All About Japan

UNESCO's Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara

Once the capital of Japan, the historical monuments of Nara include temples, a shrine, a palace, a forest and lots of deer!

Tokyo Midtown Starlight Garden 2016

2016 marks the 10th year of the Starlight Garden illumination event at Tokyo Midtown, where you can catch a visualization of the Big Bang created by 180,000 LED lights!

Can You Keep a Secret? 4 Hidden Hot Springs

There are a lot of incredible hot springs in Japan. These four hot springs are not well known, but they'll surprise you! They all have something special in common—can you guess wha...

UNESCO Sites in the Tokyo Area

Tokyo is great for food, shopping and relaxation. But you should know there are also a handful of stellar World Heritage Sites right in the area!

Hiraizumi: Pure Land Heritage

Located in Iwate Prefecture, Hiraizumi was the administrative center of northeastern Japan in the 12th century, said to have rivaled the splendor of Kyoto at its peak.

Masanori Aoyagi on Japan's World Heritage

When the sites of Japan’s Meiji industrial revolution were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, Highlighting Japan spoke with then-Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Masa...

Japan's 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Every traveler to Japan should be sure to visit at least a few of the nation's stellar World Heritage Sites, ranging from 1,000-year-old temples and shrines to breathtaking natural...

7 Samurai Doing 7 Extreme Sports!

These samurai warriors from Japan are fearless not only in battle, but also on a BMX bike, skis, a pogo stick and on a surfboard.

Spike Your Instant Ramen with Some Sweet Sake

For a twist on the instant classic, try adding a bit of rice wine sake for a sweet aromatic flavor.

Japan—Where Tradition Meets the Future

Centered around a slick video of 45 locations across three regions of Japan, the JNTO's new European campaign is a beauty to behold.

New Nintendo: Crisper Graphics, Same Nostalgia

A new Famicom Mini commercial emulates the original 1983 Nintendo Famicom ad but with more up-to-date graphics.

'Pokémon GO' to Tohoku to Catch Rare Pokémon

Travel to the Tohoku region, the site of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake, to see the effects of pocket monster Lapras’ real-world healing powers. And with a higher-than-usual...

8 Cosplayers Improvise Missing Costume Parts

Find out how a little quick thinking and simple everyday objects can save your day of cosplaying in a pinch thanks to these eight Twitter cosplayers.

Who Makes the Most Money in Anime?

Thinking of getting into the anime industry? Read up on how much you can earn with our in-depth comparison of five different positions.

6 Hokusai Watercolors Found in Netherlands?

In a stunning revelation, six Western-style watercolor paintings in the Netherlands have been suggested to be works of Katsushika Hokusai, the most famous 'ukiiyo-e' artist of Japa...

A Cheaper Way to Get to Narita Airport

If you're traveling on a budget, you may want to bypass the expensive train and head to Tokyo from Narita Aiport via one of these two buses.

Japanese Drummer Builds Bridge to US Career

This fiery-haired, Las Vegas-based Japanese drummer has been playing her heart out in her second language: rock-n-roll!

Head to Izu on this Luxurious Hato Bus Tour

Travel to the hot springs of Izu in ultimate comfort and luxury aboard this stylish and modern bus.

Everyday Lolita Fashion

Get the cuteness of Lolita fashion with these five casual (and affordable) brands in Japan.

Fullmetal Alchemist Live Action Trailer!

The first trailer for the upcoming 'Fullmetal Alchemist' live action movie was revealed at 8 a.m. on November 16 Japan time.

know-before-you-go