A 20-year-old man who went missing while attempting to swim across Hakata Bay from Nokonoshima Island to the mainland was found in the water and later confirmed dead. (News On Japan)

A British couple in light clothing was rescued from Mount Yotei in Hokkaido on May 13th, after sending an SOS due to the cold. The incident has reignited concern over poorly prepared climbers, especially foreign visitors, as mountain guides emphasize the need for greater awareness of hypothermia risks, particularly in northern Japan. (News On Japan)

Naha is the gate city for Okinawa vacation. It's not a place with beautiful beaches, but it's great base for traveling across Okinawa main island and other islands. Naha also has charm that you can explore, without getting a rental car. (Tokyo Kenchan)

The city of Sapporo announced that this year's Lilac Festival, which concluded on May 25th, drew a record-breaking 769,000 visitors. (News On Japan)

At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the common Japanese practice of leaving one side of the escalator open for those in a hurry is quietly disappearing. Instead, both visitors and commuters are increasingly adopting a two-row standing system, both at the venue and nearby Yumeshima Station. (News On Japan)

While working as a civil servant in Sapporo, Mitsuhiko Kamata spent decades capturing the natural beauty of Hokkaido through his lens. Now, having taken early retirement after 35 years, he has dedicated himself full time to pursuing the fleeting, miraculous moments found in nature—moments he believes must rise to the level of art to truly move the viewer. (News On Japan)

The second day of the Soma Nomaoi festival—designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government—featured its most anticipated spectacles: the armored horse race and the sacred flag competition, held on May 25th at the Hibarigahara festival grounds in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture. (News On Japan)

The Expo pavilion known as the "Nordic Circle" showcases five Nordic countries—Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland—collaborating under a shared structure built from recyclable materials and modeled after traditional Nordic dwellings. (News On Japan)

All four giant pandas at Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture will be returned to China on June 28th, the park announced. The pandas—Rauhin, born in 2000, and her three daughters Yuihin, Saihin, and Fuhin—will be sent back as the breeding and loan agreement with China nears its end this August. (News On Japan)

A massive outbreak of insects is causing serious problems at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting alarm both on the ground and online. (News On Japan)

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the Okinawa region is believed to have entered the rainy season on May 22nd, marking the fourth-latest start since records began in 1951. The onset is 12 days later than the average year and one day later than in 2024. (News On Japan)

A passenger jet arriving from Hokkaido made an unexpected stop on Wednesday after entering a restricted construction area at Hiroshima Airport, running over a concrete base and coming to a halt on the taxiway. (News On Japan)

Japan and South Korea will introduce priority immigration lanes for each other’s citizens at four major airports for one month starting next month, in a move aimed at shortening entry procedures and improving travel convenience between the two countries. (News On Japan)

Following the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the Dutch Pavilion will be relocated to Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, organizers announced. Built using reusable materials with relocation in mind, the structure will be reconstructed by the Pasona Group in cooperation with the Dutch government. (News On Japan)

Starting in 2027, the number of giant snow sculptures produced by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for the Sapporo Snow Festival will be reduced from two to one, due to increasing demands on personnel for disaster response and winter training. (News On Japan)

A group of around 220 Ainu from across and beyond Hokkaido performed traditional dances at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on May 17th, conveying the Ainu spirit of mutual support and the importance of diversity and coexistence. (News On Japan)

In Harajuku, Tokyo’s trendsetting district, animal cafes are rapidly multiplying along the bustling Takeshita Street, drawing large crowds of foreign tourists. (News On Japan)

Two foreign tourists were rescued by helicopter on May 13th after becoming stranded due to the cold on Mt. Yotei in Kutchan, Hokkaido’s Shiribeshi region, where snow still remains at higher elevations. (News On Japan)

Rafting season has begun on the Kitayama River, which flows along the borders of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures, drawing tourists eager to experience its thrilling rapids. (News On Japan)

Japan doesn’t just offer a glimpse of its own culture, it holds up a mirror to ours - subtly exposing how much we long for coherence, respect, and a sense of shared responsibility. (Retro Japan)