CULTURE
An Old Public Bathhouse in Kyoto Becomes a Concert Venue
Japan's public bathhouses are struggling to stay alive. Here's how one Kyoto venue found a unique solution for preserving communal space.
architecture
CULTURE
SOCIETY
Osaka Station’s “Exclusion Art”: Hostile Architecture Comes to Kansai
Why did 150 concrete blocks outside JR Osaka Station spark outrage? We explore the divide in Japan's "exclusion art" debate.
CULTURE
Why There’s an 11-Meter Goddess Inside This Tokyo Department Store
It's impossible to miss: a soaring goddess ensconced inside a paragon of capitalism. What inspired a sculptor to carve this mysterious figure…
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…
TRAVEL
Exploring Naoshima: The Stunning Art Islands of Seto Inland Sea
The islands used to be known for copper production. These days, they're one of the most-discussed art destinations worldwide.
CULTURE
Why the Ishikawa Prefectural Library in Japan Is Such a Huge Draw
The library, reopened to fanfare in 2022, continues to bring in more visitors every year than people who live in the prefecture.
TRAVEL
Shirakawago, a World Heritage Site, Strains Under Record Tourism Numbers
The village, which sees a swell of tourists in the winter, wants to remind people it's a living community, not an open-air…
TRAVEL
This Japanese Village Gets 1000x More Tourists Than Residents – And Loves It
Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture is a village of 1,400 people that sees over one million tourists yearly. And they want more.