SoraNews24 —Japan News—
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You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
- Oona McGee
Dec 1, 2025 - Tweet
Complete with departure bell alarms, this is a unique way to wake up for your train in the morning.
- Japan
- (alarm clock • alarm clocks • clock • clocks • cool • Japan Railways • Japanese train stations • Japanese trains • JR • JR East • mook • stations • Takarajimasha • Tokyo • train station clock • trains • travel)
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Dec 1, 2025
No city in Japan is more symbolic of overtourism these days than Kyoto, so is the travel downturn from China having a noticeable effect?
- Japan
- (China travel warning • COK • Gion • Japan travel • kiyomizu • Kyoto • Nishiki Market • politics • SNJO • society • tourism • travel)
Studio Ghibli holiday wreath adds a touch of Kiki cuteness and good fortune to your home【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Dec 1, 2025
A Ghibli take on a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration.
- Japan
- (anime • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • Kiki's Delivery Service • manga • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Studio Ghibli)
Security guard jumped by bear at public restroom in middle of Numata City
- Master Blaster
Dec 1, 2025
Bears in Japan are steadily getting closer to urban areas.
- Japan
- (bear attacks • bear encounters • bears • Gunma • Numata • Numata Station)
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
- Elliot Hale
Dec 1, 2025
It’s not Turkish, and even the rice plays a minor role, but it’s a meal beloved by locals that always sees a clean plate at the end of the meal.
- Japan
- (COK • food • Hey Japanese taxi driver • Hey Taxi Driver • Nagasaki • restaurants • SNJO • taxis • tourism • travel • Turkish rice)
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
- Casey Baseel
Nov 30, 2025
You can eat Shin Godzilla’s Kamata-kun very close to Kamata.
- Japan
- (cool • crazy • cute • food • Godzilla • highway rest stops • ice cream • kaiju • parking areas • rest stops • Shin Godzilla • sweets • weird)
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
- Oona McGee
Nov 30, 2025
Cute anime characters are here to give you all the encouragement you need.
- Japan
- (anime • anime merchandise • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • Ghibli • Japanese • manga • My Neighbor Totoro • scrapbooking • stamps • stationery • Studio Ghibli • Totoro)
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
- Casey Baseel
Nov 30, 2025
Japan’s gyudon king now has Gyunikutama Ramen available too for the winter.
- Japan
- (beef • COK • food • hot pot • ramen • restaurants • SNJO • taste test • Yoshinoya)
One Piece devil fruit ice cream coming back to Baskin-Robbins Japan
- Master Blaster
Nov 29, 2025
Gomu-Gomu Fruit Punch is bouncing back.
- Japan
- (anime • Baskin Robbins • Baskin-Robbins Japan • Devil Fruit • food • Gomu-Gomu Fruit • Gomu-Gomu Fruit Punch • Gum-Gum Fruit • ice cream • manga • One Piece • sweets)
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
- Master Blaster
Nov 29, 2025
Fish possibly caught right after its best friend Krilin was killed.
- Japan
- (anime • Dragon Ball • Dragon Ball Z • electric goby • fish • manga • nature • Okinawa • science • Super Saiyan • University of the Ryukyus • Vanderhorstia supersaiyan)
Final Fantasy Chocobo and Dragon Quest Slime street sweets on sale in Tokyo【Taste test】
- Casey Baseel
Nov 29, 2025
We head to Shinjuku to encounter these Square Enix video game mascots turned tasty treats.
- Japan
- (Chocobo • COK • cool • cute • Dragon Quest • Dragon Quest Slime • Final Fantasy • food • Pasela • slime • SNO • Square Enix • sweets • taiyaki • taste test • video games)
Number of foreigners studying Japanese in Japan hits record high, but are there enough teachers?
- Casey Baseel
Nov 29, 2025
Students studying Japanese as a second language in-country hits historic high, majority of teachers are unpaid volunteers.
- Japan
- (COK • foreigners in Japan • internationalism • Japanese language • learning japanese • linguistics • society • studying in Japan • studying Japanese)
Studio Ghibli puts Blob Men in the spotlight on new T-shirt from streetwear brand GBL
- Oona McGee
Nov 28, 2025
Howl’s Moving Castle antagonists hit the streets in the real world.
- Japan
- (anime • anime merchandise • Blob Men • clothes • coo • Donguri Kyowakoku • fashion • GBL • Ghibli • Howl's Moving Castle • merchandise • streetwear • Studio Ghibli • t-shirt • t-shirts • Witch of the Waste)
Pokémon and hot spring bathhouse collaborate to bring Pokémon to your bath and sauna sessions
- Casey Baseel
Nov 28, 2025
Bathhouse just north of Tokyo provides rubber Psyduckies, Ditto sauna stones, and other sights and scents to soothe tired Trainers.
- Japan
- (anime • baths • COK • cute • health • hot springs • manga • onsen • Pikachu • Pokemon • Pokémon Sleep • relaxation • sleep • video games • wellness)
Japan’s buzzword of the year nominees: A great way to learn and be baffled by Japanese vocabulary
- Elliot Hale
Nov 28, 2025
We need to tell you to take a look before the new slang of today outruns us all… eh ho eh ho…
- Japan
- (2025 Buzzwords Awards • awards • Buzzwords Awards • Japanese language • japanese slang • Jiyukokuminsha • learning japanese • linguistics • neologism • otetsutabi • slang)
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
- Casey Baseel
Nov 28, 2025
Soon, you could have a pod that washes your body for you in your home bathroom.
- Japan
- (bathing • baths • COK • cool • crazy • Expo 2025 • human washing machine • technology)
KFC Japan introduces a new burger 8 years in the making
- Oona McGee
Nov 28, 2025
We find out if this Japanese flavour was worth the time and effort it took to develop.
- Japan
- (burgers • chicken • chicken burgers • Chicken Tatsuta • COK • fast food • food • fried chicken • Japanese food • Kentucky Fried Chicken • KFC • KFC Japan • SNJO • tatsuta)
I had no idea you could win crane game prizes in Japan the way my friend won this Dragon Quest Slime
- Casey Baseel
Nov 27, 2025
This black Slime plushie had become his white whale until something I’d never experienced before happened.
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • crane games • Dragon Quest • Dragon Quest Slime • game centers • moving • plushies • Shadow Slime • slime • Slime Dark • SNO • touching • UFO catchers • video games)
Shizuoka senior charged with firearms violation after giving toy guns to the police
- Master Blaster
Nov 27, 2025
No good deed goes unpunished.
- Japan
- (crime • Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law • law • police • seniors • Shizuoka • toy guns • weapons)
Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke getting live-action kabuki adaptation, main cast announced
- Casey Baseel
Nov 27, 2025
Hayao Miyazaki’s darkest anime film will be his second to become a kabuki play.
- Japan
- (anime • Hayao Miyazaki • kabuki • Live action • manga • Princess Mononoke • stage plays • Studio Ghibli)
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Recent Posts
- Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
- Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
- This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
- Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
- Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
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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]
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
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
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Weekly
- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises- 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
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- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
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
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
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
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 hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Guile cosplay goes with everyone for Halloween at SoraNews24 HQ [Photos]
Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
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