illuminations
Stroll among the illuminated autumn leaves after-hours in one of Tokyo’s most popular Japanese landscape gardens for only one and a half weeks.
Why sit on a tarp when you can zoom through flowers on a 100-meter slide or risk falling into the trees from 370 meters in the air?
Celebrate the fleeting cherry blossom season with a plethora of things to do right around the Imperial Palace.
With chairlifts, an illuminated slide, and a dazzling Tamagotchi display, Illumillion is a must-visit spot in Japan this winter.
Thankfully, there’s still no actual nudity attached to these modern-meets-traditional installations to celebrate the spring.
Chōshi Electric Railway gets an A for effort, even if they don’t quite nail the whole Christmas spirit thing…
Tokyo Skytree has a brilliant light display in store for four days only, and it’s designed to represent three of Japan’s signature dishes: tamago kake gohan (egg with rice), o-nabe (Japanese hot pot), and takikomi gohan (seasoned steamed rice).
We appreciate that while many of you are interested in Japan and Japanese culture, not all of you are able to visit the Land of the Rising Sun quite so easily. But Christmas is a great time of year here in Tokyo, what with all the lights, decorations and hand-holding couples, so in order to share the various seasonal sights with you we took the liberty of putting together a little slideshow.
Join us after the jump for a photo tour of Tokyo’s best Christmas illuminations!
Since the opening of the Tokyo Skytree in 2012, Tokyo Tower is no longer the tallest or most fashionable structure in Tokyo. Still, the 56-year-old steel giant has managed to hang onto its reputation as one of the city’s most romantic locales, thanks in part to its location in quiet, sophisticated Shiba-koen as opposed to the boisterous Shitamachi district where the Skytree stands.
This month, Tokyo Tower is doing a little more to set the mood, with a beautiful light display that ties in with Japan’s Tanabata star festival.
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Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
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Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Official Metal Gear car boxes are coming to provide stealthy style for your pets
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Osaka’s amazing budget-luxury hotel has free takoyaki, craft beer, and comedy shows
US$9,700 solid-gold Pokémon figure going on sale in Japan, life-size gold-leaf Pikachu appears too
McDonald’s Japan makes beautifully bittersweet burger anime music video with Idolmaster [Video]
Beautiful Studio Ghibli coin/card cases recreate scenes and props from anime classics [Photos]
Weekly
- Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship- Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime stationery collection, with a Spirited Away River God memo stand- Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Japanese sweet potato ice cream season! Häagen-Dazs and Muji take different paths to our hearts- Beautiful Studio Ghibli coin/card cases recreate scenes and props from anime classics [Photos]
- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Japanese convenience store is very focused with its new bento…maybe TOO focused
Monthly
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027- Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors- New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo- Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
- Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
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】
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Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Osaka’s amazing budget-luxury hotel has free takoyaki, craft beer, and comedy shows
US$9,700 solid-gold Pokémon figure going on sale in Japan, life-size gold-leaf Pikachu appears too
McDonald’s Japan makes beautifully bittersweet burger anime music video with Idolmaster [Video]
Beautiful Studio Ghibli coin/card cases recreate scenes and props from anime classics [Photos]
Japanese airport offering 19,250-yen sandwiches as last Japan meal for international travelers
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
New Godzilla figure is adorable, destructive, and baseball-loving for Dodger Stadium Godzilla Night
7-Eleven Japan revamps its convenience store pizza, but did it ruin a good thing?
Converse Japan and one of Japan’s greatest painters combine for fine fowl shoes [Photos]
Family Mart reveals new T-shirt uniforms, relaxes hair colour rules for staff… but is it all too casual?
Sanrio to release own rhythm game for smartphones next January
My night trapped in Nagoya’s flood: what do you do when Japan’s trains shut down?
Downtown Tokyo losing another arcade with closure of Shinjuku Taito Station
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