goldfish scooping
Summer festivals all have one thing in common: there’s always a ton of people at them. That also means there are plenty of exciting booths to spend your money at. Besides food stalls, there are some popular carnival-type games that you’ll find at festivals in Japan, most of which are classic games of skill and luck which reward you with a variety of prizes. Perhaps one of the most famous festival games is a goldfish scooping game called kingyo sukui.
This year, however a slightly different “fishing” game was spotted at a summer festival held in Osaka. As you might imagine from a game requiring participants to “fish” for live hamsters, it is certainly generating a wide range of reactions.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Survey finds more than 70 percent of Japanese children have an online friend
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
National Geographic names Yamagata Prefecture on its “Best of the World 2026” travel destinations
A Silent Voice, anime film about bullied deaf girl, has an emotional new trailer【Video】
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Can our writers pick out the pricier strawberry shortcake against one over four times cheaper?
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
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】
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
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade- Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
RECOMMENDED STORIES
National Geographic names Yamagata Prefecture on its “Best of the World 2026” travel destinations
A Silent Voice, anime film about bullied deaf girl, has an emotional new trailer【Video】
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Can our writers pick out the pricier strawberry shortcake against one over four times cheaper?
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Saitama begins plans to regulate how to use escalators, prohibit walking up and down
How to properly eat a traditional Japanese tonkatsu meal
Private open-air bath is the crowning gem at this Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo
Kyoto has a shrine that’s supposed to make you rich, so our reporter Mai tested its power
Flex and pose your way to fitness with the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure exercise program!【Video】
New line of modern samurai fashion for fall/winter will make you warm and cool
-
