We go looking to see if there’s a devil in the details at Japan’s big-three beef bowl chains. Long ago, back when Yoshinoya was the undisputed king of the gyudon (beef bowl)... Read more »
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Tokyo date spots and ideas for you to check out with that special someone. Slow Coffee, Sweet Things, and... Read more »
Our latest get-rich-quick-with-poop scheme goes head-to-head with other attempts to supernaturally game the system. As some of you may recall/have been unable to suppress the memory of, as 2025 drew to a... Read more »
Tamagotchi, the digital creature that hatched in the palms of countless schoolchildren desperate for a—seemingly—low-stakes pet, turns 30 in 2026, and celebrations duly abound with an exhibition in Roppongi Museum. Want to... Read more »
If you are living in Japan, visiting, or simply curious about CBD, the short answer is yes, CBD is legal in Japan. You can buy it, use it, and enjoy it here—as... Read more »
Starting in early spring, all major Japanese media provide daily updates on the sakura (cherry blossom) front, which moves up from subtropical Okinawa to northernmost Hokkaido. Well before the first buds appear... Read more »
Annual study shows fewer ramen joints went bankrupt in 2025, but that doesn’t mean everything is fine and dandy for the industry. 2024 was a rough year for ramen restaurants in Japan,... Read more »
Major travel provider says that fewer international travelers will be coming to Japan in 2026, but they’ll be spending more. It’s no secret that Japan is getting a lot of foreign tourists... Read more »
In 1966, births in Japan dropped by roughly 25%, leaving a visible notch in the population pyramid that demographers still point to today. The reason wasn’t war, famine or disease. It was... Read more »
Classic woodblock prints are animated and paired with perfume for a multi-sensory art experience. Ukiyo-e, literally “pictures of the floating world”, have been capturing imaginations for centuries with their bold colors, lively... Read more »