Osaka is preparing to close the curtains on the Kansai Expo, and a larger-than-usual fireworks display called the "Expo Thanks Fireworks" was staged to express gratitude to everyone involved in the event. (News On Japan)

The stone walls of the Takeda Castle ruins in Hyogo Prefecture emerged above the clouds as they were illuminated by the morning sun. (News On Japan)

A 43-year-old man was attacked by a bear while walking his dog in a park in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward on Friday night, prompting authorities to close the area and heighten patrols. His injuries are not life-threatening. (News On Japan)

Hoshino Resorts announced on September 25th that it will open the Nara Prison Museum in April next year, transforming the former Nara Prison, once used as a juvenile correctional facility, into a combined hotel and museum. (News On Japan)

A sea of clouds spread across Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido, on Wednesday morning, creating a striking early sign of the coming winter. (News On Japan)

Inbound tourism to Japan rose nearly 20% from January to August 2025 compared with a year earlier, though most visitors continue to flock to major cities, raising concerns about overtourism. (News On Japan)

Ine, a small fishing town in northern Kyoto Prefecture known for its traditional wooden boat houses, has recently become a social media sensation, drawing a record number of visitors. (News On Japan)

Osaka’s landmark Shochikuza Theater in Dotonbori will close in May next year due to aging facilities, raising concerns about the future of the entertainment culture that has defined the district for centuries. (News On Japan)

With just three weeks remaining until the closing of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a growing problem has emerged: many visitors holding tickets cannot enter the venue, creating what is being called the issue of "dead tickets." (News On Japan)

Wakayama Prefecture, home to the largest number of remote islands in the Kansai region, offers travelers a mix of uninhabited and inhabited islands, breathtaking coastal scenery, and fresh seafood delicacies. The prefecture is dotted with 655 islands, each with its own natural and cultural attractions. (News On Japan)

Katsuura Hachiman Shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, held its annual festival on September 21st, drawing tourists with the spectacular "Underwater Purification" ritual in which carriers of the mikoshi, or portable shrine, leapt into the sea from the fishing port pier. (News On Japan)

Shizuoka Prefecture saw no fatalities from mountaineering accidents this summer for the first time in three years, while deaths from water-related accidents increased sharply. (News On Japan)

The highlight of the annual grand festival at Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine in central Kumamoto, the sacred procession, was held on September 21st with decorated horses parading through the city center to the sound of festive music. (News On Japan)

JR’s online reservation systems, long operated separately by different regional companies, will be linked together for the first time in an effort to eliminate the inconvenience faced by passengers when booking tickets across multiple areas. (News On Japan)

The Akasaka Hikawa Festival, a traditional event dating back to the Edo period, reached its final day in Tokyo’s Akasaka district with sixteen portable shrines parading through the streets, filling the area with lively chants and large crowds of spectators. (News On Japan)

Fatal bear encounters are rising sharply across Japan, with injuries and deaths reported at a pace matching the worst year on record. Experts warn that both stricter population control and preventive measures to keep bears away from human settlements are urgently needed. (News On Japan)

An interactive restaurant called the ‘Future Train’ will open on September 20th in Umekoji, Kyoto. The concept features a futuristic station where a train bound for tomorrow awaits. (News On Japan)

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said on September 18th that the city is considering halting new applications for so-called special zone minpaku, or private lodging businesses, in response to a string of neighborhood disputes. (News On Japan)