Mariko Ohanabatake

Cruising around Gunkanjima, Japan’s otherworldly “Battleship Island”【Photos】

Our Nagasaki native gets her first up-close look at the whole-island ghost town.

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Our newlywed reporter tests Japan’s Let Me Sleep Quietly Mask to stop snoring, help hubby get Zs

Sure, it looks crazy, but is it crazy enough to work?

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7-Eleven adds an amazing carrot cake to its sweets lineup in Japan

Is carrot cake about to become Japan’s newest food trend?

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A visit to T-CAT, Tokyo’s often forgotten City Air Terminal【Photos】

Once a super convenient portal for flying out of Tokyo, a lot of people forget the Tokyo City Air Terminal still exists.

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3 convenience store ice creams you should buy at 7-Eleven in Kyushu

Exploring the freezer section at your local konbini is even more exciting when you’re on holiday.

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Is this the rudest parfait in all of Japan?

“Prohibited Parfait” brings new meaning to nude food.

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We become some of the last visitors to see a beautiful museum-ryokan on the outskirts of Tokyo

This registered tangible cultural asset is now closed to the public, which is an absolute shame. 

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Nagasaki Lantern Festival is like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away in real life

Local resident reveals the secret spots you won’t want to miss during this breathtaking festival. 

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We get a rare whiff of the corpse flower, a.k.a. the world’s stinkiest flower, in Tokyo botanical garden

We were ‘lucky’ enough to see and smell the rare flower, which blooms once every few years.

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This crazy wearable cushion is Japan’s truly hottest winter fashion【Photos】

It’s called the Warm Roll Cushion, but “warm” doesn’t do enough to describe how much it does to keep you from feeling any cold.

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Tokyo’s Moomin Cafes are closing soon, but our reporter had an experience she’ll never forget

A small act of kindness from the cafe’s member of staff still warms our reporter’s heart when she thinks about it.

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Do Tokyo’s Reversible Destiny Lofts really hold the power to reverse your destiny?

Architectural landmark is designed to expand your mind in new ways.

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That time our reporter’s classmate became possessed by a dead child at school

Kokkuri-san is a Japanese ouija board that shouldn’t be messed with.

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We try super spicy lip plumping gloss to see if it works…and “we” means everyone in the office

Whose lips plumped up the most with this K-beauty brand lip gloss? We find out!

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The Times They are a-Changin’: Our reporter reflects on the changing landscape of Ebisu

Mariko shares a glimpse into what’s different in one Tokyo neighborhood compared to her memories from 20 years ago.

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This special Tokyo sightseeing cruise sails only once a month, shows city from new perspectives

The Ichinichi Yurari Tabi isn’t your typical short and standard trip.

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We visit a mysterious pagoda near Yomiuri Land, turns out to be an incredibly sacred spot

An enigmatic-looking building turns out to be much more.

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We retreat for a day of rejuvenation at Green Hill Yatsugatake recreation facility in Yamanashi

The rec facility is open to anyone for reservations and boasts grounds that are 7.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome.

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Tokyo losing landmark bookstore, giant bookmark created to mark its place【Photos】

Special displays, sales, and even book fortunes commemorate Sanseido moving on to its next chapter. 

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This shaping underwear from Uniqlo is better than a diet and only costs 990 yen

Who needs to lose weight when shapewear can do the work for you?

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