All About Japan

Hiroshima Marks 75th Anniversary of A-Bomb

Nearly 800 people, fewer than a tenth of the usual number of attendees, commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Smoking Area Artwork for Social Distancing

Officials of Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward have come up with an artistic way to urge smokers to maintain social distancing.

Japan Domestic Air Travel Down 65% in August

It should come as no surprise that the number of passengers traveling by air within Japan during the summer holiday season in August dropped 65 percent from last year.

Akihabara Landmark Sega Arcade Closing

Electric Town says goodbye to Sega Building 2, an arcade that has been a landmark of the area for 17 years.

Best Happoshu 'Near Beers' in Japan

Happoshu is a cheap, beer-adjacent alcoholic beverage ubiquitous in Japan. Here are 5 of the best happoshu to help you stay on budget while still having a good time!

Private Shinto Ritual Streamed to Viewers

Osaka Temmangu Shrine streams online a usually private Shinto ceremony that is part of the annual Tenjin Festival, as other festivities including lit-up boats and fireworks are canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

YouTuber Arrested for Theft Positive for COVID

With a strange headline that could only come from this day an age, learn about a Japanese YouTuber who traveled to western Japan, partied with friends, and was arrested for petty theft. All while perhaps inadvertently spreading COVID-19.

SoftBank Fails to Declare Billions in Income

Japanese tax authorities have found that SoftBank Group Corporation failed to declare about 40 billion yen in income for the business year through March 2019.

Universal Studios Japan Reopens to Visitors

Universal Studios Japan opens its door to visitors from across the country, but is asking Tokyoites to reconsider visiting due to the large numbers of novel coronavirus cases in the capital.

Saliva Testing for COVID at Japanese Airports

Japan’s government will nearly double the coronavirus testing capacity at international airports such as Haneda by introducing antigen examinations using saliva samples whose results take only about an hour.

Record 1,000 New Coronavirus Cases in Japan

Japan sees a record number of new cases of novel coronavirus in one day, hitting over 1,000 for the very first time.

Shinjuku Station's New Permanent Installation

Artist Tomokazu Matsuyama is the talent responsible for the new artwork adorning Shinjuku Station.

Mysterious Seeds Delivered Across Japan

Packages marked China Post containing mysterious seeds began turning up in mailboxes across Japan, despite no one ordering such items.

Fewer People Travel Day After Summer Holiday

The flow of people at major train stations in Tokyo on the first Monday after Japan’s summer holiday season decreased compared with the previous month.

Tokyo Excluded From Go To Travel Campaign

Japan’s government will go ahead with a domestic travel campaign starting July 22, but has excluded Tokyo due to a growing number of new cases of coronavirus. Travelers and firms participating in the travel subsidy program will also need to abide by a li

The Travel Subsidy Program Is Going Forward

The Japanese government explained further details about the "Go To Travel" campaign to tourism agents and hotel operators just one day before the start of the domestic travel promotion program.

Kindergarten Renovated for 100-Year Birthday

Peep this dazzling update to a 100-year-old kindergarten using existing buildings!

Nagasaki, 75 Years After the Atomic Bombing

Nearly 500 people commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Central Japan Railway Adds More Bullet Trains

Central Japan Railway Company increased the number of its Nozomi bullet trains to 12 per hour ahead of the Obon summer vacation.

Tokyo's Giant Olympic Rings Removed

The Tokyo Olympic Games organizers have removed the giant Olympic rings at Odaiba Marine Park for maintenance.

know-before-you-go