A fierce debate has erupted in western Japan over plans to extend the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture to Shin-Osaka, as competing route proposals, political rivalries, and local opposition have thrown the decades-long project back into uncertainty. (News On Japan)

The Japanese government approved a bill on March 10th to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to establish an electronic travel authorization system called JESTA that would screen foreign visitors before they arrive in Japan. (News On Japan)

Customs authorities in Osaka strengthened border controls on March 9th in response to a continued influx of counterfeit goods entering Japan, including fake merchandise linked to popular characters and events. (News On Japan)

Two men fell while climbing Mount Fuji shortly before 3 p.m. on March 9th near the New Seventh Station, as authorities launched a rescue operation on the mountain where summit routes remain closed for the winter season. (News On Japan)

Nara Prefecture’s Asuka Village, with a history spanning 1,400 years, preserves numerous historic sites that tell the story of Japan’s ancient capitals, including the vividly colored wall paintings of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus depicting the famed “Asuka Beauties,” while the surrounding satoyama countryside continues to evoke what many consider the original landscape of Japan. (News On Japan)

A day after a woman in her 70s was injured when a cherry tree collapsed at the same park, another tree was found toppled in Kinuta Park in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward on March 8th. (News On Japan)

Once known as a “3K” job—dangerous, demanding and poorly paid—the taxi industry in Japan has long struggled with labor shortages, but drivers’ incomes have improved significantly in recent years, rising by roughly 40 percent compared with 2020 during the COVID-19 downturn. (News On Japan)

Come with us for an overnight trip as we step back in time in the small town of Uchiko! (japan-guide.com)

A plan to relocate wild deer from Kyoto to Nagoya Castle in order to increase the small population of deer living in the castle’s moat has been abandoned, Nagoya city officials announced on March 5th. (News On Japan)

Japan offers a travel experience unlike any other. Ancient temples stand beside neon city streets, high-speed trains connect distant regions with precision, and local cuisine surprises at every corner. (News On Japan)

JR West has introduced a new route for its luxury sleeper train Twilight Express Mizukaze, offering passengers a scenic journey around Lake Biwa. (News On Japan)

The Osaka Loop Line, which circles central Osaka, has 19 stations and runs for about 21 kilometers. Despite its circular design, surprisingly few trains actually operate in a full loop. During daytime hours, only about one in three trains runs the complete circuit, while destination boards often display locations such as Nara or Wakayama—names that seem out of place on a circular urban railway. (News On Japan)

The Imperial Hotel Kyoto is set to open on March 5th in the heart of Gion, one of Kyoto’s most renowned districts, with the interior unveiled to the media on March 2nd ahead of its debut. (News On Japan)

Tokyo Metro and Toshiba have launched Japan’s first demonstration test allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates without touching them by using their smartphones’ Bluetooth function. (News On Japan)

Kyoto City significantly raised its lodging tax from March 1st, increasing the maximum charge per person per night from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 yen, in a move aimed at tackling overtourism and funding the preservation of cultural assets, even as questions remain about its impact on visitors and the local economy. (News On Japan)

Japan is known for keeping tradition amidst modernization. While travelers visit temples that date back centuries, they will also see modern day neon skyscrapers. (News On Japan)

As the number of foreign visitors to Japan continues to rise, two uniquely Japanese cultural phenomena — food replicas and capsule toys, known as gacha — are drawing growing attention as unexpected tourist attractions and potential new souvenir staples. (News On Japan)

The admission fee for the World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, was revised on March 1st for the first time in 11 years, introducing a dual pricing system that significantly raises costs for visitors from outside the city. (News On Japan)

The main rites of the Buddhist practice known as "Shunie," widely referred to as "Omizutori," began on March 1st at Nigatsudo Hall of Todaiji in Nara, marking the arrival of spring in the ancient capital. (News On Japan)

I finally tried the newly revived hovercraft (HOVERDRIVE) in Oita, Japan. It was absolutely worth a ride. I'm not saying it was comfortable, though! (Solo Travel Japan)