Air Canada launches the first-ever direct flight between North America and Hokkaido in December 2026, connecting Vancouver and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport with three weekly Boeing 787 services. Who it targets, why now, and what makes Hokkaido a winter prize.
At Inazumi Underwater Cave in Oita Prefecture, professional diver Yuji Ohama (60) and his team reached 97.4m depth on March 20, 2026, likely a Japanese national record for underwater limestone caves. Formed 300 million years ago and submerged by an Aso volcanic eruption 85,000 years ago, the cave's deepest section revealed primordial stalactites and geological strata never seen above ground. We compare this discovery with Mexico's cenotes and Florida's cave systems, and explore Japan's only commercially diveable underwater limestone cave.
Oriental Land Company, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, posted record revenue of 704.5 billion yen ($4.4 billion) for fiscal 2026, yet operating profit fell, and the stock has been cut nearly in half since 2023, hitting a fresh year-low days before the earnings release. Here is what is making investors nervous about the 'house of mouse' in Japan, from shrinking margins and demographic headwinds to a 330 billion yen cruise gamble.
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.
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.
In Itoigawa, Niigata, a hamlet with just 2 year-round residents has launched a 'whole-village rental' stay experience. Guests sleep in a 200-year-old farmhouse and experience the entire village, rice paddies, spring water, snow, as their accommodation. A new model for reviving Japan's vanishing communities.
JTB and MOTO TOURS JAPAN have partnered to develop premium motorcycle tourism for affluent travelers from the West and ASEAN. Discover Japan's legendary riding routes and how to rent a bike as a foreign visitor in the homeland of Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki.
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.
Oriental Land Company, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, established a subsidiary on April 3 to launch Japan's first Disney cruise in fiscal 2028. A $2.2 billion investment and a new ship based on the Disney Wish, carrying 4,000 passengers out of Tokyo. Plus the 208,000-ton Disney Adventure port call in February, and where Japan's cruise market actually stands.
JR Central and JTB have launched the Hokusai Special Train, a foreign-tourist-only sightseeing train running from Mishima to Fujinomiya with Mt. Fuji views and Ukiyo-e art interiors. Part of a full-day tour at $151, this is Japan's latest approach to premium inbound tourism. Here's everything you need to know about booking and what to expect.
A pop-up convenience store in Tokyo where everything is free — if you can grab it without making a sound. The third edition of TOH, created by rapper TaiTan and partnered with Red Bull, fills a store with BMX bikes, skateboards, frozen ramen, and apparel. You have 60 seconds. One noise and you're out. Here's what happened at Japan's craziest experiential event.