Sample sake, ride a tub-shaped boat, and pan for—real!—gold on Japan's sixth-largest island.

Studded with small bays and inlets, the peninsula known as Ise-Shima­—the venue for the 2016 G7 Summit—is a utopia for those seeking a glimpse of classical Japan, from the expansive environs of the sacred shrine of Ise Jingu to the bounty of the ocean.

Salt from the sea and other essential goods were hauled along Salt Road from Japan’s coastal areas to the mountainous territories inland—and delivered even to mortal enemies in need.

Founded in 1950, this 17-person paint company has colored the works of anime geniuses from Osamu Tezuka to Hayao Miyazaki.

Did you know that one of the voice actresses on 'Sailor Moon Crystal' grew up in China? Find out how Seira Ryu learned the language and—with a little luck—came to hold her own against native-born Japanese vocal actors.

How do you sell otaku swag online, and where is the market headed from here? Find out in this interview with Tokyo Otaku Mode founder and CEO Tomohide Kamei!

The World Cosplay Summit began in 2003, with countries sending the winners of their respective qualifying tournaments to Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. The biggest cosplay event on the globe, the Summit is where the world’s top cosplayers are crowned.

Two castles peer out into the sea from Saga Prefecture’s picturesque coastal city of Karatsu.