Updated 2019 Cherry Blossom Forecast!
According to the latest forecast by the JMC, the first blooms are only a little over one month away!
Word Magic & Flights of the Imagination
Children’s author Eiko Kadono, who won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018, discusses her creative environment and behind-the-scenes stories related to writing works such as...
Telling the Tales Behind Historical Sites
Historical Site World Heritage
World Heritage Site listings and the designation of Cultural Properties are primarily intended to protect sites. But Japan Heritage introduces the stories and historical context be...
A Gourmet Train Journey to Sample Shinshu
Rokumon is a sightseeing train run by the Shinano Railway that puts you in touch with the Shinshu region’s culture and cuisine. Take a ride and spend a leisurely time enjoying stun...
The Origins of the Tough G-SHOCK Watch
Over a hundred million G-SHOCK wristwatches have been shipped for sale to customers around the world since the brand debuted in 1983. This shockproof line of timepieces is a prime...
Lantern Festival Transforms Japanese City
The Nagasaki Lantern Festival gives the city an amazing ethereal atmosphere akin to Studio Ghibli's film "Spirited Away" for just a few nights every February.
Okonomiyaki Burrito: Only in Osaka
Taco Bell Osaka branches are now selling okonomiyaki burritos, a fusion of flavors so crazy it HAS to be delicious!
10 Best Pizzerias in Tokyo
Japanese pizza has a somewhat checkered reputation in the rest of the world, but in a mega modern metropolis like Tokyo you can find some seriously good slices, no matter which sty...
The 70th Sapporo Snow Festival Kicks Off
The Sapporo Snow Festival is underway in Hokkaido, with more than 190 snow and ice sculptures on display around the city between February 4 to February 11.
Cleaning Up with the Help of Ceramics
Water pollution is a serious problem affecting many parts of the world. Researchers in Japan have come up with a natural solution—custom-made ceramic rocks. Let’s take a look at ho...
Rep Your Prefectural Pride with Cool Necklaces
A Tokyo accessory maker has turned Japan's prefectures into pieces of art you can wear around your neck to show off your favorite location!
Taste Tradition with New Sweet Sake Pocky
Pocky's latest special, regional-exclusive release uses ingredients from the only sake brewery in the 23 wards of Tokyo!
Trade YouTube Videos for All-You-Can-Eat Sushi
Grab your camera and your chopsticks, because conveyor belt sushi chain Kappa Sushi is making popular YouTubers an offer they won’t want to refuse!
Starbucks Japan's First Sakura Drink of 2019
Starbucks Japan is always looking for ways to help people drink in the sakura during hanami season—literally! Here's the first sakura-themed drink of 2019!
Tokyo Festival to Celebrate Japanese Manholes
This Tokyo extravaganza will include everything from actual beautiful manhole covers to goods like miniatures and doormats, as well as manhole cover snacks and treats!
Super Mario to Help Punch Up Your Baked Goods
Now you can whip up some chocolates your gamer sweetheart will want more than any super mushroom! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Nintendo has released two silicone cooking trays...
Check Out a Tricky New Sign at Haneda Airport
A train operator gets creative using optical illusions in the hopes of enhancing safety of passengers from Haneda Airport.
The Next Big Food to Hop onto Japanese Menus?
Is one researcher's search for a sustainable food source for the future the next big food craze in Japan, or is the idea hopping mad?
Enjoy Flower Fun at the Tanto Tulip Festival
Every April the countryside town of Tanto in Hyogo Prefecture holds the Tanto Tulip Festival, which displays over one MILLION tulips of some 300 varieties.
Discover Secret Scenic Spots in Japan
Minshuku Japan Tips From Locals
Japan’s natural scenery and local cultural experiences are drawing more and more international visitors off the beaten path.
