The latest Japan travel and culture news

Kaneko Fumiko in kimono superimposed on a black-and-white photo of a city devastated by the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake

Kaneko Fumiko: The Japanese Anarchist Who Died Young Defying the Emperor

The state never even recorded her birth. A century after the Japanese anarchist Kaneko Fumiko died in prison at 23, condemned for…

The Nagasaki Peace Statue, a seated bronze male figure with one arm raised skyward and the other extended outward

Women

Why Japan’s Kyushu Got Labeled The Country’s Most Sexist Region

In early 2025, the net slang “sasu-kyū” branded Japan’s Kyushu its most male-dominated region. When Japanese gender experts and critics dug in,…

Cherry blossoms frame the Ashiya River, with a small bridge, a riverside house, and wooded hills behind.

Travel

Ashiya: How to Visit Japan’s Most Exclusive Small Town

Ashiya, a leafy enclave between Osaka and Kobe, carries a cachet no other Japanese town quite matches: old money, hillside mansions, and…

Two interlocking metal heart-shaped clips on a crocheted rainbow Pride flag

LGBTQ

In Japan, LGBTQ Protections Depend on Which Town You Live In

Japan just approved its first national LGBT plan. But with no anti-discrimination law and partnership certificates that carry no legal force, a…

Insider

[Insider] Japan Discovered MSG. Why Do Even Some Japanese Call It “Poison”?

MSG has been pilloried for decades in the United States. But Japan's "additive-free" movement has also labeled glutamate's most prominent supporter a…

Private Supreme Class shinkansen cabin with a tan reclining seat, wood paneling, a side table, and a countryside window

Travel

Inside Supreme Class: Japan’s New Private Shinkansen Cabins

Now you can travel Japan's smoothest ride in luxury. JR Central's new Supreme Class offers lockable doors, dedicated Wi-Fi, and personal amenities.

Illustration of a red rescue helicopter flying over snow-capped Mt. Fuji under a cloud-dotted blue sky

Travel

Japan May Charge for Mt. Fuji Rescues. But Tourists Aren’t the Real Problem

Shizuoka Prefecture considers the measure as more inbound tourists than ever find themselves in distress during the off-season. But are inbound travelers…

Travel

JR East’s New “Luna Azul” Overnight Express Revives Japan’s Sleeper-Train Era

Do you miss Japan's sleeper trains? If JR East has its way, they may be mounting a comeback. Learn how to ride…