Not a Shinkai or Miyazaki anime, nor a CG-created wonderland, this is one of Japan’s best train journeys.
Akita
The sweetest part is that “Silver Tetsuya’s” photographer is none other than his beloved grandson.
This “Festival of Tohoku Bonds” continues to pay homage to six of northern Japan’s most important annual festivals all at one time and one place.
The adorable breed of dogs introduces the Internet to its home in Japan’s northern Akita Prefecture.
Bears have been getting bad press for both their real-life and anime actions this month, which has some bristling at the idea of a Kuma Miko-themed promotion in Akita.
A city in northern Japan unveils its new moe character whose three-pronged mission is “moe x rap x town revitalization.” Yep, rap is included.
Akita, one of Japan’s northernmost prefectures, is beautiful in summer. But as this video is about to show, it’s simply gorgeous in the winter.
Family and nature both feature prominently in this stirring glimpse of a day spent far away from the bright lights of Tokyo.
When it comes to fish and eel meat, “fresh” is the favorite for pretty much anyone. But how fresh is “too fresh?” Well, how do you feel about buying eel with a beating heart?!
We’ve seen impeccable displays of manners from Japanese high school baseball teams on many occasions before, from the respectful bowing of Yamagata Chuo High School to the classy stadium-cleaning deed of Kyukoku just the other day. It seems like the annual Koshien high school baseball tournament in Hyogo Prefecture really does bring out the best in the promising young players, as another team from Akita Prefecture has proven after being eliminated from this year’s tournament with their grand display of thanks in a regional hotel.
We’ve talked before about yuru-kyara, Japan’s adorable illustrated mascots. But cute manga-style horses and anthropomorphic pears aren’t the only local spokescharacters you’ll find in Japan, as some regions of the country are also represented by “Local Heroes,” (Gotouchi Hiro in Japanese), Power Ranger or Kamen Rider-like defenders of their communities.
One of the more popular Local Heroes is Neiger, whose mission is to protect Akita Prefecture’s people, mountains, and seas. Akita is a pretty safe and sleepy part of Japan, though, and not exactly the kind of place that’s under constant threats that require a superhero-level response. So what’s he been doing with all of his downtime?
Growing rice, apparently.
Akita Prefecture is a northern region known for its rice production and other agricultural pursuits. However, our reporter Nakano went out with a different goal. He heard rumors of a village that served a superb donburi (rice bowl) with horse meat.
It doesn’t take much more than that to get one of our reporters on the move, so Nakano booked a ticket and packed his bags to head out to the snow-laden town of Kamikoani. His mission: to try some of their legendary banikudon (horse meat rice bowl).
Here’s one you don’t hear every day – a man was arrested in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture last weekend on charges of entering the hotel room of a female acquaintance through the window before proceeding to strike her about the buttocks with a shoehorn that he found in the room. But just what could prompt such behavior?
Some people see things in black and white while others tend to judge each incident as a unique situation with its own parameters of right and wrong.
Take drunk driving for example. There are many who would say that under any circumstance getting behind the wheel of an automobile with significant levels of alcohol in the system deserves punishment. And then there are some that say there may be exceptions to the rule.
Luckily for some government workers who got picked up by police for drunk driving, more than a few district court judges appear to belong to the latter camp.
The ryokan [traditional Japanese-style inn] in Akita Prefecture called Miyakowasure (都わすれ; “forget the city”), also known as Natsuse Onsen, is unquestionably the best in all of Japan–at least according to our Japanese correspondent Yoshio. Out of all of the ryokan that he has ever visited, he can confidently say that this is his number-one pick.
Yoshio has stayed at literally hundreds of hotels and ryokan across the country for both business and pleasure, but he recently experienced an unparalleled level of hospitality and overall quality during his stay at this particular inn. He even thinks that hotel managers from across Japan and the world should spend a night there to learn a thing or two! That’s how enthusiastically he praises his most recent visit.
Join Yoshio for an in-depth look at this spectacular ryokan in northern Japan after the jump!
Summer in Japan means a few things. For some, the negatives, such as the endless days of heat and humidity, are what always weigh on their minds. But for others, summer means mainly two things: festivals and fireworks! While most cities have a summer festival to call their own, the most common and most popular type is the fireworks festival (hanabi taikai). RocketNews24 wants to introduce you to the fireworks festival that sits at the top of many peoples’ lists as the biggest and best fireworks festival of the summer! The location will definitely surprise you!
Even if you’re not an animal person, there’s a good chance that you’ll still like dogs. Or at least some kinds of dogs! We can understand people not enjoying being around smaller, shriller breeds, but everyone loves Akitas, right? Any animal that can inspire memes and cryptocurrency can’t be all bad, right?
And while there’s nothing quite as heartwarming as a happy Akita, it tuns out that they’re also the dogs you want by your side if you ever happen to run into a bear. At least if this adorable YouTube video is any sign!
Dog is man’s best friend, or so the saying goes. Nowadays, it’s sometimes hard to believe those words when your loyal canine is dragging your dirty pants, underwear included, out into the living room for all your guests to see (true story). But one dog in Japan proved his undying loyalty, waiting for his master’s return in the same location every single day for 10 years after his master’s death. The picture above, the last one ever taken of this loveable animal, is one of the saddest things we’ve ever seen.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Ultra-luxurious breakfast bus will give Tokyo commuters a break from the hell of rush-hour trains
Harajuku Station will be demolished after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
American-Japanese model Kiko designs “morning cleavage” bra for lingerie brand Wacoal 【Video】
We preview Japan’s first-ever Nintendo Tokyo, Capcom Store and Shibuya Pokémon Centre megastore
Uniqlo’s new Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies modeled for the first time【Photos】
Can you put Japan’s hot bottled tea/coffee in the microwave? Only if you see this special notice
Disturbing video shows man hitting woman for crossing her legs on Japanese train【Video】
Miniature purikura photo booth from Japan lets you feel like a Japanese schoolgirl from the ’90s
Graffiti artist Pikachu plushies coming to brand-new Shibuya Pokémon Center megastore【Photos】
Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
Weekly
- Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
Japan’s pre-sliced cat-shaped bread: The greatest thing since non-kitty sliced bread
We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
That time we got imprisoned in a Tokyo hostess bar
Japanese makeup tutorial shows how a middle-aged man can turn into a beautiful young woman- Harajuku Station will be demolished after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
Should a man in his 40s pursue a 19-year-old Japanese convenience store clerk?
There’s a permanent all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink KFC restaurant opening in Tokyo- Disturbing video shows man hitting woman for crossing her legs on Japanese train【Video】
Blood-red Evangelion hot spring bath to open in Japan for fun, relaxing terror
Monthly
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent- Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)
Why do Japanese toilets have double hooks on their doors?
Post-meal waste at Japanese sushi restaurant sparks controversy online
Uniqlo’s shockingly sexy new clothing item inspires selfies and anime-style fan art
Shinkansen announcer shares moment her mother hears her voice on bullet train for the first time
Kyoto’s popular tourist spot Gion to forbid photos on private roads, 10,000 yen fine to violators
“Otaku” YouTuber confronts Tokyo tough-guy litterers, who’ve got no idea who they’re dealing with- Japan’s pre-sliced cat-shaped bread: The greatest thing since non-kitty sliced bread
Yearly
- Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
- Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
- Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)
PewDiePie buys house in Japan, calls it “a dream come true”
Naruto’s author Kishimoto reveals what characters’ names would’ve been if editor didn’t intervene
We asked a Niantic insider 30 questions about Pokémon Go, learned a lot of useful information
Why do Japanese recycle bins have two openings but dump everything into the same compartment?
Japanese Mame Shiba Inu banknote design pays homage to nation’s beloved dog- Why do Japanese toilets have double hooks on their doors?
Japanese Phantom Cheesecake: A sweet so popular 2,000 sold in ten minutes
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Can you put Japan’s hot bottled tea/coffee in the microwave? Only if you see this special notice
Disturbing video shows man hitting woman for crossing her legs on Japanese train【Video】
Miniature purikura photo booth from Japan lets you feel like a Japanese schoolgirl from the ’90s
Graffiti artist Pikachu plushies coming to brand-new Shibuya Pokémon Center megastore【Photos】
Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
Is it OK to bite through your ramen noodles while slurping them in Japan? Internet debates
Tokyo’s AKB48 idol-themed cafe announces sudden, permanent closure
What Pokémon Type are you? A quick look at your social media habits will give you the answer
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
Dam management finds laughably clever way to deter nighttime thrill-seekers in Japan【Video】
One of Japan’s favorite traditional desserts almost breaks the spirit of SoraNews24’s Mr. Sato
Japanese makeup tutorial shows how a middle-aged man can turn into a beautiful young woman
First-grader’s math test accidentally turns into treatise on confusing Japanese linguistics
-
