All About Japan

Bringing a 70-Year-Old Sento into Modern Day

It’s said that in Tokyo every week another sento goes bust. One of those was Miyanoyu, located in the Nezu district of Tokyo.

New Hanko Ink Lets You Use Colors of Nature

These inks won't let you paint with all the colors of the wind, but you can now stamp your name with different colors inspired by nature.

Ukiyo-e Couple Show Ancient Art of Sleeping In

Turns out Japanese folks were hitting the snooze button before electronic clocks even existed. How? By getting roosters drunk!

Kitamura Shop Like Theme Park for Camera Fans

Kitamura Camera's new location, which just opened in early July 2020, hopes to become a one-stop-shop for amateur and professional photographers alike. And Spoon & Tamago has the scoop!

Renaissance Paintings Purr-fect for Cat Lovers

Japanese contemporary artist Tokuhiro Kawai uses his mastery of oil painting to create surreal images that invoke the Italian painters of the High Renaissance. But instead of heroes, saints, and the divine, he largely focuses on lots of cats.

Marvel at the Art of Long Exposure Photographs

Japanese artist Tokihiro Sato has been mastering the art of long exposure photography, and Spoon & Tamago has collected some of his coolest moments.

Japan Approves Second COVID-19 Treatment

The use of dexamethasone to treat people infected with the novel coronavirus has been approved as the second drug that doctors can now prescribe to COVID-19 patients in the country.

Get Good Lighting from Stylish Hurricane Lamp

Check out these cool floor lamps made from swirling water into a small hurricane.

Eerie Long-Exposure Photographs of Torii

In 2019, German photographer Ronny Behnert traveled around Japan visiting various torii gates. And while everyone who visits Japan surely has countless torii pictures, his long-exposure photos are like something from another world.

Viewing Wartime Hiroshima with Virtual Reality

A group of local high school students revives wartime Hiroshima using VR technology to see what Hiroshima's A-bomb Dome looked like before the destruction.

Huge Harajuku Shopping Structure Set for 2022

The west corner of Jingumae Crossing has largely remained unchanged for the past 50 years, but that's set to change in 2022 with a new, reflective shopping complex.

More Foreign Than Japanese Residents in 2019

The Tokyo area welcomed more new foreign residents than Japanese citizens last year, marking the first time for the foreign population to increase faster than the Japanese one for the area since the ministry began separating such demographic data in 2012.

Kyoto's Ace Hotel Got a Kengo Kuma Makeover

Star designer Kengo Kuma unveils his latest architectural feat: renovating Kyoto’s Ace Hotel.

Get Your Hands on 'Twilight at Nihonbashi'

Learn how you can score one of these cool, ukiyo-e-inspired photos that are great as phone wallpapers.

Kimono Company Makes Masks for Nightlife Staff

Otozuki, a manufacturer of traditional kimono garments, has teamed up with a company that runs nightclubs to develop hostess-friendly face masks that make it easy to sip drinks and converse with customers while maintaining a safe environment.

Why Be Just a Snack When You Can Be Dessert?

Some days you want the soothing scent of incense to dispel the musty air of your home. Other days maybe you'd prefer to smell like an éclair instead of freshly picked flowers. Thankfully, Japanese cosmetics company Kobe Bijinnuuka has got you covered.

Shibuya Public Restrooms Get Designer Makeover

The Nippon Foundation is collaborating with the ward and 16 world-renowned architects and designers to transform 17 public lavatories.

Buddhist Monk on Celebrating Sexual Diversity

Makeup artist and Buddhist monk Kodo Nishimura discusses their views on sexual diversity and faith.

Toyota's Pandemic Profits Plunge to 98%

Toyota Motor Corporation's operating profit plunges 98 percent for the April-to-June quarter.

Getting to Know Your Bathtub Better

Learn more about bathing in Japan with this online event.

know-before-you-go