The latest Japan travel and culture news

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

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

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…

A FIFA World Cup soccer ball and a Japanese flag on grass, beside a woman holding a stack of folded laundry.

Women

Japanese Professor: Men Who Pick Up World Cup Trash Should “Do It at Home,” Too

FIFA praised Japanese fans for cleaning the World Cup stadium. A Chubu University professor's viral reply, however, asked why Japanese men can't…

Young couple embracing in front of a nighttime amusement park with a glowing red Ferris wheel and winter illuminations

Society

4,000 Singles, One Theme Park: How Japan’s Mass Blind Date Brought People Together

A unique event in Saitama opened up an amusement park to men and women. The catch? You needed to find a partner…