Our northern Kanto reporters team up and head to Gunma for a look at this part of Japan that gets overlooked by tourists.
Calpis
Tour, tasting, and super rare souvenirs make this a must-visit spot for fans of the iconic drink.
Is the popular milky soft drink too sweet for cooking, or the perfect addition? We find out!
Keep refreshed and get a glimpse of Japanese high school life with these charming bottle designs.
Yogurt-like beverages combine McDonald’s shake know-how with one of Japan’s favorite summertime flavors.
It’s the name that turns many English-speakers off, but even people in Japan sometimes take issue the way Calpis can linger in your mouth.
One of Japan’s most distinctive flavours is blended into a McDonald’s milkshake for a limited time.
With its startling name, it’s taking time for the yogurt-like beverage Calpis to catch on with non-Japanese consumers, who sometimes know it better by its alternate name, Calpico. For people in Japan, though, Calpis is old hat, so much so that its makers occasionally feel the need to mix up the product line with new versions and special flavors.
This year, that means strawberry Calpis. We just got our hands on a bottle, and if you can get past any hang-ups about the name, here are four ways to enjoy this delicious limited time treat.
What’s white and sweet and makes you feel happy all over? Well, Mister Donut Japan’s new line of doughnuts that has just been released this week certainly fits that description! While Krispy Kreme Japan may have added a little zing to their doughnuts by combining them with ice cream, Mister Donut has come out with a new series of white doughnuts created in collaboration with Calpis — known as Calpico in some countries, perhaps due to its unfortunate pronunciation — the popular yogurty-tasting white drink loved by people of all ages in Japan.
So, let’s see what delectable milky-white treats Mister Donut has in store for us this summer!
On 7 July, Tanabata kicks off in many parts of Japan. It’s an annual festival season which celebrates the stars Orihime and Hikoboshi, two lovers who are separated by the Milky Way except for this brief moment on the seventh day of the seventh month.
A popular custom during this time for young and old is to write down a wish on a strip of paper and hang it from a bamboo plant. However, as the years go by it seems that fewer and fewer people are going out to make wishes. This is why Calpis Co. Ltd. has decided to spark up interest in bamboo wishes by launching a study of their effectiveness.















Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Japan’s foreign tourist numbers projected to fall for first time in years in 2026
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Mister Donut and Godiva continue their sweet sweets relationship with new treats on sale now in Japan
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
We try an unusual buffet of dishes made from wild game at a roadside stop in Chiba
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
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’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
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
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
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
We try an unusual buffet of dishes made from wild game at a roadside stop in Chiba
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Draw like a Studio Ghibli anime artist with exclusive watercolour set approved by Hayao Miyazaki
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Japanese traditional Ghibli gift set lets you give Totoro teatime to a fellow fan…or yourself
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Entry to Tokyo’s Pokémon theme park zone has physical fitness requirement, will cost a lot
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district