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Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
- Casey Baseel
15 hours ago - Tweet
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)
Hello Kitty cuts ties with hit Japanese spy drama Vivant over torture scenes
- Master Blaster
4 days ago
Goodbye Kitty.
- China, Japan
- (COK • controversy • Hello Kitty • Sanrio • society • torture • TV • TV shows • Vivant)
Japanese government still lists refusing to pay for dates as a form of domestic violence
- Casey Baseel
5 days ago
Once again, there’s a lot of nuance that’s lost in the attempt to be succinct.
- Japan
- (COK • dating • domestic violence • relationships • society • weird)
Police in Japan likely to gain authority to hack phones to check messaging apps
- Casey Baseel
Oct 21, 2026
Regulations would be similar to those for phone taps.
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)
Vietnamese-language driver’s license tests suspended in Japan following alleged cheating
- Casey Baseel
Oct 15, 2026
Testing center believes photos of test questions have been leaked after finding images on examinees phone.
- Japan
- (cheating • COK • driver's license • foreigners in Japan • scandal • society)
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)
High-speed Japanese festival cart crashes cause two deaths on same day, ignite debate over tradition
- Casey Baseel
Oct 13, 2026
Osaka’s danjiri festivals have existed for centuries, but some are saying it’s time for a reevaluation of the unique custom.
- Japan
- (accident • culture • danjii festival • Danjiri • Danjiri Matsuri • festivals • Matsuri • Osaka • Osaka Prefecture • society)
Town in Kanagawa struggling with violent gang of monkeys
- Master Blaster
Oct 13, 2026
Problematic monkeys appear to be moving into abandoned homes.
Japan lodges formal complaint with China for calling Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Sanae Takaichi
- Casey Baseel
Oct 10, 2026
What isn’t in a name?
- Japan
- (COK • linguistics • politics • Sanae Takaichi • society • weird)
Kyoto announces two-tier admission price plan for Nijo Castle, non-residents would pay twice as much
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2026
First-of-its-kind system for Kyoto would raise maintenance funding and fight overtourism, proponents say, but will it really reduce crowd sizes?
- Japan
- (castles • history • Japan travel • Kyoto • Nijo Castle • Ninomaru Palace • overtourism • society • tourism • travel • two-tier pricing)
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2026
Japanese government suddenly raises income bar for foreigners seeking permanent residency, will apply new rules even to applications filed six months ago.
- Japan
- (COK • foreigners in Japan • Japan permanent residency • Japan visa • Living in Japan • permanent residency • society)
Toys R Us is leaving Japan after 35 years in the country
- Casey Baseel
Sep 30, 2026
U.S. born chain has soldiered on for nearly a decade after the closing of stores in America.
- Japan
- (business • COK • don quixote • economy • society • toys • Toys R Us • Toys R Us Japan)
It’s been raining in Tokyo for more than a month now, breaking a record at least 150 years old
- Casey Baseel
Sep 29, 2026
No one can say exactly when the last time Tokyo got this much rain was, but it was a long, long time ago.
Tons of used books in Japan being bought up by someone or something
- Master Blaster
Sep 28, 2026
The purchasers are unknown, so let’s call them “anonymous individuals” or “AI” for short.
- Japan
- (AI • artificial intelligence • bookstores • business • copyright • law • society • used books)
Robot bartender bar opening in Kyoto, and no, they’re not controlled by AI
- Casey Baseel
Sep 28, 2026
Human hearts and minds will be at the core of the OrySNACK Kyoto experience.
- Japan
- (bars • cool • drinks • Japan travel • Kyoto • OriHime • Ory Labs • restaurants • robots • society • technology • tourism • travel)
Japan restarts at-home collection agent visits for public TV fees
- Casey Baseel
Sep 23, 2026
Japan’s public broadcaster will once again send third-party agents to people’s doors, resuming unpopular tactic of collecting quasi-obligated fees.
Free Mt. Fuji helicopter rescues for offseason hikers are ending in Yamanashi
- Casey Baseel
Sep 18, 2026
Governor asks offseason hikers to “stop waving around their freedom to climb the mountain as if it’s the only thing that matters.”
- Japan
- (hiking • Mountains • Mt. Fuji • Mt. Fuji climbing season • nature • outdoors • rescue • society)
Tokyo to repaint streets over rule that makes it impossible for cars to pass bicycles
- Master Blaster
Sep 16, 2026
Some rules are meant to be broken.
- Japan
- (bicycle laws • bicycles • bike laws • blue ticket • cars • COK • driving • law • police • society • Tokyo • traffic)
Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
- Casey Baseel
Sep 13, 2026
The question of whether it’s illegal to hike Mt. Fuji in the off-season is complex, and so is the question of who should pay for it.
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Recent Posts
- 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
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
- Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
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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
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]
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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]
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Weekly
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
One simple unexpected recipe swap will make your Japanese-style omelets extra fluffy and juicy
Fishing information website for Susaki, Japan, hit by data leak, all 3 users affected
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?
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
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign- Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
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 semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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]
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
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
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Can Japan’s Self-Defense Forces legally open fire on a zombie horde?
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Hello Kitty cuts ties with hit Japanese spy drama Vivant over torture scenes
Guile cosplay goes with everyone for Halloween at SoraNews24 HQ [Photos]
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