All About Japan All About Japan

Fresh start every Monday!

Enjoy Booze & Views on this Horse-Drawn Bar!

A horse-drawn bar is livening up the streets of the romantic Hokkaido town of Obihiro.

The Many Expressions of Nara's Deer

Nara is known for its population of friendly sacred deer, who freely roam between the ancient capital's temples and shrines, always on the lookout for deer crackers. Check out some of our favorite, hilarious photos of these adorable, derpy critters.

Adorable Mame Shiba Banknotes

This Shiba Inu currency becomes so popular it gets its very own line of merchandise.

Wheelchairs for Dogs Rolling out in Osaka

A couple in Osaka is making custom-built wheelchairs for handicapped dogs.

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.

Osaka Café Has Proof That Cats & Baths Do Mix

Looking around Japan, you'll likely find a cat café located nearby, with some offering unique experiences like doing yoga in the midst of the adorable critters. Rescue cat café Neko Yokujo in Osaka definitely belongs in the “unique” subset of cat cafés.

Monkeying around at Takasakiyama Monkey Park

Get up close and personal with the monkeys of Taksakiyama! Here, you can meet wild monkeys and learn about their lives in the mountains of Oita Prefecture.

Ikura, the Adorable Eco-Friendly Dog

An environmentally friendly dog has collected more than 3,000 plastic bottles during walks over five years!

Cuddle With Adorable Micro Pigs at Mipig Café

The newest player in animal cafés is here: micro pigs. The Mipig Cafe in Meguro is a four-story playpen for its 10 friendly resident micro pigs. Experience the cute cuddliness of of baby and adult micro pigs.

Kawaii Shiba Inu Marshmallows Too Sweet to Eat

Smiling Shiba sweets are the latest offering from Japanese company Felissimo, which is known for its cat-themed merchandise.

Giant Panda Saihin Celebrates First Birthday

Saihin, a giant panda at Wakayama’s Adventure World, just turned one, and we have the cute video.

This Cat Café is Like a Feline Fairy Tale

If you only have the chance to go to one cat cafe in Tokyo, try Temari no Oshiro—a castle for cats. With no time limit and 21 cats, you might consider living the rest of your life there.

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.

Run with the Foxes at Zao Fox Village

Zao Fox Village in Miyagi Prefecture is home to 100 foxes that visitors can feed, hold and pet!

Incredible Ballpoint Pen illustrations

Japanese illustrator Manabu Endo has created meticulously detailed ballpoint pen pieces that evoke the traditional aesthetics of Japanese hanging scrolls.

Rescue Dogs Brighten Up Nursing Home

These dogs used to live in shelters and needed a place to live. They found one—in a nursing home in Kanagawa Prefecture. And they brought smiles to the faces of the residents and staff.

This Owl Café in Akihabara Is a Hoot!

Looking for a unique animal experience in Tokyo? Akiba Fukurou just may be the solution.

Holy Hairy Fish!

Locals in Aomori, northern Japan, find fish with algae growing from their heads that looks like hair.

Feline Furniture is Purrfect for Cats & Owners

A company in Shimane Prefecture is making feline-friendly furniture that's great for both pets and owners!

Happy Birthday Shan Shan!

Giant panda Shan Shan, who was born in Tokyo's own Ueno Zoo, has turned two years old!

know-before-you-go