Konica Minolta's "Starry Sky Jazz Lounge" at Planetaria TOKYO in Yurakucho sold out every reserved seat it offered. Inside the 360-degree dome visuals and the live piano, saxophone and contrabass jazz that filled 90 minutes on a Friday night, plus a look at why Japan builds so many of the world's planetariums.
The Car-Lator at Suma-ura Sanjo Yuen in Kobe, Japan's only belt-conveyor mountain ride, turned 60 on March 18, 2026. Famous for marketing its terrible ride comfort as the attraction, it ran red-vested anniversary cars, hard-stock commemorative tickets and a hillside hike to mark the occasion.
A butter confection sold only at Tokyo's Haneda Airport has sparked a souvenir frenzy among international tourists. Born from repurposing skim milk that would otherwise go to waste, "Butter no Itoko" has some flying to Japan just for a taste. We explore how Japan's limited-edition treats and omiyage culture create demand worldwide.
Pokémon GO's largest-ever real-world event, "GO Fest 2026: Tokyo," centered on Odaiba from May 29 to June 1, 2026. Tokyo Governor Koike made headlines by catching a Pokémon live during the press conference. Discover the world-first "City Exploration Ticket," event details, and what makes this 10th anniversary celebration truly historic.
The Mundo Pixar Experience, the immersive exhibition that has drawn over 3.5 million visitors across seven countries, opened in Tokyo's Toyosu district in March 2026 and now runs through October 12. Life-size sets from Toy Story, Monsters Inc and more, plus tickets, access and what Seoul's edition revealed.
Disney's largest-ever cruise ship, the 208,000-ton Disney Adventure, is heading to Tokyo. Plus, a dedicated 140,000-ton ship will launch from Tokyo in 2028 with a ¥330 billion ($2.2 billion) investment. Here's how Disney is transforming Japan's cruise industry and what Japanese people think about it.
A former Olympic gold medalist turned commentator was stunned by an Italian hotel’s open-plan shower at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. With no partition, no bathtub, and only a thin curtain, Japanese guests face a real challenge. Explore the fascinating cultural gap between Japanese and European hotel bathroom design.
JTB's new immersive cultural brand "Kagerohi" offers a 3.5-hour multi-sensory journey at Kamakura's Hokokuji Temple for about $920 per person. Blending Noh vocal art, cello, storytelling, and gastronomy, it represents a seismic shift in Japan's luxury inbound tourism from quantity to quality.
Oigawa Railway's DAY OUT WITH THOMAS 2026 launches its first-ever year-round operation from March 7. Asia's first passenger-carrying Percy steam locomotive joins Thomas through tea fields of Shizuoka. Discover how Japan uniquely blends heritage railways with character collaborations — tickets from about $40 round trip.
Over 5,200 protected hermit crabs were illegally poached from Japan's UNESCO World Heritage island of Amami Oshima. Explore the growing crisis of wildlife trafficking driven by overseas pet markets, the limits of current law enforcement, and community-led conservation efforts to protect endemic species.
Japan welcomed a record 42.68 million visitors in 2025, with tourism spending reaching ¥9.5 trillion. While cities like Tokyo and Kyoto still dominate, rural prefectures like Tottori (+151%) and Niigata (+69%) are experiencing remarkable growth. Explore how Japan's lesser-known regions are preparing for—and benefiting from—the inbound tourism wave, while tackling overtourism and infrastructure challenges.