The latest Japan travel and culture news

Man in sneakers wearing a GPS ankle monitoring bracelet

GPS Trackers on Stalkers? Japan’s Ruling Party Pushes Solution to Rising Problem

Japan may soon fit stalkers with GPS ankle monitoring devices that would alert their victims when the offender draws near.

Bakery worker in a green apron holding a tray of freshly baked bread rolls

Japanese Language

Why This Japanese Phrase from Kansai Sounds Strange to the Rest of Japan

It's a phrase that confuses Tokyoites. But to many in the Kansai region, it's a daily expression rooted in the region's unique…

Tokyo Dome lit up at night, its illuminated sign glowing above a nearly empty entrance plaza

Entertainment

Galapagos Rock: Why It’s So Hard for Foreign J-Pop Fans to Buy Concert Tickets in Japan

Some overseas fans of Japanese music say the hassle is proof that "Japan hates foreigners." The truth is more complicated.

A picture of the Pokémon airport in Noto

Travel

The World’s First Pokémon Airport Aims to Boost Japan’s Noto Region Post-Quake

Ishikawa Prefecture is renaming Noto Satoyama Airport as 'Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport' from July 7, 2026, making it the world's…

Showa-era Japanese living room with a CRT television showing static, a low table with magazines and an ashtray, and a desk fan

Technology

40% of Young Japanese Men Don’t Own a TV

The data shows people aren't just moving online - they're not watching content from traditional broadcast networks at all.

Travel

Japan’s Inbound Tourism Crowds Into Just Seven Prefectures: Report

A Tokyo Shimbun and Kyodo analysis of 2025 smartphone-location data finds seven prefectures account for 72 of Japan's top 100 inbound-tourist hotspots,…

Tropical Okinawan beach with clear turquoise water and white sand

Advertorial

The Ultimate Okinawa Travel Guide: Japan’s Tropical Paradise

Beyond the neon glow of Tokyo and the manicured temples of Kyoto lies a version of Japan that feels entirely separate from…

Sumida Fireworks in Tokyo set against the backdrop of Skytree

Travel

Hanabi Taikai: A Traveler’s Guide to Japan’s Summer Fireworks Festivals

Japanese summer is impossible to imagine without hanabi taikai, the riverbank fireworks displays that pack millions onto seawalls every July and August.…