The city of Rikuzentakata was thoroughly devastated by the March 11 tsunami. However, following the destruction a single 27 meter 200 year-old pine tree was left standing, the sole survivor of a forest of 70,000 trees along the coast line. The tree had become a symbol of hope for the country and local government vowed to protect it at all costs.
However, for the past year the tree’s health had been fading fast and it doesn’t have much longer to live. And so the city’s government is going to enact a preservation scheme which is rubbing Japanese netizens the wrong way due to its 150,000,000 yen (US$1.9M) price tag.
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Wizarding World Cafe: First ever official Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts cafe opens in Japan
New limited-edition Starbucks Japan drinks are for true coffee lovers!【Taste Test】
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Japanese Twitter rolls eyes at book teaching “manners 90 percent of Japanese people don’t know”
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
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
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
Japanese Twitter rolls eyes at book teaching “manners 90 percent of Japanese people don’t know”
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Meiji-era Japanese “Hell Picture Book” is far more hilarious than horrifying 【Pics】
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Japan’s cooling body wipe sheets want to help you beat the heat, but which work and which don’t?
Kyoto Station’s hidden-in-plain-sight curry should be the last thing you eat before leaving town
All-you-can-drink deal for US$4 in Shinjuku is one of the best finds in Tokyo
Attack your hunger with Lotteria’s 10-patty Titan burger and bucket of fries
The scent of battle: New line of perfume based on Attack on Titan anime
We tried 12 different gummy candies from a Japanese supermarket and found the most delicious one