Metropolis Japan

Tokyo Illumination Guide for Winter 2025 – 2026

Where to catch the best illuminations in the capital this winter

Mikuni Minato: A Peaceful Port Town Away from the Crowds

Blow off steam like a wealthy Edo merchant

Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort, Okinawa

Unwind in Sesoko Island’s only luxury resort

Woman Marries ChatGPT AI Character After He Proposed

AI marriage in Japan and the future symbol of love

Millennial and Gen Z Work Culture in Japan

How Japan’s Younger Generations Are Redefining Work

Food Fantasies: Japanese Aphrodisiacs

The exotic and erotic foods of Japan to titillate your taste buds, and more

Tokyo Neighborhood Guide: Mukojima

Where time lingers on the banks of the Sumida River

Your Weekly Horoscope November 21 – 28

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.

Events In Tokyo This Week

Camellia Marathon 2026

Feb 08, 2026 at 9:30am ~ Feb 08, 2026 at 11:00am

Read The Latest Issue Winter 2025

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

Setsubun at Senso-ji, Asakusa

Feb 03, 2026 at 10:00am

Feb 03, 2026 at 2:00pm

Musical Human Rights Fun(d)raiser for Human Rights

Feb 08, 2026 at 4:00pm

Feb 08, 2026 at 7:30am

Pirates of Tokyo Bay: English & Japanese Improv Comedy

Nov 29, 2026 at 7:30pm

Nov 29, 2026 at 9:30pm

NAKED x Tokyo Tower Light Fantasia Winter

Nov 01, 2025 at 12:00am

Feb 15, 2026 at 12:00am

Pirates of Tokyo Bay: English & Japanese Improv Comedy

Oct 25, 2026 at 7:30pm

Oct 25, 2026 at 9:30pm

newneu. synapse. presents Michael Bibi

Feb 06, 2026 at 11:00pm

Feb 07, 2026 at 4:30am

Nerd Nite Tokyo #75

Feb 20, 2026 at 7:00pm

Feb 20, 2026 at 10:00pm

Rail Jam Hakuba GRIND!

Feb 28, 2026 at 2:00pm

Feb 28, 2026 at 8:00pm

Culture

Water Spirits in Japanese Folklore

From the cheeky to the horrific

Japanese Creation Myths Born from Water

Japan’s oldest stories are told in water

Ukai: The Ancient Japanese Art of Cormorant Fishing

Witness Japan’s 1,300-year-old spectacle of cormorant fishing in Gifu

The Japanese Aesthetic of Transparency: From Hokusai to Pocari Sweat

“Toumeikan” is symbolized by water and made visible by the color blue

Living

Best English-Speaking Gyms in Tokyo 2026

Metropolis Fitness Special details the best gyms and skin clinics

Japan Drugstore Guide: Best Eye Drops in Japan for Dry Eyes and Contacts

Top brands recommended by pharmacists in Japan

English-Speaking Beauty Clinics in Tokyo

Stress-free beauty and wellness services for everyone

Best Tokyo New Year’s Eve Countdown Events, Parties and Temples 2025–2026

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Tokyo

Community

Yoyogi Broadway

Tokyo slices of art, dining and nightlife

The British School in Tokyo’s New Primary School Campus

Opening in August 2023

Sumo Spotting: Where to sight Japan’s mightiest warriors

Find out how to witness one of Japan’s greatest sports and its athletes in a personal and enlightening way here in Tokyo

Opportunity Knocks

How BLINK Community is revolutionizing the traditional workspace

Mystery Memos

What’s your hot take?

EXPAT EXPO TOKYO 2022

Connect with Tokyo’s international community, businesses and services

Travel

Onomichi Travel Guide: Discover This Historic Port City

Once a pirate haunt, the port town of Onomichi in the Inland Sea still houses an intriguing array of temples, and a surprising number of cats and cat lovers. Stephen Mansfield goes exploring.