Boat travel from Kyoto to the Expo 2025 site in Yumeshima will become possible next month as a council promoting Yodogawa river transport announced the opening of a new route from Fushimi. (News On Japan)

University students in Okinawa have organized a mock wedding themed around LGBTQ+ marriage. (News On Japan)

A meeting was held on February 5th to discuss the redevelopment of the Futenma Air Station site, a project led by Okinawa Prefecture and Ginowan City. Experts, local residents, and stakeholders exchanged opinions, with discussions centering on the creation of a new revitalization hub anchored by a large-scale park. (News On Japan)

Prime Minister Ishiba will depart for the United States on the night of February 6th for his first summit meeting with U.S. President Trump. (News On Japan)

As new condominium prices continue to rise in Japan, homeownership is becoming increasingly challenging for many buyers. As a result, many potential buyers are turning to the used condominium market in search of more affordable options. (News On Japan)

The Japanese government is set to raise the cap on high-cost medical expenses starting in August, a decision that has ignited intense debate among politicians, healthcare experts, and the general public. (News On Japan)

Visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo will not be allowed to bring large luggage, such as suitcases, into the venue. Organizers are urging attendees to store their bags at hotels or train stations before arrival. (News On Japan)

The annual Otomo Festival took place on February 6th at Kamikura Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The event saw men clad in white robes, each carrying a flaming torch, racing down the shrine’s steep stone steps in a centuries-old tradition. (News On Japan)

The average price per Valentine's Day chocolate stands at 418 yen, marking a 5.8% increase from 2024, according to Teikoku Databank, with chocolates from international brands averaging 435 yen per piece, 35 yen higher than Japanese brands. (News On Japan)

Nissan’s CEO has informed Honda’s president of the company’s decision to terminate merger discussions. Why did the planned alliance between Japan’s second- and third-largest automakers break down? (News On Japan)

Discussions on making high school tuition free have been gaining momentum in the Japanese Diet, with negotiations intensifying among the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). (News On Japan)

An upmarket mountain resort in Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa makes a great day trip from Tokyo via the Hokuriku Shinkansen. In this video, we explore the town on foot and then head higher into the mountains to visit a volcanic park. (japan-guide.com)

Located off the coast of Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ōkunoshima—popularly known as "Rabbit Island"—is home to hundreds of wild rabbits. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the island to interact with the animals, but few are aware of its somber past as a former poison gas manufacturing site. (News On Japan)

Nagoya’s Sakae district, one of Aichi Prefecture’s major commercial areas, is undergoing extensive redevelopment to create a more vibrant urban space and replace aging buildings. (News On Japan)

Kobe Airport will begin operating international charter flights on April 18, connecting the city with five destinations, including Seoul, Shanghai, and Taiwan. The announcement comes as preparations for a new terminal continue ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. (News On Japan)

Panasonic Holdings has announced plans to dissolve its core subsidiary, Panasonic Corporation, and split it into three separate companies as part of its business restructuring efforts. (News On Japan)

A recent Cabinet Office survey on gender equality revealed that 43.3% of respondents who changed their surname after marriage wanted to continue using their maiden name in the workplace. This marks a 4.2-point increase from the previous survey conducted two years ago. (News On Japan)

Japan’s real wages declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, failing to keep pace with rising prices, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (News On Japan)

A 55-year-old demolition worker has been arrested on suspicion of violating Hokkaido’s Public Nuisance Prevention Ordinance after entering a convenience store wearing only stockings on his lower body and exposing himself to a female clerk. (News On Japan)

A newly built public toilet in a remote village in Nara Prefecture has become the subject of controversy—not for its design, but for its staggering cost of nearly 1 billion yen. (News On Japan)