Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Route 339
In Japan, there are roughly 450 national highways wandering their way through the country, connecting the various cities and prefectures.
Their sizes and conditions obviously vary widely depending on location and usage, but for the most-part they all share one thing in common: cars can drive on them. But on 338.2 meters (about 425 yards) of National Highway 339 in Aomori Prefecture, not a single car, truck, scooter, or motorcycle is allowed.
Why? Because it’s actually a staircase!
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Japan reaches its lowest-ever ranking on Education First’s 2024 English Proficiency Index
New card game makes Japan’s saunas even steamier
Starbucks Japan unveils second Holiday Frappuccino for 2024
Looking for cinnamon rolls on “Japan’s closest street to America”【Taste test】
Awesome Zelda cosplayer gets help from Smash Bros. creator Sakurai to solve costume problem【Vid】
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a rowGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in JapanSanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quitAfter cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Starbucks Japan unveils second Holiday Frappuccino for 2024
Looking for cinnamon rolls on “Japan’s closest street to America”【Taste test】
Awesome Zelda cosplayer gets help from Smash Bros. creator Sakurai to solve costume problem【Vid】
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan
My Neighbour Totoro kimono coat sells out as soon as it’s released by Studio Ghibli in Japan
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
How Many Calories are Burned with the Click of a Mouse?
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
This unstaffed Japanese train station is like a Ghibli anime come to life
Sleep next to the railroad tracks at the closest hotel to a train station platform in Japan