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This traditional Japanese castle keep is home to a branch of government
- Oona McGee
Jul 23, 2025 - Tweet
Ruling the land from inside a Japanese fortress.
- Japan
- (castle • castles • cool • culture • Fukui • government • history • japanese castle • Japanese castles • SNJO • travel)
For the ladies – An awesomely authentic old-school capsule hotel that accepts female travelers
- Casey Baseel
Jul 22, 2025
Our experience traveler/capsule hotel newbie spends a night at Apaiser.
- Japan
- (capsule hotels • hotels • Ikuna Kamezawa • Nagoya • SNJO • tourism • travel)
Did we strike gold or strike out with this rooftop beer garden on top of a Tokyo parking garage?
- Krista Rogers
Jul 22, 2025
It’s not where you’d expect a summer beer garden to be, but we’ve been surprised before and couldn’t pass up a chance to investigate.
- Japan
- (Ahiruneko • alcohol • beer garden • COK • drinks • food • parking garage • restaurnts • SNJO • Tachikawa • Tokyo)
Why is self-censoring tape appearing all over Tokyo’s host club ads?【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Jul 22, 2025
New law means that one of the host club industry’s standard marketing ploys is now illegal.
- Japan
- (crime • host bars • host clubs • hostess barsm • hostess clubs • hostesses • hosts • society)
Children’s books about hybrid mouse-bread thief celebrates 5th anniversary with huge event
- Master Blaster
Jul 22, 2025
If bread theft is wrong, then baby, I don’t wanna be right.
- Japan
- (books • Bread Thief • children's books • events • Keiko Shibata • Pan Dorobo • Shibuya • Tokyo)
Mobile battery fire breaks out on Tokyo’s main commuter line
- Casey Baseel
Jul 21, 2025
Battery began to burn after less than a minute of use, owner says.
- Japan
- (crazy • fire • mobile batteries • safety • technology • trains • Yamanote line)
These are Osaka’s three best digital rail passes for travelers
- Casey Baseel
Jul 21, 2025
Unlimited subway rides, free admission to some of the city’s best sightseeing spots, and no paper ticket you need to pick up at a service counter.
- Japan
- (Japan Railway • Japan Railway Company • JR • Osaka • Osaka Metro • Osaka Smart Access Pass • rail passes • subways • Surutto Kansai Osaka Amazing Pass • tourism • train passes • trains • travel)
Young Magazine to give away special US-only edition with works by new and legendary mangaka
- Master Blaster
Jul 21, 2025
Over 1,000 pages of free manga goodness.
- Japan
- (Anime NYC • Fuan no Tane • Initial D • K Manga • Kinokuniya • manga • Masaaki Nakayama • PTSD Radio • Shuichi Shigeno • Shuzo Oshimi • Subaru and Subaru • Under Ninja • Young Magazine)
Totoro and Jiji tail seat cushions blend Studio Ghibli backsides with yours【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Jul 20, 2025
Ghibli tails from Ghibli tales.
- Japan
- (anime • cushions • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • Jiji • Kiki’s Deliery Service • manga • My Neighbo Totoro • Studio Ghibli • Totoro)
We found a literal hole in the wall in Tokyo for great coffee at amazing prices
- Casey Baseel
Jul 20, 2025
We’d have fallen in love with this Harajuku spot even if they didn’t give you free dessert (but they do).
- Japan
- (cafes • coffee • COK • cool • drinks • Harajuku • Himitsu no Drip • restaurants • SNJO • weird)
World’s most popular emoji ranking shows something missing from Japan’s top picks
- Casey Baseel
Jul 20, 2025
Multi-country study has one element in every nation’s top five emoji, but not Japan’s.
- Japan
- (COK • emoji • Japanese language • linguistics • society • World Emoji Day)
Discover some of the best snacks in Atami, a wonderland of Japanese street food
- Elliot Hale
Jul 19, 2025
There’s a lot more to the city than just hot springs and seaside views.
- Japan
- (Atami • basque cheesecake • beach • COK • crepe • food • Japanese street food • Mari Morimoto • matcha • Ocean • purin • scenic • shopping street • SNJO • street food • tourism • travel)
Sanrio’s My Melody Kuromi Game Plaza welcoming guests in Tokyo, will head overseas too
- Casey Baseel
Jul 19, 2025
Free games, cute photo spots, and two of Sanrio’s biggest stars show up in Shibuya.
That time we tried to fill the void of real ikemen with 360 cups of Butamen instant noodles instead
- Krista Rogers
Jul 19, 2025
Some may call it crazy to try to replace guys with cup ramen, but as we’ve always said, “Noods before dudes.”
- Japan
- (Butamen • COK • crazy • cup noodles • funny • ikemen • Natsuno Futon • Oyatsu Company • ramen • SNJO)
Japanese guitar maker Fernandes declares bankruptcy due to plummeting sales
- Master Blaster
Jul 19, 2025
The patch cable has been pulled.
- Japan
- (bankruptcy • bass • Burny • business • Fernandes • guitars • music • musical instruments)
Toy guns won from crane games all over Japan could be used as real guns, warn police
- Master Blaster
Jul 19, 2025
Good thing those machines are really hard to win at.
- Japan
- (crane games • firearms • guns • Hyogo • imports • law • Real Gimmick Mini Revolver • UFO catchers • weapons)
Too sexy to show, or sexier not showing anything? Anime to air in audio-only on Tokyo TV channel
- Casey Baseel
Jul 18, 2025
One channel won’t be showing any of Nukitashi’s visuals, but is this censorship or something else?
This mountain cottage retreat in Japan is the perfect summer escape
- Elliot Hale
Jul 18, 2025
Skip the city heat and unwind with fresh mountain air at this charming summer resort.
- Japan
- (accommodation • beautiful scenery • COK • cottage • highlands • hotel • Hotel Laforet Nasu • Laforet • local beer • local food • Mari Morimoto • Nasu • scenic • SNJO • Tochigi • tourism • travel)
Toto to release next-gen Japanese toilet tech that scans and keeps track of your poop
- Master Blaster
Jul 18, 2025
Captain’s log…
- Japan
- (health • Neorest • scanners • stool sample • technology • Toilets • Toto • washlets)
Canadian corporation withdraws bid to acquire 7-Eleven Japan and its parent company
- Casey Baseel
Jul 18, 2025
US$47 billion 7-Eleven shopping trip hasn’t gone as hoped.
- Canada, Japan
- (7-Eleven • 7-Eleven Japan • Alimentation Couche-Tard • COK • convenience stores • Seven & i Holdings)
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Recent Posts
- 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
- Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
- This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Godzilla becomes a Japanese randoseru backpack, as do two of his greatest rivals [Photos]
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
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?
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
Weekly
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing
Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
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
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Uniqlo Japan offers custom suits for super affordable prices
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