Book Review: The Place of Shells by Mai Ishizawa (translated by Polly Barton)
A quietly devastating and masterfully surreal debut
Toranomon Hills Glass Rock
The Final Chapter in a Landmark Redevelopment
Kura Sushi’s Giant Expo Store Opens April 13—Here’s What to Expect
A 135-meter conveyor belt, sustainable design and sushi with a global twist
Tokyo Architectural Gems You Can Eat and Drink In
Lose Yourself in Tokyo’s Cafés, Tea Houses & Beer Halls
Strings Omotesando Launches Cherry & Rose Vintage Afternoon Tea
A Retro-Pop Afternoon Delight
Japan Drugstore Guide: Best Lip Products in Japan for 2025
Having lips that look and feel great doesn’t have to break the bank.
LGBTQ+ Anime That Strive To Get It Right
No heavy-handed yaoi or male-gaze pandering yuri here
Events
Living
Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness in Tokyo: Evacuation Tips and Access Guides
Everything you need to know before and during a natural disaster
Unearthing the History of Tokyo Train Stations
A Lucky Train Delay at Omori Station
BEATCITY JAPAN 2025: Japan’s Premier Beatboxing Event Evolves with a World-First Karaoke Room
Get ready for an electrifying year of battles, performances—and now, the world’s first beatbox karaoke room!
Tokyo Sumo Tournament 2025: See Hoshoryu Compete at Ryogoku Kokugikan
Sumo returns to Tokyo from May 11–25, 2025, with newly promoted yokozuna Hoshoryu headlining the tournament
Community
Stonewall Japan
Japan’s LGBTQ+ connection
Dog-Walk Donation
Hike through Niigata with abandoned animals
FEW
18th Career Strategy Seminar
Plastics Across the Pacific
From Oakland to Yokohama in 63 days
Travel
The Four Seasons of Ikoma
Taking in Nara’s year-round beauty
Kimono in Kyoto
March 23, 2015
Exploring the Khmer Empire
Mysterious land fit for kings and queens
A New Face for Beautiful Yokohama
New website makes exploring Japan’s seaside metropolis easier than ever
Yanagawa’s Canals
Cruise through Kyushu’s Venice
The healing waters of Nisshinkan
Relax and refresh in Gunma
Dining
Taste the Rainbow at Ramen Shikisai
Capture kaleidoscopic ramen at new Akihabara restaurant
SUIGIAN
A decadent return to the golden age of performance
Malins Fish and Chips 5th Anniversary Celebration
A taste of Britain in the Japanese capital
The Farm Tokyo
Beefing up Tokyo’s beer garden game
Tokyo’s Best Wine Bars
Metropolitan bars give the budding wine scene body
The UFO Burger
The Oak Door Steakhouse goes to space
Literature
Movies
