The beloved electric Pocket Monster powers up some special goods at this highway stop in Japan.
Ashigara Service Area
Many Japanese service areas along major highways are well-stocked with (surprisingly) decent food courts and souvenir stands chock-full of local specialties. Some of them even take it to the next level and incorporate themes into their layouts, such as the Edo Period townscape service area in Saitama Prefecture.
One such stop, the EXPASA Ashigara Service Area located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is currently in the midst of a collaboration with the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise—and according to travelers who have already stopped by, they’ve spared no expense for this mind-blowing project.
Read More



Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Toyota City civil servant arrested for using government access to run a detective agency
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Dozens of new photos of Japan’s miraculously romantic Sailor Moon wedding dress line【Photos】
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Japanese manhole covers become a hit with foreign tourists in off-the-beaten path Tokyo area
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Studio Ghibli mixes with sporty street styles of New Era to put No Face on your head in cap series
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
Japanese manhole covers become a hit with foreign tourists in off-the-beaten path Tokyo area
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Studio Ghibli mixes with sporty street styles of New Era to put No Face on your head in cap series
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Survey says osechi New Year’s food differs according to each region in Japan
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Sailor Moon Wedding Dress Collection lets you dress like Usagi, Tuxedo Mask as you say I do【Pics】
More than one in three Japanese working women in survey would rather be housewives
New Attack on Titan theme park attraction coming to Fuji-Q Highland
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell
Tokyo government makes a magical girl anime video about the dark side of contract scams【Video】
This is Japan’s, and the world’s, first capsule hotel, and you can still stay there