Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Star Tours
It’s been a long time coming, but Star Wars fans will soon get to see the seventh installment in the long-running franchise when Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters next month. While waiting for the theatrical release, fans living in Tokyo can experience the thrill of the series firsthand by venturing over to Tokyo Disneyland, where the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction is now open to the public!
Three days after every other person on the internet was posting “May the fourth be with you,” Tokyo Disneyland was flooded with Star Wars fans celebrating the grand reopening of Star Tours: the Adventures Continues. The ride offers a 3-D Star Wars experience with over 50 possible randomly selected story combinations. There’s no greater thrill than feeling as if you are rocketing through space, interacting with familiar Star Wars characters in the third dimension.
But what impressed our reporter, Tashiro-kun, the most was the fanfare that day. With around 200 Disney cast members dressed in Star Wars costume and more Disney-Star Wars merchandise than you can shake a light saber at, Tokyo Disneyland on May 7 was the place to be for Star Wars fans.
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
YouTube goes crazy for “Bubbly” high school girls’ amazing retro ’80s dance routine 【Video】
What if Sailor Moon characters were lingerie models? They’d look stunning like this 【Photos】
New anime mecha figure’s pilot is…you!?!【Photos】
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Muji releases ice creams with special ingredients for summer in Japan
Tokyo store that only sells black shirts sheds light on why it’s opening mid-pandemic
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasonsJapan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited AwayIs China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answerJapan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
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
New anime mecha figure’s pilot is…you!?!【Photos】
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Muji releases ice creams with special ingredients for summer in Japan
Tokyo store that only sells black shirts sheds light on why it’s opening mid-pandemic
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
What’s in a Lawson fukubukuro lucky bag?
This Osaka laundromat wants to clean more than your clothes; it also wants to clean you
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Renowned Japanese calligraphy teacher ranks the top 10 kanji that foreigners like
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Open wide! It’s time for a showdown between McDonald’s Japan’s and Komeda gratin croquette burgers