Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
FRENCH LE CHENE at Kyoto's Hotel Chourakukan is joining Kyoto Gourmet Tour 2026 Summer from August 1 through September 30, 2026, serving four limited-time lunch and dinner courses centered on Tanba beef and other seasonal ingredients inside the historic National Important Cultural Property mansion.
Greens Co., Ltd. has opened HOTEL GEOMETIQ Osaka Umeda, an Ascend Collection Hotel, in Osaka's Umeda district on July 16, 2026, bringing Art Deco-inspired design and 132 rooms just a short walk from JR Osaka Station.
From July 11 to September 2, 2026, Hotel Granvia Osaka is decorating its lobby and floors with tenugui hand towels dyed using Naniwa Hon-zome, a nationally designated traditional Osaka craft, alongside a range of sustainability-minded summer initiatives shared with Hotel Vischio Osaka.
TABI Asakusa opens in Tokyo's Asakusa on September 18, 2026, as the second property in hotel MONday Group's new "TABI" brand, offering 58 rooms across seven room types that blend Zen tranquility, traditional Japanese aesthetics, and Asakusa's Edo-era spirit for long-stay and family travelers alike.
During the Hakodate Port Festival on August 1 and 2, 2026, Hotel Resol Hakodate is offering a "Port Festival Enjoyment Stay" for guests, featuring a squid-themed breakfast buffet, free access to its top-floor restaurant for fireworks views, festival-style stalls, and support to join the local Hakodate Squid Dance.
SEION Co., Ltd. is beginning membership sales for HOTEL SEION FUJI, a one-group-per-day private resort in Yamanakako, Yamanashi, offering the joy of a vacation home without the usual ownership burden through plans starting from 6 nights a year.
A tarot-themed merchandise fair for The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- opens at select Animate stores from October 10, 2026, with an online pre-order campaign already underway at the Animate Online Shop from July 16.
The character crossover event "ICON SUMMIT," which drew more than 20,000 visitors last year, is being held this summer at two locations — JR Omiya Station and Abeno Q's Mall in Osaka — with pop-up shops for Pokémon Peaceful Place, Sylvanian Families, Pompompurin, Ponkickies, and more.
Iizaka Hotel Juraku in Fukushima Prefecture is installing two "Calpis® Faucets" — taps that pour cold Calpis at the turn of a handle — marking a first for the prefecture. The plain and white peach flavors will be available free of charge exclusively to hotel guests starting July 23, 2026, following a preview event on July 20.
Toshima City has installed a new manhole cover featuring Tomori Takamatsu from the TV anime BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! at Ikebukuro Station's West Exit Plaza, a gift from Bushiroad marking the series' deep ties to the neighborhood.
From September 1, the buffet restaurant Chef's Live Kitchen at Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay presents an "Autumn Hokkaido Gourmet & Shine Muscat" lunch and dinner buffet, featuring weekday all-you-can-eat red snow crab, Hokkaido king crab and abalone teppanyaki, hand-pressed sushi, and an all-you-can-eat Shine Muscat and fresh Mont Blanc dessert spread.
The TV anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia held a special screening of Act 1 through Act 4 at Japan Expo 2026, one of Europe's largest pop culture events, in Paris, France. TV Asahi producer Kazuki Endo took the stage before the screening to share the appeal of the award-winning historical manga adaptation with French fans.