Unique attraction is a hidden retro gem in a suspended state, and it might soon disappear forever.
Ibaraki
Gama Land, the weird Japanese amusement park celebrating toads, is now like a ghost town
-
Oona McGee
Jun 19, 2026 - Tweet
- Japan
- (Amusement Parks • B-grade • crazy • Gama Land • haunted houses • Ibaraki • Mt. Tsukuba • retro amusement park • scary • theme parks • tourist sites • travel • Tsukuba • weird • weird amusement park)
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
-
Casey Baseel
May 16, 2026
- Japan
- (COK • hiking • Ibaraki • Mountains • Mt. Tsukuba • Natsuno Futon • nature • outdoors • SNJO • travel.tourism.Japan travel • Tsukuba • Tsukubasan)
New bounty system starts in Japan, rewards reports of illegal employment of foreigners
-
Casey Baseel
May 13, 2026
Ibaraki Prefecture now offers rewards to whistleblowers who lead them to companies illegally employing foreign workers.
- Japan
- (COK • crime • foreigners in Japan • Ibaraki • society • working in Japan)
Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet but we can still soak up its essence in the humble yet mighty plum blossoms.
Does the maxixe live up to its promise of being a whole new flavor for our Japanese reporter?
-
Krista Rogers
Nov 13, 2025
Enjoy glamping among blossoms, soaking in herbal hot springs, and shooting virtual dinosaurs hiding among the trees on your next weekend away.
- Japan
- (accommodation • AR • barbecue • botanical garden • COK • glamping • hot spring • Ibaraki • nature • onsen • resort • Rinne • sauna • The Botanical Resort Rinne • tourism • travel • zipline)
60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition opens this month to celebrate the Japanese culture of cute
-
Krista Rogers
Jul 8, 2025
“The Beginning of Kawaii” exhibition explores the backstories of famous Sanrio characters and more.
- Japan
- (anniversary • COK • cute • exhibition • exhibitions • Hello Kitty • Ibaraki • mascot • mascot characters • Sanrio)
Nattoku! Factory offers free factory tours of a famous natto brand production process
-
Krista Rogers
Jun 24, 2025
Diehard lovers of Japan’s infamous fermented soy beans can now get a glimpse of the sticky production process.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • factories • fermented soybeans • food • Futon Natsuno • Ibaraki • museum • natto • Nattoku! Factory • Okame • SNJO • Takano Foods • weird)
Japan’s plum blossom season is here, and after-dark garden is one of the best spots to see them
-
Casey Baseel
Feb 25, 2025
One of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens gets even more beautiful with special ume illumination event.
Where’s the happiest place for foreigners to live in Japan? Study investigates
-
Casey Baseel
Dec 12, 2024
Ibaraki’s first Foreign Resident Happiness Index finds some surprising variety in its three subcategories.
- Japan
- (cafes • cakes • food • Ibaraki • review • sandwiches • SNJO • sweets • taste test • Tsukuba Expo Center • Tsukuba Space Center)
- Japan
- (COK • cool • crazy • food • Ibaraki • Japanese food • Japanese street food • octopus • review • SNJO • street food • takoyaki • taste test • weird)
Akutai Matsuri: Japan’s Verbal Abuse Festival, where insults and bad behaviour are encouraged
-
Oona McGee
Dec 28, 2023
- Japan
- (Akutai Matsuri • festivals • Ibaraki • Japanese festivals • society • tourism • tradition • travel • videos • weird festivals • winter festivals)
Bungee jumping in Japan at the longest pedestrian suspension bridge on the mainland
-
Oona McGee
Dec 20, 2023
- Japan
- (activities • adventure • bungee jumping • COK • dragons • Ibaraki • SNJO • things to do • things to do in Japan • tourist site • travel)
This regional pizza buffet offers so many flavors you won’t be able to try them all
-
Dale Roll
Nov 10, 2023
- Japan
- (all-you-can-eat • buffet • Gunma • Ibaraki • Italian food • local chain • Masanuki Sunakoma • Nagano • Napoli no Shokutaku • pizza • Saitama)
- Japan
- (Bando Taro • COK • cool • family restaurant • family restaurants • food • Ibaraki • Japanese food • Kanto • Masanuki Sunakoma • miso nikomi udon • Noodles • restaurants • review • SNJO • soba • udon)
Japanese popcorn comes with collectible cards of women who own traditional ryokan inns【Photos】
-
Casey Baseel
Oct 7, 2023
- Japan
- (collectible cards • food • Frito-Lay • Ibaraki • inns • Mike popcorn • Okami • popcorn • ryokan • snacks • trading cards • travel)
Eiko Digital Creative High School opens in two cities where students can study e-sports and more
-
Krista Rogers
May 2, 2023
A new flexible learning-based high school program allows students to pursue their passions in preparation for careers in the gaming industry.
- Japan
- (COK • e-sports • education • Eiko Digital Creative High School • esports • Ibaraki • pro gaming • Saitama • schools • video games)
-
Recent Posts
- Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu and Winne-the-Pooh announce crossover merch line [Pics]
- Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
- Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
- Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
- Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
MOST POPULAR
Today
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
Over 1,400 cities in Japan see foreign population rise, total populations drop in new statistics
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Weekly
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Monthly
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Starbucks Japan unveils new Kyoho grape drinks for a taste that’s quintessentially Japanese
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
This Japanese chopping board sanitising bag might be the handy kitchen gadget we never knew we needed
Japanese convenience store food gets turned into hyper-realistic stationery you can peel open
Studio Ghibli theme park announces new expansion saluting a previously off-limits anime
Are Japan’s room-temperature curry packets the boxed lunch heroes we’ve been looking for? [Taste test]
Police ask Kumamoto residents to not get blackout drunk as much during earthquake relief efforts
-
Categories
Archives

![Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos] Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/mt-0.jpg?w=640)

















