Apr 15, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Turn a rainy forecast into a blast at the Naruto & Boruto Ninja Village May Rain Festival 2026 This event actually encourages the weather to rain on your parade in order to get the most out of it. Anime theme park Nijigen no Mori in Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, which is largely outdoors, may not...
Apr 15, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- First Shiba Inu police dog in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture now on duty[Video] Who’s a good girl who serves and protects? April is the start of the business and administrative years in Japan, and so many organizations are welcoming a fresh batch of recruits this month. For ex...
Apr 14, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Final version of Sanrio: Beginning of Kawaii exhibition opens in Tokyo[Photos] Hello Kitty and friends’ tour of the country comes to its last stop in downtown Tokyo with a look back on 60 years of cuteness, Japanese-style. Many would say that Sanrio is the first and last word...
Apr 14, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date There’s a major gray area in Japan’s new blue ticket cycling violation system. Bicycles are often a great way to thoroughly explore Japan’s local communities, providing more range than you’d get wa...
Apr 14, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese sandals dyed with real Uji matcha are here to whisk you off your feet Luckily, the shoes themselves will stay comfortably and cleanly on your feet thanks to a traditional fabric-making technique. Nara, Japan-based shoe company Yamatokobo specializes in traditionally ...
Apr 14, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good? You won’t find food in Japan much cheaper than this. “Freshly fried! Croquettes for 20 yen.” That was the sign that made us do a double-take when we were strolling the streets of Sagamihara City i...
Apr 14, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- No, that’s not French bread, it’s Japan’s crazy-big gobo! Giant gobo is shocking to look at, but how does it taste? Japanese supermarkets often have their own in-house bakeries, so when our Japanese-language reporter Ikuna Kamezawa walked into her local b...
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy? Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry sets targets of 186-percent growth in the overseas anime business, 253 percent for Japanese video games. Japanese pop culture is more popular outside Japan t...
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Yoshina invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day I mean, if I were a mother, I’d appreciate it. Mother’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s once again time to think of a present to repay the person who gave you the very gift of life....
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Fading Tokyo – Horikiri Station, the Arakawa River, and Kinpachi-sensei[Walking course] Mr. Sato heads to the neighborhood of a famous TV drama and finds a nostalgic taste of a youth he never had. Welcome back to Fading Tokyo, in which our ace reporter Mr. Sato sets out to take one mo...
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden Early blossoming likely means early full bloom at this breathtaking park within day-trip distance of Tokyo. Cherry blossom season doesn’t last very long, and there’s often a twinge of sadness that ...
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes Find out if these limited-edition drinks are really treasures worth hunting for. It’s been 30 years since Starbucks opened its first branch in Japan on 2 August, 1996, and the chain has some big c...
Apr 13, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo We head to the new arrival from the north to see if it’s still something special. Sushi is, in many ways, a trend-resistant food. Whereas the popularity of toppings, seasonings, and cooking styles ...
Apr 12, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature Sure, Tokyo has fancy digital signage, but Sapporo has a better old-school idea. If you’ve ever stared in confusion at a Tokyo train map, you’ll know how complex the system is. Even for locals like...
Apr 12, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Mr. Sato discovers his inner beaver with a 16-inch chocolate “twig” at Tokyo Station Why settle for a tiny snack when you can gnaw on one that doubles as a legendary sword? Confectionery company Morinaga’s chocolate snack Koeda (“Twig”) has had tons of fans over the close to 55 yea...
Apr 12, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds This ramen behemoth only appears two days a week, but for serious carnivores, it’s worth waiting for. Even with the continual upward creep of restaurant prices in Japan, 1,800 yen (US$11.60) feels ...
Apr 11, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan Japanese konbini blends into a setting that inspired Studio Ghibli. Japanese convenience stores are known for their bright lights and stand-out signage, but in a country filled with traditional lan...
Apr 11, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pokémon store character meet-and-greet events to resume in May Pokémon sub-brand schedules event roughly six weeks after Pokémon Center stabbing. Pokémon baby apparel and toy brand Monpoké is getting ready to open a popup store in the Tobu Department Store’s I...
Apr 11, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years In the land of vending machines, what’s behind the biggest single-year decrease ever for soft drinks? Visitors to Japan are often amazed at just how many vending machines the country has. Residents...
Apr 10, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli celebrates the magic of movie theaters with short video, Hayao Miyazaki illustration Familiar voice provides narration for reminder that there’s something special about the in-theater experience. Studio Ghibli was one of the last anime studios to allow for digital distribution of t...
