SoraNews24 —Japan News—

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.

Japan
(COK • hikers • hiking • Mt. Fuji • Mt. Fuji rescue • outdoors • rescue)

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)

Survey shows foreigners’ desire to work in Japan long-term dropping, but that’s not the whole story

Casey Baseel
Jul 11, 2026

Annual study finds sharp decline in interest among foreign residents to stick around for the long haul, but it’s probably leaving out some differing voices.

Japan
(COK • foreigners in Japan • internationalism • Living in Japan • society • survey • working in Japan)

Set sail on top of a giant pirate ship to watch Japan’s summer fireworks

Elliot Hale
Jul 10, 2026

Why fight the landlubbers on shore for a decent view when you can take to the waters of Lake Ashi for a crowd-free festival?

Japan
(boats • COK • fireworks • fireworks festivals • Hakone • Japan travel • Kanagawa • Lake Ashi • Lake Ashinoko • pirate boat • pirate ship • summer festivals • tourism • travel)

Raw chicken dishes to be regulated by Japanese government

Master Blaster
Jul 9, 2026

Government probably always just assumed common sense was enough.

Japan
(chicken • COK • food • food poisoning • Guillian-Barré • health • Japanese food • Kagoshima • raw meat • regulations • safety • tataki • wellness)

Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it

Casey Baseel
Jul 8, 2026

A Night in the Valley of Witches makes its screening debut, and Hayao Miyazaki’s first-ever art exhibition created for Ghibli’s theme park, three years in the making, opens too.

Japan
(Amusement Parks • anime • art • COK • Ghibli Park • Goro Miyazaki • Hayao Miyazaki • manga • Studio Ghibli • theme parks)

Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country

Casey Baseel
Jul 8, 2026

Ceremony marks official start of climbing season for this six-step summit trail.

Japan
(COK • crazy • funny • hiking • Mountains • nature • outdoors • video • weird)

Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art

Krista Rogers
Jul 8, 2026

The Nakano family opens a second rice paddy art site this year and shares more about the process that goes into their annual labor of love.

Japan
(art • beautiful • COK • cool • Nasushiobara • nature • process • rice • rice field • rice paddy • Tochigi Prefecture • viewing)

Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch

Casey Baseel
Jul 8, 2026

Following suspiciously swift sell-out of Yoshinoya’s Dragon Quest Slime bowls, new policy means that everyone who wants one can buy one at the regular price.