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Family Mart releases new Human Made Cup Noodle in Japan, with freebies for Nigo fans
- Oona McGee
Aug 29, 2026 - Tweet
Japanese convenience store essential gets a cool Human Made makeover.
- Japan
- (A Bathing Ape • Bape • convenience store food • convenience stores • cool • Cup Noodle • cup noodles • Family mart • Famima • food • Human Made • instant noodles • Instant Ramen • Japanese convenience stores • news • Nigo • Nissin • Noodles • Pot Noodles • ramen)
Tokaido Lumière Express: Stay overnight inside the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo
- Oona McGee
Aug 27, 2026
For about 2,000 yen more than a regular reserved seat, you can spend the night on board the bullet train instead of paying for a hotel.
- Japan
- (bullet train • bullet trains • Central Japan Railway • Central Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • Japan travel • JR • JR Central • news • Osaka • overnight trains • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • Tokyo • tourism • trains • travel)
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
- Oona McGee
Aug 26, 2026
Questions are being raised over whether money from foreign tourists is being used as intended.
- Japan
- (bears • departure tax • government • government funding • Japanese Government • news • sakura • tax)
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
- Oona McGee
Aug 14, 2026
Flights to Japan are about to get cheaper for overseas tourists.
- Japan
- (Air travel • airlines • airplanes • All Nippon Airways • ANA • COK • flights • foreign tourists • fuel surcharge • Haneda • International Flight Convention • JAL • Japan Airlines • Japan travel • news • overseas flights • tourism • travel)
Starbucks Japan to open Shinkansen platform stores at Kyoto and Nagoya stations
- Oona McGee
Aug 6, 2026
New stores add a fresh taste and aroma to high-speed travel on Japan’s busiest bullet train route.
- Japan
- (bullet trains • cafes • coffee • cool • drinks • Japanese trains • Kyoto • Kyoto Station • Nagoya • Nagoya Station • news • Shin-Yokohama • shinkansen • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • Yokohama)
Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data
- Oona McGee
Jul 30, 2026
The average overseas visitor now consumes more rice in a day than a Japanese local.
- Japan
- (food • foreign tourism • foreign tourists • foreigners • inbound tourism • internationalism • Japan tourism • Japanese food • MAFF • Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries • news • rice • society • survey • tourism)
Starbucks Japan releases new “Afterword” collection that gives coffee waste a second life
- Oona McGee
Jul 29, 2026
Exclusive range includes a planter cover, smartphone stand and a unique coffee-dyed Japanese tenugui.
- Japan
- (Afterwaord • Afterword • coffee • coffee beans • coffee grounds • drinks • imited edition • limited edition • news • notebook • recycling • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks limited edition • stationery • sustainability • sustainable • tumblers)
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
- Oona McGee
Jul 29, 2026
Official city survey highlights the issues that left some visitors less than satisfied with their Kyoto experience.
- Japan
- (etiquette • foreign tourists • international tourists • Japan travel • Japanese etiquette • Kyoto • Kyoto tourism • manners • news • overcrowding • overtourism • tourism • tourist site • tourist sites • tourists • travel)
Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
- Oona McGee
Jul 24, 2026
Beautiful new design pays homage to regions that the bullet train serves, with charming hidden details.
- Japan
- (bullet train • bullet trains • design • Japan travel • JR • JR West • kodama • news • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel • West Japan Railway • Yurari)
Japanese government sets up new group to deal with trading card boom
- Oona McGee
Jul 22, 2026
Trading cards have become so popular in Japan that the government is now getting involved, but what does this mean for fans?
- Japan
- (anime • card games • collectible card games • manga • My Number Card • news • Pokemon • Pokémon card game • pokemon cards • Pokémon Center Online • Pokémon Company • resellers • scalpers • trading cards)
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 now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
- Oona McGee
Jul 18, 2026
Could this be the way of the future as people around the world adapt to rising temperatures?
- Japan
- (cool • crazy • Do Hiemon Box • fridges • heatstroke • human refrigerator • Japanese vending machines • news • summer • technology • vending machines)
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
- Oona McGee
Jul 17, 2026
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)
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)
Man arrested in Tokyo after allegedly luring foreign tourists into shady Kabukicho establishments
- Oona McGee
Jul 14, 2026
Tokyo police issue warning to overseas visitors as dozens of people report scams by suspected touts in the city’s nightlife district.
- Japan
- (bar barkers • bars • crime • Kabukicho • kyakuhiki • news • police • restaurants • shinjuku • street touts • Tokyo • touts)
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
- Oona McGee
Jul 10, 2026
With fitting rooms, an official mascot and a takeaway stand, this is not your average Japanese convenience store.
- Japan
- (A Bathing Ape • Azabudai • convenience store • convenience store drinks • convenience store food • convenience store sandwiches • convenience stores • Family mart • Famima • Famima Park Azabudai • flagship store • Human Made • Japanese convenience stores • new opening • news • Nigo • Tokyo • Toranomon)
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
- Oona McGee
Jul 9, 2026
Soon you’ll be able to book a flight to Toyama-Takayama Sushi Airport in Japan.
- Japan
- (airports • flights • foreign tourists • inbound tourism • international tourists • Japan travel • news • Sushi Airport • tourism • Toyama • Toyama Airport • Toyama Prefecture • travel • travel news)
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Oona McGee
Jul 8, 2026
Late-night incident highlights concerns over Japan’s illegal “white taxi” operators.
- Japan
- (cars • crime • news • nissan • NISSAN GT-R • police • Shibuya • Shibuya scramble crossing • Shirotaku • sports cars • Tokyo • tourists • video • white taxi)
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
- Oona McGee
Jul 7, 2026
Both Japanese and overseas travellers could soon be paying more to stay in Tokyo.
- Japan
- (accommodation • accommodation tax • Airbnb • hotels • Japan travel • news • overtourism • tax • Tokyo • Tokyo accommodation • tokyo hotels • tourism • tourists • travel)
Japan announces plans for twenty-fold increase in permanent residency fees, alongside higher visa costs
- Oona McGee
Jul 6, 2026
Government reveals long-awaited fee schedule ahead of proposed October implementation.
- Japan
- (foreigners in Japan • Japan permanent residency • Japan visa • Japanese visa • Japanese visas • Living in Japan • news • permanent residency • permanent resident status • society • travel • visa • visa fees • visas)
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Recent Posts
- How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
- We tried Japan’s Wobbly Beer Glass that forces you to drink water, and it humbled us
- Legendary Pokémon statues installed in downtown Tokyo, will be there through the fall
- Tokyo’s Rikugien Garden announces nighttime foliage illumination event ahead of autumn
- Japan’s 20-year Ig Nobel winning streak continues thanks to people blowing their noses
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MOST POPULAR
- Today
- Weekly
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Today
Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
We tried Japan’s Wobbly Beer Glass that forces you to drink water, and it humbled us
Legendary Pokémon statues installed in downtown Tokyo, will be there through the fall
Tokyo’s Rikugien Garden announces nighttime foliage illumination event ahead of autumn
Anime magical girls grow to gigantic size with new Madoka Magica plushies [Photos]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s remake can be played with an actual ocarina [Video]
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
Weekly
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Lego PlayStation recreates Sony’s original console, makes unusual choice for games to salute
Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026- Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
New Pokémon anniversary song is 22 minutes long, features all 1,025 Pokémon species [Video]
New Japanese convenience store rice balls taste like instant noodles [Taste test]
Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors- Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
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
Tokyo’s Rikugien Garden announces nighttime foliage illumination event ahead of autumn
Anime magical girls grow to gigantic size with new Madoka Magica plushies [Photos]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s remake can be played with an actual ocarina [Video]
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
New Transforming Business Card case brings anime mecha to Japanese work meetings
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
Japan’s 20-year Ig Nobel winning streak continues thanks to people blowing their noses
Starbucks Japan unveils new Chilled Cup drinks for autumn
Join Naked in the Niwa garden: Kyoto Station’s newest spot to craft traditional art
New Japanese ice cream is Ballin, in more ways than one
Converse Japan releases green tea cup sneakers so you can wear your love for sushi on your feet
Uniqlo’s sister brand will be waiting with Pokémon sweaters and parkas this fall [Pics]
Okinawa man convinced he won 700 million yen by scammers, saved by convenience store staff
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