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Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
- Oona McGee
Jul 17, 2026 - Tweet
New report shows a worrying trend, but is it the beginning of the end for Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination?
- Japan
- (foreign tourists • hotels • Japan travel • jnto • news • tourism • tourists • travel)
Tokyo and Osaka make it into this year’s EIU ranking of the world’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities
- Krista Rogers
Jul 16, 2026
Plus, we share our recommendations for off-the-beaten-path places to visit in each of them.
- Japan
- (Economist • Global Liveability Index • lifestyle • living • Most Liveable Cities • Osaka • ranking • Tokyo)
Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea raising ticket prices, free Fast Pass ending next month
- Casey Baseel
Jul 16, 2026
New economic realities are coming to the place that bills itself as the land of dreams.
- Japan
- (Amusement Parks • COK • Disney • Disney Sea • Disneyland • Japan travel • Oriental Land • theme parks • Tokyo Disney Resort • Tokyo Disney Sea • Tokyo Disneyland • tourism • travel)
Kyushu yakisoba Sofuren’s new food truck ventures into the Kanto region for the first time
- Krista Rogers
Jul 16, 2026
This “Kyushu soul food” also has a fun connection to the creator of a manga/anime series of titanic proportions.
- Japan
- (Attack on Titan • food • food truck • Hajime Isayama • Hita • Kanto • Kyushu • Oita Prefecture • Sofuren • yakisoba)
7-Eleven Japan releases new sandwich that technically contains fruit but isn’t a fruit sandwich
- Oona McGee
Jul 16, 2026
Japanese convenience store chain makes us rethink the fruit sando with a beautiful new release.
- Japan
- (7-Eleven • 7-Eleven Japan • avocado • convenience store • convenience store finds • convenience store food • convenience stores • food • fruit sando • fruit sandwiches • Japanese convenience stores • Japanese fruit sandwiches • Japanese sandwich • Japanese sandwiches • sandwiches)
Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu
- Oona McGee
Jul 16, 2026
Exclusive drinks showcase two fruits, done three ways.
- Japan
- (Chillax Soda • drinks • Frappuccino • Frappuccinos • fruit • Japanese Frappuccino • Japanese Frappuccinos • limited edition • Limited edition flavours • mango • orange • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • summer • tea)
Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
- Casey Baseel
Jul 16, 2026
Fujin and Raijin take a break and leave divine duties up to the Eva units.
- Japan
- (anime • culture • Evangelion • Fujin • Fujin Raijin • history • manga • Raijin • ukiyo-eart • Wind God and Thunder God)
Studio Ghibli releases huge new wooden clip collection featuring 25 anime movies
- Oona McGee
Jul 16, 2026
From Nausicaä to Earwig and the Witch, this collection celebrates all but one of Ghibli’s major feature films.
- Japan
- (anime • anime movies • clips • cool • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • Ghibli • Hayao Miyazaki • Jiji • Kiki's Delivery Service • merchandise • movies • My Neighbor Totoro • My Neighbour Totoro • Studio Ghibli • Totoro • wood • wooden)
Shinkansen trial of moderately air conditioned cars draws mixed reactions from travellers
- Oona McGee
Jul 16, 2026
Some passengers are grateful for the warmer carriages, while others say they’re the last thing Japan needs during an excruciatingly hot summer.
- Japan
- (Air conditioning • bullet train • heatstroke • Japan Railways • Japanese trains • JR Central • JR West • moderately air conditioned car • railways • Sanyo • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • Tokaido • Tokaido Line • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • weak air conditioning)
Japan has otaku/fan event insurance to cover oshikatsu expenses when events are cancelled
- Casey Baseel
Jul 15, 2026
If you don’t want to travel if you can’t see your oshi, JCB understands.
Can instant TKG from Don Quijote really recreate Japan’s beloved raw-egg-on-rice dish?
- Oona McGee
Jul 15, 2026
“TKG Anywhere in Seconds!?” promises to taste like tamago kake gohan, so we put it to the test.
- Japan
- (Don Quijote • eggs • food • how to • Japanese food • recipes • SNJO • tamago kake gohan • taste test • TKG)
Japan now has a takoyaki sandwich…created by a Michelin-listed restaurant
- Oona McGee
Jul 15, 2026
Osaka’s popular street food gets a new life in sandwich form.
- Japan
- (food • Japanese sandwiches • Japanese street food • Michelin • Michelin restaurant • octopus balls • octopus dumplings • Osaka • restaurants • sandwich • sandwiches • SNJO • street food • takoyaki • weird food)
Japan’s new Calpis pudding: The right call for summer, or tampering with purin perfection?
- Casey Baseel
Jul 15, 2026
Taste-testing a unique mix of two things Japan loves, but may or may not be meant to be enjoyed together.
Hiker needs to be rescued from Mt. Fuji two times in two days, but system is working as intended
- Casey Baseel
Jul 15, 2026
There have been a lot of dumb hikers needing to be rescued from Japan’s tallest mountain recently, but this time the circumstances are a little different.
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
- Oona McGee
Jul 15, 2026
Iconic instant ramen brand now has a cold-water-only version designed to beat the heat.
- Japan
- (COK • cold noodles • cool • Cup Noodle • cup noodles • food • hiyashi chuka • HIyashi Cup Noodle • hiyashi ramen • instant noodles • Instant Ramen • instant rice • kimchi • news • Nissin • Noodles • Pot Noodles • ramen • summer)
Tokyo’s Giga Mart lets visitors “steal” from a convenience store… if cameras don’t catch you
- Oona McGee
Jul 15, 2026
Pull off a convenience store heist without breaking the law.
- Japan
- (Azabudai Hills • Azabudai Hills Gallery • convenience store • convenience stores • events • exhibitions • Giga Mart • GigaMart • Japanese convenience stores • steal • stealing • TOH • Tokyo)
Starbucks Japan adds shaved ice desserts to the menu at select locations
- Oona McGee
Jul 14, 2026
Limited-edition granita with edible flowers gives us a cool alternative to Japanese kakigori.
- Japan
- (desserts • granita • limited edition • Limited edition flavours • Peach • peaches • Princi • shaved ice • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • summer • sweets)
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro coin purses…but who’s the blue character?
- Oona McGee
Jul 14, 2026
This Ghibli mystery makes us wonder if some Pom Poko-esque shapeshifting has been going on.
- Japan
- (anime • anime merchandise • coin purse • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • Ghibli • gifts • Hayao Miyazaki • merchandise • My Neighbor Totoro • My Neighbour Totoro • purses • Studio Ghibli • Studio Ghibli merchandise • Totoro)
Krispy Kreme Japan’s free doughnut deal could sway you from a convenience store breakfast
- Oona McGee
Jul 14, 2026
Once only available at select stores, this breakfast deal is now available across Japan.
- Japan
- (awesome • breakfast • cafes • coffee • cool • crazy • donuts • doughnuts • food • free • free donuts • free food • Krispy Kreme • Krispy Kreme Japan • SNJO • sweets)
Studio Ghibli brings anime characters to the table with new Totoro placemat that’s like a movie cell
- Oona McGee
Jul 14, 2026
Make every meal a Ghibli one, with Kiki’s Delivery Service also joining the dinner party.
- Japan
- (anime • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • Ghibli • Hayao Miyazaki • Jiji • Kiki's Delivery Service • merchandise • My Neighbor Totoro • My Neighbour Totoro • placemat • placemats • Studio Ghibli • Totoro)
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Recent Posts
- This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
- Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
- This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
- Tired of city life? Try out Japanese rural life for a few days on an active volcano in Kagoshima
- Bandai looking to introduce Japanese government ID checks for admission to card game events
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Tired of city life? Try out Japanese rural life for a few days on an active volcano in Kagoshima
Studio Ghibli unveils new finger puppets featuring anime characters from My Neighbour Totoro
Weekly
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Monthly
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
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
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Tired of city life? Try out Japanese rural life for a few days on an active volcano in Kagoshima
Studio Ghibli unveils new finger puppets featuring anime characters from My Neighbour Totoro
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Bandai looking to introduce Japanese government ID checks for admission to card game events
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
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