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.


















New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
Lawson transforms convenience store food with massive katsu burger and an insane curry bread
Starbucks Japan releases special limited-edition summer drinks… at only 30 stores
Two of Kyoto’s famous temples tackle streetside trash with solar-powered trash cans
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
Luxury houseplant fraud leads to arrest of Takamatsu man
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Two of Kyoto’s famous temples tackle streetside trash with solar-powered trash cans
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
Luxury houseplant fraud leads to arrest of Takamatsu man
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Super Mario Galaxy Happy Meal toys now available at McDonald’s Japan
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Bears appear at one of Kyoto Prefecture’s most popular tourist spots[Video]
Date handsome cockroaches in a new dating sim from one of Japan’s leading pest control companies
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December