Jun 19, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Tokyo has a cafe that prohibits talking inside, and here’s why it’s awesome If you need a break from the noise in your life, this Koenji cafe is waiting for you. In Tokyo you’re never very far away from a convenience store or vending machine, so going to a cafe to have a d...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- That time when we fowled out while fighting our feathered friends Our writer’s scheme to keep the birds off his balcony backfires in a spectacularly birdbrained way. As one might expect from someone with the kanji for “bird” (鳥) in his name, our Japanese-language...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Gama Land, the weird Japanese amusement park celebrating toads, is now like a ghost town Unique attraction is a hidden retro gem in a suspended state, and it might soon disappear forever. Japan is world-famous for top-class amusement parks, with USJ and Tokyo Disney Resorts being just...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- 7-Eleven Japan debuts new black-and-white rice ball packaging…but is it because of a naphtha shortage? Convenience store range strips everything back to basics, including the rice balls. Just last month, Calbee, Japan’s leading snack manufacturer, announced it would be switching to black-and-white p...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro music box to its anime merchandise store in Japan Like everything Ghibli touches, the beauty is in the details. Summers in Japan can be harsh, due to high levels of energy-draining humidity, but they also have a unique charm to them as well. Espec...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Fukuoka schools struggling to get kids to switch from milk to tea in lunches Debate over which drink fits lunches to a T. Small cartons of milk have long been a quintessential part of school lunches, even in Japan, where milk isn’t quite the widely drunk beverage that it is...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon There’s one unique feature that makes this Tokyo sweet so sought after. While some Japanese sweets have attracted global attention, for the most part ohagi is yet to be discovered by overseas tour...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Lawson Japan releases a crazy new product to remind us it’s not just famous for convenience store food A surprising product just sneaked into Lawson’s upsize campaign. Right now, Japan’s Lawson convenience store chain is holding a special “Chou Happy Sugi Challenge” campaign, which literally transla...
Jun 18, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan’s Pikachu and Eevee Pokémon mailboxes to be removed at end of month The time has come to say goodbye to Yokohama’s adorable Poké-postal infrastructure. A while back, the postal service in the city of Yokohama, half an hour south of Tokyo, made the decision to insta...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Shouting “Hakata Salt!”, the number four track in Japanese nationwide karaoke ranking Don’t knock it till you shout it. Karaoke remains a popular pastime for many Japanese people young and old, and when in major cities, you’re never too far from a chain of parlors offering private r...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Family Mart’s new Gyoza Dog proves Japanese convenience store food hits different Fans say the new creation looks surprisingly similar to the famous Gyoza Dog at DisneySea. Competition is strong at the top of the convenience store food chain, where Lawson, 7-Eleven and Family Ma...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli turns anime characters into “Friendly Bags” for merchandise range in Japan Six characters from three famous films are ready to become your bag buddies. When talking about friends and friendship in Japan, you’re likely to hear the word “nakayoshi” pop up in conversation. M...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Sizzling on a hot plate?! American sushi rolls break all the rules at this Japanese restaurant Soon-to-close sushi joint breaks the mould with crazy creations that make California rolls seem tame. Whenever we eat out at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, we always find ourselves reaching for ...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Kiki’s Delivery Service to be adapted to live-action series by BBC, Studio Ghibli not involved Kiki’s next adaptation will draw from her original, pre-anime roots, but will audiences give it a chance? Earlier this year, Kiki’s Delivery Service had its first-ever IMAX screenings in North Amer...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Lawson upsizes convenience store food for a limited time with two must-try Japanese meals “Super Happy Too Much! Challenge” campaign has all the right ingredients for happiness. The month of June is a happy one at Lawson, or to be precise, a “Chou Happy Sugi”one, as that’s the name of t...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan releases new limited-edition summer drinks…and a pastry for dunking This is the summer for dipping. With warmer weather on its way in Japan, Starbucks is coming to the rescue with a new release inspired by “a Milan cafe at sunset”. Sold exclusively at the chain’s R...
Jun 17, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- New research reveals that the key to efficient memorization may be in exhaling Teams of researchers in Japan believe that they’ve pinpointed the most effective moment while breathing for memorizing new information. It’s always been funny to me that to this day I can still rem...
Jun 16, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- These rare eggs cost more than a typical meal in Japan but are they really that special? We find out if premium prices mean superior flavour. While browsing the upmarket Isetan department store in Shinjuku the other day, we came across a surprising product called Tenran Ukokkei Ran. L...
Jun 16, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese bento shop touches hearts by selling super cheap boxed lunches for around a dollar A humble store so generous it makes us want to cry. The recent wave of price hikes in Japan shows no signs of slowing down – in fact, many would say it’s only getting worse. These days, it feels li...
Jun 16, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan Machi Mobi offers a safer and more environmentally friendly way to see the tourist sites. For many overseas tourists in Tokyo, a tour around the city on four wheels means joining a fleet of go-kart...
