life-size
Full-scale, self-standing Psychic/Fairy-type is even bigger than other life-size Pokémon plushies we’ve seen.
Full-scale version of the Fighting/Steel-type wants a sizable place in your heart and home.
It’s Godzilla! But for once, people aren’t screaming and running away, but cheering and drawing near.
We finally know when we’ll be able to get up close and personal with Yokohama’s 18-meter (59-foot), 25-metric ton (55,500-pound) mobile suit.
If you’ve ever wanted to zip-line through the King of the Monsters or save Japan from one of his rampages, this is your new happiest place on earth.
Priced at $19,600 and with only ten ever produced, this is one special delivery you don’t get to see every day.
With the release of Star Wars Episode VII less than two months away, fans (and merchandise manufacturers) are naturally hyper-excited about the myriad Star Wars related gadgets, as well as foods and drinks, that are hitting the market around the world.
Now, it looks like we may have found the ultimate collector’s item for Star Wars fans. It’s cute, it beeps, it’s a limited edition made-to-order item and best of all, it can bring you a cold can of beer—it’s the life-size, moving R2-D2 refrigerator, and it can be yours for a cool US$9,000!
The twice-yearly Wonder Festival exhibition is all about models of anime, video game, and other 2-D characters. Just like with model airplanes or trains, you can often find multiple versions of the same character in different scales, usually several times smaller than the heroes and heroines they’re based on are actually supposed to be.
Walking around the convention, though, we came across two stunning life-sized figures. It wasn’t just their size that impressed us, though, but their amazing attention to detail. Not only did we stop to gawk and snap pictures, we also got an explanation of how they were made, and it involves a 3-D printer!
While the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is a truly whimsical place, transporting you into the magical world of animator Hayao Miyazaki and friends, an adult may feel that their immersion is incomplete. In particular, the children-only play area that features a “life-size” cat bus practically begs you to step over the velvet rope and throw the makurokurosuke in the air like a kid on a sugar high, but to do so would likely result in your ejection from the building.
But fear not! There is one other place in Japan where even grown-ups can wander happily through the imaginary world of My Neighbor Totoro: The Teddy bear Museum in Tochigi Prefecture.


















Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
Minecraft User Decides to Make Kinkakuji, Eventually Creates the Entire City of Kyoto
Step back in time to the Edo period at this unusual highway rest stop in Japan
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
We dare Tokyo’s pigeons to crap on us because we think it’ll make us rich【Experiment】
Gorgeous Sailor Moon princess dresses for all the galas in the galaxy【Photos】
Sushi chains Sushiro and Kyotaru combine to make fishy megastore, but we spot major oversight
Gorgeous Japanese Twitter art depicts the charm of everyday household life…with Pokémon
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
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
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
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
We dare Tokyo’s pigeons to crap on us because we think it’ll make us rich【Experiment】
Gorgeous Sailor Moon princess dresses for all the galas in the galaxy【Photos】
Sushi chains Sushiro and Kyotaru combine to make fishy megastore, but we spot major oversight
Gorgeous Japanese Twitter art depicts the charm of everyday household life…with Pokémon
Can the powers of the Tokyo area’s literal money-laundering shrine make us rich? We find out
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Rune Naito, the man who pioneered concept of ‘kawaii’, to have 90th anniversary art exhibition