July, 2019
Is…is Dragon Quest real?!?
Of course you’ll talk to this Pikachu lamp from Japan, so it talks back and dances too!【Video】
Annual novel contest submission apparently connected to suspect’s shouting “They stole my novel, so I set the fire.”
President of anime production company where arson attack killed 35 calls messages from fans “candles in the darkness.”
Could anything be hotter, or scarier, than this wall-pound apparatus?
A definitive ranking of the 10 best-selling bento boxes at one of Tokyo’s major travel hubs.
If you had 18 days, you’d do them all, but if you’ve got pick just one, this onsen expert’s flow chart is here to help.
Craftsmen in Japan’s ancient capital put time-honored techniques to use for contemporary bags, wallets, and more.
The Pokémon Center recruiting page has a few questions for you to help determine if you’re more of a Pikachu or a Magikarp.
Estranged childhood friends, a blackout, and a mobile app are the perfect ingredients for a marvelous story line.
Not a Shinkai or Miyazaki anime, nor a CG-created wonderland, this is one of Japan’s best train journeys.
We’ve visited the real-world location for the pivotal scene in the anime event of the summer, but it’s about to disappear forever.


















Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Play games, learn, and get your fortune at Ginza’s limited-time Tsunaguu “Shrine of the Future”
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
A visit to T-CAT, Tokyo’s often forgotten City Air Terminal【Photos】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Upskirt umbrellas are now a thing in Japan
Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo
Visit the birthplace of the Japanese daruma in Gunma Prefecture
Chikura no Iwaya: Secret beach cave only appears for two hours a day, and here’s how to see it
Japan’s wildest Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony celebrates new adults in Kitakyushu 【Photos】
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Sumo Sanrio! Hello Kitty and pals team up with Japan Sumo Association for new merch【Pics】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
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
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
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
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Upskirt umbrellas are now a thing in Japan
Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo
Visit the birthplace of the Japanese daruma in Gunma Prefecture
Chikura no Iwaya: Secret beach cave only appears for two hours a day, and here’s how to see it
Japan’s wildest Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony celebrates new adults in Kitakyushu 【Photos】
Where’s the very best seat to sit in on Japan’s Shinkansen? Our expert has an answer
Godzilla fights around the world in these rare vintage European posters
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Harajuku’s new permanent Tamagotchi shop is filled with cuteness and a surprising lack of poop
Demon Slayer and Pretty Cure anime-themed Happy Meals arrive at McDonald’s Japan
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good