Train to off-the-beaten-path onsen town gives you a taste of Japanese bathing culture even before you arrive at your destination.
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
Intricately detailed frames let you mix your real life memories with Ghibi’s unforgettable anime settings.
J-horror classic Ring 2 airing on Japanese TV with Zen monk offering prayers every time someone dies
Japan’s most quirkily empathetic monk is back to keep bad mojo away from us as the year ends.
With peak Fuji-viewing season coming up, here are seven spots to add to your Japan travel list.
Two Sanrio stars slip on sumo loincloths to celebrate the first nig sumo tournament of the year.
Kitty-chans representing the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras are waiting inside these sweet treats.
It’s time, once again, to pull out every trick we can think of to try to boost our luck in Japan’s huge end of the year lottery.
Yamada Heiando has been in business for over 100 years, but it’s still got new ideas for its Pokémon crossover line.
Mr. Sato bypasses the high-priced sushi that’s become the neighborhood’s new normal and finds a super-cheap, super-tasty bowl of ramen.
Starbucks Japan closes out the year with luxurious and innovative dessert drinks for the most Japanese holiday season of the year.
There are two main types of okonomiyaki, but people in Hiroshima don’t like one of the names the rest of the country has for theirs.
The “super-thick” ehomaki is a luxurious way to ensure good luck for your home and family in the coming year.
Crane games are big hits with foreign tourists and Japanese kids, so Family Mart is happy to have them come in and play.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
This is possibly the coziest train in all Japan thanks to onboard hot spring footbaths【Pics】
Survey finds more than 70 percent of Japanese children have an online friend
Cup Noodle’s Nissin develops space ramen, space curry rice for astronauts to eat among the stars
Ultimate bachelor chow recipe: Cheeseburger-style furikake toast【SoraKitchen】
Brazilian man acquitted of sexual assault after kissing Japanese woman on Nagoya train
We tried all seven of Muji’s new “Bento of the Day” boxed lunch sets
Weekly
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade- Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
Monthly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- 7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
- 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
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
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
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Yearly
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Survey finds more than 70 percent of Japanese children have an online friend
Cup Noodle’s Nissin develops space ramen, space curry rice for astronauts to eat among the stars
Ultimate bachelor chow recipe: Cheeseburger-style furikake toast【SoraKitchen】
Brazilian man acquitted of sexual assault after kissing Japanese woman on Nagoya train
We tried all seven of Muji’s new “Bento of the Day” boxed lunch sets
New sushi restaurant hidden inside Tokyo Station is a secret gem
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
A history of Japanese schoolgirls’ purikura sticker booth trends
Dragon Quest Burgers and Slime drinks are coming to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
Projection mapping coming to Cinderella’s Castle at Tokyo Disneyland 【Video】
We take on the Baskin-Robbins Japan 31-day challenge and live to tell these tips
-
