sculptures
The former member of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force waited until he was 80 to reveal his artistic pastime.
Remember when Tottori Prefecture finally got a Starbucks after all these years of being one of the few places in the world without one? Oh man, that was crazy.
Tottori is just one of those places. The kind of area that’s so quiet and uneventful that not even Starbucks, the corporate giant that’s more than happy to smother historic cultural heritage sites with their over-roasted beans and pricey lattes for a quick buck, spent decades more or less pretending it didn’t even exist. The Prefecture’s population of just over half a million is shockingly small by densely-populated Japan’s standards, and it’s just generally ignored by the rest of Japan as a place that, well… doesn’t have much to see, to put it kindly.
But wait a second! What’s this?! Tottori has been sitting on an amazing tourist draw in the form of a sand sculpture museum that features mind-boggling, award-winning and massive sand sculptures and they basically haven’t even really told anybody about it.






7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Mr. Sato accosts award-winning actor Hideaki Ito【Interview】
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
A whimsical Ghibli-like world captured in beautiful GIFs you can stare at all day
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
“THIS is Pork!” 7-Eleven’s pre-made chashu pork is here to elevate your instant ramen【Taste test】
7-Eleven now sells rice burgers in Japan, blurring the line between fast and convenience store food
Randy’s Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme — Who is Japan’s king of glazed donuts?
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】
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
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
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
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
“THIS is Pork!” 7-Eleven’s pre-made chashu pork is here to elevate your instant ramen【Taste test】
7-Eleven now sells rice burgers in Japan, blurring the line between fast and convenience store food
Randy’s Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme — Who is Japan’s king of glazed donuts?
We take a ride on Seibu Railway’s futuristic luxury liner: the Limited Express Laview
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
We try all-you-can-eat raw eggs for 730 yen, turns out to be way better than it sounds
Japan’s buzzword of the year nominees: A great way to learn and be baffled by Japanese vocabulary
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan’s new canned chu-hai with fresh lemon slice: disappointing gimmick or drink revelation?