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JR releases prediction of peak Shinkansen crowdedness for Japan’s Obon travel season
- Casey Baseel
Jul 29, 2026 - Tweet
Suspension of unreserved seat tickets on some bullet train classes means planning ahead is especially important.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • Japan travel • JR Central • JR Tokai • Obon • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • 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.
- Japan
- (business • COK • culture • entertainment • gambling • pachinko • pachinko machines • pachinko parlors • society • technology)
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.
- 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)
A roadside hair salon stall in China made us Norway’s Haaland for US$1, and warmed out hearts too
- Casey Baseel
Jul 27, 2026
The haircut wasn’t the only great thing we got out of this great-price deal.
- China
- (China • COK • crazy • Erling Haaland • funny • hair salons • haircut • hairstyling • Seiji Nakazawa • SNJO • soccer • sports • tourism • travel)
How are you supposed to wash a Japanese futon duvet at the laundromat?
- Casey Baseel
Jul 27, 2026
Sure, that big, fluffy down blanket is a must for making it through a Japanese winter, but how are you supposed to clean it when summer comes around?
- Japan
- (coin laundry • COK • duvet • futon • interior • laundromat • laundry • life hacks • Living in Japan)
Universal Studios Japan requiring consent form for adults-only horror attraction
- Casey Baseel
Jul 26, 2026
USJ goes R-18 for the first time.
- Japan
- (COK • crazy • haunted houses • Horror • scary • Universal Horror Nights • Universal Studios • Universal Studios Japan)
Why is Taco Bell failing in Japan, even as the country falls in love with tacos?
- SoraNews24
Jul 25, 2026
Mr. Sato gets some tacos for his tummy and serves up some food for thought.
- Japan
- (COK • fast food • food • Mexican food • Mr. Sato • SNJO • society • Taco Bell • Taco Bell Japan • tacos)
Dance with demons in Kyoto at this Edo-period Japanese Halloween festival
- Elliot Hale
Jul 25, 2026
Turning a samurai film set into a monster dance party with J-pop choreography.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • crazy • culture • dance • demons • Eigamura • Kaikai Yokai Festival • Kyoto • parade • scary • Terupop • Toei Kyoto Studio Park • tourist sites • travel • Uzumasa Kyoto Village • yokai)
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
- Oona McGee
Jul 24, 2026
Spend the night inside a bullet train from just 5,000 yen.
- Japan
- (accommodation • Akita • Aomori • bullet trains • COK • East Japan Railway Company • hotels • Japan Railway Company • Japan travel • Japanese trains • JR • JR East • Komachi Shinkansen • overnight trains • shinkansen • sleeper train • sleeper trains • Tohoku • tourism • trains • travel)
“We want to be Japan’s best cheap restaurant” says new (but also not new) Akihabara noodle joint
- Casey Baseel
Jul 24, 2026
Akihabara Ramen Center is dead. Long live Akihabara Seimen Center.
Eight great words for talking about summer in Japan in Japanese
- Casey Baseel
Jul 24, 2026
Taking a break in the shade? Here’s some Japanese vocabulary and cultural knowledge that could be yours by the time you step back into the sun.
- Japan
- (cicadas • COK • fireworks • Japanese language • learning japanese • linguistics • SNO • summer)
Which country’s foreign tourists spend the most money per-person in Japan? Hint: Not the U..S. or China
- Casey Baseel
Jul 23, 2026
One country’s travelers spend more than double the total average for tourists in Japan, and it’s one the Japanese tourism industry hasn’t paid much attention to.
- Japan
- (COK • Japan Tourism Agency • Japan travel • Mexico • Survey on Inbound Tourism Spending Trends • tourism • travel)
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
- Oona McGee
Jul 23, 2026
“Hands-Free” service lets Shinkansen travellers send their suitcases by bullet train without carrying them onboard.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • East Japan Railway Company • Hakobyun • Japanese trains • JR East • luggage • luggage delivery • luggage forwarding • Multi-Ecube • Sendai • shinkansen • Tokyo • Tokyo Station • trains • travel)
Taco sandwiches appear in Japan with new Lunch Pack sandwich pocket flavor[Taste test]
- Casey Baseel
Jul 22, 2026
Yamazaki’s beloved series branches out with a new fluffy taco offering.
- Japan
- (COK • food • Lunch Pack • sandwich pockets • sandwiches • SNO • tacos • taste test • Yamazaki • Yamazaki Baking)
Giant Snorlax, other snoozing Pokémon appear in Yokohama for Pokémon Sleeping Faces Research [Pics]
- Casey Baseel
Jul 21, 2026
Sleepy Pokémon and smiling faces from an adorable fan event going on in Japan right now.
- Japan
- (anime • COK • cool • cute • Landmark Plaza • manga • Mark Is • Minato Mirai • Pokemon • Pokémon Sleep • SNO • Snorlax • video games • Yokohama)
Cup Noodle releases cold-water instant ramen in Japan, but can it really be made with just cold water?
- Oona McGee
Jul 20, 2026
New Hiyashi Cup Noodle cuts out the need for boiling water, so we put it to the test.
- 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 • SNJO • summer)
Japan’s popular curry chain Cocoichi has an elusive delivery-only noodle menu
- Elliot Hale
Jul 20, 2026
We investigated a suspicious noodle store on Uber Eats only to have our curry udon dreams come true.
- Japan
- (CoCo Ichiban • coco ichibanya • COK • curry • curry udon • delivery app • food • food delivery • Japanese curry • Japanese food • Menya CoCo Ichi • SNJO • Uber Eats • Yuuichiro Wasai)
Japan’s favorite quasi-local curry launches convenience store version – Does it match the real deal?
- Casey Baseel
Jul 19, 2026
Is it worth go going to Family Mart to try the convenience store version of Go Go Curry?
- Japan
- (COK • curry • curry rice • Family mart • food • Go! Go! Curry • Japanese convenience stores • SNJO • taste test)
Tokyo’s viral 90-yen cafe pop-up returns to Harajuku with yogurt coffee
- Elliot Hale
Jul 19, 2026
Enjoy 45 unique drinks at budget prices.
- Japan
- (cafes • coffee • COK • cool • drinks • drip coffee • Drip Pod • event • Harajuku • Himitsu no Drip • iced coffee • limited time • Natsuno Futon • Omotesando • SNJO • UCC • UCC coffee • yogurt coffee)
Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?
- Casey Baseel
Jul 18, 2026
Of course, it’s possible the goal was never really to be convenient anyway.
- Japan
- (Azabudai • COK • convenience store drinks • convenience store food • convenience stores • Family mart • Famima • Famima Park Azabudai • flagship store • Japanese convenience stores • Mr. Sato • new opening • Nigo • SNJO • Tokyo • Toranomon)
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Recent Posts
- Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
- Video released of Pikachu’s real-world trip to space! [Video]
- Shibuya goes hard on Halloween, announces countermeasures to prevent chaos on the streets
- Starbucks Japan releases new seasonal chilled cup tea latte with surprising accents in flavour
- Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Osaka man arrested for running little pet shop of horrors with dangerous crocodile
Video released of Pikachu’s real-world trip to space! [Video]
Shibuya goes hard on Halloween, announces countermeasures to prevent chaos on the streets
My Neighbor Totoro calendar for next year can be yours right now at Donguri Kyowakoku
Starbucks Japan releases new seasonal chilled cup tea latte with surprising accents in flavour
Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
Starbucks Japan releases new Halloween Frappuccino for 2026, inspired by a cat in a mystery forest
Starbucks Japan unveils new Halloween goods with secret glow-in-the-dark details
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Weekly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Japan’s first-ever conveyor-belt Sushi Bus announces Tokyo tour start date, reservations now open
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Make-your-own-Totoro plushie workshop event coming to Ghibli Park park this fall
Starbucks Japan says sayonara to the Filone for new sandwiches and a Pumpkin Soupuccino
Casio collaborates with a Kyoto foil master for a luxurious one million yen G-SHOCK
Toys R Us is leaving Japan after 35 years in the country
Foreign tourist numbers drop in Osaka, despite record-setting highs from U.S. and Korea
Osaka man arrested for running little pet shop of horrors with dangerous crocodile
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
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
Starbucks Japan releases new seasonal chilled cup tea latte with surprising accents in flavour
Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
Starbucks Japan releases new Halloween Frappuccino for 2026, inspired by a cat in a mystery forest
Starbucks Japan unveils new Halloween goods with secret glow-in-the-dark details
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Wendy’s Japan goes big with new limited-edition Mega Wendy’s, but is it worth the calories?
Make-your-own-Totoro plushie workshop event coming to Ghibli Park park this fall
Tokyo no-map-app walk! Getting lost with Mr. Sato on the way to Kishimojin
Yogurt and Japanese koji fungus is Japan’s latest food trend, but how does it taste? [Taste test]
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Sendai Bank gifts babies their weight at birth in money upon opening a new bank account
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Opening of new Gundam anime superstore in America postponed indefinitely
Japan now has facial-recognition ticket gates, but why aren’t people using them?
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