Visiting World Heritage Sites is a great way to see Japan. Since the sites are scattered all around the archipelago, you’re bound to be close to at least one of them no matter where you are in the country, and having gained the prestigious status by UNESCO, you can be sure you’re seeing the very best of Japan. After all, World Heritage status is not easily obtained and competition is stiff.
Join our peripatetic reporter as she takes you to each site and gives you the lowdown on what to see, how to avoid the crowds, and how to enjoy the sites on your own terms. Ready? Let’s go!
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!
These Tamagotchi will take care of you, because they’re cool multi-balm cases【Photos】
Japanese ramen restaurant serves noodles with a heartwarming side of history
Chill out with an ice-blue drink and noodles from Mount Fuji at this Tokyo junkissa
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Totoro sequel anime Mei and the Baby Catbus will screen at Ghibli Park this winter
Japan’s adorable new Nikukyu notebooks have the squeezable feel of cat and dog paw pads【Photos】
Japanese mountain community’s first baby in 52 years celebrates first birthday
Sip with Snorlax – Clever drinkware design creates Pokémon in your glass with every pour【Pics】
Japanese communities giving their skylines a spring clean and saying goodbye to power lines
Secret hot spring onsen in Japan is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by tourists
Dark and edgy Jujustu Kaisen teams up with bright and cheery Sanrio for new merch line【Pics】
Overwhelmed by modern social media? Japanese company is bringing back pagers with an emoji-twist
Totoro stamp collection lets you add adorable Ghibli touches to cards and letters【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases exclusive new holiday goods at Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Japanese samurai randoseru backpack lets you carry the bushido spirit with you wherever you go
Discovered: An even better way to open Japanese convenience store rice balls【Video】
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Starbucks Japan unveils Halloween Frappuccino for 2024, and it’s like drinking a magic spell
Studio Ghibli releases new Howl’s Moving Castle goods that capture the magic from the anime movie
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in Tokyo
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
Tsukemen ramen restaurant becomes a hit with foreign tourists in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases new insect whistle necklace from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
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
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Chill out with an ice-blue drink and noodles from Mount Fuji at this Tokyo junkissa
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Totoro sequel anime Mei and the Baby Catbus will screen at Ghibli Park this winter
Japan’s adorable new Nikukyu notebooks have the squeezable feel of cat and dog paw pads【Photos】
Japanese mountain community’s first baby in 52 years celebrates first birthday
A trip to see the breathtaking mountain beauty of Nagano’s Kamikochi【Part 2】
Starbucks Japan releases a new chilled cup exclusively at Family Mart convenience stores
McDonald’s Japan now sells pies in…Dalmatian dog boxes
Sailor Moon celebrates 30 years with beautiful purse, accessory lines from Samantha Group【Pics】
Attack on Titan x Uniqlo pairing unleashes a colossal collaboration on the world
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
What happens if you feed pufferfish poison to pufferfish? Japanese scientists trying to find out
What’s the most popular way to prepare Japan’s beloved breakfast dish, Tamago Kake Gohan?
We start craving hotpot with the release of Japan’s 2024 National Nabe Opening Forecast map