A new private tour called NINJA ORIGINS lets travelers train as real ninja in Iga and Koka, the birthplace of ninjutsu. From 200,000 yen (about $1,260) per night, guests sleep in restored historic buildings and join shrine rituals and a museum infiltration mission, as part of a model that funnels tourism revenue back into heritage conservation.
From August 2026, The Pokemon Company will require Japan's My Number national ID card to verify identity for Pokemon Center Online lotteries and select official tournaments. It's a hard counter to scalpers and impersonators — and an unintended wall against overseas collectors who have long worked around the system. Here's what changes.
Japan welcomed 3.69 million foreign visitors in April 2026, down 5.5% from a year earlier, even as the yen sat near 159 to the dollar. We unpack the three forces behind the drop—China's travel advisory, an Easter calendar quirk, and Middle East flight cancellations—and ask whether this is actually the right moment for foreigners to book that long-postponed Japan trip.
Two Japanese volcanoes are on heightened alert at the same time. Sakurajima produced its first pyroclastic flow since 2018 on May 8, while Mount Meakan in Hokkaido recorded 254 volcanic quakes in 24 hours. Here's what tourists need to know about nearby destinations, alert levels, and trustworthy sources
ufotable — the studio behind the $722M global hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — announced on May 11, 2026 the acquisition of a 98-year-old former Mizuho Bank building in Tokushima. The historic structure that survived WWII firebombing will become a new entertainment hub and could turn into the next must-visit destination for global Demon Slayer fans making the pilgrimage to Japan.
Taiwanese buyers now account for 62% of all foreign home purchases in Tokyo's 23 wards, according to data released by Japan's government for the first time. Behind this surge: a historic yen, a Taipei property bubble exceeding Tokyo, TSMC's Kumamoto pipeline, geopolitical hedging, and Taiwan's AI boom—all converging at once.
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. We unpack who it targets, why now, and what makes Hokkaido a winter prize.
Gunma Prefecture's passport-style pamphlet sold out 10,000 copies on day one. Behind the frenzy: a beloved internet meme calling Gunma 'Japan's undeveloped territory' and a regional rivalry where prefectures fight to be the least popular.
Once dismissed overseas as resembling 'black paper,' nori is now riding the global onigiri boom into kitchens worldwide. A 3-Michelin-star Italian chef uses nori pesto on cuttlefish, and the global market is projected to grow from $3.8B in 2025 to $6.4B by 2034. From the famous 2010 Nature paper that overturned the 'Westerners can't digest seaweed' myth, to Japan being overtaken by Korea in production volume — here's how Japanese seaweed conquered the world.
Uber Japan has launched flight-linked pre-booking at six major airports — Haneda, Itami, Chubu, New Chitose, Naha, and Kobe — with automatic adjustment for delays and early arrivals. The new feature dramatically simplifies airport transfers for inbound travelers, though the surprising omission of Narita raises questions.
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.
Yoshitaka Amano, the legendary illustrator behind Final Fantasy's iconic art, has donated fusuma (sliding door) paintings to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine. From April 25 to May 10, 2026, visitors can see these never-before-shown works themed around 'Light and Darkness.' Admission about $6.30. A rare opportunity for fans and art lovers alike.
On April 22, 2026, the world's first global matcha industry body launched in Tokyo. Led by 28-year-old tea master Ryo Iwamoto, the International Matcha Association (IMA) brings together the CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association, UC Davis tea scholars, and Future Food Institute to tackle counterfeiting and the absence of international standards in a $4.4 billion global market.
Ainoshima, a tiny island off Fukuoka, is home to roughly 200 cats that outnumber its 270 human residents. Named one of CNN's top 6 cat spots worldwide, this heart-shaped island is going viral again on TikTok and Instagram in spring 2026. Discover the fishing village coexistence, TNR efforts, and how to visit.
Kunio Okawara, the legendary mechanical designer who created Gundam's Mobile Suits, will design Seibu Railway's new tourist limited express debuting in 2028. Running from Shinjuku to Kawagoe, aka 'Little Edo', the train pairs Japanese anime heritage with access to Edo-period streetscapes and the scenic Chichibu region.
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.
Otafuku Holdings subsidiary Nakagawa has completed a new tenkasu (tempura crumb) factory in Omura, Nagasaki, boosting output from 4,200 to 6,300 tons annually, a 1.5x jump aimed at Europe and beyond. A deep dive into what tenkasu is, how it powers okonomiyaki and udon culture, the rise of tempura crumbs in sushi rolls overseas, and how it compares to Britain's beloved chip-shop 'scraps'.
Japan welcomed a record 42.68 million visitors in 2025 with tourism spending hitting 9.5 trillion yen. Yet many ultra-wealthy foreigners bypass Japan's celebrated ryokan and pick global brands like Aman, Bulgari, and Marriott. Here's why the gap between Japanese hospitality and global luxury standards matters — and why the rest of us travel differently.
JR Central reveals 'Doctor S', the successor to the beloved Doctor Yellow inspection train. Based on the N700S Shinkansen, it will start service in October 2026 and take over track-testing duties from January 2027. Here's why Japan runs dedicated inspection trains and how you might still spot the new yellow logo.
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.