Find Your Next Best Pal at the Mameshiba Cafe
Unfortunately, there aren't that many chances to meet a Shiba dog in Japan for tourists—until now. At the Mameshiba Cafe located in Takeshita Street in Harajuku, for 880 yen for 30 minutes, you can play with the 12 friendly canine staff members.
Miniature Model of Shinjuku Made Only of Paper
Toshi is a Japanese office worker in his 20s who has a unique hobby: building miniature paper models of cities at a 1/2200 scale. And he has completed his most ambitious project to date: a mini model of Tokyo's sprawling area of Shinjuku.
Lawson’s First Register-Free Store
Convenience Stores Deeper Japan
Convenience store giant Lawson will open a store this month with no cash registers, and plans to more in the Tokyo area by summer 2020.
Tourists Can Finally Buy JR Rail Passes Online
After years of complicated and added-expense hoops to jump through, JR will start letting international travelers buy their passes online and inside their home countries.
The Quirkiest Shaved Ice in Tokyo
Yelo in Roppongi is not just any normal shaved ice store, especially once you see their toppings list!
Bringing Natural Harmony to a Nursery School
A nursery school in Tottori is connecting children to nature with its award-winning design.
Marvel at Remarkable Single-Stroke Paintings
Daigoro Yonekura is a Japanese artist who creates abstract paintings that resemble billowing plumes of smoke or ink. At once both mysterious and beautiful, they pull the viewer in, offering familiar shapes and forms, leaving us with a particular question.
JNTO Multilingual Coronavirus Hotline
Japan National Tourism Organization has a visitor hotline at 050-3816-2787 that accepts inquiries about coronavirus in English, Chinese and Korean.
Yusuke Asai's New Exhibit Uses Wild Materials
Tokyo-born artist Yusuke Asai travela the world, creating wild and unrestrained art with whatever canvas and materials are available to him locally: soil, water, dust, flour, tape, and pens.
Travel to Toyama to Peek the Japanese Alps
Who knew Japan had its very own Alps? And they are right in the heart of the nation.
Unique Home Design Takes Steps Into the Future
When Akihiro Ito, half of the design team Nendo, wanted to build a home for his family and in-laws, he turned to his business partner to design it for him. And it features a set of stairs that appears to extend from the sidewalk through the house.
New Osaka Louis Vuitton Resembles Sailing Ship
On February 1, 2020, Louis Vuitton opened its new Osaka Midosuji store. Although not necessarily a flagship, it certainly resembles a sailing ship!
Shohei Otomo's Hyper Realistic Pen Drawings
The artist Shohei creates dauntingly dense and bold ballpoint pen drawings. He also happens to be the son of Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira.
New Japanese Passports Feature Famous Artworks
In February, Japan began issuing new passports featuring the well-known works of ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai.
Official 2020 Summer Olympics Posters Unveiled
As 2020 kicks off, the real countdown to Tokyo’s Summer Olympics begin and the organizing committee isn’t wasting any time. The series of official Olympics and Paralympics posters have been released, designed by renowned artists from Japan and abroad.
Pop-up Shop Interior Made of Ziploc Containers
It was back in 2018 when Beams first announced a series of haute couture items with bag and storage maker Ziploc, but the brand is doubling down on the intriguing collaboration.
Kyushu Bank Redesigned Using Local Wood
The power of design was on full display when Higo Bank, a regional bank in Kyushu, opened its newest branch and completely transformed all our preconceptions of how a bank can make us feel.
Photography Shows Life in Japan 100 Years Ago
Thanks to Eliza Scidmore, we can see images of everyday life in Japan, with some photographs over 100 years old.
Student Merges Metal & Traditional Woodwork
Japanese student and bicycle enthusiast Hiroto has merged traditional Japanese craftwork with bicycle-making to create what he calls a "wa-modern" bicycle.
Tadao Ando's Library in Osaka Is Off the Wall
You simply have to check out Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest in Osaka, designed and built by master architect Tadao Ando, who donated it to the city's children.
