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Updated: 15 min 29 sec ago

Sapporo Festival Heralds the Arrival of Summer

June 17, 2025 - 16:41
The annual Sapporo Festival, officially known as the Hokkaido Jingu Grand Festival, signaled the arrival of summer in Hokkaido with a grand mikoshi procession through the heart of Sapporo on June 16th. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Ancient Giant Cedar Discovered in Yakushima's Forest

June 14, 2025 - 21:47
A giant Yakusugi cedar on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, estimated to be over 1,000 years old and rivaling the island's famous Jomon Cedar with a trunk circumference of about 16 meters, has been revealed and filmed for the first time by JNN cameras. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Mii-dera: Japan's Grand Temple with National Treasures and Historic Architecture

June 12, 2025 - 11:44
Mii-dera, located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, spans a vast area equivalent to about ten Koshien Stadiums. Known for the "Evening Bell of Mii," one of Japan's three most famous bells, the temple grounds also house numerous national treasures and important cultural properties. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Legionella Contamination Worsens at Expo Site

June 11, 2025 - 09:40
At the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, Legionella bacteria have been detected at levels 20 times higher than the safety standard, but subsequent countermeasures failed to curb the outbreak, with the bacteria further multiplying to 53 times the standard. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

New Sleeper Express to Connect Tokyo and Aomori by 2027

June 11, 2025 - 09:37
JR East has announced plans to introduce a new overnight limited express train connecting the Tokyo metropolitan area with the northern Tohoku region, including Aomori and Akita, by spring 2027. The new train will feature all-private rooms and a fully flat layout, with some cabins accommodating up to four passengers. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Sacred Tree Carried into Ise Inner Shrine Ahead of 2033 Shikinen Sengu

June 10, 2025 - 01:41
A ceremonial ritual to carry sacred timber into the Ise Grand Shrine’s Inner Shrine was held on June 9th in preparation for the next Shikinen Sengu in 2033, when the shrine buildings are reconstructed once every 20 years. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Okinawa Sees Earliest End to Rainy Season

June 9, 2025 - 03:41
Okinawa has entered summer faster than ever before. The Japan Meteorological Agency announced around 11 a.m. on June 8th that the region is believed to have ended its rainy season—marking the earliest such declaration since records began in 1951. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Exploring Tokyo's Greatest Temple, Sensoji - 4K HDR

June 9, 2025 - 03:00
Wandering around Tokyo's most famous temple, Senso-ji, in the Asakusa district from day to night. As the sun sets on Japan, the temple and pagoda are illuminated, and is a beautiful sight with Tokyo Skytree lit up in the background. For sure one of my favorite even spots to wander around and take in the sights. (VIRTUAL JAPAN)
Categories: Japan News

Wild Deer Spotted in Central Sapporo

June 7, 2025 - 04:30
A wild male deer was seen roaming through a residential neighborhood in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, on the morning of June 6th, prompting police to issue warnings to residents. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Airbnb Rentals Proliferate in Osaka as Tourism Booms

June 6, 2025 - 19:56
To meet surging inbound tourism demand, so-called "special zone minpaku" (private lodgings permitted under special deregulation zones) have rapidly increased in Osaka. This system, introduced in 2014, allows for more relaxed rules on operating private accommodations. Today, approximately 95% of all approved special zone minpaku are concentrated in Osaka, and tensions with neighboring residents are rising. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Nara Seeks Luxury Hotels Without Breaking Its Historic Skyline

June 6, 2025 - 02:18
Nara, famed for its ancient temples and historic cityscape, faces a modern dilemma: how to increase tourism revenue while preserving the city's low skyline. Due to strict regulations designed to protect the views of landmarks such as Mount Wakakusa and the Great Buddha, no building in Nara Prefecture exceeds 50 meters in height. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Legionella Bacteria Found at Osaka Expo’s Quiet Forest and Water Plaza

June 5, 2025 - 04:33
Legionella bacteria have been detected in multiple locations at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting health and safety measures. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, seawater collected on June 3rd from the Water Plaza, where water shows are held, was found to contain Legionella bacteria at 20 times the guideline limit. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Men in Red Loincloths Parade Through Kurume

June 4, 2025 - 15:15
Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture hosted its traditional Hekokaki Festival on June 1st, where men clad in red fundoshi loincloths prayed for protection from misfortune and good health. The event, held annually at Koura Shrine, is a Shinto ritual dating back to the Edo period and drew around 100 participants from across Japan this year. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Crocodile Burgers Draw Crowds to Australia Pavilion

June 3, 2025 - 17:30
The Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka is drawing attention for its immersive design and distinctive culinary offerings, blending the country’s natural wonders with its unique food culture. The exterior of the building is shaped like a eucalyptus flower, a nod to Australia's iconic flora, and greets visitors with statues of kangaroos and emus—animals also featured on Australia's coat of arms. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Osaka Expo: Water Plaza Likely the Source of Midge Infestation

June 3, 2025 - 06:08
At the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, a large outbreak of insects has raised concern, with the Expo Association announcing on June 2nd that the source is likely the water features fed by seawater located within the venue. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Public Viewing Begins for 60 Baby Deer at Nara Park's Rokuen

June 2, 2025 - 14:04
The public viewing of about 60 newborn fawns began on June 1st at Rokuen, a deer protection facility located in Nara Park. The baby deer, all born this year, are being shown to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July 14th. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Palestine Celebrates National Day at Expo

June 2, 2025 - 13:58
The National Day of Palestine was celebrated at Expo 2025 in Osaka on June 1st with a vibrant performance by a traditional dance troupe from the West Bank, earning a standing ovation from the audience. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Luxury Train Launches New 2-Day Tour Around Lake Biwa

June 2, 2025 - 04:06
JR West has announced a new route for its luxury sleeper train, the "Twilight Express Mizukaze", which will circle Lake Biwa and connect Kyoto with Shimonoseki on a two-day, one-night journey. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Grand Maritime Parade Held in Osaka Bay

June 1, 2025 - 15:55
A grand maritime parade featuring the iconic Japanese tall ship Nippon Maru and around 50 small yachts took place in Osaka Bay on May 31st near Yumeshima, the man-made island hosting the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

Okinawa Plans Lodging Tax by 2026

May 30, 2025 - 11:52
Okinawa Prefecture announced during a meeting with the tourism industry on May 27th that it is aiming for its annual tourism revenue to exceed 1 trillion yen for the first time in fiscal 2025, and plans to introduce a lodging tax during fiscal 2026. (News On Japan)
Categories: Japan News

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