Travel
Why Japan’s New “Sleeper Shinkansen” is a Big Hit with Japanese Women
A "sleeper" run of JR Central's Tokaido shinkansen was a huge hit. It also offered something other shinkansen don't: safety for women.
The latest Japan travel and culture news
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Travel
Living in Japan
“Katakana Hell”: The Culture Shocks Japan’s Asian Immigrants Actually Face
What surprises Asian immigrants in Japan? From corporate jargon to the country's famously indirect "no," there's a lot to navigate.
Sex & Nightlife
Soaplands Explained: Are They Legal, and Can Foreigners Actually Go?
Soaplands are one of Japan's most euphemistic open secrets: “special bathhouses” where sex is sold under a legal fiction the country has…
Insider
The World Gives Japan’s Konbini Five Stars. Why Japan Only Gives Them Three
Why konbini are especially low rated plus the highest-rated chain in Japan (it's not who you think).
Women
Japanese Woman Scolded for Taking Menstrual Leave That’s Protected by Law
Why do fewer than 1% of Japanese women use legally protected menstrual leave? One viral complaint has reignited the national debate.
Women
“Foul-Smelling Men”: Demand for Women-Only Shinkansen Seats in Japan Goes Viral
Should Japan's bullet trains have women-only spaces? Proponents say it would protect women, but implementation wouldn't be easy.
Society
“The Meal-Skipping Crowd”: Cute Japanese Gen Z Slang, or a Sign of Japan’s Poverty?
Are young people skipping meals because they don't want to eat? Or are they just too broke? The data paints a complex…
Travel
Traveling Gluten-Free in Japan: What You Need to Know
Traveling to Japan while also wrestling with a gluten allergy? It's tricky but it can be done. Here's what you need to…