A major influence on ski resort Niseko is internationally famed designer Louis Vuitton’s partnership with Hanazono Resort. Luxury Louis Vuitton gondolas transport skiers to the slopes in style and comfort. Each gondola is fully enclosed and boasts comfortable heated seats made from Italian leather.
If a store in Japan accepts any form of electronic payment, credit cards are likely to be on that list. That said, you’ll still run across small stores that won’t accept cards due to the high transaction fees. For these cases, it’s good to have cash on hand or a balance on a transportation card.
Tokyo Police received one hundred complaints involving underground male idols and male concept cafes in 2023. That’s more than double the number compared to the forty complaints filed in the previous four years. In response, the cops are cracking down.
Even as women in Japan demand more participation from their husbands, cultural attitudes among men aren’t changing. Instead, men find ways to avoid their spouse’s demand for greater participation in their home life – for example, by refusing to head home when the work day’s done.
Reports of assaults against female fans have led authorities in Kabukicho to perform inspections at men's underground idol events - and, in a few cases, even issue arrest warrants. Learn about the most recent crackdown on Tokyo nightlife in our latest.
No matter how you slice it, this means only 0.3% of foreigners in Japan are arrested for criminal offenses. It also means that only 5% of all arrests for criminal offenses in Japan are committed by foreigners. Or, put another way, people of foreign nationality commit only 5 out of every 100 criminal offenses resulting in arrest in Japan.
We know a lot more now about Kirishima Satoshi, the bombing suspect who evaded Japanese police for five decades before checking into a hospital to die. Read more about Kirishima's life on the lam in our updated article.
Police in Kabukicho are cracking down on peddlers who are pulling customers into shady bars that charge exorbitant rates. Here's how to protect yourself on your next visit.
Aso Taro is no stranger to controversial comments. In June 2020, as serving Finance Minister of the time, he said that Japan’s relatively low mortality rate from the coronavirus reflects the country’s higher “level of cultural standards.” In 2018 and 2019, he won a prize for the most sexist comments of the year.
Some online allege that foreigners in Japan commit more crimes than Japanese citizens. But what do the statistics say? We broke down the numbers - here's what we found.
ICYMI: A recent survey asked people which prefecture’s food they found most delicious - and whether they were proud of their home prefecture’s signature food. Which prefecture turned out to be the proudest of its local cuisine?
ICYMI: A new revision to Japanese law threatens some of those local small businesses’ ability to continue selling tsukemono (Japanese pickles), both at highway stations as well as by direct sale.
At The Cafe Run By Your Friends in Harajuku, even the menu's designed to inspire conversation. The cookie is called なんだっけ、あの丸い菓子の。。。(“That round dessert, um, what’s it called…?”) Meanwhile, the brownie goes by いっっっちばん甘いやつ何？(“What’s the ABSOLUTE sweetest thing you got?”)
The Liberal Democratic Party's Aso Taro can't seem to open his mouth without a sexist comment flying out - and his latest is a doozy. Learn why so many are calling on the VP of the party to apologize.
ICYMI: The least surprising Oscar nom was for Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron. The Oscars have a long history of respecting and courting director Miyazaki Hayao. Now, the question will be, which of the nominated Japanese films can win?
ICYMI: calling someone “tako” in Japanese goes back to Japan’s Edo era – and, according to one theory, is deeply associated with the era’s feudal hierarchy.
Kochi Prefecture's signature dish is katsuo no tataki. Cooks make this seared fish dish with bonito (katsuo) or skipjack tuna. The meat is cooked only briefly over an extremely hot flame. Preparers marinate it in vinegar or season it with ginger paste.
Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) are a traditional dietary staple. But could a new law drive drive small mom-and-pop makers out of business? Find out more in our latest.
ICYMI: Hotels can get expensive if you plan to camp out for a while. If you’re planning an extended stay in Japan, here are just a few great and affordable options to consider.
Outside of the damage caused by the earthquake, businesses across Ishikawa Prefecture say they’re struggling as tourism dries up. Even businesses in areas unaffected or minimally impacted say they’re seeing waves of cancellations.
A new survey reveals which prefectures in Japan take the most pride in their local cuisine. Find out which one landed the top spot - and discover the unique dishes that make each prefecture proud.