TRAVEL
Japan’s Duty-Free System For Tourists Will Change to Refunds in November 2026
Japan's planning to change how tourists shop: the country's new duty-free laws will now require requesting a refund at the airport.
tourism
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TRAVEL
TRAVEL
“China-fication” of Japan? New 10-Year Visa for Wealthy Chinese Tourists Stirs Backlash
A plan to extend the current five-year visitor visa to 10 years for China's elite has many on Japan's far right up…
TRAVEL
Onsen City in Japan That Gets 85x More Tourists Than Residents Institutes New Rules
A popular onsen in Yamagata Prefecture brings in so much traffic that the city has instituted new rules to reduce congestion.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Why This Bookstore in Tokyo is Charging Admission
Would you pay to shop in a bookstore? Many in Japan would. Here's why Bunkitsu and other admission-based bookstores are booming.
TRAVEL
Expo 2025 Can’t Sell Tickets, Might Need Japanese Taxpayer Bailout
Will the World Expo 2025 in Osaka be a financial bust? It's trending that way - and Japanese taxpayers might be on…
TRAVEL
Japan’s Domestic Tourism Languishes Due to Costs, Crowding
Japan's tourism boom is generating profits for many local businesses. However, it may be leaving domestic travelers out in the cold.
TRAVEL
“Slam Dunk” Tourism Spot Installs Camera to Deter Naughty Tourists
A site in Kamakura made famous by Slam Dunk is the latest Japanese tourism destination trying to clamp down on bad manners.
FOOD
Standing Soba Restaurants Bemoan “500 Yen Wall” As Prices Soar
Could standing soba restaurants meet the fate of ramen shops in Japan? Here's why owners are lamenting the so-called 500 yen wall.