LGBT Partnerships in Japan: One Step Forward
Gay marriage in Japan is still not a reality, but partnership systems and certificates are slowly gaining ground. Read on to find out more about options for same-sex couples in Japan looking to tie the knot.
A Look Behind the Yen Makeover
Japan's currency is getting a big makeover for 2024. Learn a little bit more about the reasoning and process behind the change!
Step Inside One of Akihabara's Weirdest Shops
A very strange toy shop in Akihabara—an area chock-full of weird shops—sells whacky, bizarre and funny inventions.
Natural Incense Born of Tradition
This beautiful leaf-shaped paper incense is produced by a company on Awaji Island that has been in the business for 120 years!
Subscription Living for Your Inner Nomad
Life in Japan Working in Japan
Customers can let their wanderlust loose and stay at more than 50 facilities in Japan and overseas for a set fee each month.
Canvas Comes Alive in Immersive Installation
Japanese-Brazilian artist Oscar Oiwa has created an incredible, immersive installation that truly brings canvas to life!
Show Us the Money: Japan's Currency Redesign
The Ministry of Finance has revealed new designs for the Japanese yen banknotes set to debut in 2024, and they look awesome! Check out the new designs, as well as their inspirations.
Work-Life Balance Improves with Tiny Business
An increasing number of Japanese people are starting tiny businesses with small funds, and find that their work-life balance is improving without having to sacrifice their livelihoods.
Social Media Motivates Paper Cutting Artist
Social media is motivating a paper cutting artist to continue creating incredibly intricate works of art out of a single piece of paper.
Sakura-Inspired Torch for the 2020 Olympics
The design for the torch, which will kick off the 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Tokyo, has been revealed. Unsurprisingly, it takes inspiration from Japan's favorite flower!
Calligraphy Artist Speaks with Her Brush
Japanese calligrapher Nobuko Obata has pursued her lifelong passion for calligraphy, despite an accident that left her without hands from a young age.
The Aerial Beauty of Japanese Highways
While they may seem perfectly mundane from ground level, Japanese highways are marvels of structural engineering, and look incredible from a bird's-eye view.
Travel Like a Pro with the WOW! JAPAN APP
With the in-depth info of a guidebook and special discounts and coupons you can use on your trip, the WOW! JAPAN APP is one of the best tools for visitors to Japan!
Surreal Combo of Sakura & Jellyfish at Skytree
The surreal and beautiful combination of cherry blossoms and jellyfish is part of a seasonal event at the Sumida Aquarium.
How Money is Made in Japan
Get a peek behind the kimono, so to speak, as the National Printing Bureau shows how paper money is made in Japan.
The Ephemeral Art of Japanese Bathhouses
The artists who specialize in painting Japanese bathhouses are few in number, but their enduring artistic spirit ensures the profession lives on.
Sand Sculpture Asks Japan to Protect Oceans
One Japanese artist created an elaborately carved full-page editorial featured in the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper on a beach in Chiba to implore everyone to take care of the beautiful oceans on which Japan depends so much.
Hyper-Realistic Cat Art Helps Cope with Loss
Wakuneco, a Japanese needle felting artist, works to help people cope with the loss of their beloved feline friends with incredibly realistic replicas made from felt.
Pigs Populate the Latest Tokyo Animal Café
A pig café is the latest in a long line of adorable animal-themed cafés to open in Tokyo.
Living Large in Tiny Japanese Houses
This latest trend in Japanese architecture sees people living in minimalist homes to minimize cost and maximize their time.
