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!▼
Ratchawut Cherdchuvanit
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
Mary Richardson
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!
Ohaw? Ruibe? Pocche? While traveling in Japan’s north, we try Ainu cuisine for the first time
Narita Airport Transit & Stay Program returns after six years with free tours and festival experiences
Japan’s double-decker portable rice cooker/bento maker is better than ever with new version
Wait, some Shinkansen trains already have private booths that only cost 1,500 yen for an hour?
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
German woman rescued from Mt. Fuji after suffering altitude sickness symptoms, hiking to peak anyway
The Japanese government is ending its Cool Japan Fund program
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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】