Discover insider tips, travel guides, and inspiring stories for your next adventure in Japan
SCAPES THE SUITE in Hayama, Kanagawa is now taking reservations for its 2026 summer shaved ice season, featuring three new flavors including a special recipe produced by celebrated shaved ice expert Harada Asako.
The three-phase special exhibition at Sen-oku Hakukokan presents approximately 30 restored cultural treasures from the Kansai region. Phase II, featuring an 800-year-old "one-day constructed Buddha" newly elevated to Important Cultural Property status, runs through May 31, 2026.
Starting June 1, 2026, the Chi Spa on the 29th floor of Shangri-La Tokyo will introduce two new limited-season treatment menus designed to help guests refresh and unwind through the summer months.
A new SHARE LOUNGE has opened inside the Tokyu Stay Mercure Hiroshima hotel in central Hiroshima, offering a three-level co-working and lounge space with free soft drinks for hotel guests and drop-in access starting from 60 minutes.
A special limited-edition variant of Sho Chiku Bai Shirakabegura Mio sparkling sake, featuring a rich pear-like aroma, goes on sale nationwide in Japan on June 16, 2026.
Nijigen no Mori's Godzilla Interception Operation on Awaji Island brings back its popular summer soaking zipline experience, Splash Godzilla 2026, running from July 10 to September 30, 2026 — with a new SNS video campaign offering original merchandise prizes on the spot.
Skater has launched a series of Star Wars "Die-Cut Lunch Boxes" shaped after iconic characters including Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, and R2-D2, each priced at 1,430 yen and available at Star Wars pop-up stores and online retailers across Japan.
Australian handmade bag brand STATE OF ESCAPE is opening its world's first directly-operated store at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya on June 6, 2026, featuring the full lineup and a Hibiya-exclusive color from the Meridian Collection.
A hands-on summer gyokuro workshop focusing on reisen — a cold-brewing method that brings out the rich umami of gyokuro — will be held on June 23, 2026, at Choushinjo Kinokuniya Kyoto Machiya in central Kyoto.
A limited-run pop-up store selling merchandise from the Tabekko Doubutsu LAND immersive event series is opening inside JR Ikebukuro Station from May 26 to June 8, 2026, with free admission and a purchase bonus on offer.
A six-day exhibition celebrating Teppei Sasakura's 35 years as a painter opens at Daimaru Umeda Store 7F from May 27 to June 1, 2026, featuring 82 original paintings alongside prints and rare illustrator-era works. Admission is free.
A rice flour bagel specialty shop, THE BAGEL by CIAO, is opening in Kagurazaka, Shinjuku on June 8, 2026. The shop is known for its "crunchy, chewy, and juicy" texture and a signature bagel best enjoyed within one hour of baking.