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.




















Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo
Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Best practices for celebrating Coming of Age Day for those turning 18, 20, or both in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new popcorn Frappuccino at one special location
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Support your faves and avoid oshikatsu burnout — advice from our resident otaku
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
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
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Best practices for celebrating Coming of Age Day for those turning 18, 20, or both in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new popcorn Frappuccino at one special location
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Support your faves and avoid oshikatsu burnout — advice from our resident otaku
Making trains meow-r fun: Japanese station master cats (and bunny!) strut their fluff【Pics】
We create the Ultimate Giga Big Mac, and it’s the best Big Mac we’ve ever tasted
Perfect-location Osaka hotel’s rates start at just 15 bucks, give you no reason not to visit
One Piece devil fruit ice cream coming back to Baskin-Robbins Japan
The best cosplayers from Day Two of the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Words of wisdom to live by from a simple Japanese father for Coming of Age Day
Dear Hikers: Stop pooping on Mt. Fuji if you want it to keep its UNESCO status