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It really is the year of the hamster in Japan, as pet owners vie for top spot in a Hamster Championship Series on Twitter.
How well do you know Japanese travel destinations? Test your knowledge and see how many of these locations around Japan you can identify from photos alone!
We sent our reporter to a shop in Nara where you can dress as a noble from the Nara period (AD 710-794) and even stroll around town in your costume!
We take a look back at some of the cute hamsters who stole our hearts this year in this adorable photo collection.
Under the South Pacific sun on December 7, 1941, troops serving the US fleet at Pearl Harbor began a calm Sunday morning unaware that Japanese bombers were headed toward America’s most important Pacific base.
Split-second timing leads to amazing results when photographing the alley cats of Japan.
Or should that be awesomely eerie?
In Tokyo, there’s a very special type of Starbucks that forgoes the usual green-and-white mermaid logo for more subdued, warm-brown hues. They also serve a variety of beers and wine sets paired with cheese or cake.
When Japanese Twitter user @nasuiro posted this picture of a blob of hand cream last week, he probably had no idea that it would end up being retweeted over 41,000 times…
While the French still produce and consume the most wine per capita, Japan is continuing to grow as one of the biggest wine markets in the world — and they’re not afraid to show their passion for the beverage.
With all the pretty lights, there are a ton of photo opportunities during the holidays. Give your pictures a unique look with this simple technique!
Remember the awesome, super-expensive R2-D2™ Moving Refrigerator we reported on last month? Well, we recently went to see an actual model on display!
Earlier this month, we looked at a collection of photos taken by the late Kusakabe Kimbei that showed the cityscapes of Japan as they looked in the late 1800s, right before the country’s rapid modernization. But Kimbei didn’t just photograph Japan, he also photographed the Japanese, so today we’re taking another trip back in time, but with a more personal touch, with dozens of photographs that show what daily life was like for the people of Japan generations ago.
Korean barbecue, or yakiniku as it’s known here is Japan, is a popular among all diners, but particularly men seem drawn to the primal enjoyment of roasting gobs of raw meat over flames. Or maybe they just like meat. Either way, the customer base skews male.
However, this month a pop-up yakiniku restaurant in Tokyo’s Ebisu neighborhood seemed to be taking particular aim at the ladies. Let’s see if you can spot their unique approach.
Hello Kitty may be the most popular Sanrio character, but My Melody has quite a few fans as well. And it seems she has a doppelgänger hanging out on Twitter too!

















Studio Ghibli calendar figures are back, look amazing whether you check the date or not[Photos]
Three new starter Pokémon Jets to fly in Japan, first begins carrying passengers this month
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese recipe for Tempura Twinkies takes America’s favourite snack to a whole new level
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Enoshima’s magical night lantern festival is back this summer with spectacular views
Solid gold Hedorah kaiju from the Godzilla series is now available to pre-order
Mister Donut becomes “Mrs. Donut” for sweet new Mrs. Green Apple collaboration
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Enoshima’s magical night lantern festival is back this summer with spectacular views
Solid gold Hedorah kaiju from the Godzilla series is now available to pre-order
Mister Donut becomes “Mrs. Donut” for sweet new Mrs. Green Apple collaboration
Survey shows foreigners’ desire to work in Japan long-term dropping, but that’s not the whole story
McDonald’s Japan reveals new Pokémon collaboration range, covering McNuggets and lucky bags
Burger King Japan goes viral for its new Big Mouth Dirty, but is it really worth the hype?
Japan’s Pokémon hot spring reinstalls all damaged statues, adds no-touching rule
Furby is now a sexy anime girl figure[Photos]
Hatsune Miku crosses over into the real world in Coolish videos with Hoshimachi Suisei[Videos]
Studio Ghibli theme park’s new dessert is a drinkable version of Hayao Miyazaki’s pilot daydream
3-second salt company jingle becomes #1 karaoke song in Japan across all genres
Suntanned Hello Kitty steals the show in Japanese magazine’s Sanrio freebies