Browse all travel guides tagged with "Japanese Culture"
Kobe no Tobira, the Kobe Tourism Bureau's platform for locally organized tourism programs, has begun selling four autumn tours that take visitors deep into Kobe's lesser-known history and culture, from a hot spring town and a mountain castle to a historic port district and a residence on track to become Japan's first National Treasure house.
The Hibiya Library & Museum in Tokyo is holding the Nara Ittobori Exhibition from December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027, bringing together around 40 works and tools by leading artists of this thousand-year-old Nara woodcarving tradition.
Sasayama Joka-machi Hotel NIPPONIA, operated by Kazeno Heritage in Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo, has partnered with SASAYAMA COTTON BASE to offer a new stay-and-craft experience of cotton ginning, hand weaving, and dyeing with Tamba black beans and chestnuts, available from September 8 to December 26, 2026.
Kintsugi artisan Sho Takeshita's brand ANYTSUGI has released the Simple Kintsugi Kit -kumo-, a lacquer-free kit that lets people repair broken tableware in a single day and use the mended pieces as food-safe dishware afterward.
かにじぇんぬ 金沢, a live-crab restaurant from Osaka's QRAUD Inc., opened in Kanazawa's Nishi Chaya district on September 7, 2026, with a course comparing beni-zuwai crab and Noto hair crab, plus a private option pairing seasonal crab with a Kanazawa geisha performance.
Furuyu Onsen ONCRI in Saga will hold a Yakuzen Miso-Making Workshop on October 29, 2026, combining hands-on fermentation, a light meal, and a soak in its hot spring.
Paper goods maker Maruai is launching the "Pochi-bukuro Omikuji Card," an omikuji-style fortune message card made to slip inside a pochi-bukuro money envelope, on October 13, 2026, for 330 yen (tax included).
IEGNIM in Tokyo's Yoyogi-Uehara area hosts a solo exhibition by Takatori Hassengama potter Yuko Takatori from September 12 to 23, 2026, showcasing works rooted in Takatori ware's 400-year "kirei-sabi" tradition, alongside a wagashi-making workshop with the artist on September 22.
THE FARM in Katori, Chiba, is offering a two-night, three-day stay plan that lets overseas visitors join the float-pulling and dancing at the autumn festival of the Sawara Grand Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tradition, from October 8 to 10, 2026.
The 64th Yamanaka Onsen Koikoi Festival takes place September 19–20 in Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga City, filling the hot spring town with mikoshi processions and circle dancing, while a free special performance of "Yamanaka-bushi Four Seasons Dance" is also being held this year.
Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f in Sengokuhara is offering a yukata experience with salon mizu timed to the mid-autumn moon, featuring both a self-dressing plan and a creator-styled plan for hotel guests on September 25, 2026.
Characters from the My Hero Academia anime are getting their own hanafuda playing card set, finished with a premium traditional lining by Kyoto's Oishi Tengudo, with pre-orders opening September 4.
Starting August 29, 2026, Suigian in Nihonbashi, Tokyo is holding regular Miko Taikenkai sessions where participants wear the robes of a Shinto priest or shrine maiden and spend three hours learning traditional bearing, manners, and dance in a space steeped in centuries of history.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Public Bathhouse Trade Association has launched Sento Gururi, a new video project in which comedians who love sento introduce their favorite neighborhood bathhouse along with a restaurant to visit afterward, with the first episode now streaming and new videos planned every month.
Uruma City, Okinawa hosts the 38th All-Island Lion Dance Festival on October 10 and 11, featuring an eve festival lit by LED sky lanterns and a day of vibrant lion dance performances at the historic Katsuren Castle Ruins.
The Jumangoku Matsuri Festival returns to Daishoji, Kaga City, on September 12–13, 2026, with stalls, a children's mikoshi, and an amateur singing contest, highlighted by the "Manto Mikoshi," a portable shrine covered in around 100 lanterns hoisted and paraded around the plaza on the first night.
HandMade In Japan Fes', one of Japan's largest creator festivals, will hold its first Osaka edition at INTEX Osaka on December 12–13, 2026, bringing together 1,700 creators for a market, workshops, live music, and a Christmas Special Edition gift area.
Kimono EXPO 2026, an annual event where tradition and modernity meet, comes to Tokyo from October 7 to 12 and Osaka from October 14 to 18, with hands-on workshops and artisan talks — admission is free.
The Prince Park Tower Tokyo will open reservations for its "New Year Plan 2027" from September 24, 2026, adding a countdown event with a million soap bubbles, a Miki Asakura concert, and other new activities for three generations to share near Tokyo Tower.
Fukushima's Tamano Ascend Distillery releases 拓駈 (Hiraku) 2026 SUMMER EDITION 双夏 (Soka) on September 6, a bourbon-cask-driven whisky blended from new-make spirit that has aged through two summers under the distillery's "whisky grown from the soil" concept.
Starting October 1, 2026, Kai Akiu in Miyagi's Akiu Onsen offers a new three-generation family plan inspired by Date Masamune's hospitality, featuring a hands-on zunda-making experience and a private "Date-Style Celebration Banquet" for milestones like a 60th birthday or Shichi-Go-San.
From October 30 to November 3, 2026, Sensoji Temple in Tokyo is opening its normally closed Denboin Garden and Ema-do Hall — home to around 50 large votive paintings — for a five-day special viewing featuring a mist installation and the after-dark Kinryu Yakai program. Reentry-enabled day-and-night tickets go on advance sale September 1.
The National Museum of Art, Osaka and the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka have launched Collections in Nakanoshima (NMAO–NAKKA), a new partnership to showcase the Nakanoshima area's cultural appeal. Its first initiative brings together works by Atsuko Tanaka from both museums' collections, on view through November 3.
Kirishima Yokogawa Distillery is opening preorders on September 1 for Single Malt Whisky "The Drink You Don't Drink," a limited seven-bottle series tied to the Seven Lucky Gods and blessed by Chief Priest Benmou of Tenmyoji Temple, meant to be displayed unopened with a handwritten wish on the label.
A new nighttime event, NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS Higashi Honganji / Shōsei-en Garden, opens October 31, 2026 within walking distance of Kyoto Station, pairing light installations across five viewing spots at the temple and garden with seasonal drinks, running nightly through December 6.
WAKISAKA KATSUJI / SOU・SOU MUSEUM in Kyoto's Shimogamo area will open for a reservation-only Silver Week viewing from September 19 to 23, 2026, showcasing around 60 years of work by textile designer Katsuji Wakisaka.
From October 17 to November 15, 2026, YATTOKAME FESTIVAL DOORS returns to Nagoya for its 14th edition, filling castles, historic restaurants, parks, and streets with traditional performing arts, wagashi tours, walking programs, and lectures. Ticket sales for the various programs begin September 11.
Ichihatasan Yakushiji is releasing the third design in its "Monthly Omamori Bag" series at its popular omamori-making experience — from September 1, 2026, a limited moon-viewing-themed bag will be available, ready to be paired with a cord of your choice for a one-of-a-kind autumn amulet.
Minomachiya Co., Ltd.'s dispersed kominka hotel in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, is renaming itself from NIPPONIA Mino Merchant Town to NAE Mino on September 8, 2026, adding guided town walks, a local-news LINE account, a "Mino Najimifu" shop pass, and a share of lodging revenue donated back to the community.
From August 20, 2026, the Hankyu 17-Bangai shopping complex in Umeda, Osaka is running a special exhibition of Takarazuka Revue stage costumes alongside Takarazuka-themed staircase decorations, continuing through March 16, 2027.
Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park, is waiving admission for visitors dressed in kimono from September 2 to October 31, 2026, under "Kimono Discount 2026," while also stopping its Merry-Go-Round and Swan ride for weekday "Photoraction" photo sessions and running a hashtag giveaway on social media.
Setagaya Super Band makes a long-awaited return, joined by the Yoshida Brothers on Tsugaru shamisen, at Setagaya Egret Hall on November 21, 2026, the sixth installment of the Discovery Setagaya Sounds concert series. Tickets go on sale September 4.
Seishin Tougei's new ceramic growing kit lets turf sprout and grow like hair on samurai, geisha, and ninja figures, with all three designs going on sale nationwide and online on August 24, 2026 for ¥1,300 before tax.
The cultural tourism facility Kaga Iryokuen in Yamanaka Onsen presents Kutani ware artist Chika Yoshigai's first solo exhibition from August 19, followed by ceramic artist Chihiro Fujisaki's exhibition from September 19, 2026.
From September 7 to October 4, 2026, MoN Takanawa and TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY present a 28-day program reviving Takanawa's Edo-era "moon waiting" tradition, featuring an immersive planetarium, an exhibition of an Utamaro masterpiece, workshops, and moon-themed food and drink.
The Bunkyo Ward Mori Ogai Memorial Museum in Tokyo will present a special exhibition on the Kanchoro Kakai, a series of tanka poetry gatherings hosted by writer Mori Ogai at his residence from 1907, running October 10, 2026 through January 11, 2027.
Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) group Seido will hold the exhibition "Seido in Ninna-ji" at the Kuroshoin of World Heritage temple Ninna-ji in Kyoto from September 1 to 20, 2026, with eight artists showing across two periods.
From September 7 to 13, 2026, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY hosts "Takanawa Tsukimachi," an event reviving Takanawa's Edo-era moon-waiting tradition with a sake pairing menu, a special afternoon tea, mochi-pounding, moon-themed light art, and free yukata dressing.
Tudor's touring sumo-themed pop-up store makes back-to-back stops in Osaka, opening at Shinsaibashi PARCO from August 28 as "Shinsaibashi Basho," then at Osaka Takashimaya from September 9 as "Osaka Takashimaya Basho," with newly shot portraits of four top-division sumo wrestlers alongside Tudor's iconic staple models.
Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO, a renovated kominka hotel in Nara's Ikaruga–Horyuji area and the birthplace of ceramic artist and first Living National Treasure Tomimoto Kenkichi, marks the World Heritage registration of the Asuka-Fujiwara Imperial Capitals with a special kaiseki plan themed on ancient Yamato history, available from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.
Ahead of next year's Koto Akizuki Hina Meguri, the historic town of Akizuki in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture will display around 600 hina dolls in front of the Akizuki Castle ruins' Nagayamon Gate on September 9, 2026, to mark the Chōyō no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival).
The Itabashi Art Museum in Tokyo is holding the collection exhibition "Light and Rich – Edo-Era Paintings" from August 29 to September 27, 2026, exploring the museum's holdings through the contrasting keywords of "light" and "rich."
The Niyodo Blue Tourism Association is hosting a record 57 programs across six towns along Kochi's Niyodo River from September 26 to November 29, 2026, offering river activities, seasonal dining, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences centered on the river's brilliant blue waters.
To mark its 2nd anniversary on August 20, 2026, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is relaunching Banyan Group's "Stay for Good" program tailored to Kyoto, centered on a new "Ninnaji Legacy Experience" created with the UNESCO World Heritage site Ninna-ji that gives guests special access to the temple, with part of the proceeds supporting its preservation.
Starting August 3, 2026, guests staying at select hotels and ryokan around Ehime's Dogo Onsen can rent an original yukata featuring artist Mika Ninagawa's photography-based designs, part of the ongoing "Mika Ninagawa with EiM × Dogo Art" project that runs through February 2027.
A special exhibition at Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Tokyo, Setagaya runs from September 11 to October 20, 2026, showcasing washi paper flowers by Hananowa dyed through a collaboration with Atelier Shimura's plant dyeing, along with new plant-dyed beeswax paper products.
Starting September 2026, Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora's Riverside Kitchen & Bar introduces a new seasonal dinner course from Executive Chef Kei Sakamoto, layering French technique and wood-fire cooking with Japanese ingredients like plum, yuba, whitebait, and miso, available in three tiers from ¥10,000.
The Naritaya family's first joint national kabuki tour, The Road to Tradition, opened on August 21, 2026 at Kanazawa Kagekiza Theater, featuring an all-premiere program across 11 performances at 6 venues nationwide through August 30.
About 550 selected pieces spanning ceramics, textiles, lacquer art, metalwork, woodwork and bamboo work, doll craft, and other crafts -- including the newest work by Living National Treasures -- go on display at the 73rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, running September 2 to 15, 2026, on the 7th floor of Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store's Main Building.
Kashima Arts opens the preview viewing for its "Meguru -MEGURU-" Vol.27 MAIN SALE art auction on August 22, bringing together 213 fine works of Japanese art including 15 pieces by Ito Jakuchu. To mark the occasion, a limited-quantity original eco bag featuring Serizawa Keisuke's 10 Great Disciples of Shakamuni goes on sale, and preview visitors receive a complimentary specially designed fan.
On September 25, 2026, Higaki, the restaurant inside Kyoto Gyoen, will hold its first-ever, limited-seating "Harvest Moon Special Dinner and Moon-Viewing Banquet," pairing a special kaiseki dinner with a moon-viewing gathering held in a specially arranged area in front of the Kyoto Imperial Palace's Seisho-mon gate.
A new initiative called "PROJECT YAGURA" is inviting vacation rental guests and staff in Tokyo to join local neighborhood association festivals, from helping with operations to carrying a mikoshi.
Kobe's Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum will hold the exhibition "Where Trees Live Again" from October 3 to December 13, 2026, spotlighting furniture designer George Nakashima and the Kagawa workshop that has carried on his craft in Japan for more than 60 years.
From September 11 to 13, 2026, ARK Hills in Akasaka celebrates its 40th anniversary with the ARK Hills Autumn Festival 2026, featuring a mikoshi procession, bon odori dancing, food stalls from 15 restaurants, and live music and performances.
NAKED, INC.'s experiential art exhibition NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2026 opens at the UNESCO World Heritage site from October 23 to December 5, 2026, marking 400 years since the Kan'ei Imperial Visit and exploring the aesthetics of Tokugawa Masako.
As autumn arrives in Toyama, the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival lights up the historic town of Yatsuo from September 1–3, while Tateyama's cooling trails, the season's first red snow crab, and Kureha pears bring an early taste of fall.
On August 22, 2026, Nishi Ward's long-running Insect Sound Gathering returns to Kamon-yama Park in Yokohama for its 60th edition, with lantern displays, tea ceremony, koto and shakuhachi music, and a special Otome Bunraku puppet theater performance.
TAIMATSU's fragrance brand YOKAI JAPAN has opened a new Perfume Shop on Ichinenzaka in Kyoto, its second location after Asakusa, offering scents inspired by the atmosphere and culture of the historic streets of Higashiyama.
Osaka-based QRAUD opens かにじぇんぬ 金沢, a live-crab restaurant, in Kanazawa's Nishi Chaya geisha district on September 7, 2026, its first Hokuriku location, featuring Ishikawa crab, Kaga vegetables, and a course paired with a geisha dance performance.
Kabuki star Ichikawa Danjuro performs Dannoura Kabuki at a special venue overlooking Dannoura in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, on November 6 and 7, 2026, the finale of the three-year Yamaguchi Drama Tourism project.
On August 22, 2026, Kawasaki's Miyamae Ward will host the free "26th Resound! Miyamae Taiko Meeting," a summer festival featuring taiko drumming performances, illuminated Miyasaki Nebuta floats made by local students, a hands-on taiko corner, a yukata dressing experience, and a guest performance by the wagaku group Japaund.
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.
Hayachine Take Kagura, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage from Iwate, comes to Silk Road Dance Hall in Yokohama Chinatown on October 13, 2026, marking 50 years since both its national designation and Amina Collection's founding.
On September 12, 2026, a guided walk exploring the Japan Heritage story "Living with Whales" and the nature of Ugui Peninsula takes place in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, marking two anniversaries.
NHK Culture's Kyoto classroom is holding a three-part course at Kongo Noh Theatre, where the young head of the Kongo school himself explains and performs excerpts from the elegant "Mai Kongo" style, alongside treasured masks and costumes passed down since the Muromachi period.
Mimirin, a brand founded by 24-year-old Mina Ichikawa that turns retired kimono into teddy bears and gifts, opened its first physical store in Kyoto's Gion district on August 8, 2026, following a crowdfunding campaign that reached 110% of its goal.
TAIMATSU's cultural experience brand FUJI JAPAN has opened a new location in Nara, inviting visitors to choose their own blade and handle and craft an original knife by hand, inside the same building as knife specialty shop MUSASHI JAPAN Nara.
Kronos Gaia's sumo show restaurant TOKYO SUMO CLUB ENTERTAINMENT opened on August 12 on Tokyo Tower's FootTown 5F, its second location after Sapporo, offering an English-narrated sumo show, a real clay dohyo guests can step onto, and meals built around a chanko nabe endorsed by former yokozuna Asahifuji.
The Kannon Museum at Hase-dera in Kamakura is holding a 2026 autumn exhibition from August 29 to December 6, showcasing all 33 paintings of the Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Sites by Nihonga painter Otake Goyo, a disciple of Ito Shinsui, alongside works by his son Otake Masayoshi.
Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture is holding a tower-return event from August 21 to 28, 2026, moving its main tower back to its original position for the first time since 1915. Visitors can watch the historic move up close alongside a night show, inner moat viewing, and other special programs.
On September 27, 2026, Kyoto's Hotel Chourakukan will open Chorakuan, its normally private tea room, for a first-ever tea ceremony experience, part of the one-day "Art Festival in CHOURAKUKAN 2026" themed "Architecture and Hospitality Culture."
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, Ryoso Umi no Cho and Glamp Ocean Iseshima in Ise City, Mie Prefecture will hold "Ise-Shima x Okinawa – Musubi no Hibiki," a one-night cultural exchange event on their private beach featuring Okushima Ryujin Taiko drumming, Okinawan eisa dance, and hand-held fireworks, free and open to overnight guests and non-guests alike.
To mark the start of Obon on August 13, 2026, Chiba confectionery shop Okashi no Taiyo is offering a limited-quantity sale of handmade tsukitate mochi and omukae dango — pounded the traditional way with a mortar and pestle from premium Chiba-grown Mangetsumochi and Koshihikari rice.
SUMIDA ART FESTIVAL 2026, the first ward-organized, multi-month comprehensive arts festival among Tokyo's 23 special wards, opens September 4, 2026 in Sumida Ward with more than 100 programs at over 50 locations. Tickets are now on sale for three of its performances — a new dance work and a play about care, both at Sumida Park Theater Kura, and an immersive walking tour running through the neighborhood.
The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, Takanawa Hanakohro, and Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa are opening reservations for their New Year Plan 2027 from September 18, 2026, featuring a countdown party and musical stage shows in the grand ballroom "Hiten," a New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony, and family-friendly Japanese culture experiences.
From August 7 to September 13, 2026, traditional-craft lifestyle brand Tsugu will hold its first pop-up store in the Kansai region on the food floor of Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore, inside LUCUA ILE in Osaka.
An official record video has been released for Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition HIROSHIMA, the immersive digital art exhibition where visitors can step into the world of ukiyo-e through 3DCG animation and projection mapping. Running through September 6, 2026, at NTT Credo Hall in Hiroshima, the exhibition also features a Hiroshima-only display of ukiyo-e depicting the city's scenery.
UWS AQUARIUM GA☆KYO, an aquarium in Odaiba that reimagines Japanese tradition as living art, will close on August 31, 2026 after about four years, having just become the only aquarium in Japan to win TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice 2026 award and the top-ranked attraction in Tokyo among travelers. Every tank in the building remains available for purchase as a one-of-a-kind artwork by creator Gakyo Miyazawa.
YOKAI Immersive Experience Exhibition KAGOSHIMA welcomed its 30,000th visitor with a commemorative ceremony, as the immersive digital art museum on Japanese yokai continues its run at Reimeikan in Kagoshima City through August 31.
WORLD IDOL REPUBLIC in NAGOYA SAKAE, a new permanent entertainment facility in Nagoya's Sakae district operated by NDP Co., Ltd., held its grand opening performance on August 8, 2026, blending illusion, traditional Japanese performing arts, and live music, with mascot character Sakura making her debut. The venue is now holding twice-daily "Obon Special Performances" from August 11 through 16.
To mark Japan's "Inn Day" on August 10th, Booking.com has selected 10 distinctive ryokan and hotels from Hokkaido to Kyushu, spotlighting historic hot springs, ocean views, and regional cuisine found across the country.
An official record video has been released for YOKAI Immersive Experience Exhibition KAGOSHIMA - Imagination of Japan -, the immersive digital art museum bringing Japan's yokai paintings to life through 3D CG, projection mapping, and sculpture. Running through August 31 at Reimeikan in Kagoshima City, the exhibition has already drawn more than 250,000 visitors across its Nagoya and Tokyo runs and now makes its first stop in Kyushu.
Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel is unveiling a new wedding floral concept created by ikebana artist Mika Otani, marking her first full-scale venture into bridal work with striking new flower designs across the hotel's banquet halls.
The Tamba Sasayama Dekansho Festival returns to Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture on August 15 and 16, 2026. The festival centers on Sō Odori, a mass dance performed to the folk song Dekansho-bushi around one of Japan's largest wooden yagura towers, alongside food stalls and fireworks.
Toshima Ward's local history museum is holding a collection exhibition on the vegetable seed wholesalers who once lined the "Seed Merchant Road" through Itabashi, Takinogawa, and Sugamo, running through September 23, 2026.
Under a new plan to preserve the area's historic character, Sakai City in Fukui Prefecture has designated the Kubota Sake Brewery Garden and the storied Sakai family residence as its first two "Buildings Forming Historic Character" — a first for the prefecture.
Iwata City Central Library's "Iwata's Giant Kofun" exhibition marks 70 years since the excavation of Doyama Kofun, one of Shizuoka Prefecture's largest keyhole-shaped tombs, with around 100 prefecturally designated artifacts on display through August 30, 2026.
Kura Sauna and Cultural Property Inn Moricho, a roughly 100-year-old registered cultural property reborn as an inn in Oga, Akita, has been selected as one of the 30 honorees in Forbes JAPAN's Destinations of the Year 2026 tourism awards.
To celebrate its 5th anniversary, ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts in Kyoto's Takagamine will host "Dive into RIMPA," a three-day event from September 11 to 13, 2026, spotlighting Rinpa-inspired culture and craftsmanship.
The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike is serving an autumn Japanese-style afternoon tea called "Kinshu no Minori," featuring seasonal flavors such as Tamba chestnut, persimmon, and Kyoho grape, at the historic "Saryo" tearoom on select dates from September to November 2026.
Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition AOMORI, an immersive digital art museum that has drawn more than 500,000 visitors worldwide, has released an official record video ahead of its run through August 30, 2026, marking the exhibition's first stop in the Tohoku region. Over 300 works by ukiyo-e masters including Hokusai and Hiroshige come to life through 3DCG animation and projection mapping at the Too Nippo Shinmachi Building in Aomori City.
Since launching on May 20, 2026, ZEN Co., Ltd.'s DALULU character keychains, which blend Japan's daruma lucky charm with the twelve zodiac animals, have proven a hit with buyers. The mascots are now available at ZEN's online store, several Don Quijote locations, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's north observation deck.
From July 30 to August 12, 2026, the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design is accepting Daimonji gomagi, the wooden prayer tablets burned each year during Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, at a special reception corner inside the museum. It is the first time advance reception has been offered away from the foot of Mt. Daimonji, with bilingual Japanese/English writing guidance available.
The Maebashi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reissued Kyuchomei e no Tabi, a booklet tracing the history of 44 town names that disappeared from the city decades ago, after years of requests from citizens and member businesses.
Newsweek Japan's August 11 and 18 double issue is on sale now with a special report on anime beloved around the world. Writers from the United States, France, Italy, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and the Philippines explore how titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Saint Seiya, and Crayon Shin-chan won hearts across borders.
Gakken has revealed the cover of Learning Kabuki for the First Time with Sanrio Characters, a cute and easy-to-understand kabuki guidebook arriving September 17, 2026, that also features a talk between the supervisor of Sanrio Puroland's KAWAII KABUKI stage show and the president of Sanrio Entertainment.
A new incense series called "Japanese Gardens" reinterprets the atmosphere of five traditional Japanese garden styles through scent, launching August 3.
Relier81, a Kyoto-based brand that upcycles kimono and obi fabrics into fashion items, is holding a 21-day pop-up store at NEWoMan Yokohama's NEWoMan Lab., featuring new square sandal designs, an apple leather 2-way bag, and a refreshed stole lineup.
Ikuta Shrine in Kobe is offering five limited-edition goshuin through August 2026, ranging from delicate papercut designs to an etched "Light of Waves" print, while its sub-shrine Daikai Jinja hosts the three-day Daikai Natsu Matsuri summer festival from August 7 to 9 with live music and food stalls.
A new book, "Japanese Manga Magazines: From the Late Edo Period to the Immediate Postwar Period — YUMOTO Koichi Collection," traces how Japan's manga magazines evolved from political satire and the "Ponchi" culture, through Ippei Okamoto's work and an era of press censorship, into the manga culture of today, illustrated with numerous images from a rare collection. The bilingual Japanese-English book, translated by Tamayo Samejima, goes on sale August 21.
Now in its 27th year, the "Yamashiro Daidengaku" performance in Kaga Onsen moves indoors for the first time, bringing dynamic rhythms, elaborate costumes, and mystical flute music to Kaga City Cultural Hall's Kamona Hall on August 8 and 9, 2026.
From August 22 to 30, 2026, Kashima Arts in Tokyo's Kyobashi district will hold a free preview viewing for "MEGURU" Vol. 27 Main Sale, an art auction featuring 15 works by Itō Jakuchū and a complete 12-panel set of Shikō Munakata's Two Bodhisattvas and Ten Disciples of Śākyamuni, among 213 works of Japanese and Western art.
Kimono no Heya, an antique kimono rental shop across from Sarutahiko Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, begins full support for mothers' visiting-kimono rental from August 8, adding dressing, hair styling, and luggage storage to the children's Shichi-Go-San kimono it already offers.
A new lineup of Miniature Okiagari Polon-chan figures, chosen in five colors through a fan poll at Tokyo Toy Show 2025, along with matching charms and keychains, goes on sale August 5, 2026 through the official online store.
From August 1 to 15, 2026, The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike will set up a reception space in its lobby where guests can offer gomagi votive sticks for "Matsugasaki Myoho," one of the bonfires of the Kyoto Gozan Okuribi lit near the hotel, alongside video screenings introducing the traditional Matsugasaki Daimoku Odori and Sashi Odori dances.
A new chopstick-making studio, Chopsticks Studio Asakusa, opened on July 5, 2026, just a three-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate in Tokyo's Asakusa. Visitors can carve and polish their own wooden chopsticks -- including matching pairs for couples -- inside an air-conditioned space, with each one-hour session fitting easily into a day of sightseeing.
Taishukan Shoten has published 能と狂言の大事典, a new reference on Noh and Kyogen compiled by 65 specialists over 18 years with about 4,800 entries, covering the more than 600-year history of these traditional Japanese performing arts.
Earphone Guide’s Quick Guide to Kabuki, a beginner-friendly kabuki primer edited by Kumadorin Chaya, the community site run by Earphone Guide Co., Ltd., and written by Masayuki Nakamura, goes on sale in bookstores nationwide and online on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from publisher JMAM.
Wagokoro Co., Ltd. will simultaneously open a Hashiya Mansaku chopstick specialty store and a second Hokusai Graphic Japanese umbrella store in Asakusa's おまいり町 in late August 2026, expanding its store count in the area to four.
Ichihatasan Yakushiji is releasing the second design in its "Monthly Omamori Bag" series at its popular omamori-making experience — from August 1, 2026, a limited sunflower-themed bag will be available, ready to be paired with a cord of your choice for a one-of-a-kind summer amulet.
On November 3, 2026, Iwatsuki in Saitama City will host the 14th Castle Town Iwatsuki Falconry Parade, a historical procession reenacting Tokugawa Ieyasu's falconry visits to the area, and the organizing committee is now recruiting about 55 general participants — from fourth grade through seniors, regardless of nationality — with applications due August 21, 2026.
Link Catering, a Kyoto-based catering and event-space production brand, has launched a new Japanese-style catering plan that pairs authentic washoku cuisine with traditional decor such as wagasa umbrellas and kimono textiles, aimed at MICE events and receptions.
Enjyukaku Bekkan, a nationally registered cultural property inside Marugame Castle, is opening as a one-group-a-day private villa stay with optional cultural experiences. Reservations open August 1, 2026, with check-ins starting September 1, 2026.
From July 28 to August 31, 2026, Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel is displaying about 200 Yatomi goldfish spanning 12 breeds and 30 varieties in a giant tank on its 15th-floor main lobby, decorated with art inspired by ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
POLEPOLE, which runs cave exploration tours in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, has launched "NIIMI ORIGIN," an inbound-focused Japanese culture experience brand connecting overseas travelers with the region's shrine traditions, soba making, sake brewing, and other culture passed down by local people.
MONV.MitsuMame Omoya in Kyoto's Nijo area opens "Bizen and Bitchu Celadon by Iwatani Kiln of Okayama" from September 5 to October 4, 2026, the first show in a fall and winter lineup exploring pottery, woodwork, and textiles.
Sankeien Garden in Yokohama will open the interior of Kakushoukaku, a Yokohama City Designated Tangible Cultural Property and the former residence of founder Hara Sankei, from August 9 to 16, 2026, alongside a free rubbing-making workshop and a geisha dance performance.
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum in Takatsuki City will host a lecture by Kyoto Tachibana University's Atsushi Kojima on Emperor Keitai's reign as seen from Chikushi, part of the city's annual "Haniwa Day" program.
The Tokyo Art Dealers Association is holding Tobi Art Fair 2026 from October 16 to 18, 2026 at Tokyo Art Club, where 118 of Japan's leading art dealers will exhibit more than 2,000 works spanning antiques, tea ceremony utensils, swords, and modern and contemporary art, with advance tickets going on sale July 29.
A new YOKAI JAPAN Perfume Shop has opened on Tanuki-dori in Asakusa, offering fragrances built around the idea of scent as yokai energy and designed to let wearers carry the spirit of Japanese culture with them.
Kanzashi-ya WARGO Yufuin Kinrinko, a new hairpin specialty store from Wagokoro Co., Ltd., grand-opened on July 24, 2026, in the Kinrinko area of Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, becoming the company's third brand store in the area and bringing traditional Japanese kanzashi craftsmanship to visitors.
Takatsuki City in Osaka will hold the 57th Takatsuki Matsuri on August 1 and 2, 2026, a summer festival with more than 50 years of history featuring parades, stage performances by around 130 groups, and roughly 100 food stalls and kitchen cars across five venues.
Natsume-sha's illustrated guidebook Let's Learn about Yokai has gone back to print after strong sales, as renewed interest in Japan's yokai and ghost stories — fueled by a hit TV drama, novels, and anime — continues into the summer ghost-story season.
After its July session sold out within hours, Roppongi Tea Factory will hold an additional "chazume" workshop on August 8, 2026, where participants pack tencha tea leaves into a jar to age for about three months before reuniting with their matcha this November.
Navi Tomo will host a special guided tour at Shochiku Otani Library on September 11, 2026, with specialist staff introducing rare kabuki-related scripts, programs, and stage photographs, plus an original, non-sale library goods gift for participants.
From August 15 to 19, 2026, Kanze Noh Theater in GINZA SIX marks its annual summer festival with hands-on mask experiences, daily workshops, large-screen film presentations, and original Noh-inspired goods, all with support for international visitors.
Bushu Kawagoe-ya, a Japanese culture teahouse offering udon meals, tea and sweets, artful interiors, a photo experience, and souvenirs, has opened along Taisho Roman Yume Dori in Kawagoe, Saitama, as a stop designed to fit easily into a day of sightseeing.
A stage devoted to the roughly 600-year-old comedic art of kyogen arrives at Roppongi Tricolore Theater this October and November, led by the young performer Mannojo Nomura.
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.
Wagokoro Co., Ltd. is set to open Yufuin Kinrinko Kanzashiya Wargo, a new kanzashi (hair ornament) specialty store, in the Kinrinko area of Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, in late July 2026. The store will be the brand's third location in the Yufuin Kinrinko area, joining Yufuin Kinrinko Hokusai Graphic and Yufuin Kinrinko musumusu.
Minato City Local History Museum's special exhibition room will present Edo Work Guide — Working by the Sea, Doing Business in Town and at Daimyo Residences, using ukiyo-e prints and historical documents to introduce the occupations of Edo-period Minato, from July 18 through September 23, 2026.
Goryori Mukyu, a Japanese restaurant in Roppongi Hills, is holding a one-day, 10-guest-only tea gathering called "Mukyu Chaji" on August 8, 2026, in collaboration with Urasenke tea instructor Kyoko Ishikawa, pairing a specially designed Japanese afternoon tea with a chabako (tea box) tea ceremony.
A made-in-Japan mechanical watch combining The Ghost in the Shell with the traditional Japanese craft of Raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) is coming from GARRACK, its dial designed around the AI-equipped think tank Fuchikoma. Pre-orders open July 17, with sales beginning July 31, 2026.
From July 29 to August 11, 2026, Hankyu Umeda Main Store's Koto Koto Stage 12 hosts "THE BON," a pop-up featuring modern Buddhist altar goods, unique memorial candles and incense, and seasonal gifts for the whole family.
Hiroshima Motomachi Aquarium is holding a yukata-themed summer exhibition from July 18 to September 6, 2026, featuring the colorful Coral hind fish, a ticket discount for visitors dressed in yukata or jinbei, and six days of extended evening hours during the Obon period.
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in Saitama Prefecture has installed a "Shrine Navita" digital signage system, offering multilingual guidance on the shrine's history, festivals, and worship etiquette for its growing number of visitors.
Sekigahara Warland's annual Wish-Making Wind Chime Festival returns with about 6,000 wind chimes strung along a 200-meter tunnel, joined this year by a new Shofu Uchiwa Matsuri displaying roughly 1,000 fans indoors, both running through September 30, 2026. Every visitor receives a free original uchiwa starting July 13, and an indoor Sennari Hyotan Matsuri gourd display continues into early December.
Tomimatsu Shrine in Omura, Nagasaki, has opened "Circulating Bamboo Wind Chimes," a bamboo installation created with architecture firm Schemata Architects, turning the shrine's sacred sumo ring into an everyday gathering place for the local community.
From July 11 to August 30, 2026, Yamanashi Prefectural Archaeology Museum presents its summer exhibition "Tales of Jade — Messages from Ancient Times," featuring jade and stone ornaments made from the Jomon through Kofun periods, with free admission and related events including a workshop and gallery talks.
From July 18, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei presents its annual collection exhibition drawn from the former Musashino Folk Museum, featuring a nationally designated Important Cultural Property clay earring alongside nostalgic shop signs and matchbox labels once seen around town.
From July 7 to August 18, 2026, the Ginza sumo dinner-show restaurant HIRAKUZA GINZA runs a summer event with a Tanabata wish-writing corner, limited-time sake cocktails, a drink stamp rally, and an uchiwa fan giveaway for ticket holders.
Kobe Tourism Bureau's "Kobe no Tobira" program has begun selling a half-day bus tour to "Hakogi Sennenke," an Important Cultural Property residence expected to become Japan's first residential National Treasure, and to the National Treasure temple "Taisanji," with a stop at its specialty coffee shop along the approach.
On July 25, 2026 — the day of the 49th Sumida River Fireworks Festival — Lotte City Hotel Kinshicho will hold its original summer festival "Sumida Ennichi," offering guests hands-on workshops with local Sumida artisans, retro festival food, and a limited hotel-collaboration craft beer.
Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau is offering a limited 6-guest night tour on August 15, 2026, following the Kurojishi black lion dance across multiple shrine grand festivals in Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, with a Kurojishi YouTuber as guide.
From July 26 to 30, 2026, the Kanze Noh Theater in Ginza hosts a five-day event built around the hit anime The World Is Dancing, pairing movie screenings and noh performer talk sessions on stage with a mask try-on booth, giant photo spots, and original artwork in the lobby.
Nippon Kodo's new fragrance brand nowas is holding a three-day pop-up at the Kyoto machiya SIGHTS KYOTO in Miyagawa-cho, where visitors can try all four Eau de Parfum scents and join a workshop to make their own scented sachet.
Kyoto textile brand SOU・SOU is relocating its jika-tabi specialty shop, SOU・SOU Tabi, to a new location on July 16, 2026, marking the brand's 23rd anniversary with a store designed by architect Hisanobu Tsujimura and a range of original jika-tabi and tabi socks.
Takashimaya's Nihonbashi and Osaka stores will host "The Beauty of Okinawa Encountered by Yanagi Soetsu: Ryukyu Mingei," an exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Mingei movement and the planned reconstruction of Shuri Castle's main hall, featuring around 100 works of Okinawan dyeing, weaving, and pottery drawn from the Japan Folk Crafts Museum's collection.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary this autumn, The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike is offering a limited-time stay plan featuring a guided special viewing at Jissoin Monzeki, an Imperial-associated temple in Kyoto's Rakuhoku district, followed by an autumn kaiseki dinner at Saryo, available from September 1 to November 20, 2026.
torch Sarutahiko Jinja-mae, a one-minute walk from Sarutahiko Shrine in Ise, lets families complete kimono rental, hair and makeup, studio photography, and a shrine visit all in a single day, with bookings now open for the 2026 autumn Shichi-Go-San season.
aimme's Tokyo Harajuku and Ikebukuro stores are running a limited-time Mama Furisode event from July 18 to 31, offering special contract benefits for customers planning to wear a mother's inherited furisode for their coming-of-age ceremony or photo shoot.
To mark the 27th anniversary of its opening, Awa Odori Kaikan in Tokushima is holding a two-day festival on July 18 and 19, 2026, with a kids' Awa Odori special performance and free admission to the Awa Odori Museum.
From July 1 to August 31, 2026, Miyako Hotel Yokkaichi displays a Tanabata-themed art installation titled "Soraboshi" by landscape designer Aika Hayano in its first-floor lobby, and guests visiting through July 7 can write their wishes on tanzaku strips to add to the display.
Kazetsuchi and The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Naha are introducing "Ryukyu Experience," a new program pairing Ryukyu bingata workshop tours with hands-on dyeing sessions, starting July 10, 2026.
From July 4 to August 23, 2026, Sodegaura City Local Museum in Chiba holds a special exhibition marking 100 years since the start of the Shōwa era, featuring citizen-curated memorabilia, a nostalgic recreation of a Shōwa-era living room, and hands-on event days including a VR experience of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
From August 2026 through March 2027, Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo and Otonami are holding a monthly flower art object workshop with art and ikebana artist Norihiko Kamei in a two-bedroom suite overlooking the Imperial Palace that is available only to hotel guests; reservations for the first three sessions open July 2.
From July 1, 2026, CROSS POINT NAKASUKAWABATA at Hotel Oriental Express Fukuoka Nakasukawabata adds cafe hours built around Kyushu's Yame and Kagoshima matcha, with sweets and drinks whisked to order in front of guests.
Saitama City is recruiting around 55 participants for the 14th Iwatsuki Castle Town Falconry Procession, a historical parade on the old Nikko Onari Road reenacting Tokugawa Ieyasu's visits to Iwatsuki, to be held on November 3, 2026.
For two days only, Japanese restaurant Goryori Mukyu in Roppongi Hills is pairing Japanese-style assiette desserts with a tasting of Japanese teas curated by table tea ceremony instructor Naoko Tomita, bringing the spirit of tea ceremony to life through a light, contemporary lens.
NHK Culture Center's Chiba and Kashiwa classrooms are opening a new course exploring why Seishi Yokomizo's novels continue to be read and adapted, timed to the September 2026 release of the film The Village of Eight Graves, taught by Nishogakusha University professor Naotaka Yamaguchi.
A new two-day, one-night tour launching September 30, 2026 takes shochu lovers to five breweries on Kagoshima's Osumi Peninsula, with a sweet potato harvest, brewing experiences, a whiskey tasting, and a make-your-own blended shochu workshop.
Toyonaka City has begun accepting proposals from residents and community groups for programs such as lectures, concerts, and exhibitions held at its cultural property facilities, with programs able to take place from September 2026 onward.
At the Yokai Art Museum on Shodoshima, the rain-bringing yokai Terupon topped the first-term POP YOKAI Audition, winning 407 of 5,024 votes. The second-term audition is now underway.
Following more than 200,000 visitors in Nagoya and Tokyo, YOKAI Immersive Experience Exhibition KAGOSHIMA - Imagination of Japan - opens July 3 at Reimeikan in Kagoshima City, bringing Japan's yokai paintings to life through 3D CG, projection mapping, and sculpture for visitors of all ages.
Five types of summer limited goshuin, including two kirigami (paper-cut art) designs themed around a traditional purification ritual and the Tanabata star festival, will be available at Ikuta Shrine in Kobe from July 1, 2026.
The renovated permanent interactive exhibition at Tokyo National Museum opens on June 30, 2026, featuring a 14-meter wide screen that uses real-time collection data to present personalized cultural property recommendations from the day's 3,000 on-display works.
Marugo, a tabi footwear maker founded over 100 years ago, has launched the ITARO 1201 TABI SETTA, a leather sandal that blends the split-toe tabi sole with the aesthetic of traditional Japanese setta sandals.
Nihonshu Fair 2026, featuring approximately 1,200 sake brands from 45 prefectures across Japan, concluded its two-day run at Ikebukuro Sunshine City with sold-out tickets and around 5,600 visitors.
Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Kyoto is holding its first summer event since its renovation reopening — the UZUMASA BON DANCE FESTIVAL — from July 18 to August 30, 2026. Set in an Edo-period townscape, the festival features bon odori with Toei anime characters, maiko performances, and a yokai-themed night party.
KIMONO ARCH and remake brand YEAH RIGHT!! are launching their second collaboration collection on July 4, 2026, featuring unique one-of-a-kind haori and kimono pieces that bring together vintage European tablecloths and Japanese kimono fabric from production regions across Japan.
The historic Kashiwaya inn at Okabe post town in Fujieda is holding a family-friendly Tanabata evening event on July 4, featuring nagashi-somen, a portrait drawing corner, a food marché with five local stalls, and a children's exploration tour of the museum.
A BATHING APE is releasing the SENJAFUDA COLLECTION on June 27, 2026, blending traditional Japanese senjafuda culture with contemporary streetwear design.
Hakone Kowakien Tenyu hotel introduces a special summer stay plan featuring bingata-style yukata dressing with kimono culture guidance and Okinawan-themed dining from July to August 2026.
北斎グラフィック, a Japanese umbrella brand known for traditional waji-patterned designs, has opened a new store on Subana-dori in Enoshima, marking its first location in the Shonan/Enoshima area.
Kimoto Glass, a Japanese glassware brand known for its sake glasses, has partnered with the world tea specialty store LUPICIA to offer its glasses as dedicated tea-drinking vessels, with sales continuing through July 2026.
MIKOTO-MATSURI (命音祭), an immersive wellbeing festival fusing Japanese tradition with art and technology, comes to Kanda Myojin Shrine on July 4, 2026, featuring 10 artists and an eight-stage immersive program.
Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa in Nago City will host "Eisa Night," a series of 14 traditional Okinawan Eisa performances by different local youth associations, every Saturday and holiday from July 18 to September 26, 2026 — free for hotel guests.
SOU・SOU わらべぎ's "Isemomen Kodomo Jinbei," a children's summer garment made from traditional Ise cotton with vibrant Kyoto yuzen dyeing, has sold over 110,000 pieces since its 2010 launch and continues to grow in popularity.
The Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition HIROSHIMA, running July 18 to September 6, 2026 at NTT Credo Hall in Hiroshima, has announced collaboration programs with two nearby venues — AQUA ALIVE MUSEUM and RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima — offering a full sensory ukiyo-e experience.
The beloved 3.5-meter green bear sculpture "Ted Hyber -Coool-" at Grand Front Osaka's うめきた広場 will wear a special happi coat decoration throughout July 2026, welcoming visitors to the 13th Umeda Yukata Festival 2026.
Kimono rental service VASARA is launching a new mini-length yukata style for summer 2026, offering a playful and active take on traditional Japanese summer wear suited for theme parks, live events, and photo spots.
THE BASE GLAMPING YUGAWARA in Kanagawa is hosting a special summer event from July 1 to August 31, 2026, featuring seasonal drinks, lanterns, traditional crafts, firewood splitting, and private onsen bathing in a glamping setting.
FERNANDA is releasing a limited-edition Muscat of Alexandria Collection on June 26, 2026, featuring 20 items crafted with upcycled grape materials from Okayama Prefecture, celebrating 140 years of local muscat cultivation.
TryHard Japan is setting up premium reserved viewing seats at the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival on September 18–20, 2026, offering seated views of the dramatic "Yarimaawashi" sharp-turn maneuver at the iconic Kankan-ba intersection.
Hagihara Co., Ltd., a long-established manufacturer founded in 1892, begins accepting orders on July 1 for made-in-Japan custom-size igusa tatami mats, available as a single piece in sizes specified down to the millimeter.
Hotel Amanek Kanazawa is hosting a hinoki woodcraft coaster-making workshop on June 26 and 27, 2026, led by craft artist Susan Maree. Open to hotel guests and visitors alike, the hands-on session takes place at the hotel's 2nd floor lounge for ¥1,500 per person with no reservation required.
The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike is serving a Japanese-style afternoon tea set featuring Fukujuen green teas paired with seasonal sweets and savories at the historic "Saryo" tearoom, available on select dates from July to August 2026.
倭物やカヤ's popular separate yukata line expands for summer 2026, adding sophisticated adult women's patterns and a first-ever men's separate yukata with pants, along with new Hita geta and easy-wrap obi belts.
The cultural tourism facility Kaga Iryokuen in Yamanaka Onsen is hosting rotating solo exhibitions by local artists. A metalwork show opens June 17, followed by a glass art exhibition on July 18.
From September 19 to November 8, 2026, Banta Cafe by Hoshino Resorts in Okinawa's Yomitan Village hosts "Yonnā BOOK days," an autumn reading event featuring around 100 books selected by locals (uchinānchū), a new seaside book garden on the clifftop, a weekend book fair, and a limited seasonal sweet.
Kyoto-based kimono brand KIMONOMACHI has expanded its popular CoolPass juban line with two new colors, 臙脂 (enji, deep red) and 牡丹鼠 (botannezu, grayish pale wisteria), offering moisture-wicking, machine-washable, and iron-free kimono under-garments year-round.
A contemporary Japanese sword crafted for a promotional event in Paris is now on display at the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum in Setouchi City, Okayama, from June 19 through July 20, 2026.
KNT-CT Holdings is partnering with Rotterdam's Japanese goods store e-pick Store to begin test sales of "NEO Traditional Crafts" — modern reinterpretations of classic Japanese craftsmanship — starting summer 2026.
Kokoen in Himeji City is holding a summer 剪画 (senka) exhibition from June 14 to 28, 2026, with works depicting Himeji Castle and the garden, and free admission for children under 18.
Sasaichi Brewery, a 360-year-old sake producer whose rice wine is offered as sacred sake at Kitaguchihonguu Fuji Sengen Shrine, is opening a new shop inside the waiting room of Otsuki Station on June 30, 2026, in a first-ever collaboration with JR East.
The Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum will hold a summer special exhibition from July 14 to September 6, 2026, showcasing battle-scene folding screens that trace the dramatic conflicts of the Sengoku era, including a newly acquired "Battle of Sekigahara" folding screen.
Kyoto-based shoemaker 吉靴房 has announced the Kaku-Koo (革公緒), a new leather zori sandal that fuses traditional Japanese footwear design with Western shoemaking principles, priced at ¥35,200.
Capsule toy brand Qualia is launching the "Dash Haniwa Pullback Mascot Figure" at vending machines across Japan starting June 15, 2026. Pull it back, let it go, and watch an ancient haniwa figure race forward with its arms swinging wildly.
Two summer-limited unpasteurized sake—Junmai Daiginjo Namazake and Daiginjo Namazake—from the exclusive "Hakutsuru Mikage-go" direct-store brand will go on sale in limited quantities starting June 19, 2026.
Iouji Temple in Iwata City, Shizuoka, is a temple with roots believed to date back to the Nara period. The grounds are home to a karesansui rock garden, a moss-lined approach path, and colorful hydrangea in full bloom — a peaceful retreat where history and nature come together.
SAKAE SAKE SQUARE 2026 is a three-day sake tasting event held at Oasis 21 Galaxy Square in Nagoya's Sakae district on July 18 to 20, 2026, showcasing 150 varieties from 50 breweries across Aichi and Gifu prefectures.
The 4th Arai Tanabata Festival takes place at Arai Station Plaza in Myoko City, Niigata on July 4, 2026, featuring a collaboration with Echigo Tokimeki Railway offering free rides for children in elementary school and below, yukata rentals, and a full evening of food stalls, live entertainment, and cultural activities.
Chocolate specialty store Bel Amer is releasing a Tanabata-themed limited collection, featuring the Palé Chocolat Milky Way bar and the Chocolat Noir Starlight entremet, available at select stores from June 13.
For the third consecutive year, students — joined by auditors and alumni — are crafting children's picture books that bring the legends of five Gion Festival yamahoko floats to life.
Hondoji Temple in Matsudo City, Chiba, is dazzling visitors this season with 50,000 hydrangeas and 5,000 Japanese iris flowers in bloom. The colorful display is expected to last through late June.
Hotel Intergate Hiroshima is holding a special cultural event from June 15 to 21, 2026, featuring a recycled origami crane badge-making workshop, a French toast service with Seto Inland Sea lemon sauce, and an original Hiroshima-inspired cocktail — all exclusively for hotel guests.
Starting June 1, 2026, JW Marriott Hotel Nara has opened its popular cultural experience programs — sake brewing, tea ceremony, wagashi-making, Nara brush crafting, and hand-drip coffee — to all hotel guests, not just those booked on dedicated package plans.
Kanzashi-ya WARGO has released a new series of kanzashi wrapping bags featuring painterly designs, with six patterns each offered in two contrasting colorways, available from June 12.
Kumahei (Japanese plum liqueur), a craft ume liqueur made with premium Kishu Nanko plums from Minabe, Wakayama, earned top gold at two of the world's most prestigious spirits competitions — scoring 98 out of 100 at the IWSC and 99 out of 100 at the SFWSC.
Gothic Lolita brand Moi-même-Moitié has unveiled the eighth installment of its popular art series "Moitié-Style Aestheticism World," featuring Harajuku creator Shinako — with exclusive content releasing June 12 at 3:00 PM on the brand's online salon.
An all-English Japanese comedy show, OWARAI ASAKUSA, is set to take the stage at Asakusa France-za Engei-jo Toyokan for two runs — 8 nights in July and 10 nights in September 2026. Inspired by a sold-out success in Chicago, the show brings top Japanese comedians performing fully translated sketch comedy to inbound audiences.
Sodegaura Park in Chiba will host its Hanashobu Festival from June 12 to 14, 2026, showcasing around 15,000 Japanese iris plants alongside cultural performances, limited-edition food, and photo opportunities.
Starting on "Umeshu Day," June 11, the ume experience store "Choya" is releasing an online-exclusive DIY umeshu brewing kit as a coming-of-age milestone gift for those turning 20.
A new desk clock blending cast artwork by metal artist and Japan Fine Arts Exhibition president Ryohei Miyata with a Seiko quartz skeleton movement goes on sale in a domestic limited run of just 10 units from October 9, priced at ¥3,300,000.
Inspired by waka poetry from the Hyakunin Isshu anthology, Biwako Hotel's Café Bellalogo and Italian Dining Bellalogo in Otsu, Shiga will offer a new cocktail and mocktail from July 1 to September 30, 2026.
Hotel Metropolitan Edmont in Iidabashi, Tokyo is holding the 22nd Edmont Summer Festival 2026 on July 28, 2026. Enjoy Bon Odori dancing, live Tsugaru shamisen, food stalls, and more in the cool comfort of the hotel's banquet halls.
A pop-up shop spotlighting Fukushima Prefecture's summer sake and fermented food culture opens at Ecute Ueno (June 15–21) and Ecute Nippori (June 23–30), featuring around 25 sake labels and a lineup of traditional fermented delicacies.
Three mechanical watches combining Neon Genesis Evangelion designs with traditional Raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) craftsmanship are set to go on sale June 26, 2026, from GARRACK. Each dial is individually handcrafted by a Japanese artisan, with Unit 01, Unit 02, and Unit 00 models available.
Manriki Park's Manyou Forest in Yamanashi City hosts the 31st Manyoshu Song Festival and Firefly Viewing from June 12 to 14, 2026, featuring firefly watching with guided tours, traditional Manyoshu poetry recitation, live stage performances, and local food stalls — all with free admission.
Two special events celebrating Japanese traditional craftsmanship are coming to the 5th floor SKYTREE SHOP at Tokyo Skytree in June 2026, featuring foil-stamping goods from ROKKAKU and a Japanese incense experience from long-established shop Baikundo.
Reading accessories brand BIBLIOPHILIC is debuting the HANDCRAFT BOOK CHARM, a new line of acrylic book charms crafted with laser processing and hand-applied color finishing, at Bungu Joshi Expo Tokyo 2026.
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora's Riverside Kitchen & Bar is running a limited summer cocktail promotion from June 1 through August 31, 2026, featuring 11 original cocktails crafted with Japanese ingredients and premium spirits including ABSOLUT TABASCO Vodka, matcha liqueur, and premium tequila.
The Tsurukawa OMOTENASHI Festival returns for its 4th edition on June 28, 2026, with the theme "Tsunagu Ichi" — a special market connecting people and cherished things through events across historic Tsurukawa venues.
The 132nd edition of the Luxury Whisky Lucky Draw from Tachibana E-sake Shop is now available, with Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky as the grand prize in a limited run of 466 entries starting June 8, 2026.
The full creator lineup for HandMade In Japan Fes 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight has been revealed, along with 70 workshop options, Yoshimoto comedy live performers, and details on the special Creema HASHTAG GALLERY themed around "The World of 5cm×5cm."
A palm-sized kanji book featuring over 200 Japanese compound words across 7 themes, written entirely in English — making it an ideal souvenir or gift for anyone curious about Japanese language and culture.
The Ogikubo Three Gardens — Ogigaiso Park, Otaguro Park, and Kadokawa Garden — are hosting a participatory Tanabata event from July 2 to 7, 2026, with a stamp rally offering prizes to the first 100 completers.
The animated feature film Another World, born from Digital Hollywood Graduate School's Japan IP Global Challenge Project and based on the Japanese novel Sennen Oni, opens in US theaters starting June 5, 2026, following acclaim at international film festivals and box office success in Hong Kong.
The two-day outdoor festival LOOOP returns to Midori-no-Shima (Midori Island) in Hakodate, Hokkaido on July 25 and 26, 2026, blending traditional bon odori with live music, DJs, a 50-plus-vendor market, and family-friendly activities.
DJ Muro spent two days digging through USEN's expansive record library to curate a special selection for MUSIUM MUSIC ARCHIVES Vol.1, a reservation-only listening session held at Roppongi record bar MUSIUM on June 13, 2026.
A food experience venue blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship and seasonal cuisine has opened at the heart of Kanazawa's historic Higashi Chaya district.
A three-day wagashi fair, "EXPO Wagashi Meguri," is scheduled at LaLaport EXPOCITY in Osaka's Suita City from June 12 to 14, 2026. Over 250 types of traditional Japanese sweets gathered from all 47 prefectures across Japan will be on sale, along with wagashi-making workshops and tea ceremony experiences.
Two historic ryokans in Hakone — Kinnotake Tonosawa and Matsuzakaya Honten — are running a Tanabata (Star Festival) campaign from June 7 to July 7, 2026, where guests can write wishes on tanzaku strips for a chance to win prizes including luxury accommodation vouchers and traditional Japanese cultural experiences.
Hyatt Regency Kyoto has been selected for the newly announced Triple Crown collection by Condé Nast Traveler, becoming one of only eight hotels in Japan — and three in Kyoto — to earn recognition across all three of the magazine's major hotel awards.
Kanzashiya Wargo's new Hana-goromo Ippon Kanzashi evokes a single flower graced with morning dew, combining matte acrylic petals with a brass hoop and shimmering pearl chain drops. Available in four soft garden-inspired colors from June 5, 2026.
A new heritage retreat inn, Kaze no Kurayoshi, is set to grand open in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture on July 17, 2026. Reservations are now open for stay plans and retreat experiences built around a "Five-Senses Retreat Journey" theme.
A new hotel brand series called "Kazeno Heritage" brings together stays in Japan's castles, historic estates, and heritage townscapes, with properties now open across the country — including a grand opening in Kurayoshi, Tottori, planned for July 2026.
A new MUSASHI JAPAN store has opened in the heart of Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya-gai, where the Japanese kitchen knife brand's world is brought to life through traditional aesthetics, local craftsmanship culture, and an attached dining experience.
A limited exhibition and sale featuring new kokeshi works co-created by Sony designers and traditional Naruko kokeshi craftsman Naomichi Sakurai is coming to Isetan Shinjuku from June 17 to 25, 2026.
Japanese fashion brand Tika has unveiled its 2026 yukata collection with Kanano Senritsu as muse, highlighting the beginner-friendly 2WAY Onepiece Yukata and the romantic SWEET Series.
ISAINA, a 100% sweet potato shochu from Takarashuzo, has taken the Highest Gold Award at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 shochu and awamori division, marking five consecutive years of recognition at the competition. Ikkoman also earned a Gold Award.
Yokosuka City and the NPO Yokosuka International Exchange Association are hosting a Japanese Culture Experience Class on June 13, 2026, featuring hands-on activities such as kimono dressing, tea ceremony, ikebana, origami, calligraphy, and traditional Japanese instruments.
On June 3, 2026, Hotel Vischio Amagasaki unveiled a new decorative panel at its check-in counter featuring "Route Map Art" by railway designer Masaki Omori, connecting the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Amagasaki, and Kobe through a route map-inspired design.
A new series called KOKON SHODAI has been launched, connecting the 400-year-old Shodai-yaki pottery tradition of Kumamoto with regional food culture and everyday life.
The Japanese knife brand MUSASHI JAPAN has opened a new store in the Namba Ebisubashi shopping district of Osaka, bringing traditional craftsmanship to one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods.
nane tokyo Asakusa Hanare, the second location of the handmade ring workshop in Asakusa, Tokyo, opened on June 3, 2026, offering traditional Japanese tsuchime metalworking experiences for visitors.
Nijigen no Mori's "Godzilla Intercept Operation" on Awaji Island is running a limited-time summer event from July 18 to September 13, 2026, featuring traditional Japanese games and exclusive prizes for Premium Ticket and VIP Journey Pass holders.
The third edition of the Furusato Tokyo Oendan Sai festival returns to Ueno Onshi Park from July 3 to 5, 2026, bringing together craft beer, regional gourmet food, and traditional bon odori dancing — including a popular anime-song bon odori stage — over three days of summer celebration.
Handa City Museum in Aichi Prefecture is hosting a free special exhibition featuring approximately 200 hyper-realistic wooden bird sculptures by local artist Genji Inada, running from June 20 to August 30, 2026. Related events include a live bird encounter in July and a summer art contest for children.
A summer 2026 collection brings together iconic Japanese anime characters and Marugame Uchiwa — a nationally designated traditional craft from Kagawa Prefecture with roots tracing back to the Edo period. Pre-orders opened on June 1, 2026.
The Japanese-pattern umbrella brand Hokusai Graphic is set to open a new store in the Enoshima area of Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in early July 2026 — marking the brand's first location in the Shonan/Enoshima area.
The 130th edition of Tachibana E-Shuhan's "Goka Whisky Mikuji" whisky lottery went on sale June 1, 2026, with The Yamazaki 18 Years Old Single Malt Whisky as the top prize. The limited run is capped at 466 tickets priced at 3,980 yen (plus shipping).
Eau Voyage, based in Gifu City, has launched luxury overnight stay packages that pair traditional Nagara River cormorant fishing (ukai) with French full-course dinners and private villa accommodations, available from May 11 to October 15 each year.
Starting June 3, 2026, Regal Royal Hotel Kyoto will offer a stay plan that includes admission tickets to the newly renovated UZUMASA KYOTO VILLAGE immersive theme park. Prices start from ¥24,940 per room for two guests.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo has introduced wedding packages for overseas visitors that combine a ceremony, reception, and a two-night stay. Plans went on sale May 28, 2026, with options for Shinto-style or Western ceremonies in the hotel's historic Japanese garden.
Hotel Granvia Kyoto is launching an exclusive program for guests on its special Gran Via Floor, offering private access to the normally closed Shoin building, prayers at the main hall, and a traditional kagura performance at Fushimi Inari-taisha.
As part of the Kanagawa/Yokohama Destination Campaign, a limited-edition ochoko (sake cup) unlocks tastings and exclusive perks at up to 5 of 13 participating sake breweries across Kanagawa Prefecture, running through June 15, 2026.
Futaba Co., Ltd.'s foil stamping brand ROKKAKU has announced a new addition to its Japan Famous Landmarks Series — the Miyajima Foil-Stamped Postcards, set to go on sale from June 1, 2026.
A new product line blending Shibuya's urban energy with Japanese traditional craftsmanship — the SHIBUYA TOKYO SOUVENIR SERIES — is now on sale at the SHIBUYA SKY SOUVENIR SHOP on the 46th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square.
Pre-owned kimono specialist Tansuya is holding a major summer event across two Tokyo venues in June 2026. Visitors who attend both the Asakusa and Haneda locations can collect stamps to receive a 50% OFF coupon valid at all Tansuya stores.
Yamamoto Nohgakudo, one of Osaka's oldest noh theaters with nearly a century of history, has been selected to receive the "Walk of Fame" award at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania — marking the first time in the award's history that a theater institution has been honored.
From June 4 to 17, Wako's basement Arts and Culture space in Ginza will host "Craft Beyond Borders by Delvaux," a special collection fusing Belgian and Japanese craftsmanship, marking its first public showing in Japan.
Five iconic kabuki dance pieces from Nippon Columbia's catalog have been released as digital-only singles on May 27, offering an accessible way to experience classic kabuki dance music following renewed interest sparked by the 2025 film Kokuhō.
Starting June 1, 2026, Ryusenji Temple (Saitama Yakuyoke Kaiun Daishi), the birthplace of the kirigami goshuin, is offering two summer-limited cut-paper votive seals — "So-kō" and "Song of the Summer Sky" — available until August 31, while supplies last.
A free outdoor festival blending Bon Odori with DJ music, street food, and a special market comes to Miyashita Park's rooftop lawn this September.
The Tanba Sasayama New Tea Week runs from May 30 to June 7, 2026, in the Mimaka-oku district — one of Japan's oldest tea-growing areas. Three local producers offer new tea tastings, sales, factory tours, tea-leaf filling sessions, and hands-on experiences.
Tokyo-based yakuzen cookie specialty shop tsukihi has unveiled redesigned packaging for two of its signature products, blending traditional Eastern auspicious motifs with a refined, gift-ready aesthetic.
Hakata Maiko Chaya Wanokagei no Omote, a cultural experience facility offering Japanese dance, shamisen, and tea ceremony in Fukuoka, has introduced a transparent real-time translation display system that lets staff communicate naturally with international visitors from 17 countries.
Benjamin Steakhouse's Kyoto location is launching a summer-limited "Yukata Experience Gourmet Plan" from July 1 to August 31, 2026, combining traditional yukata wearing with a premium New York-style steak course in a renovated machiya setting.
Kawasaki Noh Theater marks its 40th anniversary in 2026 with a Noh performance by the Kanze School's Tessen-kai on July 20, featuring the plays Tenko and Kokaji.
Taniguchi Shoudo, a Kyoto-based Japanese paper goods maker founded in 1925, has announced the Kokon series — a new line of short-panel folding fans crafted from Mino washi with silk printing, available in four nature-inspired designs.
Two limited-edition Kyoto whiskies from the Nishijin-ori Label series have earned recognition at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2026 in the UK, with the Sherry Cask taking Gold and the Mizunara Cask earning Silver — both firsts for the brand.
A custom fragrance shop where visitors blend their own signature scent from over 110 million combinations is opening in Kanazawa's historic Kannon-machi district, adjacent to the Higashi Chaya-gai.
Two craft gins from Kurachoku CLUB, the online shop operated by Kagoshima-based Nishi Shuzo, earned gold medals at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC2026), with two additional expressions taking bronze.
Abekan Brewery in Shiogama, Miyagi has rebranded its beloved seasonal summer sake, releasing it under the new name "Shiogama Abekan Natsu no Shio" starting May 26, 2026.
Three types of decorative trays made from real kabuki stage costumes worn in the dance piece "Otsue Dojoji" go on sale from June 3, 2026, at the Shochiku Kabukiya Honpo shop in the Kabukiza basement and via the Shochiku online store.
The Tokyo Hula Festa in Ikebukuro returns for its 24th edition, moving to June this year to beat the summer heat, with 166 teams and around 2,800 performers from across Japan taking the stage at four venues.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo is offering a series of family-friendly hands-on workshops during the summer holiday season—from a French course table manners class to traditional Edo wind chime painting and bread and sweets making—starting July 21, 2026.
The MIKOSHI Bag, a new product from Hiroshima-based ethical fashion brand Re:ADY B, has been awarded Gold Winner in the Fashion Design category at London Design Awards 2026 — the first time a Japanese company has taken the prize in that category.
Fukushima Hachimangu Shrine in Yame City, Fukuoka, will distribute a rainy season limited "Choju-Giga Goshuin" from June 6 to 30, 2026. Printed on soft washi paper and featuring rain drops, playful Choju-Giga characters, and the shrine's beloved mascot Shiro-chan, the goshuin is also designed to be photographed alongside the shrine's blooming hydrangeas.
Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f in Sengokuhara is introducing a bonsai stay plan that invites guests to travel with a single bonsai tree throughout their visit — and bring it home as a living memento of their time in the forest.
The premium sake lounge Ikkon Fugetsu at Perie Chiba is running a month-long collaboration with Iinuma Honke, a 300-year-old brewery from Shisui, Chiba, throughout June 2026, featuring exclusive Kinoene (KINOENE) sake pairings, tasting sets, and a special brewer visit event.
Starting June 1, 2026, the newly renovated Towers Junior Suite Room at Lotte City Hotel Kinshicho offers views of both Tokyo Skytree® and Tokyo Tower, along with traditional craftsmanship from the Sumida area. A limited-time 50% off monitor plan is also available through July 31.
Shangri-La Tokyo's Italian restaurant Piacere is introducing a new summer omakase dinner course drawn from The Pillow Book, weaving classic Japanese imagery with seasonal domestic ingredients. Running from June 2 to August 29, 2026, the course is priced at ¥24,200 per person.
Ofurocafe Hareniwanoyu in Kumagaya, Saitama, is hosting a free uchiwa (Japanese fan) making workshop every Sunday in June 2026. Using a traditional washi paper dyeing technique called ori-zome, participants can craft their own colorful fans—ideal for beating the heat and enjoying the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival.
Holiday Travel staff Rena and her colleague Arimi try the LLPW-X pro wrestling experience in Tokyo. Read their honest review of stepping into a real wrestling ring, learning bumps and rope work, and even getting moves performed on them by active professional women wrestlers.
DEN-EN ENVELHECIDA, a barrel-aged sweet potato shochu from Den-en Shuzo, has taken home both the Jury Award and Platinum Prize in the barrel-aged category at the 2026 Kura Master International Shochu and Awamori Competition held in Paris.
For six days in late May 2026, Fukujuen — a Kyoto tea shop with over 230 years of history — hosts a seasonal Japanese tea event at Kyoto Porta, featuring free new-tea tastings, hands-on brewing workshops, a tea gallery, and product sales.
Around 100 ghost and yokai paintings from the Fukuoka City Museum's renowned collection — including works by Ito Jakuchu and Kawanabe Kyosai — go on display from July 19 to September 13, 2026.
The Godiva Summer Collection - Nippon no Natsu - is now available at Godiva shops across Japan, featuring four unique carré-style chocolates with Japanese summer motifs that can be enjoyed frozen for a delightfully crispy shell and cool filling.
Following six months of collaborative training and field visits, Park Hyatt Kyoto and the chef collective Chefs for the Blue are presenting a special sustainable gastronomy event, "Sustainable Seas, Kyoto Table," on July 7, 2026, featuring an 8-course dinner by three acclaimed Kyoto chefs.
A yokai-themed concept room "Gokuraku-no-Ma" and a nighttime canal boat ride "Yokai Fune" are available for a limited time this summer at the historic Ohana estate in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, created in collaboration with traditional lantern artisan CRAFCULT.
The MUSASHI JAPAN Shibuya Center-gai store has officially grand opened on April 30, 2026, unveiling a redesigned interior that blends modern metal and stone with the warmth of natural wood.
On June 2, the anniversary of the Honnoji Incident, Kyoto Honey Wine Brewery is releasing "Nobunaga Mead" — a limited honey wine inspired by the legendary warlord Oda Nobunaga, featuring a black bottle and a specially commissioned ink painting.
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.
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.
Nihonga artist Wang Pei presents her eighth solo exhibition at Nakajima Art in Ginza from May 26 to June 8, 2026, featuring new works that depict children through a mother's gaze.
A three-day craftsmanship festival comes to 2k540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN between Akihabara and Okachimachi stations, featuring workshops, a product idea contest, a stamp rally, and a flea market.
Grand Mercure Okinawa Cape Zanpa Resort hosts the Summer Yui Festival from July 20 to August 29, 2026, featuring daily traditional Okinawan performances including Ryukyu dance, eisa, sanshin, and fireworks shows, all free for hotel guests.
Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku is launching a summer-limited "Summer Travel Support" accommodation plan from July 1 to September 30, 2026, featuring an outdoor rooftop pool, the 47th-floor relaxation space SKY PLAZA IBASHO, cultural workshops, and a ¥6,000 hotel use coupon per room.
Japan-born global matcha brand MATCHAMON has opened its third domestic location inside Kanazawa Station's Hyakuban-gai Anto shopping complex, serving top-quality domestic matcha whisked fresh to order.
From May 20 to 22, 2026, Tokyo Skytree's 5th floor SKYTREE SHOP will host a special drink tasting and sales event featuring matcha and koji — two iconic ingredients of Japanese food culture.
Hakone Goraen Park is hosting a free matcha experience event on May 18 and 19, 2026, at the registered tangible cultural property "Hakuundo Chaen." Guided by an Itoen Tea Taster, visitors can whisk their own matcha tea and explore a historic teahouse that has been cherished for over 110 years.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mob Psycho 100 TV anime series, a set of special hanafuda cards featuring character illustrations from seasons 1 through 3 is now available for pre-order.
Bamboo specialist Taketora has launched a new series of bamboo craft accessories and small items made from 1970s deadstock material, featuring intricate hand-woven craftsmanship in nine varieties including brooches, pendants, necklaces, keychains, and more.
A new character keychain blending Japan's traditional daruma lucky charms with the twelve zodiac signs goes on sale May 20th. The DALULU series aims to charm both inbound visitors and domestic buyers with its distinctly Japanese kimo-kawaii aesthetic.
Starting June 1, 2026, Kimono Tea Ceremony MAIKOYA's Karasuma-Shijo branch in Kyoto is offering a Private Proposal Plan—an all-in-one experience featuring kimono dressing, a private tea ceremony in a registered tangible cultural property, professional photography, and traditional celebration gifts.
The Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (MOCAD) is holding its "Summer Kyomono Sale" to promote Kyoto traditional crafts for the summer season. A special in-person sale takes place at Zest Oike on June 1, 2026, while the online shop runs through the end of August.
A Japanese tea company has released a matcha-blended tea bag designed specifically for mixing with shochu, combining 66 years of tea expertise with a growing cocktail trend.
The Steam store page for KIOU, a competitive shogi game blending character interaction with strategic board-game battles, is now live and accepting wishlist registrations ahead of its Spring 2026 launch.
New Era is releasing a triple collaboration collection with media artist Yoichi Ochiai and Kyoto-based textile merchant Eirakuya. The lineup features a 59FIFTY cap and T-shirt incorporating traditional tenugui fabric and Ochiai's artwork, available from May 13 at select stores and online.
Santos Co., Ltd. has released "Hyakkaryoran (百花涼藍)," an all-weather umbrella inspired by the cool elegance of traditional Japanese indigo, featuring three botanical designs with UV cut rate of 99.9% or higher and heat-shielding properties.
In celebration of the 101st Azuma Odori performance, Shiseido Parlour's Ginza Main Store is offering a limited Japanese-modern parfait, a Shinbashi-blue ice cream soda, and a takeout parfait cake from May 12 to 31, 2026.
Located a 2-minute walk from Nagano Station, Travel HUB Nagano City begins its green season on May 15, 2026, adding kimono rentals, a Shinshu ice cream select shop, café service, and outdoor activities to its lineup.
From May 7 through June 6, 2026, Hotel Vischio Toyama in Toyama City is displaying miniature andon lanterns inspired by the vibrant Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival held annually in Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture.
The SAWATCH-3 is a third-generation sauna-specific wearable from Tokyo-based 100plus, featuring real-time autonomic nervous system monitoring, improved heat resistance, and daily health tracking for sauna enthusiasts.
Starting Golden Week and continuing through late May, the traditional performing art of Tsugizishi (Imabari Human Pyramid Lion Dance) will be showcased at spring festivals held at shrines throughout Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Performers stack three to four tiers high, reaching up to 5 meters in a display that has been passed down for over 300 years.
Fukuya department store's annual koinobori exhibition has evolved into a regenerative art project, transforming donated carp streamers into carnations that carry family sentiment from Children's Day to Mother's Day.
Japanese furniture maker Maruni Mokko has taken part in a collaboration project between Paris Saint-Germain and Astro Boy, releasing a limited-edition walnut wood sculpture of the iconic character alongside ceramic and soft-vinyl versions by two other Japanese craft partners.
A premium nighttime viewing event combining Zen meditation, neuro music, and light art will be held at the head temple of the Rinzai sect, Tofuku-ji, in Kyoto's Higashiyama from May 29 to July 5, 2026.
ZenPop's May 2026 subscription box takes inspiration from fan requests for horse-themed stationery, bringing together farm animal motifs and hands-on craft items for international stationery lovers.
A limited-time day pair plan at Haneda Airport Garden combines a traditional rickshaw ride with a natural hot spring bath, available from May 1 through June 30, 2026, for ¥5,000 per person.
From May 12 to June 30, 2026, Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro is hosting a Kagoshima-themed restaurant event at two of its Japanese dining venues, where guests can sample regional dishes and try on a samurai helmet modeled after baseball star Shohei Ohtani.
Starting May 2026, boutique hotel Shizuru Kamogawa in Kyoto is offering a new suite that gives guests sole access to a 46㎡ private noryo-yuka riverside terrace—a quiet reimagining of one of Kyoto's most beloved summer traditions.
On May 5, 2026, musician Kanisasare Ayako will hold her debut recital at Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo, presenting a program that weaves together traditional gagaku instruments, classical Western music, and live improvisation inspired by Natsume Soseki's literature.
A new complex facility called "oniwa" is set to launch in 2027 in Ichijoji, Kyoto, bringing together students, creators, craftspeople, and community members to pursue and explore the art of making — both individually and together.
The Ogori Tanabata Taiko group "Shirasagi-kai," founded in 1996, is hosting a free 30th anniversary commemorative concert on May 31 at the Ogori City Lifelong Learning Center Tanabata Hall.
Starting from Showa Day on April 29, Ueshima Coffee Ten is offering three limited-time menu items inspired by Japan's Showa-era café culture — a classic Milk Shake (¥950), Cinnamon Toast (¥530), and a store-exclusive Meat Spaghetti (¥980).
A series of pop-up events tied to the HATSUNE MIKU EXPO 2026 North America tour will be held at 8 BOOKOFF USA stores across the country from April 24 through June 28, 2026, offering fans both in-store and interactive experiences.
A four-day, appointment-only kimono event takes place at Yurakuan in Kyoto's Muromachi district from May 22 to 25, 2026, featuring reuse kimono, traditional collections, and a special display of Kiyoshi Hikawa Calendar 2026 costumes.
The Kanze School Shiroishi Noh takes place at Hekisuien Noh Theater in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture on June 13, 2026, featuring the classic play "Kurama Tengu." Mansai Nomura appears in the Kyogen segment, and tickets are now on sale.
A one-year seabed aging experiment for KOICHI (Rice Whisky), a Japanese rice whisky brand, is set to begin in the waters off Kushiro, Hokkaido, with a crowdfunding campaign now open on CAMPFIRE.
The Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition HIROSHIMA will run from July 18 to September 6, 2026, at NTT Credo Hall in Hiroshima City, bringing nine digital art spaces to life through 3DCG animation and projection mapping. Advance tickets go on sale May 16, 2026.
Japan's traditional yokai art meets cutting-edge digital technology at this world-first immersive exhibition running through June 28, 2026 at the Terada Warehouse G1 Building in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward.
The Iwami Ginzan lifestyle brand Gungendo has launched its new summer collection "Kaze no Fuku" (Clothes of the Wind) from April 23, 2026, featuring five standout natural-fiber fabrics crafted by artisans from across Japan.
Hotel New Otani Osaka is launching two premium plans for the Tenjin Festival on July 25, 2026, combining reserved viewing seats for the traditional boat procession and fireworks display with hotel dining options.
The Ise City History Museum opened on April 25, 2026, offering permanent exhibitions on the region's history, culture, and traditions, along with an inaugural special exhibition showcasing happi coats from the Okihiki festival.
Felissimo's Museum-bu has launched three yokai-themed collaboration items with the Yumoto Koichi Memorial Japan Yokai Museum (Miyoshi Mononoke Museum) in Hiroshima, available from April 23, 2026.
THE Rihaku Residence Akama Fukuoka, a renovated Showa-era residence featuring a tea ceremony room and bar counter in a Japandi-style interior, pre-opened in Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The first facility of its kind in Fukuoka Prefecture, it offers immersive whole-building stays for up to 15 guests.
Now in its 5th year, Hotel Metropolitan Morioka's WELLNESS TIME 2026 event offers five sessions of Zen meditation led by a temple abbot, followed by a traditional shojin cuisine breakfast — open to both first-timers and returning participants.
For the month of June 2026, Sanyoso in Izu-Nagaoka Onsen will host a limited-time Japanese Garden Café within its nationally registered tangible cultural property main building, where visitors can enjoy locally sourced tea and sweets while gazing over the historic garden.
Sankeien Garden in Yokohama is offering a rare opportunity to step inside Rinshunkaku, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, as part of the Kanagawa & Yokohama Destination Campaign Pre-Campaign.
During Golden Week 2026, Shinagawa Prince Hotel hosts a nationwide sake brewery gathering featuring 28 breweries, sake-certified comedians, and exclusive restaurant perks.
Priority applications are now being accepted for performing groups wishing to participate in the 2026 Awa Odori festival, scheduled for August 12–15 in Tokushima.
Jojyu-ji Temple in Kyoto's Nishikyo Ward is holding a special "New Greenery" opening from April 25 to May 6, 2026. On weekends and public holidays, visitors can enjoy a matcha and wagashi set featuring five varieties of Tsuruya Yoshinobu yokan while strolling through the lush, freshly greened temple grounds.
Kakuonji Temple in Kamakura is hosting a limited-time photo spot featuring illuminated traditional Japanese wagasa (paper umbrellas) as part of the Kanagawa/Yokohama Destination Campaign, available through June 30, 2026.
Three unique experience programs tied to Hirosaki Neputa in Kobe are now on sale, including a lottery-based float-pulling experience, a rope-pulling march, and a goldfish lantern walking event — all set for late May 2026.
Marking its 7th anniversary this spring, THE KITANO HOTEL TOKYO is offering a special "7 Feast" course at its main dining room "Orangerie Koan," available from April 21 to May 14, 2026.
Two new indoor table tennis experiences themed around the Karatsu Kunchi Festival are opening on April 25, 2026, at Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. KUNCHI Rally transforms a floored room into a festival-themed space, while OZASHIKI Ping Pong invites guests to play on tatami in a traditional Japanese banquet hall.
About 40 vendors offering handmade goods and artisan foods will gather at the Nara Convention Center's Tenpyo Gallery on April 25, 2026, for the third edition of the Yorokobu Teshigoto-ichi handcraft market.
Studio Alice is rolling out new Pokémon Japanese-style costumes and exclusive chromakey backgrounds celebrating Pokémon's 30th anniversary, available at select locations from April 17, 2026.
From April 29 through September 22, 2026, The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike will open BAR Saryo on select dates, offering fine drinks and seasonal appetizers in a Murano Togo-designed sukiya-zukuri tea house set within the hotel's illuminated Japanese garden.
The 76th Himeji Castle Festival takes place around Himeji Castle from May 22 to 24, 2026, featuring a torchlight Noh performance, historical parades, a new bon dance event, and kids' activities spanning three themed days.
Coinciding with Hana Haru Festa 2026, the Awa Odori Kaikan in Tokushima is holding special Awa Odori performances on April 18 and 19, featuring two 50-minute shows each day.
A special day-trip pilgrimage tour marking the rare Chichibu Uma-doshi So-kaido is set for May 17, 2026, departing from Seibu Chichibu Station, with ordained monks leading participants through the region's sacred sites.
HandMade In Japan Fes' 2026 is scheduled for July 11–12 at Tokyo Big Sight, bringing together 3,000 creators for a marketplace of original handmade works, workshops, live music, comedy stages, and more.
A new English-friendly portal site dedicated to the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage has gone live, offering video content in 8 languages to help overseas travelers discover the spiritual journey known as Ohenro.
From May 15 to June 30, 2026, the Sky Lounge Top of Prince at Sapporo Prince Hotel presents a Japanese tea-themed afternoon tea in collaboration with Kyoto's historic tea house Fukujuen, pairing over 230 years of tea heritage with Hokkaido's finest local flavors.
Tokyo-based artist The Deity has released the music video for new single "KARATACHI", filmed with exclusive use of Nishi-no-Kawahara Park in Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma, capturing a surreal landscape of rising hot spring mist and snow.
Tokushima Castle Museum is holding a spring special exhibition tracing the 15-generation legacy of the Hachisuka clan, lords of Awa. On display through July 20, 2026, the exhibition features designated cultural properties and historical artworks highlighting the clan's martial traditions and guiding spirit.
To mark WAKAZE's 10th anniversary and LINNÉ's 2nd anniversary, the two craft sake producers have collaborated on a limited-edition brew that revives a historic botanical recipe from 2017 — widely regarded as the origin of the craft sake category.
Japanese product brand goyemon is opening goyemon OSAKA, its largest store to date, in Shinsaibashi, Osaka on April 18, 2026. The 150-square-meter space blends traditional Japanese design elements with contemporary aesthetics, alongside exclusive in-store-only items including limited-edition footwear and apparel.
Hana Haru Festa 2026, a spring festival held at Aibahama Park in central Tokushima, brings together Awa Odori performances, food truck fare, local specialty stalls, a dance contest, and special live music over two days in April.
HOTEL NIWA TOKYO in Kanda Misakicho will hold a special evening combining traditional rakugo storytelling and seasonal kaiseki cuisine on May 16, 2026 — the 10th installment of its beloved "Misakicho Salon" cultural event series.
CRAHUG, a project connecting Japanese factory craftsmanship with everyday living, is hosting a limited-time pop-up shop at Yurindo BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai from April 17 to July 16, 2026, showcasing 100 products from 11 partner brands.
On May 2, 2026, Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay will host a ghost story live event — "Kaiki no Yube" — featuring acclaimed storytellers performing in an eerie, unused tatami suite on the hotel's 6th floor.
Kakogawa City in Hyogo Prefecture, home to around 70% of the prefecture's sock manufacturers, is championing a local gifting culture through its "Kutsushita Age Age Campaign," encouraging people to give quality locally made socks to loved ones for Mother's Day and Father's Day.
The Sumida Art Festival — the first comprehensive arts festival organized by the Sumida Ward government — has revealed its participating artists, programs, and key visual ahead of its September 2026 opening.
Japan's first large outdoor playground inspired by Ainu culture, "Tomtom," is opening at Upopoy in Shiraoi, Hokkaido — designed so children of all abilities can enjoy Ainu cultural themes together.
Yakimochiya, a restored Meiji-era farmhouse inn in Nakajo, Nagano City, is hosting two special music events on April 18 and 19, 2026 — an intimate Irori Bankside Concert and an outdoor Spring Sunshine Concert featuring local cuisine.
A hands-on tea-picking event is coming to Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture on May 30 and 31, 2026. Set in a riverside tea field with over 1,200 years of history, participants can harvest freshly sprouted new tea leaves and bring them home.
The Japan Hall at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno reopens its 1st floor south wing on April 21, 2026, after renovation work that adds new exhibits and enhances the display of the historic Mannen Dokei perpetual clock.
The April Bunraku performance at the National Bunraku Theatre opened on April 4 and runs through April 26. The program features "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami," one of the three great masterpieces of ningyo joruri puppet theater marking its 280th anniversary, along with the dance piece "Futari Kamuro" and the epic "Hiragana Seisuiki."
Relier81, a Kyoto-based brand that upcycles kimono and obi fabrics into fashion items, is hosting a 14-day pop-up store at the 4th floor event space of Daimaru Tokyo, featuring shoes, bags, a new stole, and a debut apparel line.
Shintomi Town's renovated Lupinus Mirai Theater opens with a full day of arts, community workshops, and an original theatrical performance co-created by a professional director and local residents.
TUISS DÉCOR has launched the Karakami collection, blending traditional Japanese karakami patterns — inherited since the Heian period — with a European color palette across roll screens, Roman shades, and curtains, available from April 9, 2026.
Umi Hachimangu Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture will hold its Koyasu Taisai spring festival on April 12, 2026, featuring the biennial "Goshinko" mikoshi procession — a designated intangible folk cultural property of Umi-cho — alongside a performance of the prefecturally designated Umi Kagura.
On March 1, 2026, SHIBUYA TSUMUGI staged a kimono fashion show along Shibuya Center-gai as part of SCG DAYs 2026, turning the busy shopping street into a runway that blended traditional and contemporary kimono styles.
A collaboration between a Tango textile workshop and university students has produced "mayure," a silk scrunchie made from 100% Tango Chirimen fabric, aiming to bring traditional silk into daily routines.
A large-scale sakura installation crafted from 1,500-year-old Echizen washi paper and recycled fluorescent lamp glass took center stage at the Japan-Monaco 20th Anniversary Diplomatic Celebration, earning front-page coverage across European media.
On March 1, 2026, Shibuya Center-Gai was transformed into a street-side kimono runway during the SCG DAYs 2026 event, as vintage kimono shop Shibuya Tsumugi brought traditional Japanese style to the modern cityscape.
The 220-year-old Kyoto confectionery Kameya Yoshinaga is hosting hands-on wagashi-making workshops during Golden Week. Special May sessions feature seasonal designs inspired by Children's Day and Mother's Day.
YAMATOKOBO, a traditional Japanese sandal brand from Nara, has launched a new line of zori sandals dyed with Kyoto-grown Uji matcha, featuring antibacterial properties and premium Ojiya Chijimi ramie thongs.
Little World Open-Air Folk Museum in Inuyama, Aichi is hosting "Ainu Week" on four days in April 2026, featuring traditional Ainu dance performances, mukuri instrument experiences, Hokkaido cuisine, and Ainu goods.
BambooCut's popular home-fermentation kits — "Umeko" for umeboshi and "Umesuke" for umeshu — are back for 2026. Pre-orders are open from April 1 through May 14, with freshly harvested Kishu Nanko plums shipped in mid-June.
A new CanDo-exclusive stationery series featuring the nostalgic "Retro Diary" designs by Furukawa Shiko began rolling out from April 1, 2026, with 28 items priced at 330 yen each.
Kurokawa Noh, a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property from Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, will be performed at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore in late April and early May 2026, as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations.
A spring night event at the World Heritage Site Daigoji Temple in Kyoto is currently underway, featuring approximately 700 cherry trees in full bloom alongside fantastical art installations by NAKED, INC.
Relier81, a women's apparel brand known for upcycling unused kimono and obi into handcrafted shoes and bags, will participate in Fashion World Tokyo 2026 Spring at Tokyo Big Sight from April 8 to 10.
SHAKA SHAKA MATCHA, a standing-style matcha tasting café, opened in Omotesando on April 1, 2026, offering side-by-side tastings of matcha sourced from different regions of Japan.
A limited-time pop-up shop featuring NAKAGO's tin sake vessels and tea sake ware is on display at Shimoda View Hotel from April 6 to May 8, 2026.
ESPACIO Nagoya Castle is hosting "Celebration with cherry blossoms" through April 12, featuring a cherry blossom tunnel, a first-ever Pierre Hermé Paris collaboration dessert, and a lineup of spring activities including rickshaw rides, gold leaf workshops, koto performances, and nightly Jazz lives.
Holiday Travel staff Arimi and her colleague Rena try a private sushi making experience led by Satoshi, a certified instructor from Ginza Onodera Sushi Academy. Read her honest review of learning the kotegaeshi technique, making nigiri with premium ingredients, and tasting the best sushi of her life.
Approaching its second anniversary, TAKIGO brings the ancient Japanese practice of waterfall bathing to Yūhi-no-taki Falls in Kanagawa, welcoming everyone from solo travelers to corporate groups.
Tokyu Stay Kanazawa is introducing 12 new "Samurai King Double" rooms in collaboration with the historic Oyama Shrine, celebrating Kanazawa's samurai heritage with reservations opening March 31, 2026.
Local community group "Atsuta Miyashuku-kai" has released a new branding video marking the 11th anniversary of their monthly Atsuta Tsuitachi-ichi market, showcasing the sacred atmosphere of Atsuta Jingu and the lively spirit of the Atsuta district to audiences around the world.
A new sake experience program, KomoSake Terrace, is launching at the Konohana Brewery in Asakusa on April 1, 2026. Beginners can enjoy a sake lecture, taste four varieties, and create a one-of-a-kind mini komodaru (sake barrel) to bring home.
B-GENKI, a brand reimagining Japan's traditional foods like natto and konjac as modern healthy snacks, has launched its new official website at bgenki.com.
Kyoto Kimono Rental Yumeyakata Gojo Store is offering a special kimono rental plan timed with "Let's go to Kyoto. Presents NAKED meets World Heritage Site Daigoji Temple - Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing -," a night illumination event at Daigoji Temple running from March 27 to April 12, 2026.
MINAKI, a luxury Japanese sake brand, is launching GENKYO — a limited-edition junmai daiginjo aged in French oak white wine barrels and finished under sub-zero temperatures — via lottery sales from March 30, 2026.
Art viewing tickets for the immersive theater Hanayoi no Daichakai (Flower Night Tea Ceremony) at Kitano Tenmangu's Fūgetsu-den go on sale from March 29. Photography of the stage sets is permitted.
Japan's leading kanzashi specialty brand Kanzashiya Wargo has unveiled new colors for its beloved cat-shaped ceramic hair pins, featuring aurora and metallic finishes. Sales begin March 27.
The 111th edition of the Premium Whisky Lucky Draw from Tachibana E-Liquor Shop went on sale March 26, 2026, featuring Yamazaki 18 Years Old as the top prize in a limited run of 466 entries priced at ¥3,980.
A limited two-day cultural program in Kyoto invites visitors to explore the normally off-limits areas of Higashi Honganji guided by a monk, enjoy a tea ceremony with an exclusive wagashi, and dine on French cuisine inside the registered tangible cultural property Funatsuru Kyoto Kamogawa Resort.
hotel around TAKAYAMA, Ascend Hotel Collection™ in Gifu Prefecture has received Level 4 "Gyoiko Cherry Blossom" certification under Sakura Quality An ESG Practice, recognizing its commitment to sustainable tourism and deep ties with local Hida Takayama culture.
The Japan Candle Association is launching a new hands-on course dedicated to incense crafting, starting April 17, 2026 in both Tokyo and Osaka. The 8-session program covers everything from fragrance basics to shaping and design.
The purchase bonuses for TechnoByobu TB-02 The Ghost in the Shell have been announced, featuring an original illustration by Shirow Masamune rendered in western gold leaf — depicting Fuchikoma characters enjoying cherry blossom viewing.
Thirty-six Views of Jashin is a full-color art book that places Cthulhu Mythos deities inside all 46 prints of Katsushika Hokusai's iconic Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, complete with detailed commentary on each creature and its appearance at that location.
The Art Aquarium Exhibition Saitama Super Arena 2026 opens at the Saitama Super Arena Exhibition Hall on March 25, marking the first time this goldfish art event comes to Saitama Prefecture.
A pop-up store for Ando Co., Ltd.'s Shibori Bags is coming to Cross Hotel Kyoto from March 25 to May 6, 2026, featuring 25 variations and new shibori-dyeing workshop stay plan courses.
LITTLE MOTHERHOUSE's "Irodori Chocolate" is available in limited exhibition packaging at Store 1894 inside Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, inspired by the themes of the "From Kiyochika to Hasui" shin-hanga woodblock print exhibition.
Hokkaido-based photo studio chain Shashin Kobo Palette has expanded its inbound support, offering international visitors a photo wedding experience that blends Japanese tradition with modern style.
A city-inspired scent named "Urban Garden," selected by citizen vote, will be used for spatial presentation at the Art Aquarium exhibition held at Saitama Super Arena from March 25 to May 10, 2026—the first time a designated city's original fragrance features in a large-scale cultural event.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is set to reopen after approximately four years of renovation, with its first post-reopening special exhibition showcasing around 160 items from the museum's own collection, exploring the vibrant culture of Edo from April 25 to May 24, 2026.
A collection of traditional Japanese ko-uta and ha-uta songs depicting the light and shadow of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter, featuring rare recordings previously released only on vinyl, began streaming on March 18, 2026.
HOSHINOYA Kyoto presents six seasonal experiences from early to late summer 2026, set in the verdant valley of Arashiyama — once a retreat for ancient Heian aristocrats.
Two special viewing plans are available for the Johana Hikiyama Festival on May 5, 2026 — experience the festival's iconic "Iori-uta" performances from a comfortable tatami room or a reserved outdoor seat.
Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion is hosting a complimentary English-guided night sakura walking tour from March 28 to April 10, 2026, taking guests through Kennin-ji Temple, Hanamikoji, Yasaka Shrine, and Maruyama Park.
Kyoto-based fermentation collective LINNÉ has released a distinctive brewed sake crafted from Kyotamba chestnuts — a prized local ingredient with centuries of history — along with an innovative pricing model that increases value as the sake ages.
Nara-based Japanese lighting brand NEW LIGHT POTTERY holds a pop-up exhibition at CIBONE in Omotesando from March 28 to April 12, 2026, featuring around 25 products including a CIBONE-exclusive limited edition of the "Como" washi paper floor stand.
The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association has announced its Japanese Sake Event Calendar for April 2026, featuring a lineup of sake tasting events held across Tokyo, Gunma, and other regions.
Park Hotel Tokyo has unveiled "TOKAIDO," its 51st Artist Room, where Fukuoka-based artist Namonaki Sanemasa transforms a guestroom into an immersive journey inspired by the historic highway and the traditional sugoroku board game.
THE YARD, a kimono brand with a minimalist approach, has released new visuals for its 2026 spring/summer collection themed around "Usurai" (thin ice). Sales begin sequentially from April 2, 2026.
TOKYO CREATIVE SALON 2026 kicked off on March 13 in the Ginza area, offering a mix of tradition and modern creativity through street-walk programs, fashion snap experiences, and cultural events running through March 22.
Starting in April 2026, the Tokyo Museum Collection (ToMuCo) database will make some of the approximately 370,000 items held across six Tokyo metropolitan museums available for free image download, along with new multilingual features and a popular smartphone app series reaching 350,000 downloads.
Aoyama Flower Market introduces "hanairo," a new plant-dyed fabric series starting in March. The first release features towel handkerchiefs dyed with cherry blossom and pansy, using materials that would otherwise go to waste at production sites.
AQUARIUM × ART átoa in Kobe is hosting a special shells exhibition from March 28 to April 26, 2026, exploring the relationship between shellfish, the aquarium, and human culture through displays, hands-on activities, and a related event.
Uji Wazuka-en, a Japanese tea brand, has introduced two new outdoor-friendly products — CAMP de TEA, a drip-style Japanese tea for camping, and TRAIL TEA, organic cold brew tea bags for hiking and trekking.
The "Sekisui Castle Fresh Green Festival 2026" is scheduled to run from April 29 to May 24 at Gujo Hachiman Castle in Gifu Prefecture. Visitors can meet the actual castle lord, enjoy quiz battles, try on samurai armor, and take part in a variety of seasonal events celebrating the castle's lush spring greenery.
The Ibaraki-based Hagiwara Shuzo brewery has launched "FOREST Rooted Light -The First Batch-," the debut release of its wood-barrel-fermented FOREST series, completing the LOVE, SKY, FOREST lineup.
The Koedo Kawagoe Spring Festival begins on March 28, turning the historic Ichibangai shopping street into a lively Edo-period town. Shopkeepers dress in period costume, and cherry blossoms frame the festivities throughout the city.
TachibanA E-Sake Shop's whisky lucky draw series marks a milestone of 50,000 sets sold with a special edition featuring double the chances to win Yamazaki 18 Year whisky. Series 108, with 466 tickets in total, goes on sale from March 17, 2026.
A concept movie has been released for "MYSTERIO," an original immersive performing arts show produced by HITOHATA, INC. for the Lumiere Theatre aboard the newly launched cruise ship Asuka III. The show blends holographic screens, LED digital art, and dance performance with the theme of ancient Mexican civilization, and has been running since July 24, 2025.
Kyoto Yoichi, a night market that has drawn a cumulative 100,000 visitors, is set to appear inside Fujii Daimaru for the first time, transforming the department store basement into a lively festival marketplace.
Nikko City introduces a new tableware line crafted with the Nikko Bori woodcarving technique, and holds a traditional crafts fair at TIC TOKYO on March 19, 2026.
The luxury writing instrument brand TACCIA is set to release a new fountain pen ink collection inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's iconic "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji," featuring 8 colors drawn from the masterwork's vivid palette.
A two-day hands-on workshop lets participants dye their own Allbirds shoes or apparel with natural indigo, guided by master dyer Kenta Watanabe from Tokushima.
The 49th Iwatsuki Castle Ruins Park Cherry Blossom Festival takes place on Saturday, March 28, featuring koto performances, a flea market, food stalls, and free guided tours at one of Saitama's premier cherry blossom viewing spots.
Kakogawa's most cherished spring tradition returns to Kakurinji Temple, where a three-day ceremony centered on Prince Shotoku's memorial rites marks the arrival of the season — including a fire-walking ritual open to the public.
Everything overseas visitors need to know about the Japanese tea ceremony (chado), from its centuries-old origins and proper guest etiquette to the best places in Kyoto and Tokyo where you can join a session in English.
A practical Kamakura itinerary for 1 or 2 days from Tokyo, with efficient walking routes covering Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi-dori, the Great Buddha, Hasedera, Enoshima, and spring cherry blossom spots like Dankazura and Genjiyama Park.
A practical guide to renting kimono and yukata in Japan, covering the best rental shops in Kyoto and Tokyo, what the dressing process looks like, typical prices, and tips for getting the most out of your experience.
A practical day-by-day Osaka itinerary covering Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Umeda Sky Building, Universal Studios Japan, and more. Includes suggested routes, opening hours, admission prices, and tips on getting around the city with the Osaka Amazing Pass.
Everything you need to know before visiting Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, from opening hours and access to the Inner Garden, sacred forest, omikuji, and nearby Harajuku and Shibuya.
A practical day-by-day Nara itinerary covering Todai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi, and Mount Wakakusa. Includes walking routes, admission prices, and how to get to Nara from Kyoto and Osaka.
Swiss-born backless earring brand Baqless has released its third WA Collection on March 13, 2026, featuring four new designs rooted in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.
From April 1 to June 30, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, will serve two new drinks inspired by classical Japanese poetry as the latest installment in its long-running Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails series.
On March 14, 2026, four popular Tokyo sento (public bathhouses) are hosting a special collaboration with Dole, featuring coconut-scented milky-white baths, limited-edition stickers, and free coconut sampling for guests who post on social media.
A month-by-week guide to visiting Japan in May, covering wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park, nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park, Golden Week logistics, Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa, Hakata Dontaku in Fukuoka, Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto, the Tateyama Snow Wall, Kamikochi hiking, May Grand Sumo in Tokyo, seasonal food, and weather tips.
The Otabi Festival is a spectacular spring event held annually in May in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, featuring children's kabuki performed on ornate floats and a breathtaking golden float procession lit up at night.
The Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival is scheduled to take place at Tennogawa Park in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, from April 15 to 29, 2026, showcasing one of Japan's largest wisteria trellises and nightly light-up events.
Celebrated Kyoto-based mural artist Ki-Yan (Hideki Kimura) has created a white tiger lobby mural at the soon-to-open Agora Place Kyoto Nijo, marking his first depiction of the guardian deity in a hotel space.
CHUMS has released a limited line of products blending Tohoku's traditional crafts and folk culture with the brand's signature Booby Bird designs, available at select stores in the Tohoku region from March 11, 2026.
From luxury department stores and free art galleries to high-end sushi counters and old-school coffee shops, here are the best things to do in Ginza for first-time visitors and repeat travelers.
From May 15 to August 31, 2026, Hoshinoya Okinawa will run a special night pool program featuring time-specific cocktails and live Ryukyuan classical music performed by the illuminated infinity pool.
Kaga Iryokuen in Yamanaka Onsen presents "Motome Takayuki Exhibition," showcasing around 60 pieces of Kutani ware inspired by flora and white animals, on view from March 11 to April 13, 2026.
The 4th collaboration between New Era and Kyoto-based textile brand Eirakuya features caps made with traditional tenugui fabric, offered in 59FIFTY® and 9THIRTY™ models.
Kamawanu releases the ninth installment of its Peanuts collaboration, featuring 8 tenugui hand towels and 4 compact mini uchiwa fans dyed using the traditional chūsen technique, all themed around "Summer Outings" with Snoopy and friends.
The DECK coworking space in Osaka's Chuo Ward is hosting a 10-day international program for digital nomads from April 2 to 11, 2026, featuring cherry blossom hanami at Osaka Castle, a tea ceremony at Ikasuri Shrine, and a deep dive into Osaka's culture and history.
HOTEL INTERGATE OSAKA UMEDA will hold a one-day special event on April 1, 2026, featuring live Daikagura performances and Osaka's iconic local dishes to celebrate the hotel's 5th anniversary.
JPS Pharmaceutical has launched "Kakereba Zen," a wakan spice mix that transforms everyday curry with just a sprinkle. Free of added salt and blended with 10 traditional Japanese-Chinese herbal spices, it is now available on their EC site and Amazon.
On April 18 and 19, 2026, incense specialty store Kohgen is hosting a special two-day event where visitors can experience the scent of kyara — an ultra-rare type of agarwood worth more than five times the price of gold. Admission is free for those under 20.
Takashimaya Archives TOKYO is looking for 20 people to join the Tojin (foreign envoy) parade at the Sanno Matsuri Shinkosai procession through central Tokyo on June 12, 2026. Costumes are provided free of charge, with applications accepted from March 13 to April 15.
The Japanese tea cafe brand Saryo Itoen is opening a new location within the Zenkoji temple grounds in Nagano City, featuring exclusive matcha sweets and a selection of Japanese tea drinks.
Shuri Castle Park is set to host the "Spring Castle Festival 2026" over three days from March 20 to 22, 2026, featuring traditional performances, hands-on workshops, and guided tours for visitors of all ages.
Sowa Seihon Co., Ltd. (SOWALABO) has launched the "Maarui Goshuincho Sakura," a circular goshuin book featuring a 130mm hinoki cypress wood cover and ink-resistant Japanese paper — now available via their official online shop for 3,300 yen.
A free outdoor projection mapping event at Tennozu Canal East will project yokai-themed digital animations onto buildings along both banks of the Tennozu Canal from March 20 to 23, 2026.
Two new restaurants are opening at Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, offering seasonal ohaw soup dishes, Hokkaido game meat, and local ingredients inspired by Ainu culture.
On April 4, 2026, a procession of participants dressed as yokai will march through Asakusa Rokku Broadway in the Asakusa Hyakki Yako Parade, presented by YOKAI Immersive Experience Exhibition TOKYO – Imagination of Japan. Costume participants can apply to join the free parade, and a cherry blossom fragrance collaboration with brand Hatenkou is also planned.
A collaboration between green tea brand Ayataka and the tea-themed sightseeing boat Hakone Yusen DAICHAKAI runs from March 16 through November 13, 2026, bringing special events and design wrapping to Lake Ashi.
On March 9, 2026 — known among fans as "Miku Day" — YouTube's top page logo temporarily transformed into a Hatsune Miku-themed Yoodle, accompanied by a special playlist and a dedicated program featuring prominent VOCALOID creators.
The Japanese-patterned umbrella brand Hokusai Graphic is back at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba from March 25 to April 21, 2026, offering a range of UV-blocking parasols and folding umbrellas inspired by traditional Japanese art.
A practical guide to visiting Japan in April, covering cherry blossom timing by region, spring festivals like Takayama and Miyako Odori, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route snow wall, seasonal food, wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park, weather and packing tips, and how to handle Golden Week crowds.
Global matcha stand brand MATCHAMON has launched a new lineup of original matcha gelato featuring regeneratively sourced ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture, available at its Kyoto Nijo Castle and Asakusa locations.
Nanbu Brewery in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, is launching a new sake on March 17, 2026, born from a circular brewing project that returns sake kasu as fertilizer to the rice paddies and then brews the harvested rice into sake.
A practical guide to Nara covering Nara Park and its famous deer, Todai-ji's Great Buddha, Kasuga-taisha's lantern-lined paths, the old merchant streets of Naramachi, and local mochi shops -- with access from Osaka and Kyoto, admission prices, and tips for interacting with the deer.
The Ogimachi Sakura Festival takes place at Ogimachi Park in Osaka's Kita Ward from April 3 to 5, 2026, featuring night cherry blossom illuminations, sakura-colored sky lanterns, Japanese traditional music and street performance shows, sake tasting, and food trucks.
Plan your Osaka trip with this practical guide to the city's top 20 attractions. From Dotonbori's neon-lit food scene and Osaka Castle's hilltop views to the retro lanes of Shinsekai and Umeda's rooftop gardens, here's everything you need to know about getting around, what to eat, and where to go.
The quirky, hand-drawn advertising signs that have become a local legend in Nagaoka, Niigata are heading to Ginza for their first-ever exhibition outside of Niigata Prefecture, running from March 29 to April 6, 2026.
Eight students from the Art & Media Lab at Tokyo Polytechnic University's Department of Interactive Media are presenting an immersive exhibition exploring The Great East Japan Earthquake through interactive artworks, archival displays, and dialogue programs — open through March 22, 2026, free of charge.
Suntory is releasing a new limited-edition beer inspired by the Japanese seasonal term "Umenomikinari," meaning the time when plums ripen and begin to turn golden. It goes on sale nationwide on June 16, 2026.
Everything you need to know about eating sushi in Japan, from the different types and regional styles to etiquette tips, price ranges, and how to find great sushi at every budget.
The inaugural Arita MONO・NO・SU Table Coordinate Contest 2026 is coming to Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, with applications opening on April 1, 2026. The contest pairs table coordinators 1-on-1 with local Arita ware kilns in a hands-on collaborative format.
Gunma Flower Park Plus is hosting a first-ever retreat combining seasonal flower arrangement and a curated Japanese tea pairing on March 22, 2026, limited to just 10 guests.
Tokyo Handaen (東京繁田園茶舗), a Japanese tea specialty shop in Suginami, Tokyo, is now accepting reservations for its beloved "Reservation-Only New Tea Hachijuhachiya." Orders are open through April 20, with shipping beginning around May 15. A newly designed 90g flat bag joins the lineup this year.
The 106th edition of the Gouka Whisky Mikuji lottery from Tachibana E-Shuuhan features The Yamazaki 18 Year Old as the top prize, with 466 tickets available starting March 9, 2026.
A practical guide to Kamakura covering the Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Komachi-dori street food, Zen temples in Kita-Kamakura, hiking trails, and the Enoden coastal line — with access info from Tokyo, admission prices, and seasonal tips.
The 101st Azuma Odori, the annual traditional geisha dance performance of Tokyo's Shinbashi flower district, will take place at Shinbashi Enbujo from May 22 to 25, 2026, with 8 performances over 4 days.
From March 11 to 20, 2026, Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi is holding a 10-day series of events and workshops celebrating Kyoto's traditional crafts and culture, including a maiko performance by candlelight, Kyoto koma spinning top workshops, Nishijin-ori weaving demonstrations, and a tea ceremony.
The Hatsuuma Festival, one of Kagoshima's most celebrated spring events, returns to Kagoshima Shrine in Kirishima City on March 8, 2026. The festival draws around 100,000 visitors each year and features the distinctive "Suzukake" decorated horses dancing to taiko drums and shamisen music.
The Recovery Lantern Project returns for its 8th year in Koriyama, Fukushima, displaying approximately 350 handcrafted lanterns made from traditional Ebine washi paper to honor the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
I visited Sasaguri in Fukuoka for an Ohenro pilgrimage and meditation experience tour. Just 20 minutes by train from Hakata, this hidden gem offers a deeply authentic Japanese spiritual and cultural experience, complete with guided temple visits, sutra chanting, and meditation led by a real Buddhist monk.
A sauna enthusiast meetup event called "Shinshu Sauna Travel Recommendations" is coming to Ginza NAGANO on March 20, 2026, offering a deep dive into Nagano's outdoor sauna scene, expert guest talks, local food, and more.
The Omiya Takigi-Noh, a beloved traditional performing arts event held on the grounds of Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Saitama, reaches its 45th anniversary this year. Featuring Noh performances by the Hosho and Konparu schools alongside Kyogen by the Izumi school, the two-night event will welcome popular performers Nomura Mansaku and Nomura Mansai.
Japanese artist Setsuo Kano brings his "YOHEN" exhibition to LIGHT BOX SATELLITE AOYAMA from March 26 to 29, 2026, presenting a new series of intimate works drawn from his monumental Indra Fifteen Deities paintings.
Bonno Shooting is a free browser-based shooting game for smartphones and PC where players control an adorable monk named Bon-chan and shoot down "bonno" (worldly desires), naturally learning about Buddhist teachings along the way.
Starting March 1, 2026, Dusitthani Kyoto offers an innovative wellness program called "Chakō," a shisha-inspired experience using only organic tea leaves from the hotel's own Wazuka estate, with optional sake and whisky pairings.
Satsuma Kinzan-gura announces the release of "Fukukinzan," a new authentic sweet potato shochu inspired by Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa, blending white and rare golden koji for a mellow, aromatic flavor, presented in a striking indigo and gold leaf bottle design.
A new permanent tabi-shibai theater, Gion Gofukuza, is set to open at Gion Kaikan in Kyoto's Higashiyama ward in May 2026 — the first permanent venue of its kind in Kyoto.
To mark the 50th anniversaries of Sena Keiko's beloved picture books Gracia Meets a Ghost and Ghost Tempura, Poplar Publishing has released a special gift box set featuring palm-sized mini editions of both books along with a ghost stuffed toy complete with a removable tempura batter costume.
L'essentiel du Japon, a Sendai-based aroma brand, has launched three new scents capturing the landscapes of Miyagi — the open sky, lush forests, and historic castle.
Kikusui Sake Brewery in Shibata, Niigata is offering a two-day "Kurabito Experience Program" on May 21 and 22, 2026, where participants can work alongside actual brewery workers to wash rice, cultivate koji, and perform hands-on sake brewing within a historic warehouse setting.
Tokushima Central Park comes alive with the lively rhythms of Awa Odori on April 26, 2026, featuring three different dance styles across the park. Admission is free.
Hotel Amanek Ginza East in Tokyo's Ginza district is hosting a kabuki-themed kumadori mask-making workshop on March 8, 2026, where hotel guests can learn about the art of kabuki face painting and create their own masks.
Nippon Kodo's "Kataribe" series welcomes two new fruit-inspired incense sticks on March 5, 2026, both incorporating "Ringo Pamis Gururi-ko," an upcycled powder made from apple juice pomace developed by food-tech startup ASTRA FOOD PLAN.
A free special exhibition exploring the history of elephants in Japan, centered on Takachan — an elephant who lived on the rooftop of Nihonbashi Takashimaya from 1950 to 1954 — opens on March 13, 2026.
RYO-SEN, a unit dedicated to presenting quality tools as elements that enrich daily life, brings together handpicked living goods from craftspeople across Japan to the 7th floor of Hankyu Umeda Main Store from March 4 through June 30.
KAYOU+, a premium stationery brand that launched in Japan in 2025, has earned recognition for all four of its debut products at the Japanese Stationery Store Awards 2026, placing in both the mechanical pencil and ballpoint pen categories.
THE NOMU, a fully private wellness facility featuring low-temperature mist bathing, aromatherapy, and immersive light and sound, is set to open in Fukuoka's Tenjin area on March 5, 2026.
Chocolate specialty shop Bel Amer is releasing a lineup of seasonal limited products from February 25, 2026, covering everything from a spring petit gateau to gift assortments and playful chocolate pieces.
Kanzashi-ya Wargo, a Japanese handmade kanzashi specialty store, has launched the Kiwataridori Ippon Kanzashi, a new hair ornament available in five colors. Inspired by migratory birds soaring through deep forests, the piece combines wood and metal for a design that balances natural warmth with elegance. It went on sale on February 27.
KIMOTO GLASSWARE is set to participate in the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project's Naniga Umareru? Ten Japanese Craftsmanship Exhibition, a three-day event held at Omotesando Hills from March 6 to 8, 2026.
The Kitano Hotel Tokyo's main dining room "Orangerie Koan" introduces a fermentation-themed menu running from March 3 to May 30, 2026, as part of the hotel's ongoing "Kitano Finds Japan" series celebrating Japanese food culture.
Starting March 2, 2026, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo offers a new "Totally Tokyo" stay package featuring cultural experiences like tea ceremonies, kintsugi workshops, and teamLab tickets, bookable exclusively through the official website.
A hands-on onigiri rice ball cooking class conducted in English is now available at a historic 100-year-old traditional Japanese townhouse in Kita-ku, Tokyo, targeting inbound tourists who want to connect with Japanese food culture.
Holiday Travel staff Arimi visits Benitsuya in Shimbashi, Tokyo for an authentic geisha dinner experience. Read her honest review of the kaiseki cuisine, traditional dance performances, and exciting ozashiki asobi (parlor games) at this welcoming venue popular with international visitors.
The Shiroato History Museum in Takatsuki City will present approximately 200 items related to horses — from Edo-period festival horse tack to folk toys — in a free exhibition running from March 14 to May 31, 2026.
Tokyo Revue 2026's Haru no Odori (Spring Dance), presenting the authentic revue style inherited from SKD Shochiku Kagekidan, will be performed at Asakusa Hanagekijo on March 27 and 28, 2026.
Toysking, a nationwide buy-and-sell chain specializing in toys and hobby items, is set to debut its first retail store in the Kanto region on the 7th floor of Yurakucho Marui.
The "Dedication Indigo Dyeing Experience," previously featured at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, returns to Tokushima Prefectural Government Building for a two-day event on March 14 and 15, 2026.
From March 11 to 24, Matsuya Ginza celebrates Japanese denim craftsmanship through show window installations, pop-up shops from Hiroshima and Okayama, and a souvenir tote bag offer — all set alongside the TOKYO CREATIVE SALON 2026 festival.
A special spring lobby exhibition is on display at Hotel Granvia Wakayama in its fifth year of collaboration with Kudoyama Town, featuring "Daisuke Yume Juushi" warrior dolls and traditional spring decorations from February 25 through mid-March 2026.
The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association has published its March 2026 sake event calendar, featuring festivals and tasting events held across Japan including Nagoya, Niigata, Kyoto, and Aomori.
Over 1,200 crystals suspended among the blooming plum trees at Kitano Tenmangu form the "Garden of Light and Flowers" outdoor installation, the centerpiece of KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL 2026, running from February 1 to May 24, 2026.
Starting February 25, a new tableware series combining upcycled Arita ware technology with paper resources pulp is on sale at stores in Saga, Aizuwakamatsu, and Harajuku, as well as online.
Starting March 1, 2026, Saryo Zeze in Nara offers a year-round afternoon tea series themed around the Eastern philosophy of yin-yang and the five elements, with seasonal menus rotating through wood, fire, metal, water, and earth.
Contemporary artist SHUN SUDO presents a large-scale floral art exhibition at Ginza Sony Park, running from March 7 to March 29, 2026, featuring over 35 new oil paintings and exclusive limited-edition merchandise.
A new series of Hagiyaki pottery called "Urara" is set to arrive on March 1, featuring handcrafted pieces with soft pink-to-milky-white tones and flower petal-shaped rims that bring a sense of spring to the table.
ABEMA has released a new key visual for the Grand Sumo March Tournament 2026, showcasing ozeki Yashoairiki — who is chasing a yokozuna promotion — alongside Atamifuji, who earns his first-ever san'yaku ranking. All bouts will be streamed for free.
The Hakutsuru Art Museum in Kobe is holding its spring exhibition from March 3 to June 7, 2026, featuring animals depicted in Eastern fine arts and decorative crafts spanning more than 3,000 years of history.
A high-definition replica of Ishida Yūtei's Flock of Cranes — held in the Minneapolis Institute of Art — is now on display at Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History through May 6, 2026, marking a homecoming to the painter's native Hyogo.
The Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Museum, closed for its first major renovation since opening in 1982, will reopen on March 20, 2026, featuring an expanded craft shop, new café, and special exhibitions celebrating traditional crafts.
MUSASHI JAPAN, a Japanese knife brand, has been recognized as the most well-known knife brand across seven countries in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, according to a global brand survey.
A two-day workshop for 4th to 6th graders combines traditional Japanese lantern painting with modern video production skills in Akita City.
Kazeno Heritage will launch a cafe, party venue, and wedding business at Fukuyama Castle and Fukuju Kaikan, a registered tangible cultural property, starting April 2026.
Gion Tsujiri and Saryo Tsujiri unveil special spring menu items at Daimaru Shinsaibashi to celebrate the store's 300th anniversary, featuring the luxurious Ranman parfait and Haru no Utage three-tiered feast.
A new 1-night, 2-day retreat plan launches in Iga-Ueno, Mie Prefecture, combining aromatherapy, traditional Iga kumihimo braiding, and stays in architectural treasures designed by master architect Junzo Sakakura.
The resort hotel is transforming seven Japanese-style rooms into shower-equipped Japanese-Western rooms adorned with Echizen washi paper and Echizen lacquerware, opening March 25, 2026.
Matsubaya Furniture Store opens an exhibition featuring live-edge table slabs made from trees sourced within a 50km radius of Nagano City. Each piece comes with a complete story of its origin, from the mountain where it grew to the craftspeople who processed it.
A celebration of Okinawan traditional performing arts returns to Seijo Hall after five years, featuring Living National Treasure Nishie Kiharu and renowned dancers in a program honoring the reconstruction of Shuri Castle.
An exhibition featuring four rising craft artists specializing in lacquerware, metalwork, and ceramics opens at Seiko House Hall in Ginza from March 19 to 29, 2026.
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will host "Mitsukoshi Handicraft" from February 25 to March 2, 2026, bringing together nearly 100 brands and artists in a celebration of contemporary craftsmanship and creativity.
The Royal Pines Hotel Urawa pastry shop La Mora will offer a special Hinamatsuri cake from February 28 to March 3, 2026. Reservations open February 17.
The 20th edition of Art Fair Tokyo announces its expanded program featuring artist talks, a Japan Ceramics Association tea ceremony experience, and an official bar collaboration at Homunculus in Ebisu.
Chubu Centrair International Airport releases a unique aviation safety charm containing actual runway rubber pieces for the 10th Anniversary Airline Expo event.
Three renowned hot spring destinations from Okayama Prefecture's northern region will be showcased at a special event in Tokyo's Shinbashi area from February 20 to 23, 2026.
Ota City in Gunma Prefecture has started a permanent exhibition of design manhole covers at city hall. Two artistic manholes featuring the city's symbols are now on display, with pedestals crafted by local high school students.
Seishin Tougei releases a charming cultivation kit featuring Showa-era ramen bowls where you can grow condiments like green onions, mitsuba, bok choy, and chili peppers.
A new projection mapping show titled Tokyo Transformation Chronicle - Spirits of Tokyo debuts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on February 19th, featuring festive Japanese characters in a stunning light and sound display.
Creative photo studio aimme in Sapporo presents a fresh take on graduation attire with their new visual showcasing original lace furisode layered with voluminous tiered hakama, blending traditional elements with girly, edgy styling.
The historic town of Akizuki in Asakura City hosts a special Hina Meguri event from February 14 to March 8, featuring over 600 hina dolls displayed on stone steps.
From February 21 to 23, 2026, Chubu Centrair International Airport will host a special 3-day event featuring ninja performances, airline staff in ninja costumes, and the popular Tokoname City mascot Tokotan to celebrate the unique "Ninja Day" and "Cat Day" on February 22.
From February 20 to 24, Hankyu Umeda Main Store showcases the charm of satoyama living with the GREENable brand from Okayama Prefecture's Maniwa City, featuring traditional crafts, fermented foods, and plant-dyed apparel.
Sunshine City Prince Hotel is offering a special one-day accommodation plan on March 27, 2026, featuring a chartered IKEBUS tour visiting cherry blossom spots in Toshima Ward, including the birthplace of Somei Yoshino cherry trees.
Washin Co., Ltd., which develops traditional Japanese accessory brands nationwide, has renewed four stores in Kyoto's major tourist areas, transforming them into spaces where visitors can experience Japanese culture more intuitively.
The Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum presents the largest-ever exhibition showcasing Yoshida Shoya's innovative mingei designs, featuring 297 works including furniture, ceramics, textiles, and everyday objects from March 14 to June 21, 2026.
The inaugural All-Japan University Shodo Performance Championship will take place on March 8, 2026, at Shikochuho Hall in Shikoku Chuo City, Ehime Prefecture, bringing together 13 universities from across Japan.
Kinnotake Resort, operating five ryokans and three restaurants in Hakone, has introduced plant-based kaiseki cuisine at three of its properties since December 2025. This initiative goes beyond religious and allergy accommodations to create an inclusive dining environment where all guests can equally experience Japanese food culture.
Kameyama Corporation has released two new fragrances in their popular 'Incense-Style Senkou' series - Sandalwood & Amber and White Sage & Geranium - perfect for cleansing rituals, yoga, and meditation.
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Kyoto Ceramics Cooperative Federation and Tachikichi are hosting an online exhibition featuring traditional sake and tea vessels fired in Kyoto climbing kilns, available from February 18 to March 18, 2026.
A new lifestyle brand Montagna sacra has launched, bringing precision cutting technology expertise to everyday products. The brand's debut product is a titanium sake cup featuring a 3D replica of Mount Ishizuchi.
The National Bunraku Theatre's traditional Rōkyoku performance by leading performers returns on February 21, 2026. Leading performers discuss their enthusiasm for this special event, which includes the first-ever explanatory segment and commemorates the designation of Rōkyoku as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.
From February 18 to 24, Matsuya Ginza will host the NEW FUKUI exhibition, showcasing traditional Fukui crafts including Echizen lacquerware, Sabae woodcarving, and Echizen washi paper reimagined for modern lifestyles. The event features hands-on workshops, artist demonstrations, and a special solo exhibition.
Japanese leather bag brand TOFF&LOADSTONE releases their second Spring/Summer 2026 collection themed "New Old Things," featuring modern classics with brass hardware and traditional craftsmanship.
ZAPPA Village in Himeji, Hyogo hosts its annual "ZAPPA Day" festival from March 7-9, 2026, celebrating International Women's Day with local artisans, food vendors, workshops, and mimosa flowers. The three-day event brings together the region's best in crafts, cuisine, and community activities.
JR Kyushu is offering a special day trip on the KAWASEMI YAMASEMI Limited Express from Hakata to Iizuka. The tour includes lunch at the popular Kaho Terrace, visits to the historic Former Ito Denemon Residence with its impressive seated hina dolls, and shopping at the Cacao Research Institute. Departing March 1, 2026.
Jun Maeda, owner of Japanese tableware and knife specialist Kappabashi Maeda in Tokyo's Kappabashi area, held his debut solo calligraphy exhibition 'Fuhe' at Gallery Aviant in Sumida Ward from February 2 to 8, 2026. The exhibition featured 22 works combining traditional calligraphy with antique textiles and attracted 102 visitors during its run.
A walking mystery-solving event themed around Yame's traditional hina dolls will take place across two historic preservation districts in Fukuoka from February 15 to March 15, 2026.
The Calligraphy and Washi Paper Project in Hinohara, hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, brings together calligraphy, washi paper, technology, and ethical practices in Hinohara Village, with touring exhibitions in Daikanyama and Kyoto.
The Kutani Ware Kiln Site Exhibition Hall is hosting a winter exhibition tracing the development of red akae saibyo fine-line decoration in Kaga Kutani pottery, running through July 6, 2026.
Opening March 28, 2026, MoN Takanawa presents a diverse cultural lineup including exhibitions, live music, traditional performances, and innovative art experiences at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY.
Nihonsakari hosts a special sake brewery opening event on February 28, 2026, featuring exclusive limited-edition sake tastings, brewery tours, food pairings, and family-friendly activities in Nishinomiya, Hyogo.
On March 1, 2026, violinist Ryoma and artists performing live music inside the Immersive Digital Art Theater Ukiyo-e RE:BORN - The Spirit of Edo and Timeless Japonism venue for a special one-night concert event.
Fukui Prefecture's Obama City chopstick craftsmen revive the popular Wakasa lacquered chopsticks featuring hand-drawn patterns of Kinnikuman Soldier. On sale from February 9th, 2026.
The historic white-walled streets of Yoshii Town in Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture, will transform into a vibrant hina doll festival from February 11 to March 20, 2026, featuring colorful flower arrangements and traditional "Okiage" dolls.
On March 20, 2026, Hotel Granvia Kyoto will host "Manabunka in Kyoto Station Building," a hands-on workshop event featuring 19 booths showcasing traditional Kyoto crafts including Kyo-Yuzen, Kyo-Shippo, and more. The event includes special experiences like learning about dashi (soup stock) and appearances by Tora-rin, the official character of Kyoto National Museum.
A new exhibition showcasing Tokyo's traditional crafts and artisan skills opens at Omotesando Hills from March 6 to 8, 2026. Experience the techniques behind Edo-Tokyo's treasures.
RED MAKER Corporation is participating in planning for the Asahifuji Dojo Premium Sumo Experience, a special event where participants can experience Japan's traditional culture of sumo up close. The event includes training practice on the dohyo, watching matches by former makuuchi wrestlers, and enjoying chanko-nabe with former wrestlers.
Unfilter Co., Ltd. has launched a pre-order sale on Makuake for "ZAININ BLACK" and "ZAININ WHITE," the first premium series of craft shochu "ZAININ (罪人)" developed in collaboration with Hachijojima's historic brewery, Sakashita Shuzo.
Participate in one of Hokuriku's premier festivals - the Kehi Jingu Matsuri in Tsuruga City. Join local residents in carrying portable shrines, pulling festival floats, and performing traditional folk dances at this historic celebration.
Kyoto Art Center hosts a three-day open event from February 20 to 22, 2026, offering the public access to artist studios and workshops spanning dance, theater, and visual arts. The event provides hands-on experiences for all ages in a historic registered cultural property building.
Okashitsukayadaiya, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Koka City, introduces seasonal Hina Uiro for Hinamatsuri and their signature Koka-style ninja sweets made with brown sugar and walnuts.
Yanaka Craft Cola, a craft beverage born in Tokyo's historic downtown area, is opening a limited-time pop-up store at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store from February 4 to 17, 2026.
Starting February 26, 2026, the Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga offers spring lunch menus featuring Hyakunin Isshu-themed dishes and Omi beef specialties at their Japanese and teppanyaki restaurants.
Popular event returns! Experience Cinema Kabuki screening with expert commentary, guided tour of Kabuki-za, lunch, and souvenirs on February 24, 2026.
Warabiza presents Matsuri Theater HANA, an interactive non-verbal stage show featuring Tohoku's six major festivals, at Fukuoka Island City's Theater Soratoumi from April 11-19, 2026. Experience drumming, lanterns, and festival atmosphere with up to 1,000 children invited for free.
A new Made-in-Hakata bag brings traditional Hakata weaving into daily use. The NABIKI bag, a collaboration between Fukuoka Canvas and Hakata Ori, features upcycled obi fabric and goes on sale February 21st at Hakata Machiya Furusatokan.
Kishis Co., Ltd., a long-established festival supplier founded in 1946, launches three new festival booth kits in collaboration with popular snack makers Kakudai Seika, Orion, and Kyoshin Seika.
The Royal Park Hotel Fukuoka has introduced a new Traditional Crafts Room on its premium floor, showcasing authentic Hakata weaving, Hakata magemono, and Hakata dolls. This special accommodation offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the city's rich cultural heritage.
Raymaka's Kamiora brand unveils innovative products combining traditional Japanese paper fabric with recycled industrial iron powder at Tokyo Big Sight from February 4-6, 2026.
From February 19 to March 11, 2026, Wako Ginza's Arts and Culture basement floor will showcase Danish modern design combined with Asian crafts, featuring Nordic furniture, chinoiserie carpets, and contemporary Japanese artworks.
The souvenir shop at Hakone's Gora Station has been renovated to reflect the natural beauty of the four seasons. Opening February 7, 2026, the new space features seasonal colors and an exclusive Imabari towel collection.
Japanese furniture and interior brand AREA collaborates with OBI PORCELAIN to create contemporary Hinamatsuri dolls that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
ERIS VELINA, a Kobe-based pearl specialist, is launching its unique "Osakanapearl" collection featuring baroque pearls transformed into adorable sea creature characters. The brand will exhibit at the Tokyo International Gift Show and Kyoto Gift Show in February 2026, seeking B2B partners for high-end retail channels.
Maruyama Coffee releases a special blend featuring a horse motif, the zodiac symbol for 2026, celebrating wishes for vitality and growth.
A special exhibition event showcasing the art, design, and culture of the Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury train will be held at Ginza Tsutaya Books on March 27-28, 2026.
The Towada Lake Winter Story 2026, running from January 30 to February 23, features the "Winter Border Festival" stage event showcasing traditional performing arts from three prefectures.
Event Bar Fu… in Akishima City, operated by puzzle production company Puzzle Pocket Co., Ltd., will hold its first Setsubun event for elementary school children and younger on February 2, 2026.
TSUGI, a local creative company based in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, has unveiled 14 new items from F-TRAD MADE, a project that bridges Fukui traditional crafts with contemporary lifestyles. These products showcase techniques from seven nationally designated traditional crafts including Echizen lacquerware, Echizen washi paper, and Wakasa-nuri chopsticks.
A new bonsai workshop store, Hello BONSAI club, has opened in Kyoto's Sanjo area, offering international visitors a hands-on experience creating palm-sized artificial mini-bonsai that can be taken home without quarantine concerns.
Yamagata Eijudo, Okayama's specialty kibidango maker, releases a seasonal Hinamatsuri-themed premium package featuring traditional kibidango and origami hina dolls. Available from February 5, 2026.
The Hokusai-kan Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special exhibition on dragons and phoenixes, featuring contemporary traditional craft artists responding to Hokusai's masterpieces through March 29.
Experience the luxury that Heian aristocrats once enjoyed in Oku-Arashiyama. HOSHINOYA Kyoto introduces a limited stay program offering exclusive access to three prime cherry blossom viewing spots, available March 25 to April 9, 2026.
Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture is recruiting participants for the samurai parade at the 53rd Kameoka Mitsuhide Festival on May 3rd, 2026. Experience becoming the legendary warlord Akechi Mitsuhide in full authentic armor.
The Westin Miyako Kyoto and craft brand SHITSURAE KYOTO are hosting a special exhibition titled "POST-TRAD Exhibition 2026" from February 14 to February 23, 2026, featuring traditional Buddhist altar craftsmanship reimagined as contemporary art.
A century-old tea shop from Saga Prefecture challenges convention with an innovative tea blend designed specifically to pair with bread, debuting at Tokyo Big Sight this February.
FLO Prestige announces festive Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival) limited sweets available from February 28 to March 3, 2026. The collection includes elegant strawberry decoration cakes, peach tarts, and petit cakes perfect for celebrating the traditional Japanese festival.
The Kyoto Pottery Cooperative Association celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special exhibition at Kyoto Ceramic Center, showcasing sake and tea vessels created by Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki artisans and fired in a historic climbing kiln in Uji, from January 30 to February 11, 2026.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Lake Biwa Museum will host a special Night at the Museum event on March 8, 2026, and an overnight Premium Night Tour on March 20, 2026, featuring special lighting, classical concerts, local sake tasting, and curator-led tours.
Novotel Okinawa Naha announces its first-ever wedding consultation event in partnership with Okinogu Shrine, one of Okinawa's Eight Ryukyuan Shrines, offering couples the chance to plan traditional Japanese engagement ceremonies and wedding celebrations.
From March 1 to April 19, 2026, The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike will offer a limited Japanese-style afternoon tea set in its historic "Saryō" tea house, a sukiya-style architectural masterpiece designed by renowned architect Murano Togo.
The Japan Doll Association presents hina doll-themed ice sculptures at the 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival from February 4-11, celebrating the cultural significance of traditional Hinamatsuri dolls through transparent ice artistry.
Mori no Machi Grace in Okayama hosts a special Setsubun festival on February 1, 2026, featuring traditional Chayamachi Oni-Daiko performances, candy throwing events for children, and a Fagiano Okayama pop-up shop with exclusive merchandise.
NPO Corporation Invisible will host Tamayura no Bon, a participatory shadow puppet and music performance, on February 15, 2026, at Yorunomori Park in Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture. This special event invites participants to create their own shadows and walk through the winter forest, guided by music, as an alternative way to honor memories and unseen presences in this land affected by the 2011 disaster.
Japanese lifestyle brand Wamonoya Kaya collaborates with contemporary ukiyo-e painter Suzuki Hyottoko on a unique collection featuring household appliances and everyday motifs in traditional ukiyo-e style. The 12-item lineup includes aloha shirts, reversible jackets, and traditional Japanese goods, bringing humor and color to modern living.
A one-night-only stage performance bringing together Noh theater, lacquerware artistry, and music will be held on February 8, 2026, at Kanze Noh Theater in Ginza. Special instruments featuring traditional maki-e lacquer decoration will be used in this unique cultural event.
From February 21 to April 12, 2026, the historic Heijo Palace in Nara hosts Heijokyo Hiina Festival, celebrating the origins of Japan's traditional Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) with a grand 51-day event featuring hina doll displays, traditional ceremonies, and illuminated night experiences.
Hotel Nikko Tachikawa Tokyo will offer a special three-layer Hinamatsuri cake from February 21 to March 3, 2026, with reservations starting January 29. The cake features strawberry and matcha sponge layers with fresh cream and Japanese strawberries.
On February 8th (Sunday), Kasamatsu Racecourse in Gifu Prefecture hosts "Kaso no Utage 2026," a unique event where participants can run the actual horse track in horse racing-themed costumes.
Yamamotoyama releases an ultra-premium gyokuro tea made from rare hand-picked leaves from Uji Ogura, the birthplace of gyokuro. Limited to 800 pieces, this winter-aged tea recreates the passion of 1835 when gyokuro was first invented.
RAIN JUNGOLD releases a K24 pure gold zodiac charm "Leaping Horse" (approx. 1g). A finger-sized amulet symbolizing momentum, leap, and rising fortune for the Year of the Horse. Available now with pre-orders accepted.
Every February 10, Sugou Isobe Shrine in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, hosts the Gongan Shinji, a powerful traditional ritual. Locally known as Gongan-san or Bamboo Splitting Festival, this winter tradition carries a long and storied history into the present.
Japanese botanical lifestyle brand MARKS&WEB releases its annual limited edition Yuzu/Iyokan body and hand care series on January 29, featuring citrus essential oils from Tokushima's Sanagochi Village.
A popular accommodation in Okinawa's Chatan Town has reopened on January 7, 2026, offering a unique "experience-based stay" that combines traditional Japanese culture with Okinawa's appeal.
Experience Japan's traditional yokai art brought to life through cutting-edge digital technology. The world's first immersive digital art museum combining yokai paintings from the Edo and Meiji periods with 3D projection mapping, holographic screens, and intricate sculptures opens for a limited run from March 27 to June 28, 2026.
Daimaru Shinsaibashi Store presents a wide variety of ehomaki rolls for Setsubun 2026, from fresh seafood to unique ethnic flavors. The lucky direction this year is south-southeast.
From February 19 to March 1, 2026, Wako in Ginza will showcase works by four internationally active ceramic artists based in Japan, featuring tea ceramics, flower vases, and unique sculptures.
Hakone Ashino-ko Hanaori launches a special accommodation plan for visitors exploring the Hakone Three Shrines pilgrimage route, featuring an original goshuincho (stamp book) and detailed walking map.
TERAS, a brand specializing in traditional Japanese Sashiko and Boro crafts, is hosting an art exhibition and limited-time pop-up shop at Toko Pottery Gallery in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture from February 7 to March 11, 2026.
The Light of Hope, which began after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, will be installed at Madoiwa Rock in Wajima City. A lighting ceremony will be held on February 1, 2026, to connect hopes across disaster-affected communities.
KYUKAMURA RIKUCHU-MIYAKO offers a special accommodation plan to experience Kuromori Kagura, a 300-year-old traditional ritual performance, with a special performance at the hotel on February 14, 2026.
A beloved Showa-era cafe cherished in Kobe's Minato Motomachi area reopens as Meriken Dori Prologue on January 24, 2026, operated by coffee specialist Nichibei Coffee, preserving its nostalgic atmosphere and signature coffee blend.
Onioshidashi Park in Gunma Prefecture will host a distinctive Setsubun bean-throwing event on February 3, 2026, at the Asama-san Kannon-do temple stage, where demons are considered allies rather than enemies.
Mitsui Norin's premium tea shop nittoh.1909 is hosting an online tea and chocolate pairing seminar on February 21st, where participants will learn how to select the right tea for different types of chocolate.
Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu, Japan's first agritourism resort, will hold the Rice School program in 2026, offering authentic rice farming experiences and traditional hagama rice cooking. This sixth edition runs from April 12 to October 11, 2026, featuring hands-on activities including seeding, rice planting, weeding, and harvesting.
A new craft beer featuring a white cat design launches ahead of Cat Day on February 22nd. The label can be customized with drawings, and a portion of proceeds supports a cat rescue cafe in Takamatsu.
lf, a Utsunomiya-based company, released the izakaya card game ENTERtei in December 2025. The game features collaboration with 43 sake breweries, wineries, and breweries across Tochigi Prefecture, offering a new way to experience local sake culture through entertainment.
New products blending Japanese traditional crafts with cutting-edge technology will be showcased at the urban creative festival TOKYO PROTOTYPE, held at Toranomon Hills from January 29 to 31, 2026.
The 3rd Modern Master Ceramics Exhibition is being held at Hanshin Umeda Main Store's Art Gallery from January 21 to 27, 2026, featuring approximately 50 works by Japan's most prestigious ceramic artists.
Experience a journey to cleanse your mind and body and attract good fortune with the gods' power at Mercure Fukuoka Munakata Resort & Spa, located on the coast overlooking the Genkai Sea. Two special accommodation plans are now available.
Gray Parker Service launches the "Wa! Wa! Wa! Souvenir Lottery" featuring Mofusand's adorable cats dressed as lucky charms. The online lottery runs from January 27 (Tuesday) 11:00 AM to February 2 (Monday) 11:59 PM, offering 16 types of fortune-bringing items including BIG lucky cat plushies and daruma mascots.
Royal Copenhagen unveils its Spring Collection 2026, featuring delicate Danish wildflowers on porcelain pieces including Easter eggs, vases, and bonbonnieres, celebrating the arrival of spring with traditional craftsmanship.
ON THE TRIP, in collaboration with Takehara City Tourism and Town Development Organization, has released an audio guide for the historic streets of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture. Starting from the former Morikawa Family Residence, a designated Important Cultural Property, the guide introduces 11 spots that tell the story of a town built on salt production.
FANCL Ginza Square features a special display of Kishu Temari, traditional Japanese hand-crafted ornamental balls from Wakayama, as part of a regional cultural collaboration. The display runs from January 20 to March 16, 2026.
A Hakone ryokan transforms ehomaki from a commercial product into a cultural experience, offering guests the opportunity to learn the tradition's meaning, prepare their own lucky roll, and face the auspicious direction in quiet reflection. Available through February 2026 to minimize food waste.
TAIMATSU Co., Ltd., the company behind the Japanese knife brand MUSASHI JAPAN, has opened FUJI JAPAN in Kyoto Sanjo. The immersive cultural experience facility offers hands-on knife sharpening workshops, allowing visitors to truly engage with Japanese craftsmanship.
NIDEC Kyoto Tower will hold a Setsubun Tsuinasai festival at its 100-meter-high observation deck on February 2, 2026. The event features a traditional ceremony and bean-throwing by local kindergarteners to pray for good health and ward off evil spirits.
Yamakei publishes a new book tracing the life of Toichiro Yamauchi, the legendary craftsman known as "The God of Ice Axes" who supported Japanese mountaineering history with his uncompromising dedication to craftsmanship from the early Showa period. Released January 19th.
The first independent performance by the China National Acrobatic Troupe, "Rai Rai Rai! 2026," will be held on March 13, 2026, at Chofu City Green Hall.
A special window display featuring the work of Grand Prize winner Wakana Yatani from the Van Cleef & Arpels Design Scholarship program will be on view at six Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques across Japan through March 19, 2026.
Japan Import System announces the limited release of Ardnahoe's first single cask exclusively for the Japanese market, featuring whisky distilled in April 2019 and aged in refill bourbon barrels.
A special workshop at Ikutaniya Residence, a registered tangible cultural property in Kyoto, offers couples a chance to experience hand-painted Yuzen dyeing and traditional Japanese attire coordination.
Gora Karaku in Hakone now features indigo-dyed crafts from Mikuriya Dyers and Weavers, a Shizuoka folk craft tradition. The shop showcases scarves, accessories, and other items dyed with natural Awa indigo, along with a photo exhibition of the dyeing process.
A fusion of Noh theater and video projection comes to Hangi Hall in Kanzaki City, Saga Prefecture. Contemporary artist Yukihiro Yamagami presents the traditional art form in an accessible new way.
Novotel Nara is offering an exclusive accommodation plan featuring a traditional tea ceremony at Hokkeji Temple on February 15, 2026, combining cultural immersion with modern hotel comfort.
From January 17 to February 11, 2026, the Ogikubo Three Gardens in Suginami Ward will host their inaugural Artist-in-Residence program, where visitors can observe the creative process of artist Kaoru Shibuta.
The Nishikawa Town Mountain Village Revitalization Council presents a popup featuring collaboration items between traditional vine craft artisan KOGUMA and designer unit pinkpepper, running February 5-10, 2026, at THINK OF THINGS in Shibuya.
The Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka, Vignette Collection introduces morning yoga sessions for Club Floor guests, offering a refreshing wellness experience overlooking the Japanese garden every Monday starting February 16, 2026.
The Prince Hotels in Takanawa will host the Takanawa Sakura Festival 2026 from March 6 to April 19, featuring 210 cherry trees, traditional cultural experiences, and seasonal cuisine.
FUKUCHA tea salons in Kyoto Station, Shijo, and Uji are hosting a Roasted Tea Fair from January 15 to March 31, 2026. The event features freshly roasted tea, special cafe menus, and Japan's first display-type roasting device with light and aroma effects.
Hokusai Graphic near Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa reopens with a renewed focus on traditional Japanese umbrellas, featuring approximately 1,200 umbrellas and an enhanced shopping experience.
Rosette Co., Ltd. introduces a new sheet mask featuring rice bran and fermented ingredients, designed to address pores and enhance skin clarity for a smooth, radiant complexion.
The art EC site "Gekkan Bijutsu Plus" presents a special exhibition featuring three artists' contemporary interpretations of the Rinpa school's traditional decorative aesthetics, running from January 15 to April 15, 2026.
Design unit hitoe launches a new series of single-flower vases crafted in the form of traditional kokeshi dolls, featuring natural plant dyeing by skilled artisans in Tokyo.
From January 14 to March 31, 2026, Haneda Airport's second terminal international section will host a special popup store showcasing traditional crafts and lifestyle goods from across Japan.
Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture has launched a metaverse project to preserve and share three traditional taiko dances designated as Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. Starting January 13, 2026, visitors can experience these historical performances virtually on VRChat.
The outdoor ethnographic museum Little World hosts a special India-themed event featuring Bollywood dance performances, traditional mehndi art, and authentic biryani rice during their winter curry festival.
The Yokohama Museum of Art presents the first major retrospective of painter Imamura Shiko in 42 years, featuring approximately 180 works including National Important Cultural Properties, from April 25 to June 28, 2026.
A workshop where you can create your own original ring notebook with a collage cover using paper materials and a ring binding machine, focusing on the joy of the creative process.
Aman Kyoto, a luxury resort nestled in a secluded forest garden in Kyoto's Takagamine district, has unveiled a limited-edition Valentine's chocolate collection that captures the essence of the ancient capital.
Cross Hotel Kyoto presents a special 2-day workshop featuring Nishimura Yuzen-Chokoku's live demonstrations and hands-on stencil carving experience on January 23-24, 2026.
Kikusui Sake Brewery releases two award-winning daiginjo sake varieties, "Setsugoro Shuppinshu," available in limited quantities starting January 11, 2026. These premium sake won awards at the 2025 National New Sake Appraisal and Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Taxation Bureau Sake Appraisal.
The Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts hosts a unique collaboration of 9 university museums from Kyoto, showcasing diverse collections under the theme of "gifts" from January 23 to March 1, 2026.
The Fujiya Hotel in Hakone introduces an innovative audio guide experience powered by Yamaha Corporation's Sound xR Core and GATARI Inc.'s Auris platform, bringing the voices of the hotel's founders to life through immersive spatial audio technology.
The 76th Himeji Castle Festival will feature the "Himeji Daimyo Procession," a historical reenactment of feudal lord processions. Applications are now open for participants to experience Edo-period customs.
Experience traditional Japanese aesthetics at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa's limited-time tea cafe, featuring wagashi sweets and ikebana workshops in a serene garden setting designed by renowned architect Togo Murano.
Hotel Amaneku Hida Takayama is hosting special events featuring koto and taiko performances by local high school students, offering guests a chance to experience traditional Japanese music up close on January 17 and February 8, 2026.
A new luxury whole-house rental brand launches in Kyoto's historic Ishibe Koji alley, offering an intimate stay near Kiyomizu-dera and Gion with private chef facilities and dedicated concierge service.
Starting January 10, 2026, NOA COFFEE MATCHA SALON launches a new customizable matcha latte where you can choose from 4 matcha origins (Uji, Shizuoka, Sayama, Chiran), 3 bases, 5 sauces, and various toppings for a personalized matcha experience.
Nose Electric Railway in Hyogo Prefecture invites passengers to celebrate new beginnings with a specially decorated graduation train featuring headmarks and car interior messages from the public
On Setsubun day, February 3rd, 2026, Sushi Sakaba Nihonichi Honmachi Store will offer two types of limited-edition sushi rolls—Ehomaki and Tosa Maki—available for takeout from noon.
A new Japanese akoya pearl specialty shop, Shizuku Pearl, opens on January 14, 2026, near Kuhombutsu Station. The shop offers directly sourced pearls from Ise-Shima, featuring both high-quality classic pearls and unique baroque pearl jewelry at accessible prices.
Chugai Toen in Seto City will hold its 37th annual Zodiac Memorial Service on February 11, 2026, offering thanks to zodiac figurines that have completed their role and returning them to the earth.
ART AQUARIUM MUSEUM GINZA introduces a special kimono rental plan, allowing visitors to enjoy the enchanting "Flower Aquarium Gala" exhibition in traditional Japanese attire while exploring Ginza.
A one-day cultural event featuring taiko drums, koto music, and tea ceremony will take place in the Japanese garden of this registered cultural property hotel.
A unique experiential gift from the snow country of Nishiwaga delivers authentic snow from Iwate Prefecture along with local sweets and an LED candle kit to create a miniature yukiakari snow lantern at home.
Two craft distilleries unite for a groundbreaking blend combining Hishida's Southern-aged grain with Nagahama's award-winning malt, creating a luxurious Japanese whisky that showcases new possibilities in blending.
New York lifestyle brand LeSportsac and Kyoto's oldest cotton fabric merchant EIRAKUYA unveil a special collaboration featuring five pouch designs inspired by traditional Japanese hand towel patterns.
Two Kyoto companies team up to bring traditional pickle culture to textiles, launching unique fabric designs and crafting workshops starting January 11, 2026.
Shiba Park Hotel in Tokyo showcases traditional Japanese crafts in its latest exhibition, featuring oshie hagoita paddles and karakami decorative paper from December 1, 2025 to March 8, 2026.
A new line of shrine ritual items made from ceramic-resin composite material wins the 2025 Good Design Award. These unbreakable items maintain the appearance and feel of traditional pottery while offering durability and peace of mind.
Seven companies from the Nishiwaki Chamber of Commerce will showcase Banshu Ori textile products at Tokyo Big Sight from February 4-6, 2026. Experience the soft texture, natural feel, and rich colors of this traditional Japanese fabric.
Daimaru Tokyo offers approximately 90 varieties of ehoumaki lucky direction sushi rolls for Setsubun 2026 on February 3rd, including trending kabuki-themed rolls, luxurious seafood, meat-based options, and unique creations.
Akachan Honpo Co., Ltd. is offering a carefully selected collection of Hina dolls that adorn spring, ranging from natural styles to traditional classic designs. An extensive lineup to suit various lifestyles is now available at stores nationwide and online starting December 26, 2025.
Yamanaka-za theater in Kaga Onsen hosts its annual New Year opening ceremony on January 2, 2026, featuring traditional dances by Yamanaka geisha. Experience authentic Japanese performing arts in this historic hot spring town.
To commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Sado Island Gold Mines' World Cultural Heritage registration, a special "Trial at Oshirasu Court Innocent Release Prize Campaign" is being held in the "Time Slip to Edo-era Sado Metaverse" until March 2026.
A Bathing Ape (BAPE®) introduces a special New Year hamaya (demon-breaking arrow) novelty for customers spending ¥50,000 or more at select stores starting January 1, 2026.
Nihon Bungeisha has released 'Bonsai Illustrated Guide' (co-authored by Yukio Hirose and Nobuyuki Hirose), a comprehensive guide to cultivating small bonsai with detailed step-by-step photography.
Mount Haguro, one of the sacred Dewa Sanzan peaks, will celebrate its special Horse Year Goennen in 2026, a once-in-12-years blessing event expected to draw many pilgrims.
The outdoor museum Hida Folk Village in Takayama, Gifu will hold its annual winter illumination event from January 10 to February 28, 2026, lighting up snow-covered gassho-style and shingle-roofed traditional houses.
Starting January 2, 2026, Hiroshima Motomachisuizokukan features a special New Year exhibition of spotted seahorses (Kuroumima), connecting to the Year of the Horse zodiac. Limited-edition fish seal stamps and oyster fortune-telling experiences are also available.
TAIMATSU Co., Ltd., which develops inbound business centered on the Japanese knife brand MUSASHI JAPAN, opened a new store, MUSASHI JAPAN Hiroshima Hondori, on December 1, 2025.
After a pre-opening period starting in late July, Sousou Sanuki Shido celebrates its grand opening on December 26. The villa has been updated with renovation work and new furniture, creating a comfortable space with the Sousou-style Japandi aesthetic while continuing to showcase the local region.
Takamiya Garden Saryo in Fukuoka is hosting its popular adult workshops from January 20 to 29, 2026. Experience traditional Japanese crafts including wagashi making, tea brewing, art calligraphy, and kumihimo cord making, each paired with delicious meals.
Starting January 1, 2026, guests can decorate the baths at The Ryokan Tokyo YUGAWARA and ofuro cafe HITOMA with illustrations of their favorite characters. This unique event celebrates 2026 as the "Year of Baths" (026 = ofuro) and runs through January 12.
The Gosetsu Set returns for its fourth year, delivering authentic Tsunan snow alongside premium sake. This unique winter offering celebrates the heavy snowfall that defines the brewery's craft, shipping sake buried in snow directly from one of Japan's snowiest regions.
A new tea café called Gaya has opened in Asagaya, Tokyo, transforming a 97-year-old traditional house into a welcoming space that combines Japanese tea culture with creative craftsmanship. The café offers a wide range of teas and serves as a multi-purpose venue for the local community.
Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple will offer complimentary hot milk made with Nokyo Milk at their annual New Year's Eve bell-ringing event on December 31. This initiative supports domestic dairy consumption during the winter season when milk demand typically decreases.
Hotel Intergate Hiroshima will host a special traditional Hiroshima Kagura performance by the Arida Kagura Troupe on January 17, 2026, celebrating the hotel's 7th anniversary.
Hankyu Umeda Main Store presents the 41st "Delicious, Beautiful. Kanazawa, Kaga, and Noto Exhibition" from January 14-19, 2026. Experience traditional crafts, elegant wagashi sweets featuring the Kaga Five Colors, gold leaf specialties, and artisan creations celebrating the cultural heritage of these regions.
Ring in 2026 at Riviera Zushi Marina's New Year Festival featuring traditional Japanese cultural experiences including mochi-pounding, calligraphy, and kite-making, plus the popular Zushi Flea Market Mini, gourmet dining, and seaside resort relaxation.
Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Mino hosts a special hands-on workshop where guests can create their own Mino washi paper crafts in a historic 270-year-old building, experiencing the region's UNESCO-recognized papermaking tradition.
Kawasaki Motors Japan launches pre-order sales for W60 Anniversary commemorative Edo Kiriko original crystal glass featuring the W60 anniversary logo, available at Kawasaki Plaza locations and online shop starting December 22, 2025.
Isetan Shinjuku opens on January 2nd, 2026 with the JAPAN SENSES campaign, celebrating Japanese craftsmanship from tradition to pop culture. The event features New Year celebrations including a Kagami Biraki ceremony, artist collaborations, traditional folk toys, and exclusive shortcakes from 13 brands.
MUFG National Stadium will host a special New Year prayer tour for five days only from January 3 to 5 and January 14 to 15, 2026. In collaboration with Hatomori Hachiman Shrine, visitors can write their wishes on ema votive plaques during the stadium tour and enjoy a unique New Year experience.
CASEPLAY introduces a new collection of smartphone accessories featuring Kushinyoro, the official character of the Japan Kushikatsu Association, including a special Turbanman design created to commemorate Kushikatsu Day
From January 2-6, 2026, Edoya Honten near Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine hosts an exhibition and sale of rare traditional Japanese crafts including tamahagane accessories, washi paper products, straw crafts, and hand-painted kites.
The forest resort hotel Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f in Sengokuhara, Hakone, offers seasonal winter experience programs including kotatsu relaxation, bonfire activities, and calligraphy experiences.
Tsuruyayoshinobu, a historic Kyoto confectionery shop, releases adorable horse-themed handmade monaka for the 2026 New Year, featuring three lucky designs and allergen-free ingredients with a one-year shelf life.
Three sold-out models of Japanese mechanical watches featuring Demon Slayer characters are being rereleased by GARRACK, including Zenitsu, Rengoku, and Inosuke designs.
TOKYO LOLLIPOP, a brand selected for Forbes JAPAN's Culture-Preneurs 30, opens a new store on the B2F of Ginza Station featuring an over 180cm tall giant vending machine and unique experiential shopping.
Discover over 40 years of donated treasures at this special exhibition featuring five distinct collections including tea ceremony utensils and Chinese ceramics, running from December 2025 to March 2026.
JAPAN MADE, operated by Hyakuhachi Co., Ltd., will host an experiential event "Awai" on December 13-14, 2025, in collaboration with Kojima Shoten, a long-established lantern workshop in Kyoto. The exhibition features traditional Kyoto lantern craftsmanship through photos, videos, writings, and hands-on workshops where visitors can experience lantern-making techniques passed down for over 200 years.
A new tea ceremony experience studio "Tea Ceremony Kyoto Gion" opens in Kyoto's iconic Gion district in November 2025, offering accessible chair-style tea ceremony experiences for international visitors.
The textile art festival FUJI TEXTILE WEEK 2025 will take place from November 22 to December 14, 2025, featuring collaborations with FSX Corporation, Fujisan Rokuroku Railway, and Yamanashi Chuo Bank to display artworks in their stores and station buildings.
Asakusa Hanayashiki announces the launch of A3 (Asakusa Amusement & Arts), a new art entertainment project featuring a fusion of traditional and contemporary performing arts. The first stage production opens in January 2026.
Seishin Tougei has released "Zentei," a hands-on kit that lets you create a miniature Japanese zen garden. Coordinate moss, white sand, and decorative pieces in a shallow bonsai pot to design your own peaceful karesansui landscape.
A new store specializing in Japanese knives popular among international tourists has opened in one of Tokyo's busiest shopping districts
A new matcha specialty shop featuring carefully selected Uji matcha from Kyoto's historic Morihan tea house opens in Asakusa on November 5th, offering authentic Japanese cultural experiences and signature matcha sweets.
A special collaboration brings together the manga Akatsuki no Yona and Kumamoto's Joraku Brewery, creating a unique strawberry liqueur infused with music from the anime soundtrack during production.
Six sake breweries from Koriyama will unite at the SAKEまつり event at Koriyama View Hotel Annex on Thursday, November 6, 2025, offering rare seasonal hiyaoroshi and premium sake tastings.
On November 1, 2025, a new bespoke fragrance shop is set to open in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. MY ONLY FRAGRANCE, a Kyoto-based brand, will launch its 13th location in a renovated 256-year-old machiya building.
The annual Shosha-san Momiji Matsuri returns from November 21-23, 2025, featuring special access to Important Cultural Properties, illuminated autumn foliage, and traditional Japanese taiko drum performances at Shoshazan Engyoji Temple in Himeji.
The Hida Takayama Town Experience Exchange Hall will host its autumn festival on October 18-19, 2025, featuring traditional craft workshops and cultural experiences.
A new urban sake brewery combining a shared brewing facility and a pub where visitors can watch sake-making opens in Osaka Umeda on November 1, 2025. The facility features fresh sake on tap and evening brewing sessions visible through glass.
An immersive digital art museum featuring over 300 ukiyo-e masterpieces by Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, and other legendary artists will open at Grand Front Osaka from January 17 to March 14, 2026.
A new premium matcha product featuring tea leaves from Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture—one of Japan's leading tea-producing regions—has been released through an e-commerce platform.
A unique ikebana exhibition combining traditional Japanese flower arrangement with modern convenience store culture will be held at SIGNAL gallery in Toranomon from November 14 to December 6, 2025.
Following last year's successful release, omamori (protective amulets), goshuin (temple stamps), and goshuincho (stamp books) featuring the popular anime Blue Lock are now available at three temples in the Kansai region.
A new complex store "ENGAWA ASAKUSA" will open in Tokyo's Asakusa on October 19, 2025, offering visitors a chance to experience Japanese beauty and craftsmanship through products, dining, and cultural workshops.
On October 12, 2025, Sumida Hokusai Museum will host a special Japanese culture workshop featuring shuriken throwing, kimono experience, original goods creation, and more activities for both adults and children.
Takamiya Garden Tearoom in Fukuoka will host its third annual "Autumn Evening" event from November 1-30, 2025, featuring a unique fusion of ukiyo-e art and Japanese cuisine.
A unique cultivation kit that lets you style grass like hair, inspired by traditional Japanese kokeshi dolls. This charming item combines traditional culture with modern gardening fun.
A remarkable autumn night viewing experience awaits at Rokuouin in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward from November 21st to December 14th, 2025. This historic temple offers enchanting illuminated scenery with premium experiences including traditional tea ceremony and cultural performances.
A new tatami-inspired cultivation kit featuring traditional Japanese aesthetics has been released, combining white porcelain sake cups with washi tatami sleeves.
![[3 Days Limited] Immersive Tea Ceremony Held in Shibuya](https://assets.hldycdn.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=webp,quality=75,width=400/fab5a1a0-798d-4367-8408-0e4b9f01d862.png)
From October 24-26, 2025, PLAT SHIBUYA will host an immersive tea ceremony experience that combines traditional Japanese tea ceremony with projection visuals, sound, and scent, allowing visitors to experience tea ceremony through all five senses.
Japanese taiko drum performance group DRUM TAO will open a dedicated theater in Kyoto in spring 2026, offering year-round performances in an intimate 320-seat venue near Kyoto Station.
A special exhibition showcasing the charm of Kabuki through one of the three great masterpieces, "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura," will be held at Kabuki-za Tower from October 1 to November 16.
A comprehensive Japanese language learning book covering particles and common expressions has been published, featuring explanations in Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese with practical examples for international fans of Japanese anime and manga.
Wanibooks Co., Ltd. will release Seigo Suzuki's first art book "Uttsuku - Japanese Beauty Collection" on November 11, 2025 (Tuesday). To commemorate the release, a solo exhibition "Japanese Beauty Collection" will be held in Harajuku from November 7-11.
Suntory releases special zodiac-themed products featuring the upcoming Year of the Horse design, including whisky and beer products scheduled for November release
JUME BONSAI, a new bonsai brand by master bonsai artist Daisuke Mariko, has officially launched on September 8, 2025, proposing bonsai as artistic works that visualize moments where one feels "alive" despite being motionless.
A new specialty store featuring high-quality Japanese products will open at Kyoto Station's ASTY Kyoto on October 16th, bringing authentic Japanese goods to international and domestic travelers.
A unique art exhibition combining traditional sake culture with contemporary art opens in Shibuya. Tamanohikari Sake Brewery presents the 350×PROJECT ART EXHIBITION featuring international artists and sake tasting in a creative space.
A unique sumo-show restaurant with authentic clay dohyo and endorsements from two former Yokozuna has opened in Sapporo, offering year-round traditional entertainment.
PETALS TOKYO, the water-side art hotel operated by Terada Warehouse, begins offering a "Calligraphy Experience Stay Plan" starting September 4, 2025. This new plan allows guests to engage with Japanese culture through hands-on calligraphy lessons while enjoying the unique hotel experience that combines art and waterfront ambiance.
Experience Kanazawa's tea ceremony culture with authentic matcha and traditional Japanese sweets from the renowned Shibafune Koide confectionery at Hotel Kanazawa.
The typically private Kamishichiken Kaburenjo theater will open to the public for the 74th Kotobukikai traditional dance performance, featuring geiko and maiko from November 12-18, 2025.
Experience the charm of traditional Japanese architecture meets modern luxury at THE RIHAN South Aso Mizu no Oyado, a newly renovated 150-year-old farmhouse opening in Minami-Aso this September.
Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka will host a special New Year buffet event on January 1st and 2nd, 2026, featuring Japanese and Western cuisine, premium champagne, traditional entertainment, and luxury prize draws. The two-day celebration at the Naniwa banquet hall offers something for all generations of families.
Marui Zoukei Furniture Industry introduces ENGI-BAKO, a revolutionary irori table combining 80 years of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern convenience for camping, dining, and outdoor activities.
KIMONO ARCH launches the first installment of their 2025 Autumn & Winter Collection featuring traditional Katakai-Momen kimono with natural dyes and reversible denim-style fabrics.
Discover 10 outstanding izakaya that showcase Osaka's captivating drinking culture. From hidden gems in Dotonbori to historic establishments in Shinsekai, enjoy authentic kushikatsu, fresh seafood, and warm Osaka hospitality.
Discover the best izakaya in Aomori Prefecture, from traditional establishments serving local seafood to lively yokocho (alleyway) bars. These 15 carefully selected Japanese pubs offer authentic dining experiences with regional specialties, local sake, and warm hospitality across Aomori City, Hirosaki, and Hachinohe.
Discover the best izakayas in Fukuoka, from traditional ramen-focused establishments to fresh seafood specialists. This guide covers 15 must-visit spots where locals and tourists alike enjoy authentic Japanese pub culture with regional specialties.
Discover the best izakaya in Hokkaido where you can enjoy fresh seafood, Genghis Khan lamb, and local sake. From bustling Sapporo spots to cozy Hakodate hideaways, these 10 authentic Japanese pubs offer unforgettable dining experiences with regional specialties and warm hospitality.
U/M/A/A Inc. announces the release of TB-02 The Ghost in the Shell series on January 30, 2026, featuring visuals from the globally acclaimed sci-fi work The Ghost in the Shell rendered on traditional Japanese folding screens using foil craftsmanship with over 500 years of history.
Ryogoku: A Fascinating Area to Experience Tokyo’s History and Culture Ryogoku is a captivating area where you can experience the history and culture of Tokyo. Known as the sacred ground of sumo wrestling, it is a place where traditional culture coexists with modern tourist attractions. Here, we will introduce the access, tourist spots, gourmet experiences, […]
Sangenjaya is a district where the urban charm of Tokyo and the retro vibe of the Showa era coexist. When you visit, you’ll find a variety of tourist spots, gourmet experiences, and shopping delights awaiting you. Here, we provide detailed information on everything from access to Sangenjaya to must-see tourist spots, shopping destinations, and nightlife. […]
Ikejiri-Ohashi is an area that combines tranquil ambiance and abundant nature while being easily accessible from the heart of Tokyo. Just a 3-minute train ride from Shibuya, Ikejiri-Ohashi is known as a quiet residential area that allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. In this article, we will introduce five must-visit […]
Naka-Meguro is one of the most popular areas in Tokyo, offering a rich array of tourist attractions, gourmet experiences, and shopping opportunities. It’s a captivating town where tourists can discover something new every time they visit. This article provides detailed information on how to access Naka-Meguro, as well as must-see tourist spots, gourmet delights, and […]
Ikebukuro is a popular tourist area located in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. It is an area where you can always find something new, with attractions like “Otome Road,” known as a hub for otaku culture, and the redeveloped “Hareza Ikebukuro.” In this article, we will introduce basic information about Ikebukuro, as well as its must-visit tourist […]
Toyosu is a modern yet naturally rich area located in Koto Ward, Tokyo. It is dotted with new tourist spots, shopping malls, and beautiful parks, offering a variety of activities that families, couples, and friends can all enjoy. This time, we have carefully selected 10 tourist spots in Toyosu and will introduce how to enjoy […]
Tsukiji, located in the heart of Tokyo, is an area that continues to bustle with many tourists and locals alike, retaining remnants of the former Tsukiji Market. Here, we will introduce sightseeing spots around Tsukiji and gourmet foods for strolling, and share how to enjoy your visit. Overview of Tsukiji Tsukiji is conveniently located within […]
Akihabara is an area located in the center of Tokyo, particularly famous for its vibrant subculture of anime and games. However, Akihabara has much more to offer, including an electric town, historical landmarks, and delicious gourmet spots. This time, we will introduce the charms of Akihabara, divided into gourmet and sightseeing spots. About Akihabara Overview […]
Kyoto’s tourist attractions are shrines and temples with a sense of Japanese history. Some of them have become popular through social networking services, and there are many gorgeous and colorful shrines and temples that you will not find anywhere else. This article introduces shrines and temples that make you want to go out of your […]
In this article, we will introduce you to some unique spots in Kyoto along three different themes. Although not standard, these spots are full of exciting, little-known spots! If you are looking for a new Kyoto trip or a unique Kyoto experience, please take a look. To learn more about Kyoto, click here. 5 places […]
During your trip, the weather often turns rainy. Especially in Kyoto, where there are many outdoor tourist attractions such as temples, shrines, and Japanese gardens, it is quite difficult to change plans. This article introduces 19 such indoor facilities for rainy days! We will introduce indoor facilities based on various themes, please refer to this […]
Tsukishima is a charming area located in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Famous for its “monjayaki,” this area offers not only gourmet delights but also beautiful scenery and relaxing spots. In this article, we introduce Tsukishima, a beloved destination for many tourists, with convenient access. *Please note that the event schedules […]
If you’re going to visit, you want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience at that time of year. This article introduces the January events, situations, and recommended spots in Kyoto for those looking to make the most of their trip. *Please note that event dates may change. Please […]
If you’re going to take the time to travel, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time of year. This time, we will introduce the February conditions, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto for those who are planning to visit. *Please note that the […]
If you’re going to sightsee, you’d want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year, right? This guide is for those who want to know about the situation, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto during March. *The events introduced may have their schedules changed. Please check the official websites […]
The “Ueno” and “Yanesen” areas are fascinating regions located in Tokyo’s Taito and Bunkyo wards, where history and culture intersect. This area retains its old-world charm while also offering many modern tourist attractions, ensuring visitors never get bored. In this article, we will provide an in-depth look at the highlights of the “Ueno” and “Yanesen” […]
Harajuku is an area located in Shibuya, Tokyo, stretching from the vicinity of Harajuku Station to Omotesando Station. Known as a hub for fashion and trends, it is a lively district frequented by many young people and tourists. Harajuku is also the center of “Kawaii” culture, where you can enjoy colorful and pop fashion and […]
In February, Tokyo is generally in the middle of winter. This is a precious time of year when, in addition to various events, ume (plum) blossoms begin to bloom, reminding us of the arrival of spring despite the cold weather. Below is some general information about the characteristics and weather in Tokyo in February. To […]
Spring in Kumamoto Prefecture is a captivating season where cherry blossoms bloom in full glory, allowing visitors to enjoy beautiful nature and culture. In this article, we will detail the characteristics and charms of Kumamoto in spring (March to May), must-visit cherry blossom spots, spring festivals and events, and spring gourmet delights. *Please note that […]
Kumamoto Prefecture is a beautiful region located in the southern part of Japan, brimming with charm during the summer. In this article, we will introduce the characteristics and attractions of summer in Kumamoto, its climate and appropriate clothing, refreshing spots, fireworks festivals, and summer festivals and events in detail. *The event dates mentioned may be […]
Autumn in “Kumamoto Prefecture” is a season where you can enjoy colorful autumn foliage, seasonal events, and rich flavors. The climate is mild, making it an ideal time for sightseeing. This article introduces the charms of autumn in Kumamoto Prefecture. *Please note that the event schedules introduced may change. Check the official website of each […]
“Kumamoto Prefecture” is a region known for its beautiful landscapes and rich culture throughout the four seasons. Especially in the winter season (December to February), you can enjoy snow-covered landscapes, enchanting illuminations, and heartwarming gourmet food. This time, we will introduce the charm of winter in “Kumamoto Prefecture” without leaving anything out. ※ The event […]
If you’re planning to travel, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time of year. For those who feel this way, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in October. *The dates of the events introduced may be subject to […]
If you are planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things that can only be seen or experienced during that particular season in your itinerary. This time, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in November for those who are considering such a trip. *Please note that the dates […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time of year. This time, we will introduce you to the December situation, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa for those who are interested. *Event dates may change. Please check the […]
Spring in Hyogo Prefecture is marked by warm weather and beautiful flowers. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, many tourist spots become bustling with activity, and you can also enjoy springtime gourmet treats. This guide introduces the features and attractions of spring in Hyogo Prefecture, cherry blossom and flower field spots, and spring […]
“Hyogo Prefecture” is an area rich in beautiful nature and historical tourist spots. Especially in summer, there are many places where you can enjoy cool retreats, fireworks festivals, and cold sweets. This article introduces the attractions of summer in “Hyogo Prefecture”. *Please note that the event dates mentioned may change. Please check the official website […]
Autumn in Hyogo Prefecture is a wonderful season full of beautiful autumn foliage, culturally rich festivals, and bountiful autumn flavors. This time, we will introduce in detail the characteristics and attractions of autumn in Hyogo Prefecture, the climate and clothing, autumn foliage spots, events and festivals, and autumn gourmet. *Please note that the dates of […]
The winter in Hyogo Prefecture is harshly cold, but it is worth visiting due to its beautiful natural scenery and intriguing tourist spots. In particular, you can enjoy the snowy landscapes, hot springs, and illumination events in Hyogo during winter. Additionally, there are plenty of winter delicacies that will warm both your heart and body. […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you may want to incorporate into your itinerary things that can only be seen or experienced during that season. In this issue, we will introduce the weather, conditions, events, and recommended spots in January in Tokyo for those who are interested in such things! To learn more about […]
Autumn in Ishikawa Prefecture is full of charm, blending beautiful natural scenery with rich culture. The vibrant autumn leaves color the town vividly, and numerous special events and festivals captivate visitors. Additionally, the season offers an abundance of autumn flavors, making it an irresistible time for food lovers. Here, we introduce how to enjoy autumn […]
Ishikawa Prefecture is situated in the Hokuriku region of Japan, where beautiful snowy landscapes unfold in winter. This season attracts visitors with its unique charm and distinctive culture. Here, we will introduce the winter season in Ishikawa in detail. ※ Please note that the dates of the events mentioned may change. Please check the official […]
Spring in Shizuoka Prefecture is a season of beautiful cherry blossoms and fresh greenery. Known for its mild climate and rich nature, it captivates visitors. Here, we’ll introduce the characteristics and attractions of spring in Shizuoka, its climate and appropriate clothing, cherry blossom spots, hidden scenic spots, and spring gourmet delights. *Please note that the […]
Shizuoka Prefecture is the perfect place to experience summer in Japan. It offers a plethora of summer attractions, such as beautiful nature, colorful flowers, and spectacular fireworks festivals. Here, we introduce the characteristics, attractions, and recommended spots to enjoy summer in Shizuoka Prefecture. *Please note that the event schedules may change. Check the official websites […]
The autumn in Shizuoka Prefecture captivates visitors with its rich natural beauty and diverse landscapes. From renowned spots for autumn foliage to breathtaking scenic spots and unique seasonal gourmet, you can fully enjoy the charm of Shizuoka’s autumn. Here, we will introduce the characteristics and attractions of Shizuoka Prefecture, its autumn foliage spots, scenic spots, […]
Shizuoka Prefecture is known for its mild climate, but it has a unique beauty and charm in winter. The drop in temperature reveals stunning landscapes, delightful winter cuisine, and heartwarming illumination spots. This article will detail how to enjoy winter in Shizuoka Prefecture. ※Please note that the dates for the events introduced may change. Please […]
This article provides a detailed introduction to the must-visit spots and highlights in Oita Prefecture during spring! ※ Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please check the official website of each facility for the latest schedule. Make your trip to Oita Prefecture memorable! Click here to request a private photo […]
“Beppu” City in “Oita” Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, but summer in “Beppu” also has a variety of attractions. We will introduce you in detail to information on how to enjoy summer in “Beppu”, from an overview to fireworks, scenic spots, and gourmet food. This article will introduce you in detail to the […]
Oita Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, but its charm is further enhanced in the autumn season. The fall foliage turns vibrant, and you can enjoy it together with the hot springs. Autumn in Beppu is the best season for tourism, with mild and comfortable weather. This article introduces the features of Beppu in […]
Oita Prefecture in winter, especially Beppu City, is an ideal place to visit during the cold season. Not only do the hot springs warm your body to the core, but you can also enjoy beautiful natural scenery and unique cultural experiences. This article introduces the charms and recommended spots of Oita in winter. In this […]
The Hida-Takayama area in Gifu Prefecture transforms into a captivating landscape of natural beauty and cultural richness in spring. With famous cherry blossom spots, traditional festivals, and unique experiences, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy this season. In this article, we delve into the charms of Gifu Prefecture in spring. This article introduces the […]
Gifu Prefecture is filled with attractive spots for tourists visiting in summer. The cool climate, beautiful nature, and rich culture and gourmet delights captivate visitors. In this article, we will introduce the features and attractions of summer in Gifu Prefecture, including climate and clothing tips, scenic spots, fireworks festivals, and recommended summer gourmet. *Please note […]
Autumn in Gifu Prefecture is a special season where the beauty of nature and rich culture merge. The autumn leaves turn vibrant colors, and various events and delicious seasonal foods can be enjoyed, attracting many tourists. Here is the information to make the most of your autumn in Gifu Prefecture. *Please note that the event […]
Winter in Gifu Prefecture offers a plethora of special delights such as beautiful snowy landscapes, warm hot springs, and enchanting illuminations. Discover the diverse climates and activities in each region to enjoy a fulfilling trip. In this article, we will introduce must-visit spots and highlights in Gifu during winter! *Please note that the event schedules […]
Ishikawa Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan and offers beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. In particular, spring is a time when cherry blossoms bloom in abundance, and many tourist spots celebrate the arrival of the season. This article introduces the charms of spring in Ishikawa, including its climate, famous cherry […]
Summer in Ishikawa Prefecture is the perfect season to enjoy the beautiful landscapes woven by history and nature. Various events and festivals, along with delicious summer-exclusive sweets, attract visitors. This article introduces the characteristics and attractions of summer in Ishikawa, tips on climate and clothing, fireworks festivals, events and festivals, and summer-exclusive sweets. *Pleas
If you are planning to go sightseeing, you would want to include things that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time of the year. This time, we will introduce the December situation, events, and recommended spots in Aichi for such travelers. ※ The events introduced may have their dates changed. Please check […]
When planning a trip, you definitely want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that particular time. This guide is for those who are interested in visiting Aichi in January. We will introduce you to the current events, situations, and recommended spots in Aichi during this month. *Please note that the events introduced […]
When traveling, you want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we introduce the state of Japan in October, events, and recommended spots for those who are interested. *Please note that the event schedules introduced may change. Check the official website of the […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Japan in November, perfect for those looking for unique experiences. *Please note that the events introduced may […]
When traveling, you want to include things in your itinerary that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time period. For those of you who feel this way, we would like to introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Japan in December. *Please note that the dates for the events introduced may […]
When planning a trip, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year. In this guide, we’ll introduce the events, recommended spots, and the overall situation in Japan during January for those who are looking for something special. *Please note that the dates of the events mentioned may […]
About the Asakusa and Oshiage Area Asakusa is located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, and is a condensed tourist destination of Japanese culture. You can enjoy the cityscape with the atmosphere of the Edo period downtown, historic temples and shrines, and Japanese food culture. Additionally, there are modern facilities such as “Tokyo Skytree”, allowing you to […]
If you are planning to go sightseeing, you would want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience at that particular time. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Japan in February for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you’d want to include things that you can only see or experience during that specific time in your itinerary, right? This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Japan in March for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you may want to incorporate into your itinerary things that can only be seen or experienced during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto in November for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule […]
If you are traveling, you would want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that season in your itinerary. This time, we introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Yamanashi Prefecture in March for those who are looking for such experiences. *Please note that the schedule of the events introduced may change. […]
When traveling, you want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Japan in September for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please check the […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto in October for those who wish to do so. *The schedule of the […]
When traveling, you often want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year. This time, we’re introducing the events, recommended spots, and the general situation in Aichi in October for those who are planning to visit. Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please check […]
If you’re planning a trip, you probably want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year. This guide is for those of you looking to explore Aichi in November, highlighting the seasonal events, recommended spots, and the overall atmosphere of Aichi during this time. *The dates of the events […]
When sightseeing, you want to include experiences and sights unique to that time of year in your itinerary. This time, we are introducing the February events, recommended spots, and general situation in Aichi Prefecture for those interested. *Please note that the events listed may have date changes. Please check the official websites of the facilities […]
If you are sightseeing, you would want to include things in your itinerary that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time of year, right? This time, we introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in “Nagano Prefecture” in September for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events […]
When you plan a trip, you often want to include experiences or sights that are unique to the season. This article is for those who are interested in what Nagano Prefecture has to offer in October, including events, recommended spots, and more. Please note that the dates for the events mentioned may change. Check the […]
If you are planning to go sightseeing, you would want to include things that you can only see or experience at that particular time in your itinerary. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Yamanashi Prefecture in November for those who are interested. * Please note that the events introduced […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific season. For those interested, this time we will introduce the January conditions, events, and recommended spots in Yamanashi Prefecture. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. […]
If you’re going sightseeing, you want to incorporate things into your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. For those interested, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Yamanashi Prefecture in February. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please check the official […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in February in Hokkaido for those who are interested in such things. To learn more […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Hokkaido in May. After a long and harsh winter, Hokkaido in May is finally […]
On this page, we introduce a selection of spots where you can learn about Hokkaido’s history and culture, as well as spots with spectacular views of Hokkaido’s natural beauty! We also feature spots where you can learn about the history of the famous Sapporo Beer, the Ainu culture, Hokkaido’s indigenous people, and the only museum […]
When sightseeing, you want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time, right? This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Nagano Prefecture in February for those who are looking for such experiences. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced […]
If you’re traveling, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Nagano Prefecture in March for those who are interested. *The events introduced may be subject to schedule changes. Please check the […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for June in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. *Please note that […]
Hokkaido is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and no amount of time is enough to fully appreciate its vast nature and diverse attractions. First-time visitors to Hokkaido may be at a loss as to where to go. We will therefore introduce sightseeing spots and ways to enjoy Hokkaido according to seven different […]
When traveling, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year, right? This time, we will introduce the November events, recommended spots, and the overall situation in Nagano Prefecture for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please check the […]
If you’re going sightseeing, you naturally want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Nagano Prefecture in December for those who are interested. Please note that the event schedules introduced may change. Please […]
When sightseeing, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that particular season in your itinerary. This time, we will introduce the August events, situations, and recommended spots in Aichi for those who are planning to visit. Please note that the events introduced may have their schedules changed. Please confirm the dates […]
When it comes to sightseeing, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year in your itinerary, right? This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Aichi in September for those who are interested. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that can only be seen or experienced during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto in September for those who wish to do so. *The schedule of the […]
Chiba Prefecture, located near Tokyo, is easily accessible and rich in nature, history, and culture, attracting many tourists throughout the year. Especially in September, the climate becomes milder, making it a great time to enjoy various events and activities. This article introduces the nature, activities, events, festivals, and fireworks that you can enjoy in Chiba […]
If you’re planning a trip, you’d want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time, right? This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Chiba in October for those who are interested. Note: The events introduced may have schedule changes. Please check […]
If you plan to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Chiba for November for those who are interested. *The events introduced may have schedule changes. Please check […]
If you’re going sightseeing, you want to include things in your itinerary that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time, right? This time, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Chiba in December for those who are interested. Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in February in Fukuoka for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in January in Fukuoka for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
Characteristics of Kanagawa in February February in Kanagawa Prefecture is a season where the winter chill lingers, but you can also sense the arrival of spring. Daytime temperatures hover around 10 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures often drop below 5 degrees. However, the sunlight can bring warmth during this period. As a winter tourist destination, […]
When you travel, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year, right? For those looking for such experiences, we will introduce the April events, highlights, and recommended spots in Chiba. *Please note that the events mentioned may have their schedules changed. Please check the official websites of […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in May in Fukuoka for those who are interested in such things. *The events introduced […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Fukuoka in September for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in October in Fukuoka for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
Fukuoka in summer is full of events and scenery that can be enjoyed only at this time of the year. It is filled with fireworks displays, traditional festivals, and other events that offer a taste of Japanese culture. This article details the highlights of summer travel, from descriptions of the weather and clothing to the […]
Spring in Fukuoka is a time of mild weather and beautiful flowers in full bloom. The cherry blossoms, the most representative flower of spring in Japan, attract many tourists, both domestic and international, to the most spectacular spots. Please enjoy the scenery that can be seen only in Fukuoka, which is rich in nature. This […]
In winter, Fukuoka offers many events and scenery that can be enjoyed only at this time of year. This is the season of illumination, Japanese year-end and New Year’s events, and much more. This article details the highlights of winter travel, from descriptions of the weather and clothing to the best places to visit in […]
After the heat eases off, autumn in Fukuoka is a comfortable time of year, with pleasant days and nights. It is the perfect season to enjoy outdoor events and activities. Of course, the autumn foliage, which can only be seen at this time of year, is not to be missed. This article details the highlights […]
In Japan, September is often referred to as the season of “art,” “appetite,” and “reading.” Here are some ways to enjoy this season in Kanagawa. Please check the official website for the latest information. Characteristics of Kanagawa in September Climate and Weather In Kanagawa, the summer heat gradually subsides in September, making the weather pleasant. […]
If you’re sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time of year. This time, we will introduce the January situation, events, and recommended spots in Chiba for those who are interested. *Please note that the events introduced may have schedule changes. Please […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific season. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Chiba during February for those who are interested. *Please note that the event schedules mentioned may change. […]
If you are planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that specific time. This time, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Chiba in March for those who are interested. *Please note that the event schedules are subject […]
If you’re planning to travel, you will want to include things in your itinerary that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time of year. For those interested, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in September. *Please note that the dates of the events introduced may change. Please […]
When planning a trip, you want to include experiences and sights that are unique to the specific time of year. This article provides information for those interested in visiting Okinawa in April, including the weather, events, and recommended spots. *Event schedules may be subject to change. Please check the official website of each facility for […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you probably want to include experiences and sights that can only be enjoyed during that specific time of year. This time, we’re introducing the situation, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in May for travelers like you. *Event schedules may change. Please check the official websites of the facilities […]
When traveling, you want to include things in your itinerary that can only be seen or experienced during that specific time, right? This time, we’ll introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in June for those looking for such unique experiences. *The event schedules introduced may change. Please check the official website of […]
When planning a trip, it’s always exciting to include experiences and sights that are unique to that specific time of year. For those interested in visiting Okinawa in July, we present the latest information, events, and recommended spots. *Please note that event schedules may change. Check the official websites for the latest information. About Okinawa […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience at that specific time. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the August conditions, events, and recommended spots in “Okinawa” for those of you who are interested. *The dates of the events introduced may […]
Please check the official pages for details on each event. Features of Osaka in July July in Osaka marks the height of summer, with temperatures averaging between 25°C to 30°C and high humidity, necessitating thorough heat precautions. While sunny days are common, it is wise to carry an umbrella to be prepared for sudden rain […]
Note: Please check the official websites for event details and the latest information. Characteristics of Osaka in February In February, the winter cold in Osaka starts to ease, but there are still chilly days. This month is rich with events like Valentine’s Day and Setsubun. Additionally, plum blossoms begin to bloom, heralding the arrival of […]
※For the latest event information, please check the official pages. Characteristics of Osaka in April Climate and Temperature in Osaka in April April in Osaka marks the arrival of spring, with very comfortable temperatures ranging from around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. While the days are warm, evenings can get a bit chilly, so it’s […]
*Please check the official page for event details. Characteristics of Osaka in June June in Osaka is the rainy season, and while it occasionally rains, the humidity enhances the beauty of Osaka’s nature. The greenery becomes more vibrant, making the city’s parks and gardens even more attractive. The temperature also gradually rises, signaling the arrival […]
If you’re planning a trip, you probably want to include experiences and sights that are unique to that particular time of year. This time, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa in March for those who want to make the most of their visit. *Please note that the dates of the […]
Characteristics of Osaka in January January in Osaka is characterized by its severe cold, but the city is filled with New Year’s energy. Many events such as “hatsumode” (the first shrine visit of the New Year) and New Year’s festivities are held, attracting numerous tourists. Despite the cold, you can enjoy warm indoor activities and […]
Overview of ONE PIECE “ONE PIECE” is a Japanese shonen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump” since 1997. The story follows the adventures of a boy named “Monkey D. Luffy,” who aims to become the Pirate King in this grand maritime adventure. Basic Information Author: […]
If you’re planning to travel, you’ll want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience at that particular time. This time, we will introduce the January conditions, events, and recommended spots in Okinawa for those of you who feel this way. *Please note that the event dates may change. Please […]
If you plan to go sightseeing, you probably want to include things in your itinerary that you can only see or experience during that particular time of year. In this article, we will introduce the situation in Okinawa in February, including events and recommended spots for those interested. *Please note that the dates of the […]
Osaka experiences a series of hot days in August, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city. This article provides detailed information on the temperature, fashion, events, and recommended sightseeing spots in Osaka in August. *Events may change. Please check the official website for details. About Osaka in August Temperature In August, Osaka […]
1. Synopsis “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” tells the story of a young boy, “Kamado Tanjiro,” whose family is slaughtered by demons. He joins the “Demon Slayer Corps” to turn his only surviving sister, “Nezuko,” back into a human. Tanjiro undergoes rigorous training and battles numerous demons as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. […]
Kyoto is a city of long history and culture, and one of the best places to experience the traditional beauty of Japan. Magnificent shrines and temples, tranquil Japanese gardens, and bustling markets are just a few of Kyoto’s not-to-be-missed attractions. In this article, we will first introduce the must-visit tourist spots in Kyoto by major […]
Overview of the Film “Your Name” The film “Your Name” is a Japanese anime movie that was released in 2016. Directed and written by Makoto Shinkai, the main cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki and Mone Kamishiraishi, who provided the voices for the characters. The story revolves around a boy named Taki, who lives in Tokyo, and […]
Overview and Storyline Basic Information “Suzume no Tojimari” is a film directed by Makoto Shinkai, released on November 11, 2022. Makoto Shinkai has captivated audiences worldwide with his previous works like “Your Name.” and “Weathering with You.” This film also showcases his meticulous direction and beautiful visual aesthetics. The main cast includes Nanoka Hara, who […]
© Hajime Isayama / KodanshaSource: Official Anime “Attack on Titan” Account (https://x.com/anime_shingeki?lang=ja) Overview “Attack on Titan” (Japanese: Shingeki no Kyojin) is a Japanese manga series by Hajime Isayama. It was serialized in “Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine” (Kodansha) from 2009 to 2021, achieving massive success. The series has expanded beyond manga into various media, including anime, no
Basic Information about Kinkaku-ji “Kinkaku-ji” is a temple of the “Rinzai-shu Sokoku-ji” sect located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Its official name is “Rokuon-ji,” but it is commonly known as “Kinkaku-ji” due to its beautiful golden “Shariden” (reliquary hall). Basic Information Kinkaku-ji is conveniently accessible by bus from Kyoto Station and other major tourist spots. From […]
Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, is filled with so many different attractions that you will never have enough time to fully appreciate them. First-time visitors to Tokyo may be at a loss as to where to start. In this issue, we will introduce 55 sightseeing spots and ways to enjoy Tokyo […]
Kyoto in autumn is a fascinating tourist destination that combines beautiful autumn foliage and rich culture. Of course, you should not miss the view of the autumn leaves, which can only be seen at this time of the year. This article details the highlights of Kyoto in autumn, from a description of the weather and […]
Fukuoka is a fascinating place with its vibrant urban landscape, abundant nature, and historical sites. There are many unique experiences and spots that can only be enjoyed in Fukuoka, so you will probably have a hard time deciding where to go on your trip to Fukuoka. Therefore, in this issue, we introduce 30 sightseeing spots […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in August in Kyoto for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
What is Takehara City & Okunoshima Island? Takehara City is located in south-central Hiroshima Prefecture, facing the Seto Inland Sea and rich in nature. The historical landscape of the town is tasteful, and visitors can spend a relaxing time surrounded by the rich nature of the Seto Inland Sea. A small uninhabited island with a […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in July in Fukuoka for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for May in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. *Please note that […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for August in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. *Please note that […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for September in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for October in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. *Please note that […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for January in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for March in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for April in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
Hiroshima in spring is full of mild weather and beautiful nature, attracting travelers from all over the world. It is the best travel season because it is extremely pleasant. This article details the highlights of spring travel, from a description of the weather and best clothing for spring travel to the best places to visit […]
Summary This time we went to Miyagi Prefecture for two days and one night! On the first day, we went to the Kesennuma area to enjoy delicious seafood in the port town.The more I learned about Kesennuma, the more attractive and nice it was. It is easy to get to from Tokyo, so please refer […]
Asakusa and Oshiage are located on the east side of Tokyo, and are home to popular tourist spots such as Senso-ji in Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree in Oshiage, attracting many people from Japan and abroad everyday. In this page, we will introduce in detail the popular areas of Asakusa and Oshiage, including tourist spots and […]
Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and bloom in spring with beautiful pink blossoms. “Hanami,” or cherry blossom viewing, is a popular event in Japan to enjoy the arrival of spring. This time, among a number of cherry blossom viewing spots, we will only introduce spots where you can take pictures of the […]
Although Kyoto is home to many historical shrines and temples, there are actually many other attractive spots such as aquariums, zoos, and fashionable complexes! In this article, we will introduce recommended spots other than shrines and temples in Kyoto in three different genres. Please take a look at them as a reference for your trip. […]
Kyoto has many historical spots for adults, such as shrines, temples, and Japanese gardens, but in fact, there are also many facilities that children can enjoy. This article introduces spots where the whole family, from children to adults, can play together! Many of the facilities are indoors, so we recommend using them on rainy days. […]
This article introduces spots in Kyoto that you can enjoy for free. They are perfect for large group trips as you can enjoy them without worrying about the cost. It is also useful when you have unplanned time or when your travel plans change, so please check it out. *It is recommended to check the […]
Miyama is a Satoyama with a row of houses with thatched roofs, a landscape that still retains the original Japanese landscape. It is a quiet and tranquil place surrounded by beautiful mountains, different from the Kyoto one generally imagines. This area is perfect for those who want to feel the atmosphere of an old Japanese […]
Tokyo in spring attracts visitors from all over the world with its mild weather, beautiful nature, and events that allow visitors to experience Japanese culture as well. It is the best travel season because it is very pleasant. This article details the highlights of spring travel, from a description of the weather and clothing to […]
Tokyo in summer is filled with events and scenery that can be enjoyed only in summer. Although the mild weather of spring has passed and the days are humid and muggy, they are filled with events that immerse you in Japanese culture. We hope you will enjoy these uniquely Japanese summer scenes during your visit […]
In winter, Tokyo attracts visitors from all over the world with its glittering illuminations, heartwarming cuisine, and events that allow visitors to experience Japanese New Year culture. The winter season brings with it a cool air and a romantic urban atmosphere. This article details some of the highlights, from what to wear for winter travel […]
This article introduces 10 entertainment facilities in Tokyo! From spots where you can enjoy various characters to spots where you can enjoy Japanese culture, there are many entertainment facilities in Tokyo, so be sure to check them out. Click here to learn more about Tokyo. Spots where you can enjoy Japanese characters Japan is home […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for November in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
If you’re planning to go sightseeing, including seasonal activities unique to that time of year in your itinerary is ideal. In this issue, we introduce essential travel information for February in Hiroshima, including weather, appropriate fashion, key events, and recommended spots, catering to those interested in experiencing the uniqueness of the season. To learn more […]
In winter, Hiroshima attracts visitors from all over the world with its glittering illuminations and many events that allow visitors to experience Japanese year-end and New Year culture. The winter season comes with cool air and a romantic urban atmosphere. This article details some of the highlights of Hiroshima, from what to wear for winter […]
Hiroshima in summer is filled with events and scenery that can be enjoyed only in summer. Although the mild weather of spring has passed and the days are humid and muggy, they are filled with events that immerse you in Japanese culture. We hope you will enjoy these uniquely Japanese summer scenes during your visit […]
Explore Tokyo’s unique cultural experiences! This page is dedicated to introducing you to some of Tokyo’s coolest spots. From art to accommodations to entertainment, Tokyo has a lot to offer. Please use this article as a guide to make your trip to Japan even more special and memorable! Click here to learn more about Tokyo. […]
Tokyo is full of fun spots that you should not miss! On this page, we have picked out six exciting places, from animal cafes where you can interact with fluffy owls, to museums full of eye-catching exhibits, to special spots where you can experience Japanese culture in depth. Whether with family, friends, a loved one, […]
Tokyo is a metropolis with deep cultural attractions. On this page, we introduce six must-see cultural spots in Tokyo, a city where tradition and modernity merge, from old Japanese traditions to landmarks that symbolize and allow you to experience Japan’s unique culture! Click here to learn more about Tokyo. Kabukiza Theatre (歌舞伎座) Kabuki is a […]
Dotonbori is one of Osaka’s most popular tourist destinations, with its lively shopping district and restaurants. The area is home to the famous Glico sign and other colorful neon lights that add color to the night. This article introduces some of the classic sightseeing spots in the Dotonbori area, as well as places where you […]
Planning a trip to Tokyo in March? From Hinamatsuri and the Tokyo Marathon to cherry blossom festivals at Chidorigafuchi and Meguro River, here are the seasonal events, sakura spots, and rape blossom fields you should not miss.
If you are going to go sightseeing, you may want to incorporate into your itinerary things that can only be seen or experienced during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in April in Tokyo for those who are interested in such things. *The events […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto in July for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
Tokyo’s streets are dotted with lively yokochoes (Alleyways). Yokocho is a narrow alley with a unique atmosphere. Many of them have existed for a long time and offer a retro atmosphere. Yokocho is lined with small restaurants such as izakaya (Japanese style pubs), serving beer, sake, and Japanese food. Each store is small, and customers […]
Located adjacent to the northern part of Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture is home to many fascinating spots. In this issue, we will introduce four historical spots that can only be experienced in Saitama Prefecture. What is Saitama Prefecture? Saitama Prefecture is located to the north of Tokyo and is only a 30-minute train ride from the […]
Saitama Prefecture is dotted with fascinating tourist spots. In this issue, we have compiled a list of three hot spots that are sure to be a hit with enthusiasts. This article will surely make you want to visit them. What is Saitama Prefecture? Saitama Prefecture is located north of Tokyo, about 30 minutes by train […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in Kyoto in July for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
The Ohara area, located in the northeastern part of Kyoto City, is a nature-rich satoyama surrounded by mountains on all sides. Dotted with historical sites in a peaceful landscape, visitors can experience nature and visit temples and shrines typical of Kyoto at the same time. Compared to the central area of Kyoto, the number of […]
Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kamigamo Jinja Shrine, and Ryoan-ji Temple are located near the foot of Mt Kinugasa. The area is a bit far from the city center, and there are few restaurants or souvenir stores. It is a particularly good sightseeing spot for those who want to visit temples and shrines in a relaxed atmosphere. The […]
If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the situation, events, and recommended spots in June in Kyoto for those who are interested in such things. *The schedule of […]
The Okazaki area is located between the downtown area of Kyoto City and the foot of Higashiyama Mountain. It is a calm area with famous shrines and temples such as Heian Jingu Shrine, Nanzen-ji Temple and Eikan-do Temple, as well as cultural facilities such as museums and zoos. To the north of the area is […]
The Fushimi area, located a few minutes by train from Kyoto Station, is a prosperous sake brewing town. Lined with old sake breweries, the scenery is like stepping back in time. The Fushimi area is home to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, which is undeniably popular among overseas tourists. As a sake brewing town, there […]
Higashiyama area is located on the east side of Kyoto City, along the north and south sides of Higashiyama mountain range. There are many ways to enjoy the area, such as a course from Kiyomizu-dera Temple down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka slopes to Kodai-ji Temple and Yasaka-jinja Shrine before heading to Gion, or a course from […]
Gion is an area where you can enjoy a typical Kyoto townscape. The cobblestone walkways, such as Hanamikoji lined with ochaya (tea shops) and the Gion Shirakawa River with its beautiful willows along the river, are all filled with the Kyoto atmosphere. There are also many famous shrines and temples here and there that you […]
The Uji area, which can be reached in about 16 minutes from Kyoto Station by rapid train on the JR Nara Line, is famous for its Heian culture and Uji tea. Uji is home to many sightseeing spots such as Byodo-in Temple, a World Heritage site, Ujigami-jinja Shrine, and Mimuroto-ji Temple. You should not miss […]
The area around Shimogamo-jinja Shrine, Ginkaku-ji Temple, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace is located in the eastern part of Kyoto City, extending from the foot of the mountain toward the center of Kyoto City. There are many large universities in this area, and the area is characterized by a blend of residential and tourist areas. […]
Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and bloom in spring with beautiful pink blossoms. “Hanami,” or cherry blossom viewing, is a popular event in Japan to enjoy the arrival of spring. There are many cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, and every year during cherry blossom season, they are crowded with cherry blossom […]
Cherry blossoms are symbolic flowers that add color to Japan’s rich culture and beautiful scenery. Every spring, many people enjoy viewing cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are especially beloved among the four seasons in Japan and are a precious reminder of the changing seasons. This article introduces famous cherry blossom viewing spots scattered throughout Japan. We […]
Japanese castles attract a great deal of attention both in Japan and abroad for their history and their grandeur and beauty. This article introduces 11 of the many famous castles located throughout Japan. We recommend visiting them when you travel to Japan to enjoy learning about each castle’s historical role and background, and experience the […]
Summary Kokusai-dori in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, is a bustling shopping street in Naha City, lined with stores and restaurants and popular among tourists. It is a lively street where visitors can enjoy local goods and international brands.This time, we changed into traditional Okinawan clothing and went for a walk, had a Christmas party at […]
Planning a trip to Osaka in March? This guide covers weather, what to wear, plum and cherry blossom spots, the Grand Sumo Tournament, seasonal events, and food experiences to help you make the most of spring in Osaka.
Kusatsu Onsen is a popular hot spring tourist destination that has been ranked No. 1 in the hot spring ranking. Visitors can stroll through the hot spring town centering on Yubatake (hot water field), a symbol of Kusatsu, where they can feel the hot spring atmosphere, and experience the unique hot spring culture.
Yokohama, just 30 minutes away from Tokyo, is a city with urban sophistication yet having a rural mood. It is a prosperous port town with many tourist attractions and beautiful scenery.In this page, we introduce famous sightseeing spots in Yokohama such as Chinatown and the Red Brick Warehouse, as well as seaside restaurants, retro cafes […]
Summary This time, we went out to Ryogoku, the city of sumo wrestlers ✨! As we stepped out of the station, witnessing sumo wrestlers casually strolling about made it feel like stepping into a different world 🎶. For more details, please check this page! *Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change. […]
Summary This time, a 2-day/1-night trip to enjoy Kusatsu in summer 🚌. Enjoy not only hot springs but also izakaya gourmet food and eating 🤤💖. It is a summer trip to stay cool wearing a yukata too 🌿. On the second day, we also tried an activity to enjoy walking in the air! Please refer […]
Summary Two girls went to Kusatsu Onsen in winter! 😊 Kusatsu with snow is also nice. ⛄️❄️ This course includes a lot of new spots in Kusatsu and even a zoo! Please take a look at it for your reference! *Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change. Travel Itinerary 13:00 Kusatsu […]