Metropolis Japan

Our latest articles

Escape Tokyo with Trader Vic’s Summer Island Lunch

Inside Hotel New Otani, Trader Vic’s brings together globally inspired flavors

Summer in Japan: 12 Things to Spot This Season

Traditions, sights and local experiences you can spot during summer in Japan.

A Guide to Trying Traditional Japanese Crafts in Japan

From kintsugi to knife sharpening, here’s where to learn the traditional crafts still shaping Japan today

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

Tokyo Streetwear Roundup: The Drops Everyone’s Watching This July 2026

From A$AP Rocky’s Puma Suede ’94 to Jordan x Tokyo Giants baseball crossover, here’s what’s moving in Tokyo right now

G-Shock’s First-Ever Pokémon Watch Hits Japan Shelves July 17

The limited-edition GA-110PKM-7A goes on sale in Japan July 17, priced at ¥33,000 and built around the franchise’s original 1996 color scheme

Why It Always Comes Back to Being an Island

From gara-kei to J-pop: unpacking Japan’s “Galápagos syndrome,” exceptionalism, and the truth behind the isolated-nation cliché.

Your Weekly Horoscope July 24 – 31

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

Anime CHOREOGRAPHY Legend Season.2 Finals–Shibuya Dance Showdown

Aug 22, 2026 at 5:30pm ~ Aug 23, 2026 at 7:00pm

Read The Latest Issue 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

Beast Machine Tokyo Concert at Gamuso Asagaya

Sep 26, 2026 at 6:00pm

Sep 26, 2026 at 11:30pm

French Summer Wine Dinner at The Harbor Terrace, Kamakura

Aug 30, 2026 at 5:00pm

Aug 30, 2026 at 8:00pm

Koenji Awa Odori 2026

Aug 29, 2026 at 5:00pm

Aug 30, 2026 at 8:00pm

BBQ, Sauna, Swim: Summer Daytrip at BOTANICAL POOL CLUB

Jun 08, 2026 at 1:30pm

Oct 31, 2026 at 4:30pm

Rock Tribute Jungle vol.2: Live Rock in Shimokitazawa

Sep 05, 2026 at 12:00pm

Sep 05, 2026 at 3:00pm

Soft Clubbing Afternoon Tokyo Brings Daytime Dancing to Marunouchi

Sep 19, 2026 at 2:00pm

Sep 19, 2026 at 5:00pm

New Faces Closing Party: Roberto Bloom, Zoon and Bob Bring Art to Life

Jul 24, 2026 at 12:00pm

Aug 23, 2026 at 5:00pm

Toranomon Advertising Festival Returns for a Bigger Second Round

Oct 09, 2026 at 10:00am

Oct 17, 2026 at 7:00pm

See All Events Events This Week Events Next Week

Culture

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

a clever and unsettling puzzle disguised as a novel

Book Review: Tokyo These Days by Taiyo Matsumoto

a quiet meditation on creativity, relevance and persistence

What’s Up With Bad Sex in Murakami?

Pleasure and prose in ‘Killing Commendatore’ and other novels

The Top 10 Japanese Movies Of All Time

How would you rank your favorite Japanese cinema?

Living

What Is Reibobyo? Japan’s Air-Conditioning Sickness, Explained

That fatigue from stepping out of Tokyo’s summer heat into a blast of office AC has a name, it’s not just in your head

Confessions of a Hostess Boyfriend

Overcoming jealousy and finding true love

Japan: The White Man’s Last Refuge?

Are Japan’s ‘White Gods’ enjoying the benefits of “sexist” cultures abroad?

Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan

Best Japanese insect repellents recommended by pharmacists in Japan

Community

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

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

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

The UK Pavilion Expo 2025: From Inventions to Innovation

Narrative-led experience, British inventions and a mascot named PIX

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

Travel

Conrad Tokyo: Where Omotenashi Guides Every Detail

How General Manager Neil McInnes and his team shape thoughtful hospitality through detail, design and anticipation

Christmas in Okinawa

A festive escape to the sea in sunny Okinawa

Kyoto’s Hidden Palaces

Escape the tourist mobs at former imperial villas

Travel Guide to the Charm of Tomonoura

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

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?

Hokkaido dairy – the cream of the crop

Dining

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

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

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

Fried oyster ice cream? Here’s our honest opinion

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

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

Literature

Book Review: The Summer House by Masashi Matsuie

A quietly compelling meditation on architecture and desire

Book Review: Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata

A chillingly plausible future

Book Review: The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi

Your table awaits at the Chibineko Kitchen…

Book Review: The Place of Shells by Mai Ishizawa (translated by Polly Barton)

A quietly devastating and masterfully surreal debut

Healing Japanese Fiction Books That Feel Like a Warm Hug

Comforting tales of self-discovery, second chances, and quiet joy

Review of “Too Big To Care: Adopt Sustainable Business Practices or Embrace Defeat” by Glen S. Wood

Can big business be kinder to society?

Japanese Movies

Upcoming Movies in Japan in 2026

Enjoyed Demon Slayer? Here are 7 movies to keep on your radar this year

10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2026

A curated look at the anime everyone will be talking about this year.

Best 80s Japanese Anime Movies You’ll Adore

Rev up those space rockets—we’re going way beyond Akira or Ghibli

Western Movies in Japanese Cinemas

Our latest articles

Escape Tokyo with Trader Vic’s Summer Island Lunch

Summer in Japan: 12 Things to Spot This Season

A Guide to Trying Traditional Japanese Crafts in Japan

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

Tokyo Streetwear Roundup: The Drops Everyone’s Watching This July 2026

G-Shock’s First-Ever Pokémon Watch Hits Japan Shelves July 17

Why It Always Comes Back to Being an Island

Your Weekly Horoscope July 24 – 31

Events In Tokyo This Week

Anime CHOREOGRAPHY Legend Season.2 Finals–Shibuya Dance Showdown

Read The Latest Issue Summer 2026

Beast Machine Tokyo Concert at Gamuso Asagaya

French Summer Wine Dinner at The Harbor Terrace, Kamakura

Koenji Awa Odori 2026

BBQ, Sauna, Swim: Summer Daytrip at BOTANICAL POOL CLUB

Rock Tribute Jungle vol.2: Live Rock in Shimokitazawa

Soft Clubbing Afternoon Tokyo Brings Daytime Dancing to Marunouchi

New Faces Closing Party: Roberto Bloom, Zoon and Bob Bring Art to Life

Toranomon Advertising Festival Returns for a Bigger Second Round

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Book Review: Tokyo These Days by Taiyo Matsumoto

What’s Up With Bad Sex in Murakami?

The Top 10 Japanese Movies Of All Time

What Is Reibobyo? Japan’s Air-Conditioning Sickness, Explained

Confessions of a Hostess Boyfriend

Japan: The White Man’s Last Refuge?

Japan Drugstore Guide: Insect Repellent in Japan

Speak Japanese With Confidence: Private Lessons With Omusubi Japanese

Metropolis Autumn Issue 2025

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

The UK Pavilion Expo 2025: From Inventions to Innovation

Inside the Nordic Pavilion at Expo 2025

The Soul Lounge Beach Party & BBQ

Conrad Tokyo: Where Omotenashi Guides Every Detail

Christmas in Okinawa

Kyoto’s Hidden Palaces

Travel Guide to the Charm of Tomonoura

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

Why is Hokkaido Milk, Cream and Cheese so Popular?

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

“Bougie” Spots to Eat and Drink in Tokyo

Tokyo Cafés Featured in Anime

We Tried Tokyo’s Weirdest Ice Creams in One Day

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

Tokyo’s Best New Restaurants

Book Review: The Summer House by Masashi Matsuie

Book Review: Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata

Book Review: The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi

Book Review: The Place of Shells by Mai Ishizawa (translated by Polly Barton)

Healing Japanese Fiction Books That Feel Like a Warm Hug

Review of “Too Big To Care: Adopt Sustainable Business Practices or Embrace Defeat” by Glen S. Wood

Upcoming Movies in Japan in 2026

10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2026

Best 80s Japanese Anime Movies You’ll Adore

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