Where to Buy Christmas Gifts in Tokyo
Get creative with gifts this season with some of Tokyo’s most creative shopping hubs
Kagura: Theater from Heaven Joins the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Kagura, a variant of Shinto theater, may not be as well known to foreigners as kabuki and noh
Why Does Japan Eat KFC On Christmas?
How KFC became Kentucky Fried Christmas in Japan
Best Futons in Japan: Top Picks From Real Reviews
The right futon for your space and sleep
Cafe Lumiere: Tokyo’s Christmas Kakigori
A chilly dessert for a frosty morning
Best Stollen in Tokyo for Christmas 2025
The coziest winter dessert is back for Christmas
Tokyo Illumination Guide for Winter 2025 – 2026
Where to catch the best illuminations in the capital this winter
Events
Alex G JAPAN TOUR 2026
Feb 19, 2026 at 6:00pm
Feb 19, 2026 at 11:00pm
LIGHT WALK ODAIBA
Dec 04, 2025 at 5:30pm
Dec 27, 2025 at 6:30pm
Cozy Up with Oden and Hot Sake at a Secret Train Platform in Tokyo
Jan 29, 2026 at 12:00pm
Feb 01, 2026 at 5:00pm
Omotesandō Illumination
Dec 01, 2025 at 12:00am
Jan 05, 2026 at 10:00pm
Geikosai New Year’s Festival
Jan 01, 2026 at 12:00am
Jan 01, 2026 at 5:00pm
Yunth Midtown Ice Rink
Nov 21, 2025 at 11:00am
Feb 23, 2026 at 9:00pm
Kitain Temple Daruma Market in Kawagoe
Jan 03, 2026 at 9:00am
Jan 03, 2026 at 5:30pm
National Noh Theatre Open Day～Explore the National Noh Theatre with a Noh actor!～
Dec 17, 2025 at 2:00pm
Mar 19, 2026 at 4:30pm
Living
Christmas Markets in Tokyo 2025
Where to find festive dishes, gifts and end-of-year atmosphere
Best English-Speaking Gyms in Tokyo 2025
Metropolis Fitness Special details the best gyms and skin clinics
Japan Drugstore Guide: Stay Calm and Beat Winter Stress with OTC Anxiety Relief
Your go-to guide for Japan’s best OTC anxiety and mood-boosting supplements
Does Japan Allow Dual Citizenship?
Short answer, no, but most people have dual citizenship
Community
Inside the Nordic Pavilion at Expo 2025
Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway
The Soul Lounge Beach Party & BBQ
Cold Drinks, BBQ and Live Performances
Metropolis Summer Issue 2025
See what’s inside and where to pick up a copy
Dog Adoption & Fostering in Tokyo
Buddies in Collaboration with Metropolis
Executive Fight Night 2025
Tokyo’s executives duel for charity
International Summer Schools in Japan for 2025
Key dates and fun options for your little ones
Travel
Asahidake, Hokkaido
The highest peak in the “Playground of the Gods”
Fly Direct from Tokyo to Palau, One of the Pacific’s Most Accessible Winter Getaways
Trade Tokyo’s winter chill for coral lagoons and warm island air—Palau’s new direct flight brings paradise within reach
Wildlife in Tokyo: Tokyo Safari
A guide to the fluffiest wildlife you can spot in the city
Neighorhood Guide: Exploring Chiba’s Hidden Treasures
History by the airport
Red Roofs of Iwami: Historic Townscapes, Preserved and Evolving
Picturesque red-roof villages of Japan—but more than just beautiful
A Guide to Solo Hiking in Japan
Three hiking regions to join Japan’s hiking community
Dining
Christmas Afternoon Teas in Tokyo 2025
Experience the warmth of the holidays through artful sweets, rich savories and festive hotel lounges across Tokyo
How To Choose And Use Furoshiki
Japan’s original eco bags
The Fascinating History Behind Japanese Kissaten
Plus top kissaten cafes to visit in Tokyo
Where the Wild Wines Are: Discover Tokyo’s Natural Wine Bars
A Guide to the Bars Keeping Wine Wild in the Heart of Tokyo
IL LUPINO PRIME Christmas Dinner in Tokyo 2025
A Tuscan winter feast in the heart of Omotesando
A Brief History of Zunda
Tohoku’s Green Paste Icon
Literature
Japanese Cookbooks
Metropolis’ Editorial Team reviews the best new cookbooks for gourmands and oenophiles
Japanese Creation Myths Born from Water
Japan’s oldest stories are told in water
Water Spirits in Japanese Folklore
From the cheeky to the horrific
11 Influential Japanese LGBTQ+ Novels to Read
Love, identity, and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community
The Best Japanese Mystery Novels to Read in 2025
Honkaku, thrillers and crime sagas — Japan’s got it all
Book Review: The Summer House by Masashi Matsuie
A quietly compelling meditation on architecture and desire
Movies
