Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
Tirol Choco is releasing "Puchirol <Halloween Pack>" nationwide from August 31 — bite-sized chocolates in three flavors, individually wrapped with the "Puchirols Special Task Force" characters in colorful Halloween costumes.
Tokyo Solamachi's Food Marche is rolling out its second phase of renewal, adding new shops such as RANDY'S DONUTS and Gong cha, renewing its Uoriki, Sawamitsu Seika, and Tomizawa Shoten stores, and refreshing its sweets pop-up space and rest area between September and November 2026.
Shinchosha is releasing e-book editions of Fuyumi Ono's fantasy series The Twelve Kingdoms, which has sold more than 14 million copies, in three waves starting September 17, 2026, alongside the print debut of the series' first new volume in seven years.
UECHIYA CAFÉ has opened inside Washita Shop's Kokusai-dori store in Naha, serving Churafuwa Cream Zenzai, a dessert that turns Okinawan black sugar white through wasanbon refining, with the pop-up already recording its highest-ever sales through October 31, 2026.
AMNIBUS, an online store specializing in anime and manga merchandise, has opened pre-orders for 15 new WIND BREAKER products featuring newly drawn "Summer Ver." illustrations, including trading acrylic cards, can badges, apparel, and more.
YATZ GARDEN, the free 10-hectare flower field run by Yatsugatake Agricultural College in Chino, Nagano, has passed 100,000 visitors this season far ahead of schedule, including a single-day record of 10,000 visitors on August 13, 2026.
The 43rd Tainai Star Festival will be held August 28-30, 2026, at Tainai-daira in Niigata Prefecture's Tainai City. Free and open to everyone, the festival drew about 25,000 visitors last year and features more than 50 domestic and international astronomy and optics exhibitors, hands-on stargazing programs, a special stage event, and more.
Hankyu Umeda Main Store is hosting a limited-time shop for "beautiful people," themed "New Classic," at its 1st Floor Promotion Space 12 from August 26 (Wed) to September 1 (Tue), 2026, featuring a new bag lineup that includes a leather bag available for early sale exclusively at the store.
chez Shibata and Piyorin have teamed up on a second cookie tin, the "Piyorin Doll Tin," a gold-toned collaboration box packed with eight varieties of cookies. It goes on sale August 20, 2026, exclusively at Piyorin Village in Nagoya.
Chopsticks Studio Shibuya, a chopstick-making experience studio five minutes on foot from Shibuya Station, opened on August 1, 2026, with an expanded group reception system for school trips, corporate training, and inbound tour and MICE groups, accommodating up to 44 guests at once across ten sessions a day.
Conrad Osaka is hosting a Peter Pan-inspired "Melon de Green Neverland" sweets buffet featuring around 17 melon desserts and 9 savory dishes, running Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from September 4 to November 29, 2026.
Unagi Washoku Daikoku is adding a summer-only Matcha Shaved Ice made with Saitama's Sayama matcha to its menu at four Saitama Prefecture locations from August 19 through September 30, 2026.