Our latest articles

Horoscope Your Weekly Horoscope August 21 – 28

Horoscope

See what the stars have in store for you this week. World-renowned astrologer Cathryn Moe discusses love, money, luck and all else in this weekly series.

Event Events In Tokyo This Week

STURMANGRIFF “From Korea with Love Tour”

STURMANGRIFF “From Korea with Love Tour”

Aug 29, 2026 at 4:00pm ~ Aug 29, 2026 at 11:30pm

Read The Latest Issue Read The Latest Issue Summer 2026

Summer 2026

Read our latest print magazine online and browse all the locations across Tokyo and the Kanto Region where you can pick up a copy for yourself.

Events

See All Events Events This Week Events Next Week

Culture

Japan Criticizes Trump’s Use of Anime Like Naruto and Pokémon in Political Videos

Japan Criticizes Trump’s Use of Anime Like Naruto and Pokémon in Political Videos

Foreign Ministry asks Trump administration to stop using Pokémon, Naruto and other anime without permission.
How to Wear and Style a Summer Yukata 

How to Wear and Style a Summer Yukata 

Your guide to styling Japan’s most iconic seasonal garment
Meet One of the Few Non-Japanese Licensed Kimono Stylists in Japan

Meet One of the Few Non-Japanese Licensed Kimono Stylists in Japan

Based in Japan: Kara Harris on the exam that made her cry, opening a shop in Asakusa and her mission to make kimono fit everyone
Night Photography: Capturing Tokyo’s Nocturnal Beauty

Night Photography: Capturing Tokyo’s Nocturnal Beauty

Featuring Matthieu Bühler aka @mattdreamsneon
See more

Living

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000

More about the process, eligibility rules, and paperwork
Japan’s Top 6 Premium Wagyu Beef

Japan’s Top 6 Premium Wagyu Beef

A guide to wagyu, Japan’s premium beef, from the rarest cuts to everyday luxury
Paid Clinical Trials in Tokyo for International Residents and Visitors

Paid Clinical Trials in Tokyo for International Residents and Visitors

Inside Tokyo’s paid clinical research program for foreigners—compensation, eligibility and what the experience is actually like
Tokyo Bear Hunting Ban Could End for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years

Tokyo Bear Hunting Ban Could End for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years

As bear sightings hit a national record, the capital is reconsidering a policy it hasn’t touched since 2008
See more

Community

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From October 1, 2026: Permanent Residency Jumps to ¥200,000

More about the process, eligibility rules, and paperwork
Paid Clinical Trials in Tokyo for International Residents and Visitors

Paid Clinical Trials in Tokyo for International Residents and Visitors

Inside Tokyo’s paid clinical research program for foreigners—compensation, eligibility and what the experience is actually like
International Summer Schools in Japan for 2026

International Summer Schools in Japan for 2026

Key dates and fun options for your little ones

Metropolis Summer Issue 2026

Metropolis Summer Issue 2026

See what’s inside and where to pick up a copy
Japan vs. Brazil World Cup 2026: Samurai Blue Through to Round of 32 After Sweden Thriller

Japan vs. Brazil World Cup 2026: Samurai Blue Through to Round of 32 After Sweden Thriller

Daizen Maeda’s second-half goal and a string of crucial saves from Zion Suzuki sent Japan through to the knockouts, where a date with Brazil awaits
Japan World Cup 2026 Guide: Schedule, Players & Where to Watch in Tokyo

Japan World Cup 2026 Guide: Schedule, Players & Where to Watch in Tokyo

The Samurai Blue are back for their eighth consecutive World Cup—here’s how to follow every match from Tokyo
See more

Travel

Tsushima, the Real Japanese Island Behind Ghost of Tsushima

Tsushima, the Real Japanese Island Behind Ghost of Tsushima

An island where the winds of history still whisper through the mountains, the seas and the swords.
Japan Tourist Rules & Fines 2026: What To Know

Japan Tourist Rules & Fines 2026: What To Know

Japan’s tourism crackdown comes with real fines. Here’s what to know before visiting
Japan’s Weirdest Islands

Japan’s Weirdest Islands

Head out beyond Japan’s big four
to explore the strange, the scary and the sublime.
Sleep Now, Summit Later: The New Overnight Bus From Tokyo to Mt. Fuji

Sleep Now, Summit Later: The New Overnight Bus From Tokyo to Mt. Fuji

How to hack the hike and beat the daily hiker limit
Izu Islands: Tokyo’s Secret Volcanic Archipelago

Izu Islands: Tokyo’s Secret Volcanic Archipelago

The far side of Tokyo: nine inhabited volcanic islands stretch south into the Pacific, and all of them are part of the world’s largest city.
Kanazawa Travel Guide: A Taste of Old Japan

Kanazawa Travel Guide: A Taste of Old Japan

Kyoto’s charms without the hordes of tourists
See more

Dining

Heavenly Island Lifestyle Daikanyama

Heavenly Island Lifestyle Daikanyama

Heavenly Island Lifestyle brings wagyu loco moco and mai tais to Daikanyama, with surfboards, steel guitar, and a rooftop terrace for lingering.
Dachibin

Dachibin

Dachibin serves goya champuru, beni-imo tempura, and Orion draft beer in Koenji.
Den Kushi Flori

Den Kushi Flori

Den Kushi Flori pairs Zaiyu Hasegawa’s playful precision with Hiroyasu Kawate’s French technique.
Japan’s Top 6 Premium Wagyu Beef

Japan’s Top 6 Premium Wagyu Beef

A guide to wagyu, Japan’s premium beef, from the rarest cuts to everyday luxury
The Ultimate Japanese BBQ Guide: Grilling Tips, Recipes and Must-Try Foods

The Ultimate Japanese BBQ Guide: Grilling Tips, Recipes and Must-Try Foods

Crispy on the outside
A Fijian Restaurant in Okinawa

A Fijian Restaurant in Okinawa

Airando Fiji Restaurant & Cafe (Kouri Island, Okinawa)
See more

Literature

The Best Japanese Cookbooks

The Best Japanese Cookbooks

Metropolis’ Editorial Team reviews the best new cookbooks for gourmands and oenophiles
Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

a clever and unsettling puzzle disguised as a novel
Book Review: Tokyo These Days by Taiyo Matsumoto

Book Review: Tokyo These Days by Taiyo Matsumoto

a quiet meditation on creativity, relevance and persistence
What’s Up With Bad Sex in Murakami?

What’s Up With Bad Sex in Murakami?

Pleasure and prose in ‘Killing Commendatore’ and other novels
Book Review: Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa

Book Review: Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa

a sharp and uncompromising voice in modern Japanese fiction
Book Review: The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami

Book Review: The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami

A quiet return to memory, longing and surreal boundaries
See more

Japanese Movies

Tokyo Middle 30: The J-Drama That Feels Like Your Own Tokyo Story

Tokyo Middle 30: The J-Drama That Feels Like Your Own Tokyo Story

The Japanese remake of a Chinese hit series premieres July 22, and it’s already trending
The Asadora Effect

The Asadora Effect

Fifteen minutes to shape a nation
7 Japanese Romance Movies That’ll Break Your Heart (in a Good Way)

7 Japanese Romance Movies That’ll Break Your Heart (in a Good Way)

So you can sob while practicing your Japanese listening skills
See more

Western Movies in Japanese Cinemas

See more

Join the Metropolis community

Stay in the loop with Tokyo's international community and beyond. Get weekly Tokyo news, stories and events delivered straight to your inbox each week. Curated by our editors. Never spam. We're here so you can live your life in Tokyo to the fullest.