INSIDER
Plastic Japan: Why Kabukicho Tower Is Empty – But Still Makes Money
Kabukicho Tower is plastic, gaudy, and largely a bust as a tourist attraction. But none of that matters to its owner.
business
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INSIDER
SEX & NIGHTLIFE
How The “No-Panties Cafes” of 1980s Japan Sparked a Sex Club Crackdown
Japan's "no-pan kissa" were part of a wave of new sex establishments in the 1980s. They disappeared almost as quickly as they…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Village Vanguard: Why Japan’s Iconic Subculture Stores Are Struggling
Village Vanguard is a bookstore and then some. But its recent financial troubles indicate it might have stretched itself too thin.
TRAVEL
Is Two-Tier Pricing For Tourists in Japan Discrimination? A Lawyer Weighs In
More places in Japan are charging tourists higher prices. However, one lawyer says, businesses have to be careful how they go about…
TRAVEL
Are Domestic Japanese Tourists Avoiding Kyoto? One Study Aims to Find Out
The Kyoto Chamber of Commerce aims to utilize the data to support local businesses that have been impacted by the surge in…
TRAVEL
New Japan Theme Park Has Two-Tier Pricing for Foreigners. Will People Pay?
A new nature theme park on Okinawa Island is betting it can appeal to inbound tourists - despite charging them more than…
TRAVEL
More Than a Budget Stay: The Controversy Behind Japan’s APA Hotels
APA Hotels in Japan are ubiquitous and affordable. Behind the cheap prices lies an aggressive business strategy and war crimes denialism.
SOCIETY
As Japan’s Birth Rate Dwindles, Its Nursery Schools Keep Closing
Japan wants more women to give birth to counteract its declining birth rate. That's hard to do when nursery schools are rapidly…