Latest Japan News & Analysis

How to See Mt. Fuji (Without Climbing It)

Thanks to overtourism, climbing Mt. Fuji is tougher than ever. Here are some less taxing alternative viewing locations.

Ghost Train: Check Out Tokyo’s Five Least-Used Subway Stations

Tokyo's subways transport millions of people every day. But there are a few stations that almost no one is using. Here's what they are (and what's good to eat nearby!).

Review: “The Last Yakuza” – Jake Adelstein’s Wide-Ranging, Personal History of the Yakuza

After fourteen years, Jake Adelstein is back with a new full-length book on Japanese organized crime. The Last Yakuza was worth the wait.

Japanese Department Store Apologizes for Christmas Cake Debacle

As some in Japan got their Christmas cakes half off at the combini, others went full price - and ended up severely disappointed. Now, department store chain Takashimaya faces a PR disaster.