New Year’s in Japan usually involves lots of food and special dishes, so how did our handful of single guys celebrate this year?
Oshogatsu
Starbucks Japan closes out the year with luxurious and innovative dessert drinks for the most Japanese holiday season of the year.
Higashiyama doll artisans deliver some festive holiday cheer alongside their more traditional Japanese lineup.
With increasing numbers of people embracing nengajo-jimai and switching to digital equivalents, many now find they are left feeling empty.
Inbound tourism boom and Japanese New Year’s traditions are too much for the world’s most famous sushi town to handle simultaneously, request says.
Spirited Away’s No Face also gets into the Japanese New Year’s spirit with a special kadomatsu.
There may not be a Year of the Bear, but Eto Pooh is an annual tradition for Disney fans in Japan.
Higashiyama artisans craft figurines, bells, and gosho ningyo dolls to ring in the new year.
The ingredients of this Frappuccino, including kelp, don’t just taste great, traditional Japanese culture says they’ll give you blessings for the year to come.
“We Are Starbucks Coffee Rabbits — Living Somewhere in Coffee Tree Forests” is the theme for this new collection.
Before all of Japan had gacha machines, Kyoto had fukudama, and the coffeehouse chain is helping make sure the city still does.
MOST POPULAR
Now
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Japan’s full-facemask Ninja Parka still lets you eat ice cream[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Animal Crossing plushie pouch towels and cozy socks show up at Family Mart convenience stores
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
“Online streamer” tops dream job poll for young Japanese kids, older kids not so interested
McDonald’s Japan releases “intense” McPork burger, prompts Michelin chef to create jam hack
Mind-controlled Tail Wags Based on Your Mood
Weekly
- Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest- Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
- Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Monthly
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]- Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
- Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Yearly
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
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Animal Crossing plushie pouch towels and cozy socks show up at Family Mart convenience stores
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
“Online streamer” tops dream job poll for young Japanese kids, older kids not so interested
McDonald’s Japan releases “intense” McPork burger, prompts Michelin chef to create jam hack
Mind-controlled Tail Wags Based on Your Mood
End-of-the-Line Exploring in Japan: Tokyo’s Mita Line can give you all the nothing you want【Pics】
Energy Milk from Japan is the new way to power up your day
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Japan now has stricter requirements for foreigners applying for citizenship
Big, drunk and furry—Everything you need to know about tanuki (plus a song about their balls!)
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
The Almost All Lettuce Burger from Dom Dom Burger really lives up to its name
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
-
