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“Foreign travelers are Japan’s guests” – Governor against charging tourists more than locals
- Casey Baseel
May 10, 2024 - Tweet
Top politician in Tokyo’s neighbor says higher prices for inbound travelers would be like fining them for coming to the country.
- Japan
- (foreigners in Japan • inbound travelers • Kanagawa • overtourism • politicians • society • tourism • travel)
Japan’s wedding gift etiquette rule is too expensive, young people in survey say
- Casey Baseel
May 9, 2024
You can’t put a price on love, but Japan does put a price on how much you should give a newlywed couple.
- Japan
- (COK • etiquette • manners • marriage • relationships • romance • society • survey • weddings)
New Tokyo restaurant charges higher prices to foreign tourists than Japanese locals
- Casey Baseel
May 8, 2024
With “inbound pricing” becoming a bigger issue, Shibuya seafood restaurant offers discounted prices for domestic customers.
Japan has nearly 4 million abandoned homes, but where and why?
- Casey Baseel
May 3, 2024
Number of hochi akiya continues to rise.
- Japan
- (abandoned homes • abandoned houses • akiya • hochi akiya • society)
Should married couples in Japan be allowed to have different family names? Survey investigates
- Casey Baseel
May 3, 2024
The Japanese constitution requires couples to share a family name if they get married, but only one age group in survey comes close to agreeing with it.
Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
- Casey Baseel
Apr 26, 2024
Walking a bunch of papers down the street on a windy day. What could go wrong?
- Japan
- (COK • crazy • government • physical media • society • weird)
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
- SoraNews24
Apr 26, 2024
Such an odd encounter that we’re hoping it was a YouTube prank.
- Japan
- (COK • news • Seiji Nakazawa • Shibuya • SNJO • society • Tokyo • tourism • tourist sites • tourists • weird)
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
- Casey Baseel
Apr 14, 2024
Ironically, number-one pick is something many foreigners in Japan hate hearing too.
- Japan
- (COK • foreigners in Japan • Japanese language • linguistics • society • survey • Teaching English in Japan • working in Japan)
JR, Tokyo Metro, other rails lines adding discounts for mentally handicapped riders, caregivers
- Casey Baseel
Apr 13, 2024
New policy seeks to remove additional financial burden in a country where not taking the train often isn’t an option.
- Japan
- (COK • health • Japan Railways • JR • mental health • society • subways • Tokyo Metro • trains • transportation)
What’s it like traversing Tokyo using only wheelchair accessible routes?
- Dale Roll
Apr 7, 2024
Inspired by a family member’s recent need for a wheelchair, our reporter tries to see Tokyo from their perspective.
- Japan
- (accessibility • commuting • disabilities • Japanese subways • mobility issues • society • Tokyo • wheelchair access • wheelchairs • Yamanote line)
Japan’s oldest man passes away, thought to have been last male born in the Meiji period
- Casey Baseel
Apr 5, 2024
Chiba centenarian was former school teacher.
- Japan
- (COK • Meiji Era • Meiji Period • oldest man • oldest person • seniors • society)
Cashiers given chairs as Japanese companies reconsider if it’s OK for workers to sit during their shifts
- Casey Baseel
Apr 5, 2024
Discount megastore Don Quijote takes part in the Suwatte Iissu Project.
- Japan
- (chairs • COK • customer service • Don Quijote • society • working in Japan)
Solo cherry blossom viewing — 30 percent of young men in survey plan to see sakura alone【Survey】
- Casey Baseel
Apr 5, 2024
Cherry blossom parties are the archetypal spring social event in Japan, but many see an upside to solo sakura.
- Japan
- (alone • cherry blossom-viewing • cherry blossoms • COK • hanami • sakura • society • solo • survey)
American comedian Jimy Kimmel was blown away by Japan’s bathrooms【Video】
- Casey Baseel
Apr 3, 2024
“It’s like the whole country is Disneyland, and we’re living at Six Flags.”
- Japan, USA
- (bathrooms • celebrities • culture • funny • Jimmy Kimmel • restrooms • society • Toilets • video • washlets)
Everyone in Japan will be Mr. or Mrs. Sato by 2531, according to study
- Master Blaster
Apr 3, 2024
We are legion. We are Sato.
New book teaches Japanese people English to help out foreign travelers
- Casey Baseel
Mar 25, 2024
Publisher wants to help make it easier to help.
- Japan
- (foreigners in Japan • language • linguistics • society • Teaching English in Japan • tourism • travel)
What’s it like living with an unusual name in Japan? We talk with a super-rare Mr. Heianzan
- Dale Roll
Mar 22, 2024
This Okinawan singer has a last name so rare, only 1 every 90,000 people in Japan have it!
- Japan
- (family names • interview • Ishigaki Island • Japanese musician • linguistics • names • Okinawa • rare names • society • unusual names)
Japan apartment hunting – Can you find cheaper rent by avoiding the peak spring moving season?
- Casey Baseel
Mar 14, 2024
With tons of college students and office workers looking to move at the same time, is dodging the “new lifestyle” season a smart move?
- Japan
- (apartment hunting • apartments • COK • Living in Japan • moving season • new lifestyle season • shin seikatsu season • SNJO • society)
Japanese prefectural governor wants foreign tourists to pay special extra fee
- Casey Baseel
Mar 9, 2024
Osaka governor wants foreign tourists to pay extra, but who is “foreign?”
- Japan
- (foreigners in Japan • Osaka • Osaka Prefecture • politicians • society • tourism • travel)
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
- Casey Baseel
Mar 9, 2024
So long, Sibuya!
- Japan
- (Hepburn system • Japanese language • Kunrei system • learning japanese • linguistics • romanization • society)
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Recent Posts
- Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
- Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
- 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
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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
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
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]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Weekly
- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
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?- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
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
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
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 hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
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]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
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
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Guile cosplay goes with everyone for Halloween at SoraNews24 HQ [Photos]
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