The latest Japan travel and culture news

CULTURE

The Lesser-Known Festivals of Japan: Dangerous Edition

Bamboo battles, precarious log rides, and a literal firefight make up three festivals in Japan that'll get your blood pumping - but…

SOCIETY

Why Japanese Cities Have So Few Garbage Cans

How can Japanese cities be so clean...and yet have so few garbage cans? The first part of that question is a bit…

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sticks & Stones: Online Abuse & Speaking Up in Japan

Our panel of activists describe what it's like speaking out as a woman in modern Japan - and what can be done…

HISTORY

When Japan Ruled the Waves: The Forgotten Colonies of Micronesia

How Japan defeated the German Empire in World War I and ruled over Micronesia for three decades - before it all came…

POLITICS

The Empress: Koike Yuriko and Japan’s Far-Right Patriarchy

Far rightist...or rank political opportunist? Either way, says our author, the popularity of Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says a lot about Japan.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

The Best Book to Learn Japanese

People often ask us what the best book for learning Japanese is. While there are a lot of good ones, this one…

TECHNOLOGY

Robot Izakaya: A New Level of Contactless Service

As Japanese restaurants and bars open back up after the state of emergency, some are looking to modern technology to help enforce…

FOOD

Unique Japanese Food: Cuisine You’ll Only Find in Japan

Do you know shirako, konnyaku, and chankonabe? Go beyond ramen and learn about a host of unique Japanese ingredients and food prep…