Sex & Nightlife
Happening Bars: A Guide to Japan’s Hidden Sex Hotspots
What are happening bars? What actually "happens" in one? And the bigger question as a foreigner in Japan:…
Sex & Nightlife
Food
Natto-ku Dekinai! Price of Japan’s Stinky National Food Spikes
Japan's two biggest natto makers are hiking prices on the nation's beloved fermented soybeans.
Travel
Where Japanese People Actually Travel in August (And Why Foreign Tourists Don’t)
While inbound tourists mainly clog up the Golden Route, domestic Japanese travelers make full use of hisho-chi, highland…
Sex & Nightlife
A Crime-Free Kabukicho? Tokyo Police Start “Purging” Touts and Scouts
Touts and scouts in Kabukicho say they feel they're in the middle of a crackdown. Will this new…
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Millions of Tokyo Station Commemorative Suica Cards Set to Expire
If you have one of these cards and don't want to lose the balance - and the card…
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Japan’s Ramen Shops Repel Women. One Store Wants to Change That
70% of women surveyed in Japan don't feel comfortable going into a ramen shop alone. Here's why -…
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Japanese Sex Toy Firm Tenga Suffers US Data Breach
The company took pains to reassure its Japanese customer base that information about their masturbatory habits was safe.
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Dared to Death: Wealth, Sexism, and Tragedy in Tokyo
A "drinking game" in a high-end Tokyo bar that ended in a young woman's death has drawn attention…
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Japanese Con Cafe Worker Called “Hero” for Stabbing Train Groper with Safety Pin
A con cafe worker's tweet about stabbing a groper's hand with a safety pin on her morning commute…
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Has Tokyo’s Prostitution Alley Become a Tourist Destination?
The recent arrest of four women in a prostitution ring operating near Okubo Park highlights how the area…
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Japanese Women Increasingly Trafficked Overseas for Sex Work by Scout Groups
The groups have made a killing by recruiting financially vulnerable women. Ordinary Japanese travelers are feeling the blowback.
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More Than a Budget Stay: The Controversy Behind Japan’s APA Hotels
APA Hotels in Japan are ubiquitous and affordable. Behind the cheap prices lies an aggressive business strategy and…
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Japan’s Best Mountain Towns for a Peaceful Getaway
Want to get away from it all on your trip to Japan? We ranked the best mountain towns that offer culture without the crowds.
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Get a quote today → Where Japanese People Actually Travel in August (And Why Foreign Tourists Don’t)
While inbound tourists mainly clog up the Golden Route, domestic Japanese travelers make full use of hisho-chi, highland…
Why Fukuoka Might Be Japan’s Best City for Tourists
A growing destination, Fukuoka is managing the potential pitfalls of overtourism through a mix of yatai and downtown…
Japan Drafts Dual Pricing Guidelines as Himeji Castle Posts Big Revenue Bump
As more tourist hot spots look at dual pricing, Japan's government prepares rules to ensure it's implemented legally.
Surviving Summer: A Traveler’s Guide to Japan’s New Era of Extreme Heat
You CAN travel to Japan during the summer. It just takes a little preparation. Here are some tips…
Happening Bars: A Guide to Japan’s Hidden Sex Hotspots
What are happening bars? What actually "happens" in one? And the bigger question as a foreigner in Japan:…
A Crime-Free Kabukicho? Tokyo Police Start “Purging” Touts and Scouts
Touts and scouts in Kabukicho say they feel they're in the middle of a crackdown. Will this new…
21 Soaplands Shut Overnight, Leaving Japanese Sex Workers High and Dry
The incident highlights the shift in sex-related businesses in Japan - and the precarious situation of sex workers.
Japanese Women Increasingly Trafficked Overseas for Sex Work by Scout Groups
The groups have made a killing by recruiting financially vulnerable women. Ordinary Japanese travelers are feeling the blowback.
Natto-ku Dekinai! Price of Japan’s Stinky National Food Spikes
Japan's two biggest natto makers are hiking prices on the nation's beloved fermented soybeans.
Yep or NOPE? Suntory’s New Dr Pepper-Like Soda Confuses Japanese Consumers
Suntory's new drink NOPE promises lots of flavor. Just WHAT that flavor is, however, has sparked a raging…
This Ramen Shop in Japan Demands You Stay Off Your Damn Phone
The shop in Saitama Prefecture said it instituted the policy after a customer watched an "inappropriate" video.
As Nut Allergies Soar in Japan, Airlines Grapple with a Response
Nut allergies are overtaking both wheat and milk in Japan. Here's how airlines are responding and how to…
Muslim Burial in Japan: Government Surveys Cities as Tensions Rise
Plans for Muslim burial grounds in Japan face local resistance and racist threats as the country's Muslim population…
Japan’s Zine Boom: Self-Made Magazines Take Off in the AI Era
Why more people in Japan are forsaking YouTube and TikTok videos and crafting their own magazines by hand.
“Friendflation”: Japanese Youth Are Saving Money By Cutting Out Friends
Japan joins a worldwide trend of limiting your social network as the cost of having friends becomes prohibitive.
Would You Live in a ‘Jiko Bukken’? Over Half in Japan Say Yes – If the Price Is Right
While such properties have long been stigmatized, attitudes may be changing as the cost of everything rises.
Solo Weddings: Why Japanese Women Are Saying “I Do” to…Themselves
Japan's marriage rate has tumbled to a postwar low. But the country's bridal industry isn't shrinking: it's pivoting.
Japanese Con Cafe Worker Called “Hero” for Stabbing Train Groper with Safety Pin
A con cafe worker's tweet about stabbing a groper's hand with a safety pin on her morning commute…
Tokyo Court: Employer Had “No Duty” To Stop Sexual Harassment at After-Work Drinking Party
A lack of evidence and the quasi-official nature of nomikai led a court to rule against a company…
For First Time, More Young Japanese Women Than Men Don’t Want Kids
The average age for wanting kids climbs as more young women in Japan worry about the impact child-rearing…
MEXT to Nothing: Japan Struggles to Help Foreign Residents Learning Japanese
Many foreign residents in Japan want to learn Japanese. But reports show a majority feel they're not getting…
These Are the Hardest Japanese Place Names to Read – Even for Native Speakers
Can you pronounce these difficult Japanese place names? If not, don't feel bad: most native speakers can't either!
Japan Prepares Official Hepburn Romanization Switch, Changing 70-Year Tradition
Japan will likely abandon its Kunrei-shiki romanization system that even most of its government doesn't use.
Giccho?! Here Are Some Dead Japanese Words That Only Old Folks Use
You may still hear these words or see them in print - but you won't hear them come…
Japanese Man Arrested for Sexual Enslavement of Toyoko Minor
The man allegedly forced her to do papa-katsu (sugar-babying), arranging meetings with men and keeping most of the…
Japanese Celeb Held By Police for 10 Days Over Combini Sandwich Theft
Why many Japanese social media users are decrying the long detention of actress Sakaguchi Anri as excessive and…
Tokyo Pokémon Center Murder Highlights Gaps in Japan’s Stalking Law
Critics say that police and prosecutors could have done more to monitor the murderer after he was released…
More Young Students in Japan Turn to Marijuana, Shoplifting
The kids in Japan aren't alright: new stats show an increasing number are turning to illegal activity in…
Nara Deer Move Themselves to Osaka – and Nara Doesn’t Want Them Back
There are too many deer in Nara Park. To remedy the situation, it seems at least a few…
Tokyo Citizens Protest That the Rent Is Too Damn High
Tokyo is becoming hard to afford for more people, with the cost of a one-bedroom home reaching record…
Immigrant Crime in Japan Is Dropping as Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Soars
Right-wingers in Japan claim that the country is becoming more unsafe due to immigrants. The data doesn't back…
Japan to Expand Entry Screening and Raise Visa Fees
Traveling and moving to Japan is about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to a proposed set…
Are Japanese Teens Leaving Manga Behind?
One prominent journalist argues the youth market is slipping away. Others say they've heard this false cry before.
Swimsuit Snow Performance Lands Japanese Idols in Hot Water (and They Don’t Give a F$*!)
Planck Stars isn't a group to shy away from controversy. Indeed, it seems to be reveling in its…
Why a 20-Year-Old Japanese Racing Idol Went Searching For a 50-Year-Old Fan
It's common for fans to become obsessed with their idols. But what happens when an idol is worried…
How an AI Manga Became a Bestseller on Japan’s Largest e-Book Store
How did a fully AI-generated manga hit number one in Japan? And what does its success portend for…
Japan’s Anime and Manga Industries Are Feeling the AI Squeeze
Japan's anime and manga industries are growing wary of the impact of GenAI on their bottom line -…
Hanafuda: How a Banned Card Game Defined the Pre-Pokémon Era
Before Mario, Nintendo sold hanafuda cards to the yakuza. Read the 400-year forbidden history of the flower cards…
Japanese Sex Toy Firm Tenga Suffers US Data Breach
The company took pains to reassure its Japanese customer base that information about their masturbatory habits was safe.
How an AI Manga Became a Bestseller on Japan’s Largest e-Book Store
How did a fully AI-generated manga hit number one in Japan? And what does its success portend for…
Sapporo Lets “Ainu Aren’t Indigenous” Panel Exhibit Run – Again – Despite Opposition
The city of Sapporo cleared a display that denies the legal status of the Ainu - and that…
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Japan’s Most Cutthroat Health Nut?
Japan's most ruthless and efficient ruler believed a good diet was the key to success. Here's how he…
Hanafuda: How a Banned Card Game Defined the Pre-Pokémon Era
Before Mario, Nintendo sold hanafuda cards to the yakuza. Read the 400-year forbidden history of the flower cards…
Shinjuku: The Birth of Kabukicho
How Kabukicho, Japan's biggest red light district, arose from the ashes of post-war Japan.
Illicit GLP-1 Trade Thrives Among Kabukicho’s Toyoko Kids – and Across Japan
GLP-1 drugs aren't approved for dietary use in Japan. That's led to a thriving black market in the…
Japan’s New Visa Rules Are Forcing Tokyo’s Immigrant-Run Restaurants to Close
The new capital requirement for the business manager visa is too high a hurdle for many legitimate, profitable,…
ADHD Medication Shortage in Japan Leaves Patients Scrambling
It's especially bad news for users who live outside of major cities, where the medication can be harder…
Reclaiming the Land: 15 Years Later, Fukushima’s Massive Cleanup Continues
Japan says it's dedicated to decontaminating the land spoiled by the Fukushima nuclear accident. But most residents still…
Small City, Big Pride: Japanese Prefecture Gets Its First Pride Parade
The parade in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, shows how Japan's LGBTQ+ citizens are committed to raising awareness in smaller…
LGBTQ People, Advocates Ask Japan’s Politicians to Legalize Marriage Equality Swiftly
After a bitter court loss, LGBTQ people in Japan continue pressing politicians for fast action.
Surprise, Anger, and Frustration as Tokyo’s High Court Rules Against Marriage Equality
Supporters of marriage equality in Japan were met with an unexpected setback after a series of affirmative rulings.
Sanseitō Rep Likens Being Transgender to a “Contagious” Disease
Wada Keiko further stated she believed transgender people needed medical treatment instead of accommodation and understanding.
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Want an alternative to Duolingo now that they're firing workers and resorting to AI slop? Here's a much…
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The Scary Reasons Purikura Booths In Japan Ban Men
Purikura photo booths remain popular in Japan. But if you're an unaccompanied male, odds are you won't be…
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A Guide to High-Protein Eating at 7-Eleven Japan
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The “Gaijin Hunter” Exists – But It’s Not What You’re Expecting
Most foreigners reported experiences with a "gaijin hunter". But the reality of these interactions is more complicated than…
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In Japan, Rental Family Services Let You Hire Actors to Play Family Roles
Would you hire a stranger to be your spouse or your parent? For some in Japan, the rental…
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Furuta Junko: The Horrific Murder That Tested Japan
How the case of Furuta Junko led Japan's press to break the rules, and citizens to question the…
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Husband? Master? The Many Imperfect Words for Male Spouses in Japanese
Japanese is fraught with unspoken rules and meanings. For example: how should people refer to their husbands?
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Japanese Restaurant Menus: Reading the Kanji
Reading Japanese menus can be tricky, as you'll often find many kanji you don't encounter elsewhere. Here's a…
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[Insider] How a “Library War” Helped Japan’s Communists Elect a New Mayor
A plan to shutter four of Kiyose City's six libraries angered citizens so much that it gave the…
[Insider] The Worst Person You Know Has a Point About Japan’s AV Law
Few prominent figures or politicians in Japan are willing to talk about the negative impact the law has…
[Insider] A Famous Japanese Novelist Dumps Her Publisher After Discriminatory Column
Yuzuki Asako's former publisher has a history of running inflammatory columns. The latest was the last straw for…
[Insider] Japan’s Polls on an Empress Miss an Important Distinction
Princess Aiko is very popular. Many wouldn't mind her becoming Empress. But critics say the polls are misleading.…
[Insider] Shibuya, Burning: How Japan’s Right Exploits the Information Void to Foster Hate
A Japanese nationalist started a fire in Shibuya Crossing and then fled the scene. Japan's right wing blamed…
[Insider] Japan Is Sick to Death of Bicyclists Behaving Badly
Japanese police are doling out fines to misbehaving cyclists. Many on Japanese social media say it’s about damn…
[Insider] How I Found Myself Locked in a Love Hotel
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[Insider] Why Japan Opposes Trump’s Iran War
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