video games)

Maximum entry fee for sento public baths in Tokyo increases slightly for adults next month

• Krista Rogers
  Jul 30, 2026

The rise in the entry fee comes amid an increase in public bathhouse users in Tokyo and a decrease in the total number of sento.

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• Japan
• (bathhouse • costs • fee increase • onsen • public bath • sento • Tokyo)

Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data

• Oona McGee
  Jul 30, 2026

The average overseas visitor now consumes more rice in a day than a Japanese local.

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• Japan
• (food • foreign tourism • foreign tourists • foreigners • inbound tourism • internationalism • Japan tourism • Japanese food • MAFF • Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries • news • rice • society • survey • tourism)

Life-size Legendary Pokémon Mega Rayquaza digitally greeting travelers at Tokyo train station [Vid]

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 29, 2026

Mega Rayquaza comes to Shinjuku from the stratosphere.

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• Japan
• (anime • awesome • cool • manga • Mega Rayquaza • Pokemon • Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket • Rayquaza • shinjuku • Shinjuku Station • video games)

JR releases prediction of peak Shinkansen crowdedness for Japan’s Obon travel season

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 29, 2026

Suspension of unreserved seat tickets on some bullet train classes means planning ahead is especially important.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • COK • Japan travel • JR Central • JR Tokai • Obon • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)

Starbucks Japan releases new “Afterword” collection that gives coffee waste a second life

• Oona McGee
  Jul 29, 2026

Exclusive range includes a planter cover, smartphone stand and a unique coffee-dyed Japanese tenugui.

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• Japan
• (Afterwaord • Afterword • coffee • coffee beans • coffee grounds • drinks • imited edition • limited edition • news • notebook • recycling • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • stationery • sustainability • sustainable • tumblers)

Japan has a maid hotel you can stay in, and it’s now taking reservation applications

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 29, 2026

“Small manor in the Izu highlands” is getting ready to welcome guests once again.

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• Japan
• (hotels • ito • Izu • Izu Kogen • Japan travel • maid cafes • maids • Shizuoka • Shizuoka Prefecture • tourism • travel)

Pachinko industry rebounds on convenience and innovation, but smaller parlors struggle to keep up

• Elliot Hale
  Jul 29, 2026

No more heavy ball baskets or stacks of cash, but the same ol’ sensory rush with a modern flair.

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• Japan
• (business • COK • culture • entertainment • gambling • pachinko • pachinko machines • pachinko parlors • society • technology)

Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return

• Oona McGee
  Jul 29, 2026

Official city survey highlights the issues that left some visitors less than satisfied with their Kyoto experience.

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• Japan
• (etiquette • foreign tourists • international tourists • Japan travel • Japanese etiquette • Kyoto • Kyoto tourism • manners • news • overcrowding • overtourism • tourism • tourist site • tourist sites • tourists • travel)

Tokyo Pokémon Center announces reopening after months-long closure following stabbing death

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 28, 2026

Ikebukuro Pokémon Center and Pikachu Sweets cafe immediately closed following tragic event.

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• Japan
• (anime • COK • crime • Ikebukuro • Ikebukuro Pokemon Center • manga • Pikachu Sweets • Pokemon • Pokémon Cente Mega Tokyo • Pokemon Center • Pokémon Center stabbing • Sunshine City • video games)

Japan’s expensive “phantom” melon is so exquisite it sells out in just 12 hours

• Oona McGee
  Jul 28, 2026

Grown with special electrolysed hydrogen water, this ultra-sweet fruit reaches more than 17 degrees Brix.

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• Japan
• (expensive food • expensive fruit • food • fruit • fruits • gifts • japanese fruit • Japanese melon • Kusatsu • melon • melons • Shiga • SNJO • summer)

Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas

• Oona McGee
  Jul 28, 2026

New “Jimoto” series celebrates the unique flavours and charms of different parts of Japan.

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• Japan
• (Aomori • coffee • drinks • Frappuccino • Frappuccinos • Gunma • Japanese Frappuccino • Japanese Frappuccinos • limited edition • merchandise • milk tea • Okinawa • regional exclusive • regional souvenirs • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • tumblers)

McDonald’s Japan goes viral for Samurai Mac burger hack

• Oona McGee
  Jul 28, 2026

Turn a Samurai Mac into an expensive Omotesando gourmet burger by taking one thing out – and no, it’s not the pickles.

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• Japan
• (beef • burgers • exclusive • fast food • food • food hack • hack • Japan-exclusive • McDonald's • McDonald's Japan • Samurai Mac • SNJO • social media)

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• Recent Posts

  • Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
  • Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
  • Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
  • Princess Mononoke was going to look totally different, new Studio Ghibli artbook shows
  • Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month

• MOST POPULAR

  • Today
  • Weekly
  • Monthly
  • Yearly

  Today

  1. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  2. Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
  3. Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
  4. Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
  5. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  6. Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
  7. Princess Mononoke was going to look totally different, new Studio Ghibli artbook shows
  8. First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
  9. Godzilla becomes a Japanese randoseru backpack, as do two of his greatest rivals [Photos]
  10. Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings

  Weekly

  1. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  2. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  3. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  4. Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  5. Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
  6. Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  7. Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
  8. Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing
  9. Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  10. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan

  Monthly

  1. Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
  2. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  3. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  4. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  5. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  6. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  7. Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
  8. New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
  9. Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
  10. Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign

  Yearly

  1. Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
  2. Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
  3. Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
  4. Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
  5. Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
  6. Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
  7. Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
  8. Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
  9. Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
  10. Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa

• RECOMMENDED STORIES

  • Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
  • Princess Mononoke was going to look totally different, new Studio Ghibli artbook shows
  • First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
  • Godzilla becomes a Japanese randoseru backpack, as do two of his greatest rivals [Photos]
  • Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
  • This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
  • Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
  • Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
  • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  • Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
  • Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s remake can be played with an actual ocarina [Video]
  • Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  • Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones

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• • Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
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