6 Great Innovations from Japan's Countryside
From urban planning and fish farming to food recycling and the re-invigoration of traditional techniques, a number of great ideas have come out of Japan's smaller towns and cities.
A Taste of Green Tourism in Traditional Japan
Despite their combined population of only 900, the villages of Shunran no Sato drew 11,000 visitors in 2014, attracted by the prospect of experiencing traditional Japanese life from locals only too happy to share.
Interview with Kurashiki Mayor Kaori Ito
The city of Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture is maintaining its path of developmental growth even as it attracts crowds of visitors from other parts of Japan and abroad.
6 Foreigners Making Waves in the Countryside
Most of the subjects of this story didn't see themselves where they are now—but all of them found something incredible in the Japanese countryside, leading each to develop a unique and indelible bond to the local community.
400-Year-Old Bathhouse Gets a Facelift
Faced with a dwindling clientele, Gunma's Maruhon Inn asked KuboTsushima Architects to redesign its bathhouse. The result is welcoming space that invites guests to relax and rejuvenate.
Give Yourself a Hand
Looking to avoid poor posture while relaxing at work? Thanko is here to lend you a hand!
Conservation of an Icon
Mount Fuji is recognized as both a World Heritage Site and a three-star Michelin spot. But how do you protect a natural site from the erosive forces of its own popularity?
Putting the AI in Samurai
Combining the modern with the traditional, a new robot emerges from the land of the rising sun.
