Our latest articles

Where is Downtown Tokyo? Finding the Real Center of the City

Where is Downtown Tokyo? Finding the Real Center of the City

Let’s explore the six wards that each lay claim to being Tokyo’s true city center
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
The 9 Best Japanese Whiskies for Gifting

The 9 Best Japanese Whiskies for Gifting

Japanese whisky for beginners

Soccer in Japan: A Guide to the J-League for Expats and Visitors

Soccer in Japan: A Guide to the J-League for Expats and Visitors

How to get into the J-League
Uber Just Added “Professional Drifting” to Its App in Tokyo

Uber Just Added “Professional Drifting” to Its App in Tokyo

Tokyo Drift IRL
Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

a clever and unsettling puzzle disguised as a novel
How to Stay Cool This Summer in Japan

How to Stay Cool This Summer in Japan

Summers in Japan are not for the faint of heart

Horoscope Your Weekly Horoscope May 29 – June 5

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

Glad We Came Exbition by Yamaura Nodoka

Glad We Came Exbition by Yamaura Nodoka

Jun 27, 2026 at 1:30pm ~ Jul 24, 2026 at 7:30pm

Read The Latest Issue Read The Latest Issue Spring 2026

Spring 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.

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Events

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Culture

What is Zakka Style?

What is Zakka Style?

A kind of curated coziness

Artist Tomei: Curating Transparent Life (+Aesthetic Jelly Recipe)

Artist Tomei: Curating Transparent Life (+Aesthetic Jelly Recipe)

Interview with mysterious artist Tomei on the beauty of clear things.
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
The Best Anime Songs of All Time

The Best Anime Songs of All Time

Certified bangers, no skips

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Living

Things To Do During Rainy Season in Japan

Things To Do During Rainy Season in Japan

Indoor date spots, cozy escapes and creative ways to stay dry during rainy season
How to Prepare for Typhoon Season in Tokyo

How to Prepare for Typhoon Season in Tokyo

How to stay safe when the big storms hit
Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan

Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan

Best Japanese insect repellents recommended by pharmacists in Japan

Japan Drugstore Guide: The Best Purple Shampoo & Color-Care Products for Blonde, Ash, and Bleached Hair

Japan Drugstore Guide: The Best Purple Shampoo & Color-Care Products for Blonde, Ash, and Bleached Hair

Guide to the best and most affordable options

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Community

Domestic Violence in Japan: Every Third Woman

Domestic Violence in Japan: Every Third Woman

The prevalence of domestic violence in Japan
English-Speaking Sports and Fitness Groups in Tokyo

English-Speaking Sports and Fitness Groups in Tokyo

Find community and stay healthy through these sports and fitness groups
Metropolis Winter Issue 2025

Metropolis Winter Issue 2025

See what’s inside and where to pick up a copy

Speak Japanese With Confidence: Private Lessons With Omusubi Japanese

Speak Japanese With Confidence: Private Lessons With Omusubi Japanese

From ordering dinner to building your career—learn Japanese for real life
Metropolis Autumn Issue 2025

Metropolis Autumn Issue 2025

See what’s inside and where to pick up a copy

Hungary Pavilion: A Calming Forest in the Middle of Expo 2025

Hungary Pavilion: A Calming Forest in the Middle of Expo 2025

Hungary’s pavilion stood out with folk music, food and craft at Expo 2025
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Travel

Christmas in Okinawa

Christmas in Okinawa

A festive escape to the sea in sunny Okinawa

Kyoto’s Hidden Palaces

Kyoto’s Hidden Palaces

Escape the tourist mobs at former imperial villas
Travel Guide to the Charm of Tomonoura

Travel Guide to the Charm of Tomonoura

Life in the Seto Inland Sea town of Tomo-no-Ura

Kanazawa Travel Guide: A Taste of Old Japan

Kanazawa Travel Guide: A Taste of Old Japan

Kyoto’s charms without the hordes of tourists
New Luxury Hotel FUFU Tokyo Ginza Has a Private Onsen in Every Room

New Luxury Hotel FUFU Tokyo Ginza Has a Private Onsen in Every Room

A newly opened luxury resort in Ginza offering private onsen, garden suites and refined Japanese hospitality
Why is Hokkaido Milk, Cream and Cheese so Popular?

Why is Hokkaido Milk, Cream and Cheese so Popular?

Hokkaido dairy – the cream of the crop
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Dining

Yoshoku: The Tokyo Food Tradition You’ve Never Heard Of—But Need to Try

Yoshoku: The Tokyo Food Tradition You’ve Never Heard Of—But Need to Try

It’s not Japanese food. It’s not Western food. It’s something Tokyo made entirely its own.
“Bougie” Spots to Eat and Drink in Tokyo

“Bougie” Spots to Eat and Drink in Tokyo

Explore the latest trends in dining at locations created by premier fashion brands

Tokyo Cafés Featured in Anime

Tokyo Cafés Featured in Anime

Tokyo Cafes to visit in real life that your favorite characters dined at
We Tried Tokyo’s Weirdest Ice Creams in One Day

We Tried Tokyo’s Weirdest Ice Creams in One Day

Fried oyster ice cream? Here’s our honest opinion

Which City Has the Most Michelin Stars? (2025 Ranking with 2026 Updates)

Which City Has the Most Michelin Stars? (2025 Ranking with 2026 Updates)

Which country and city have the most Michelin stars, and why?
Tokyo’s Best New Restaurants

Tokyo’s Best New Restaurants

From Michelin-starred newcomers to viral dining spots, these new restaurants in Tokyo are shaping the city’s food scene
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Literature

Japanese Onomatopoeia

Japanese Onomatopoeia

Everyday sounds and oddly specific quirky expressions
Why Was Tokyo Dubbed “Venice of the East”?

Why Was Tokyo Dubbed “Venice of the East”?

The forgotten city of water
Japanese Cookbooks

Japanese Cookbooks

Metropolis’ Editorial Team reviews the best new cookbooks for gourmands and oenophiles
Japanese Creation Myths Born from Water

Japanese Creation Myths Born from Water

Japan’s oldest stories are told in water
Water Spirits in Japanese Folklore

Water Spirits in Japanese Folklore

From the cheeky to the horrific
11 Influential Japanese LGBTQ+ Novels to Read

11 Influential Japanese LGBTQ+ Novels to Read

Love, identity, and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community
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Japanese Movies

The Best Japanese Films for Beginners Learning Japanese

The Best Japanese Films for Beginners Learning Japanese

Why children’s stories and quiet domestic life work better than reading textbooks will
Japanese Netflix Shows You Can Watch With English Subtitles

Japanese Netflix Shows You Can Watch With English Subtitles

Yes, Netflix does count as studying
Upcoming Movies in Japan in 2026

Upcoming Movies in Japan in 2026

Enjoyed Demon Slayer? Here are 7 movies to keep on your radar this year
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Western Movies in Japanese Cinemas

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