Several bumps in the road, a few glasses of beer, and a black omurice later, we couldn’t be more satisfied with our new discoveries.
Map
Once you see her you’ll never unsee her… which sucks if you need to find your way around the Tsukuba Space Center.
After originally omitting Japan from the world map, a PyeongChang Olympic website fixes the mistake only to have it erased again weeks later.
Fans of Free! and its High Speed! feature film adaptation can now visit all the places their favorite swimming boys would have frequented.
If you’re a history buff, or time traveler, this could come in handy.
Depending on what part of the world you live in, one of these maps will look right at home while the other might seem kind of off. However, given the overall dominance of the Euro-centric map, the other one is more likely to give an uncomfortable feeling to a greater number of people.
While both are currently in use in different countries, is it possible that one map is more valid than another?
Think you can identify all the prefectures of Japan? Yeah, neither can we. But that’s okay because now with the help of this impressively accurate cookie cutter set, you can study and eat a map of Japan at the same time. Mmmm, knowledge.
North Korea is often referred to as “The Hermit Kingdom” in the west — and one map demonstrates why.
The website MarineTraffic displays live data of cargo ships over 299 gross tonnage, and while South Korean ports of Incheon, Busan, and Ulsan are bustling with activity, shipboard cargo movement in the North barely registers, despite the country having eight major seaports.
Even for those living in Tokyo, its plate-of-spaghetti-like tangle of train lines can be overwhelming to navigate. Worse for visitors, it’s hard not to get lost, but you also don’t want to walk around gawking at a map like some touristy chump. So, for basically anyone in Tokyo, we humbly present the Subway Map Necktie.
At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, Northeastern Japan started to shake. On the Japanese shindo scale, the quake measured between 3 and 4 (overhead lights sway and objects rattle, but some people who are on the move may not notice it) in most areas, a ‘low-5’ at its strongest. Thankfully, there are thought to have been no casualties as the tremor was relatively short-lived, and with the quake of March 2011 and weeks of resulting aftershocks having been far stronger, the people of Tohoku are now fairly hardened when it comes to smaller rumbles.
Curiously though, no sooner had the earthquake passed than a few jokesters began sharing the above image from the Japan Meteorological Agency, along with messages of “LOL” and ‘Why do I suddenly feel like I want to go to Northeastern Japan?”












Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Visit the mythical cave that hid the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology
Adorable Totoro acorn key holders come with a special guest hidden inside[Photos]
Burning through cash just to throw things away tops list of headaches when moving house in Japan
Make your smartphone hard as a ruby in 5 minutes on the Tokyo subway
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Musical ekiben adds a tune to your train station bento meal
Will listening to Japan’s biggest earworm song for five hours drive you insane? Let’s find out!
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Sakura Totoro is here to get spring started early with adorable pouches and plushies
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Poop is in full bloom at the Unko Museums for cherry blossom season
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
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
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
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
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Musical ekiben adds a tune to your train station bento meal
Will listening to Japan’s biggest earworm song for five hours drive you insane? Let’s find out!
How to visit the cats of Jogashima Island Park on a “Tuna Ticket” from Tokyo
Flaptter flying machine from Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky brought to life!
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
New Japan rail pass gives you a week of free rides in a huge space to chase the cherry blossoms
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
“Recycling in Japan” or “Reasons to get it right and avoid eternal shame”
The 2023 Sanrio character popularity ranking results revealed