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Tokyo neighborhood adds new “smart trash cans” to deal with increasing amounts of tourist litter
- Casey Baseel
4 days ago - Tweet
A high-tech part of Tokyo gets some high-tech help in addressing an overtourism problem and responding to a common traveler complaint.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Japan travel • litter • overtourism • Tokyo • tourism • trash • trash cans • travel)
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
- Casey Baseel
4 days ago
With tourists’ and residents’ feelings about minpaku racing in opposite directions, wards add new local ordinances onto national laws.
- Japan
- (Airbnb • COK • hotels • Japan travel • Kita Ward • minpaku • overtourism • private lodging rentals • shinjuku • short-term rentals • society • Taito Ward • tourism • travel)
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
- Casey Baseel
Nov 5, 2026
Green oasis in the center of Tokyo is site of city’s newest cafe serving exclusive coffee blend.
- Japan
- (cafes • coffee • drinks • food • Imperial Palace • Imperial Palace East Garden • Japan travel • restaurants • Tokyo • tourism • travel)
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
- Casey Baseel
Nov 4, 2026
We head to the Seto Inland Sea for a Shimanami Kaido sampler.
- Japan
- (bicycling • COK • cool • cycling • Ehime • Japan travel • outdoors • Saya Togashi • Seto • Seto Inland Sea • Shimanami Kaido • SNJO • travel.tourism)
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
- Casey Baseel
Nov 3, 2026
Perfect for when you’ve got to fly, but want to soak.
- Japan
- (airports • baths • hot springs • Japan travel • Kansai International Airport • onsen • Osaka • Osaka Prefecture • SNJO • tourism • travel)
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
- Casey Baseel
Nov 3, 2026
What to be aware of as Japan tightens the rules for tourists saving 10 percent on their purchases.
- Japan
- (Japan travel • shopping • society • tax refund • tax-free • tourism • travel)
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
- Casey Baseel
Nov 2, 2026
The full pilgrimage takes weeks to complete, but if you’ve got a couple hours, this Matsuyama experience will show you what makes the tradition so special.
- Japan
- (COK • Dogo Onsen • Ehime.Dogo • Japan travel • matsuyama • Shikoku • Shikoku Pilgrimage • SNJO • temples • tourism • travel)
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
- Casey Baseel
Oct 30, 2026
Here there be dragons and bargains.
- Japan
- (.outlet malls • awesome • Capcom • COK • cool • Fukuoka • Japan travel • Mitsui Outlet Park • Monster Hunter • shopping • shopping malls • travel.tourism • video games)
Japan getting a brand-new batch of Pokémon manhole covers in eastern prefecture this fall
- Casey Baseel
Oct 27, 2026
Five new reasons for Pokémon fans to head north from Tokyo.
- Japan
- (anime • Gunma • Japan travel • manga • manhole covers • Poké Lids • Pokéfuta • Pokemon • Pokémon manhole covers • tourism • travel • video games)
This Tokyo snack shop can send your taste buds on a trip around Japan for just 1,000 yen
- Casey Baseel
Oct 26, 2026
There’s a new sweets curator in downtown Tokyo.
- Japan
- (COK • food • Japan travel • Marui • senbei • shinjuku • snacks • SNJO • sweets • tourism • travel)
Eight low-key great places to spend the day (or half a day) in Japan this fall
- SoraNews24
Oct 19, 2026
Fall means an abundance of good weather but a shortage of time in Japan, but here are eight spots that are quick to see but you’ll remember for a long, long time.
- Japan
- (anime • Arakawa Amusement Park • art • Attack on Titan • beautiful • COK • Evangelion • Hakone • Hakone Open-Air Museum • Hitachi Seaside Park • Imperial Palace • Japan travel • manga • nature • Oita • parks • Shimane • Smal Worlds • SNJO • Tocho • Tokyo • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building • tourism • travel)
Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
- Casey Baseel
Oct 17, 2026
If passengers can’t be polite, then they can be walking.
- Japan
- (buses • COK • customer harassment • etiquette • Japan travel • manners • society • taxis • tourism • transportation • travel)
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
- Casey Baseel
Oct 16, 2026
Zen and Ghibli map also makes for a beautiful mini poster.
- Japan
- (anime • Japan travel • Kyoto • manga • Studio Ghibli • temples • The Boy and the Heron • tourism • travel • Zen and Ghibli)
Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
- Casey Baseel
Oct 15, 2026
Changeover includes old-school solution for stations yet to upgrade to new technology.
- Japan
- (East Japan Railway Company • Japan travel • JR East • Keikyu • Keisei • Tokyo Monorail • tourism • trains • travel)
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
- Casey Baseel
Oct 14, 2026
Just when Japan thought the jibetarian were gone for good…
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
- Casey Baseel
Oct 14, 2026
Says he wants to go home, but the police are holding onto him for now.
- Japan
- (arrest • COK • crime • Japan travel • society • travel • visa • visa overstay)
New craft beer made from Japanese udon noodles celebrates centuries of Mizusawa food culture
- Casey Baseel
Oct 13, 2026
Noodles loved by hot spring fans and temple pilgrims become a very unique brew.
- Japan
- (alcohol • beer • craft beer • drinks • food • Gunma • Ikaho • Japan travel • Mizusawa udon • Noodles • tourism • travel • udon)
This shrine in Japan invites you to hit and kick its god of poverty statue for good luck [Photos]
- Casey Baseel
Oct 13, 2026
Instead of praying to the binbogami, you’re supposed to fight him off.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • crazy • funny • god of poverty • Japan travel • Nagano • shrines • SNJO • tourism • travel • weird)
Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
- Casey Baseel
Oct 7, 2026
Decision wasn’t made by the transportation bureau, though.
- Japan
- (COK • Japan travel • pay phones • phones • public phones • stations • Subway • technology • Toei Subway • Tokyo • Tokyo subway • tourism • travel)
Foreign tourist numbers drop in Osaka, despite record-setting highs from U.S. and Korea
- Casey Baseel
Oct 4, 2026
Almost every country is sending more travelers to Osaka these days, with one very big exception.
- Japan
- (China travel warning • COK • Japan travel • Osaka • politics • tourism • travel)
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Recent Posts
- Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
- Ichiran Japan is giving away free 2027 desk calendars, and here’s how to get them
- Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River
- Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
- Tokyo police arrest the Ame-zing Spider-Man
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
Starbucks Japan releases new Bearista glass tumbler that changes character with every drink
Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River
Tokyo police arrest the Ame-zing Spider-Man
Ichiran Japan is giving away free 2027 desk calendars, and here’s how to get them
Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
Weekly
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more- Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
America’s first-ever permanent One Piece store is now open [Photos]
Tokyo neighborhood adds new “smart trash cans” to deal with increasing amounts of tourist litter
Two Tokyo neighborhoods to gather on bridge and shift their recognized border through tug-of-war
Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
New Era celebrates three decades of Pokémon with new 30th anniversary cap line [Photos]
Pokémon card game’s expansion features art from Fist of the North Star creator- Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
Japanese hoodie for cat-loving gamers will keep you and your feline friend warm and fuzzy [Pics]
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
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]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign- Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
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
Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
Yakuza boss sues expressway owners for discrimination against criminals
Historical-themed illumination display returns to Osaka Castle this winter
“Sweet sake” with yuzu is coming to Japan’s wonderful world of hot canned drinks this winter
Is hamburger patty ramen a case of too many good things in one bowl? Let’s find out! [Taste test]
KFC Japan starts selling soft-serve ice cream at select locations, and they’ve even put it in a biscuit
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
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