Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
From September 1, 2026, Scarpetta Tokyo is expanding its previously Saturday-only afternoon tea to run Tuesday through Saturday, with an eight-piece "Autumn Harvest Afternoon Tea" featuring grapes, pears, figs, and chestnuts, a new solo-friendly set, and a matching Champagne free-flow dinner course.
On July 4, 2026, Seibuen Amusement Park closed to the public and opened exclusively for the Toshin Partners Team Ken's Cup Aquathlon, a swim-and-run race that's uncommon this close to central Tokyo. Racers competed through the park's pool and running course, with finishers receiving wooden medals instead of the usual metal ones.
Seibuen Amusement Park in Tokorozawa, Saitama has introduced a new air-conditioned rest spot called "Suzumi-dokoro" (Mobility House) that anyone can casually use to beat the heat, along with a full lineup of summer cooling content including a misty play area, splash shows, and a snow zone using real snow from Sayama Ski Area.
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium will hold "Art Night Aquarium" on Saturday, September 12, 2026, after regular closing hours, inviting visitors to sketch and observe its roughly 300 species of marine life up close. The evening features guided workshops and hands-on activities exploring the color and form of ocean creatures.
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka is serving an autumn version of its "Night 和sweets" Japanese-style afternoon tea at Japanese Restaurant Uemachi on weekday evenings from September 1 to October 31, 2026, featuring chestnut, sweet potato, fig, and persimmon sweets alongside creative hand-rolled sushi.
A new Friday-night cruise event runs from August 28 to September 25, 2026, offering an energetic "PARTY CRUISE" and a relaxed "LOUNGE CRUISE" around the waterfront of Takeshiba and Shibaura, complete with local Shibaura craft beer.
Shinjuku's autumn music festival reveals its complete lineup for October 10-11, 2026, with eight new additions including ZAZEN BOYS, Kenta Maeno, Eiko Ishibashi, and Yuransen, as general ticket sales open today.
Sunflowers are reaching their best viewing period at Shinjuku Central Park from mid to late August, with four varieties blooming across the park. A free self-guided leaflet featuring a sunflower map and an introduction to Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the nearby SOMPO Museum of Art is also available on-site.
Nijigen COSPA is releasing new Cure Arcana Shadow merchandise from Star Detective Precure!, including a T-shirt, acrylic stand, pass case, and cushion cover featuring newly drawn illustrations.
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles will welcome Starlit Pikachu, the guide character from the special exhibition Pokémon Astronomical Observatory at Kakuda Denen Hall, to their August 11 game against the Orix Buffaloes at Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi, with a photo session and field appearances as part of the "Natsu-Suta! STARLIGHT GALAXY" summer event.
Suikoden STAR LEAP, the franchise's first entirely new title in 14 years, launched in Japan today for iOS and Android, with details on its first in-game event also revealed.
Tokyo Gets Co., Ltd. is releasing new merchandise featuring newly drawn Summer Pockets REFLECTION BLUE illustrations of the characters enjoying a water gun fight, with pre-orders open from August 7 to August 24, 2026 at Gets-Oshi Mart.