Attractions and Sightseeing

Studio Ghibli's first-ever original short made specifically for Ghibli Park, A Night in the Valley of Witches, premieres July 8, 2026 at Cinema Orion in Aichi. Complete guide for international fans: director backgrounds, ticket strategy, and overseas screening prospects.

In April 2026, a rusting steam locomotive on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru is heading to Japan for restoration. The plan began when Nauru's tourism office tweeted 'Can anyone identify this steam engine?' and Japanese rail preservation groups recognized it as a German-built Orenstein & Koppel locomotive from the phosphate-mining era. Now Japan's legendary SL restoration craftsmen will bring it back to life, with plans to eventually run it as a tourism train in Nauru itself.

Kyoto hotels report a 10% drop in Japanese guests for the 3rd straight year while foreign visitors rose 14.6%. Himeji Castle's new $16 dual pricing doubled revenue in month one. Data-driven analysis of Japan's tourism polarization crisis.

A 1,740m zipline across Japan's Kanmon Strait stalled for 2 years over funding, but Shimonoseki has restarted with a new feasibility study. The mayor declared he won't give up on this $9.4M project to fly riders at 110 km/h over samurai battlegrounds.

A new manhole cover featuring a fertility god symbol has appeared in Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture. Discover Japan's unique manhole art culture, the booming manhole card collecting hobby, and the connection to festivals like Kanamara Matsuri.

Tourists are throwing thousands of coins into the pristine spring-fed ponds of Oshino Hakkai, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Mt. Fuji. The coins poison koi fish with copper and zinc. Here's why this must stop and what Japan is doing about it.

On March 28, 2026, Tokyo Aqua Symphony — one of the world's largest fountain shows — debuted at Odaiba Seaside Park. Featuring a 150m-high water jet and 250m-wide cherry blossom fountains set to Dragon Quest music, this free spectacle performs 10 times daily against Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku reopened on March 31, 2026 after a four-year renovation. Featuring new exhibits including life-size models, projection mapping, and immersive Edo-period experiences, plus nearby sumo attractions and travel tips.

On March 28, 2026, Nagoya City Science Museum unveiled 'Railway Square,' featuring the world's only surviving German-made B6 steam locomotive from 1904. Powered by compressed air, this 120-year-old engine now moves its wheels, sounds its whistle, and puffs smoke in downtown Nagoya — for free. Includes a rail fan travel route with SCMAGLEV and Railway Park and Meiji-mura.