Casey Baseel
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Casey Baseel spent his formative years staring in frustration at un-subtitled Japanese TV programming shown on Southern California’s international channel. Taking matters into his own hands, he moved to Tokyo to study the language, then found work in Yokohama a decade ago teaching, translating, and marketing hotels he can’t afford to stay in. When not participating in the eternal cycle of exercising to burn the calories form his love of Japanese food, Casey scours used comic and game shops for forgotten classics, drags his wife around the country in a quest to visit all its castles, sings karaoke not nearly as well as he thinks he does, and counts the days until the summertime bars open on Enoshima Beach.
Posted by Casey Baseel (Page 5)
As a new generation of travelers discovers Atami, it’s the New Akao’s time to shine again.
It’s hard to see why Tokyoites would prefer self-driving cabs to regular ones, but that might not be what Waymo is betting on.
![New Ranma 1/2 anime tableware and lifestyle goods are appropriately multi-faceted [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/40.jpg?w=640 "New Ranma 1/2 anime tableware and lifestyle goods are appropriately multi-faceted [Photos]")
The Rumiko Takahashi anime remake inspires a line of items for cooking, carrying, or just admiring.
![Japan’s new Pokémon Poké Ball hotel releases new details, and it’s giving away free stays [Video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/0_44f816.jpg?w=640 "Japan’s new Pokémon Poké Ball hotel releases new details, and it’s giving away free stays [Video]")
Some, but not all, of the secrets surrounding Japan’s awesome Poké Ball hotel have been revealed.
![Pokémon Adidas crossover sneaker line releases in Japan, gives your feet Pikachu hugs [Pics]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/0_3865cd.jpg?w=640 "Pokémon Adidas crossover sneaker line releases in Japan, gives your feet Pikachu hugs [Pics]")
![Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/3_e680a5.jpg?w=640 "Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]")
![The confusing enjoyment of our day-trip bus tour from downtown Tokyo to Yamanashi [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/0_c0d84a.jpg?w=640 "The confusing enjoyment of our day-trip bus tour from downtown Tokyo to Yamanashi [Photos]")
This bus tour wasn’t exactly what we’d expected, but it turned out to be something we wanted.
Mr. Sato and his crew strut through Shinjuku like cocks of the walk, but can their meat beat the heat?
![Visiting Fukui can teach travelers how to make, and smash, Japanese kawara tiles [Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/x-gif-3-810024490-17.jpg?w=640 "Visiting Fukui can teach travelers how to make, and smash, Japanese kawara tiles [Photos]")
The question of whether it’s illegal to hike Mt. Fuji in the off-season is complex, and so is the question of who should pay for it.
MOST POPULAR
Today
Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
KFC Japan releases its first thigh-meat fried chicken burger in 43 years, but was it worth the wait?
New Studio Ghibli stamp rally set to start in Japan, with exclusive merchandise for anime fans
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Man in Japan says monkey threw his cat into a pond before attacking him
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
Weekly
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?- American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Japanese milk carton cakes are a genius idea that the world needs to know about- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]- We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
Giant wagashi cushions will turn your home sweet home into home sweet Japanese sweets home
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]- What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Yearly
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]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
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
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
RECOMMENDED STORIES
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Man in Japan says monkey threw his cat into a pond before attacking him
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Vietnamese-language driver’s license tests suspended in Japan following alleged cheating
New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]
High-speed Japanese festival cart crashes cause two deaths on same day, ignite debate over tradition
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
Japanese milk carton cakes are a genius idea that the world needs to know about
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
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