Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese government okays plan to create a backup capital city Always good to have a spare lying around. Capital cities are essential parts of all countries, serving as the center of government, hubs of economic activity, and symbols of the national identity. ...
Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan brings back the Caramel Waffle, but is it as good as it used to be? The price has gone up, so we find out if the taste has gone down, or if it’s hopefully stayed the same. Once upon a time, there used to be a familiar sight beside the register at Starbucks: the Car...
Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- 61-year-old Kyoto man arrested for playing guitar and radio too loudly for seven years Those darn sexagenarians with their loud rock music. A lot of people have music in their hearts, and that’s great, because the rest of us can’t hear it deep inside there without some sort of EKG ma...
Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli Laputa figure looks like it’s really flying thanks to cool visual trick Meanwhile, Totoro is as adorable as ever, thanks to being Totoro, in his own magnetic figure form. Quite a few of Studio Ghibli’s anime have titles that feature the name of, or at least allude to, ...
Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pokémon Card Stores requiring facial recognition scans for entry in Japan in latest anti-scalper move Gotta scan ‘em all if they want to get in. In today’s digitally secured world, there are certain sensitive situations in which you can expect facial recognition systems to be part of the procedure....
Jul 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- A roadside hair salon stall in China made us Norway’s Haaland for US$1, and warmed out hearts too The haircut wasn’t the only great thing we got out of this great-price deal. China has a rich street food culture, and for many travelers grabbing a bite to eat from a roadside food stall is high o...
Jul 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- How are you supposed to wash a Japanese futon duvet at the laundromat? Sure, that big, fluffy down blanket is a must for making it through a Japanese winter, but how are you supposed to clean it when summer comes around? Generally, living in Japan means hanging your l...
Jul 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli adds new Ponyo glassware to its anime lineup for summer Stay cool with a little help from a Ghibli seaside town. When temperatures rise in Japan, so too does our desire for some cool respite, preferably along the lines of a seaside adventure like the on...
Jul 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pokémon’s cozy city builder game inspires Cozy (Corner) cakes in Japan! [Photos] Snorlax, Professor Tangrowth, and other characters from the Pokémon city builder given sweet salutes by Cozy Corner. Pokémon Pokopia’s hook is that it’s a Pokémon game that’s also a city-building s...
Jul 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Family Mart’s new Famima flagship in Tokyo has a hidden gem that most visitors miss A must-try convenience store drink you won’t find anywhere else. Earlier this month, Family Mart shook up the convenience store scene by opening its first-ever flagship store, Famima Park Azabudai....
Jul 25, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Universal Studios Japan requiring consent form for adults-only horror attraction USJ goes R-18 for the first time. When theme parks in Japan have Halloween events, oftentimes they’re drawing inspiration from the lighthearted aspects of the season, such as playing dress-up and e...
Jul 25, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Why is Taco Bell failing in Japan, even as the country falls in love with tacos? Mr. Sato gets some tacos for his tummy and serves up some food for thought. Our ace reporter Mr. Sato is a true renaissance man, with a wide range of interests he pursues. Regular readers will alre...
Jul 25, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Studio Ghibli releases Japanese curry shirts in honour of anime about the studio’s staff Test your Ghibli fan level with your knowledge of this character and his unusual restaurant policy. There are many levels of Studio Ghibli fan, from those who know and love the most famous feature...
Jul 25, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why? “Lettuce that’s looking at you like it wants you to buy it.” Lettuce is one of those foods where the individual parts of the plant we eat are distinct from the harvestable foodstuff as a whole, whi...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese Coo-Che becomes a viral sensation, and everyone wants a taste “Drinkable Cigare” is so hard to get it’s been dubbed a “phantom”. Tokyo Station is packed with all sorts of delicious offerings, but right now one of the most sought-after treats you’ll find there...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Dance with demons in Kyoto at this Edo-period Japanese Halloween festival Turning a samurai film set into a monster dance party with J-pop choreography. Many tourists to the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto are familiar with its shrines and temples, but less know about ...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains The real-world Village-3 deepens its anime connection. Tenryu Futamata Station, in Shizuoka Prefecture, isn’t a station that a lot of people need to go to, given its relatively remote location on t...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer Spend the night inside a bullet train from just 5,000 yen. Finding affordable accommodation in Japan can be tough at any time of year, but when one or even two of Japan’s biggest summer festivals i...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- “We want to be Japan’s best cheap restaurant” says new (but also not new) Akihabara noodle joint Akihabara Ramen Center is dead. Long live Akihabara Seimen Center. Some neighborhoods have spots that seem to be cursed as restaurant locations. A new eatery opens up, only to abruptly shut down a ...
Jul 24, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home A beautiful way to show off your Starbucks collectibles. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your very own Starbucks, the chain now has a new product that allows you to do just that, on an adorably ti...
