Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
White Temple
Approaching Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai’s so-called White Temple, is a surreal experience. It looks like a massive sculpture of ice and snow shimmering through Thailand’s tropical heat. But that effect barely scratches the surface of the weird at this Buddhist wat, where Doraemon hangs out with the Buddha, bushes are decorated with the decapitated heads of Freddie Kruger and Pinhead, and the penalty for smoking is eternal damnation.
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Starbucks Japan releases a new chilled cup exclusively at Family Mart convenience stores
This non-sweet matcha treat is one of our new favorite Kyoto snack souvenirs【Taste test】
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle themeJapanese 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
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
Off-the-beaten-tourist-track observatory tower in Tokyo has great views of the city…for free!
Starbucks releases new Wicked tumblers in Japan
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
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 rowGhibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?Sanrio 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 tooTokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
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
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Starbucks Japan releases a new chilled cup exclusively at Family Mart convenience stores
This non-sweet matcha treat is one of our new favorite Kyoto snack souvenirs【Taste test】
Drawing a school girl leaping over a man firing a gun? There’s a reference book for that!
Coca-Cola Japan unveils new sakura design bottle for cherry blossom season 2019
We try the new 7-Eleven premium popcorn that everyone in Japan is going wild about
Japan’s adorable new Nikukyu notebooks have the squeezable feel of cat and dog paw pads【Photos】
Do 7-Eleven Japan’s new back-to-budget-friendly-basics rice bowls make us happy?【Taste test】
Foreign shoppers in Akihabara tip us off to an awesome souvenir idea: DIY Paper Theater kit【Pics】
Play with fire at an old-fashioned “irori” hearth restaurant
Updated sakura forecast: Cherry blossoms coming to Tokyo first, but later than first expected