Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you have done us proud. Last week we asked you for your funny, cute, beautiful and inspiring photos from Japan and Asia, and by the beard of Mr. Sato did you provide!
Join us after the jump for our pic of the week, plus three honorable mentions!
Congratulations to Ratchawut Cherdchuvanit on winning our first ever Pic of the Week contest with this stunning photo of the 634-meter (2,080ft) Tokyo Skytree’s silhouette looming over Japan’s capital city. Great work, Ratchawut! May Mr. Sato’s blessings be upon you!
▼WINNER!▼

Honorable mentions
A huge thank you to everyone who sent us photos this week – the response was phenomenal. Please don’t be disheartened if your photo didn’t make it onto the site today, though; there are many weeks to come, so you’re still in with a chance!
In the meantime, check out three more entires that we were especially fond of this week.
Mystery in Hakone
A deer kiss in Nara
Pokébus in Towada City

Have a photo you’d like to share with the world? Well it just so happens that we’ll be running this contest every week. Click here for more info on how to enter next week’s contest!


Pic of the Week, Round 5: Winner!
Pic of the Week Round 2: WINNER!
Pic of the Week, Round 4: Winner!!
Pic of the Week Round 3: WINNER!
It’s time to vote for this week’s Pic of the Week!
Ramen restaurant in top Tokyo tourist neighborhood skips price gouging, but how does it taste?
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Can you make butter by running with a pouch filled with cream? Let’s find out[Taste test]
Tasting Korea’s sweet that looks like a copy of a remix of a copy of a Japanese sweet but isn’t
Public restrooms in Osaka to get in-stall video screens with ads
Tokyo’s amazing 2D Cafe looks like an illustration, but it’s an actual restaurant you can eat in!
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Gorgeous Japanese Twitter art depicts the charm of everyday household life…with Pokémon
Heart-shaped lemons from Hiroshima make sour a little sweeter
Starbucks Japan adds exclusive limited-edition Frappuccino drinks to the menu for spring
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Studio Ghibli releases the My Neighbour Totoro tea caddy, with a magical self-closing lid
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Pic of the Week: Hey you, it’s time to vote! 【Update: Poll now closed】
Share your photos with us! RocketNews24 is now accepting submissions for Pic of the Week
It’s time to vote, vote, vote for your favourite photo!
Winners of manga magazine beauty contest no longer appear in bikinis at awards ceremony
The weird and wonderful Quiz of the Week: Round 3
Quiz of the Week: Round 9 (It’s like a comb-over for your soul)
Quiz of the Week: Round 6 (Now made with the tears of sad children*)
Chiba ports become literal sea of garbage following last week’s severe flooding【Pics】
Honda Fit and Weekly Shonen Jump magazine create stunning Japanese itasha manga car【Pics】
It’s huge!! Win a copy of The Anime Encyclopedia 3rd Revised Edition! 【Contest closed】